Spring 2010 Assessment, Department of History
Courses: History 112; History 127
This assessment is the first phase in a project that will eventually incorporate all
courses taught in the history department.
Members of the history department constructed Final Exam essay questions
designed to assess student learning outcomes. The students were graded on their
ability to:
1) Communicate effectively through writing, by demonstrating ability to
critically interpreting texts and use writing to clarify meaning;
2) Use analytical reasoning to identify issues and problems and evaluate
evidence in order to make informed decisions, by demonstrating the ability to
evaluate the quality of evidence, differentiate between facts, assumptions, and
conclusions in the formulation of a proposed solution or answer, and describe and
compare the way questions, issues, or problems are formulated within history; and
3) Use historical perspectives to examine formation of ideas, human behavior,
or social processes, by demonstrating the ability to use historical facts to provide
context for understanding information, and interpret information to analyze
historical events.
A) The topics for final exam questions:
History 112 (Modern History): World War I
History 127 (American History I): Compare the Declaration of
Independence to any other document in the course reader
B) The department used the same grading rubric per course (see attached).
C) The number of students and sections included in the assessment:
History 112 (Modern History)
History 127 (American History I)
# of sections
11
2
# of students
358
80
D) The history department’s assessment of student outcomes yielded the
following result:
Percentage of students demonstrating at
least minimum proficiency level
History 112 (Modern History):
80.2%
History 127 (American History I):
74.6%
Grading Rubric – History 112
Essay Questions
A
B
C
D
F
Abundant
specific
examples are
provided,
excellent
context and
explanation on
why they were
significant
Essay is
extremely well
organized,
highly logical,
very well
written and
displays
obvious
evidence of
having read the
textbook
Many specific
examples are
provided, good
context and
explanation on
why they were
significant
Some specific
examples are
provided, fair
context and
explanation on
why they were
significant
No specific
examples are
provided, no
context and
explanation on
why they were
significant.
Essay is well
organized,
logical, well
written, and
displays
evidence of
having read
the textbook
Essay is fairly
well organized,
somewhat
logical,
acceptably
written, and
displays
possible
evidence of
having read
the textbook
Very few
specific
examples are
provided, poor
context and
explanation on
why they were
significant
Essay is poorly
organized, not
logical, poorly
written and
displays very
little evidence
of having read
the textbook.
Essay lacks any
organization or
logic, very
poorly written
and displays
no evidence of
having read
the textbook.
Essay for final exam, History 127
Compare and contrast the Declaration of Independence to one of the documents we have
discussed in class. You may refer to any document we have discussed since the midterm.
These include all documents after the Declaration (p.9) Make sure to include explanation
of the context in which each document was produced.
Rubric used to grade essay on final exam for History 127-F4
Task
completion
Full, accurate,
insightful
comparison and
contrast.
Organization
Readability
Understanding of texts
The topic is stated
clearly in the
beginning and the
essay flows
logically
Communicates in a
clear and engaging
style
Essay shows insightful
understanding of both
texts
4 points
4 points
Communicates in
language that is
generally clear
although there may
be a few
grammatical errors
Essay shows generally
good understanding of
one or both texts
4 points
4 points
Partial
comparison and
contrast
3points
The topic is stated,
but not in the
beginning and the
essay occasionally
rambles
3 points
3 points
Either
comparison or
contrast is
missing
The topic is not
stated and the essay
occasionally
rambles
2 points
Neither
comparison nor
contrast is
offered
2 points
The topic is not
stated and the essay
has no structure
3 points
Communication is
frequently hindered
by errors and poor
word choices
2 points
2 points
Communicates little Essay shows weak or no
because of poor
understanding of texts
word choices and
grammatical errors 1 point
1 points
1 point
Essay shows partial
understanding of texts
1 point