Undergraduate Student Learning Initiative



Undergraduate Study Learning Initiative (USLI) Report (revised, Nov. 6, 2008)

Department of English

University of California, Berkeley

Statement: The study of literature is not about canonical books or established facts, but about a process of interpretation and analysis, a process that begins in the classroom and develops over a lifetime. Upon completion of a B.A. degree in English, students should have well-developed writing and research skills as well as the ability to assess and appreciate language and literature in both professional and personal realms. Our primary means of evaluating students is through reading their papers in which we judge the originality and coherence of their argument, the clarity of their prose, the marshalling of textual evidence, and the imaginative intensity and scope of their engagement with the material. Because papers and classroom discussion are central to our assessment of student work, it is difficult to trust any standardized measure of evaluation that focuses on an established core base of knowledge (something that is itself always in flux), rather than critical and imaginative capacities. For those undergraduates who wish to pursue graduate education in literature, there is already the GRE Subject Test that tests only a small portion of what students learn. Assessment of student learning outcomes, however, is not reducible to one test. In fact, it is the variety and range of interpretive approaches and the originality of thinking that we value that is impossible to assess in any single standardized examination. As the Consortium on Financing Higher Education (COFHE) notes in its Statement on Assessment (2008), assessment is best when it is comprised of “locally based, faculty-driven efforts to define and measure the skills and capacities that each institution emphasizes to meet its educational goals.”

 

USLI Report

Goals

Knowledge

  • Identify historical periods of literature in English ( U.S., Britain, and Anglophone) (English 45A, 45B, 45C, etc.);
  • Recognize and understand a variety of genres and modes of writing (the novel, poetic forms, short fiction, autobiography, etc.) (180A, 180E, 180H, 180L, 180N, 180R, 180T, 180Z);
  • Become conversant with key literary terms and theories (160, 161)

The following courses address all three goals above: English 45A, 45B, 45C, 105, 110, 112, 114A-B, 115A-B, 116, 119, 120, 121, 122, 125A-B, 125C, 125D, 125E, 126, 127, 128, 130A, 130B, 130C, 130D, 134;

  • Develop an understanding of literature in interdisciplinary and multicultual contexts

Courses: English 133A, 133B, 133T, 135AC, C136, 137A, 137B, 137T, 138, 139, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179.

Skills

  • Demonstrate the ability to give a close reading or explication of a text;
  • Develop the ability to interpret and analyze literary texts and to articulate that in both writing and speaking;
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the philosophical, cultural, social, and historical influences on the creation of literary art;
  • Formulate a well-organized, well-supported argument;
  • Develop research skills in the library and online;
  • Demonstrate the ability to write clear critical essays, based on close reading of primary texts and secondary sources;
  • Observe ethical and precise citation practices;
  • For some, write well in creative modes: fiction, non-fiction, poetry.

With the exception of creative writing courses, all English classes develop all the skills noted above.

Path to Goals

Prerequisite to Declaring Major (required by English Department and College of L&S)

  • R1A Reading and Composition (expository writing and literature)
  • R1B Reading and Composition (expository writing and literature)

Foundational courses

  • English 45A Literature in English through Milton
  • English 45B Literature in English from the late 17 th-Century to the mid-19 th Century
  • English 45C Literature in English from the mid-19 th Century to Present
  • English 17, 117 Shakespeare

Core course

  • English (u.d.) Pre-1800 (other than Shakespeare)

Lower-Division Seminars

  • English 24 Freshman Seminar
  • English 84 Sophomore Seminar

Lower-Division Courses

  • 17 Shakespeare
  • 20 Modern British and American Literature
  • 26 Introduction to the Study of Poetry
  • 27 Introduction to the Study of Fiction
  • 28 Introduction to the Study of Drama
  • 31AC Literature of American Cultures
  • 33 African American Literature and Culture
  • 37 Chicano/a Literature and Culture
  • 44A-B Masterpieces of Literature

Independent Study Courses

  • English 98/198 Directed Group Study
  • English 99/199 Supervised Independent Study

Courses on specific historical periods and nations

  • 105 Anglo-Saxon England
  • C107 The English Bible as Literature
  • 110 Medieval Literature
  • 112 Middle English Literature
  • 114A-B English Drama
  • 115A-B The English Renaissance
  • 116 Backgrounds of English Literature in the Continental Renaissance
  • 119 Literature of the Restoration and Early Eighteenth Century
  • 120 British Literature of the Later Eighteenth Century
  • 121 Romantic Period
  • 122 Victorian Period
  • 126 British Literature: 1900-1945
  • 130A American Literature: Before 1800
  • 130B American Literature: 1900-1865
  • 130C American Literature: 1865-1900
  • 130D American Literature: 190-1945
  • 134 Contemporary Literature
  • 138 Studies in World Literature in English
  • 139 The Cultures of English

Courses on specific American Cultures

  • 133A African American Literature and Culture Before 1917
  • 133B African American Literature and Culture Since 1917
  • 133T Topics in African American Literature and Culture
  • 135AC Literature of American Cultures
  • 137A Chicano/a Literature and Culture to 1910
  • 137B Chicano/a Literature and Culture Since 1910
  • 137T Topics in Chicano/a Literature and Culture

Courses on specific authors*

  • 111 Chaucer
  • 117A-B Shakespeare
  • 117E Shakespeare for Non-Majors
  • 117J Shakespeare
  • 117S Shakespeare
  • 117T Shakespeare in the Theatre
  • 118 Milton

*Single author courses may also be offered as English 165 or 190.

Courses on specific literary genres

  • 125A-B The English Novel
  • 125C The European Novel
  • 125D The 20 th-Century Novel
  • 125E The Contemporary Novel
  • 127 Modern Poetry
  • 128 Modern Drama
  • 131 American Poetry
  • 132 American Novel
  • 180A Autobiography
  • 180E The Epic
  • 180L Lyric Verse
  • 180N The Novel
  • 180R The Romance
  • 180T Tragedy
  • 180Z Science Fiction

Courses on theory*

  • English 160 Methods and Materials of Literary Criticism
  • English 161 Introduction to Literary Theory

*Theory is often taught as central to, or a component of, literature courses.

Courses in the English language and its history

  • English 101
  • English 102

Courses with cross-disciplinary emphases

  • C136 Topics in American Studies 
  • C143V Visual Autobiography (cross referenced with Visual Studies, American Studies, and U.G.I.S.) 
  • 170 Literature and the Arts 
  • 171 Literature and Sexual Identity 
  • 172 Literature and Psychology 
  • 173 The Language and Literature of Films 
  • 174 Literature and History 
  • 175 Literature and Disability 
  • 176 Literature and Popular Culture 
  • 177 Literature and Philosophy 
  • 178 British and American Folklore 
  • 179 Literature and Linguistics

Courses on Special Topics

  • English 152 Women Writers
  • English 165 Special Topics
  • English 166 Special Topics

Courses in Creative Writing

  • 43A Introduction to the Writing of Short Fiction
  • 43B Introduction to the Writing of Verse
  • 141 Modes of Writing (Exposition, Fiction, Verse, Etc.)
  • 142A Advanced Composition for Potential English Teachers in Secondary Schools
  • 143A Short Fiction
  • 143B Verse
  • 143D Expository and Critical Writing
  • 143E Playwriting
  • 143N Prose Nonfiction
  • 143T Poetry Translation Workshop
  • C143V Visual Autobiography

Capstone course/s

  • 190 Research Seminar (formerly Senior Seminar)

and/or

  • H195A-B Year-long Honors Seminar

English 190 is taught almost always by ladder-rank faculty and is limited to 25 students. The idea is for students to delve deeply into a subject in which they are seriously interested, to write at least 20 pages of an academic paper, to engage in scholarly discussions in the classroom community, and to develop an intimate working relationship with a professor.

English 195A-B, the year-long Honors seminar, is a demanding course designed for only the best students, usually those who are considering going to graduate school. The first semester is devoted to reading literary and/or cultural theory and to researching a thesis topic. The second semester is devoted to writing a 40-60-page honors thesis. Like the 190, the Honors seminar gives students the opportunity to research and write about a topic of their choice, to prepare for and participate in classroom discussions and presentations, and to develop a professional working relationship with two professors—the instructor and a thesis adviser.

Communication with Students

The English Department makes available a comprehensive set ofprinted materials that explain the English major requirements. The same materials are available on the English Department website:http://english.berkeley.edu

In addition, the English Department has two full-time staff members who advise students on a regular basis: a Student Services Advisor, Ken Mahru, and a Curriculum Coordinator, Laurie Kerr. All faculty members advise students, but each semester 4-6 faculty members are assigned advising duties. During their official time as Faculty Advisors, faculty hold additional office hours each week devoted exclusively to advising students.

Finally, the English Undergraduate Association (EUA) has members who serve as liaisons between students and faculty. Leaders in EUA often serve on key departmental committees where they contribute undergraduate perspectives and recommendations to the faculty and communicate what they learn to other undergraduates.

Evaluation of Goals

  • C136 Topics in American Studies
  • C143V Visual Autobiography (cross referenced with Visual Studies, American Studies,
  • and U.G.I.S.)
  • 170 Literature and the Arts
  • 171 Literature and Sexual Identity
  • 172 Literature and Psychology
  • 173 The Language and Literature of Films
  • 174 Literature and History
  • 175 Literature and Disability
  • 176 Literature and Popular Culture
  • 177 Literature and Philosophy
  • 178 British and American Folklore
  • 179 Literature and Linguistics
    • English 152 Women Writers
    • English 165 Special Topics
    • English 166 Special Topics
    • 43A Introduction to the Writing of Short Fiction
    • 43B Introduction to the Writing of Verse
    • 141 Modes of Writing (Exposition, Fiction, Verse, Etc.)
    • 142A Advanced Composition for Potential English Teachers in Secondary Schools
    • 143A Short Fiction
    • 143B Verse
    • 143D Expository and Critical Writing
    • 143E Playwriting
    • 143N Prose Nonfiction
    • 143T Poetry Translation Workshop
    • C143V Visual Autobiography
    • 190 Research Seminar (formerly Senior Seminar)
    • H195A-B Year-long Honors Seminar
    • Student papers
    • Student presentations
    • Examinations
    • Discussions
    • Portfolios
    • Teaching and course evaluations
    • Capstone experiences (English 190 or English H195A & H195B)
    • Exit surveys (irregularly)