Assessment of Art History Courses – Queensborough Community College
Fall 2011 – AR310 Introductory Survey of Art – WI
Learning Outcomes/Rubrics – Formal Writing Assignment
Learning Outcomes
Excellent
Good
Fair
Form
 Proper use of grammar,
syntax, and spelling
 Proper formatting and use
of illustrations
 Proper citation and
bibliographic reference
 Logical compositional
structure (intro, body,
conclusion, etc.)
Content
 Proper use of art historical
terminology
 Critical use of research
sources
 Conduct a descriptive
analysis of the visual
aspects of an art object
 Conduct analysis and
evaluation of stylistic and
historical contexts of a
work of art
10
13
10
13
9
8
6
9
13
1
7
15
1
8
10
5
9
13
1
9
13
1
Poor
Assessment of Art History Courses – Queensborough Community College
Fall 2011 – AR310 Introductory Survey of Art – WI
Learning Outcomes/Rubrics – Exam
Learning Outcomes
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor

Demonstrates command of
factual historical
knowledge pertinent to the
meaning and execution of
works of art
4
4
5
7

Demonstrates recognition
of art historical terms and
concepts and their
respective meanings
5
3
7
5

Demonstrates analytical
thinking through the
written expression of
historical facts and art
historical concepts in order
to derive meaning in works
of art
5
5
5
5
Assessment of Art History Courses – Queensborough Community College
Fall 2011 – AR317 History of Photography
Learning Outcomes/Rubrics – Formal Writing Assignment
Learning Outcomes
Excellent
Good
Fair
Form
 Proper use of grammar,
syntax, and spelling
 Proper formatting and use
of illustrations
 Proper citation and
bibliographic reference
 Logical compositional
structure (intro, body,
conclusion, etc.)
Content
 Proper use of art historical
terminology
 Critical use of research
sources
 Conduct a descriptive
analysis of the visual
aspects of an art object
 Conduct analysis and
evaluation of stylistic and
historical contexts of a
work of art
14
9
4
15
10
2
12
10
6
14
10
3
12
13
2
15
8
2
13
12
2
14
10
3
Poor
2
Assessment of Art History Courses – Queensborough Community College
Fall 2011 – AR317 History of Photography
Learning Outcomes/Rubrics – Exam
Learning Outcomes
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor

Demonstrates command of
factual historical
knowledge pertinent to the
meaning and execution of
works of art
7
8
10
3

Demonstrates recognition
of art historical terms and
concepts and their
respective meanings
8
9
9
2

Demonstrates analytical
thinking through the
written expression of
historical facts and art
historical concepts in order
to derive meaning in works
of art
8
13
6
1
Assessment of Art History Courses, Fall 2011, Dr. Kathleen Wentrack, Art & Design
AR310 Introductory Survey of Art
Most students in AR310 section D1 performed Good or Excellent in the areas of both Form and Content in their research paper
assignment. This formal writing assignment was written in stages as part of the WI requirement. The paper began with a written
analysis of student selected art objects, or a “visual analysis.” I provided feedback on content and grammar, which they integrated into
the next step of the assignment that added a research component. The students then participated in a peer review which provided
additional feedback and a different perspective on how another student approached the assignment. This step-by-step structure
completed over a month allowed the students to work on smaller pieces of writing and to revise their work several times before
submitting the final paper. Several students however scored lower in the areas of "Proper citation and bibliographic reference" and
"Critical use of research sources." The course included an Information Literacy session with Library faculty which assisted in finding
sources and using citations. The students may need more support in this area, a trend which follows but shows improvement from
previous semesters.
An exam was assessed using the Art History Course Learning Outcomes/Rubrics for Exams. The students displayed performance
outcomes across the spectrum and consistent with previous semesters. Typical for the course in past semesters more students scored
poorly in the area of "Demonstrates command of factual historical knowledge pertinent to the meaning and execution of works of art"
than other categories.
AR317 History of Photography
The majority of students in AR317 section D4 scored good or excellent on their research paper for the semester, a project which was
based on a class visit to photography exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The course also included an Information
Literacy class with Library faculty. Only two students scored poor in any category and this was under "Critical use of research
sources." Students scored across the spectrum of poor to excellent in all categories of the exam which is consistent with other art
history courses.