Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the English major, a student will have developed the capacity to analyze texts, the ability to complete a significant independent research or creative project, and to present that work in writing and in discussion. Majors will be able to:

Demonstrate a broad understanding of the methods of literary scholarship
- Identify the fundamental concepts and tools of fiction and narrative
- Identify the fundamental concepts and tools of poetry
- Summarize and apply a theoretical paradigm
Complete a significant independent research or creative project that serves to critically explore a topic:
- Choose and define a research topic or a creative topic from the major field
- Develop a methodology or framework appropriate to the research or creative topic
- Engage with scholarly literature relevant to the research or creative topic
- Conduct independent work with the support of an advisor
- Respond appropriately to feedback
- Contribute to the larger field, whether through synthesis, innovation or creation
Communicate work done
- Write a clear and coherent document that is substantially longer than a traditional term paper or project and formatted in a style appropriate to the approach
- Orally present, discuss and defend work done

The primary assessment tool for learning in the major at Reed and the level of student achievement in the major area is the senior thesis; the junior qualifying examination, which assesses a student's readiness for thesis, provides a second assessment tool. See more information on the senior thesis and the junior qualifying examination.