BREADTH MAJOR LEARNING OUTCOMES (MLOs)

MLO 8: Creative Writing and Social Action Assessment Standards
(A level of 3 is necessary to fulfill the built-in assessment)

FICTION

5. Exemplary
The short story meets all of the criteria stated above. The work establishes a resonant dramatic situation and an engaging plot. Characters are fully developed. The point of view is cleverly chosen to relate the story. Setting is described to evoke a strong sense of place. The story employs an excellent use of sensory details and concrete language to develop plot and characters. It excludes unnecessary details and inconsistencies. It effectively uses a range of strategies such as dialogue, dramatic tension, rhythm, and figurative language. The story addresses, excellently, the social, cultural, historical or political contexts out of which the social action art emerges. It demonstrates, profoundly, an informed and ethical reflection of a significant social issue. The story has been presented very effectively to a diverse audience and profoundly engaged the interests and needs of that audience. Errors in spelling, punctuation, mechanics, and usage are rare.

4.Very Good
The short story meets all of the criteria stated above. The work establishes a clear dramatic situation and an engaging plot. Characters are developed fairly completely. The point of view is cleverly chosen to relate the story, but may be inconsistent at times. Setting is generally described to evoke an adequate sense of place. The story employs some sensory details and some concrete language. Plot and characters need some development. Few unrelated details and inconsistencies exist. Dialogue, dramatic tension, rhythm, figurative language are adequately employed. The story addresses, fairly completely, the social, cultural, historical or political contexts out of which the social action art emerges. It adequately demonstrates an informed and ethical reflection of a significant social issue. The story has been presented fairly well to a diverse audience and engaged adequately the interests and needs of that audience. Errors in spelling, punctuation, mechanics, and usage do not impede understanding.

3. Satisfactory
The short story meets most of the criteria above. A basic dramatic situation and plot exists in the work. Characters, setting, and point of view chosen to relate the story are discernible. Sensory details and concrete language are adequately used. Several unnecessary details and inconsistencies are present. Dialogue, dramatic tension, rhythm, and figurative language need further crafting. The story is moving toward addressing the social, cultural, historical or political contexts out of which the social action art emerges. Some evidence exists of an informed and ethical reflection of the significant social issue. The story has been presented to a diverse audience. Errors in spelling, punctuation, mechanics, and usage do not impede understanding.

2. Needs Improvement
The short story meets some of the criteria stated above. The work may need a clear dramatic situation and an engaging plot. Characters need development. The point of view chosen to relate the story requires consistency. Setting requires more description. An awareness of sensory details and concrete language is necessary, and plot and characters need development. Dialogue, dramatic tension, rhythm, and figurative language may need work. The story may need to address the social, cultural, historical or political contexts out of which the social action art emerges. Work needs to demonstrate a more informed and ethical reflection of the significant social issue. The story may need to be presented to a diverse audience. Errors in spelling, punctuation, mechanics, and usage impede understanding.

1. Needs Considerable Improvement
The short story meets a few of the criteria stated above. The dramatic situation, characters, plot, setting and point of view need development. Dialogue, dramatic tension, rhythm, and figurative language need extensive work. The story needs to address the social, cultural, historical or political contexts out of which the social action art emerges. The work needs to demonstrate a more informed and ethical reflection of the significant social issue. The story needs to be presented to a diverse audience. Errors in spelling, punctuation, mechanics, and usage impede understanding.

To go back, click on MLO 8 or Breadth Major Learning Outcomes , Major Curriculum Structure or Academic Program