Report on Final Writing Project or Thesis and Final Oral Examination
Master of Arts Program in English at Kansas State University
Candidate's Name:_______________________________________________________________________________
Final Writing Project or Thesis Title:_______________________________________________________________
Result (Check One):
Pass with Distinction
Pass
Fail



Summary comments:
Evaluation of SLO #4 (Recognize and analyze the perspectives and assumptions that they and other readers and critics
bring to texts and interpretations):
Evaluation of SLO #6 (Demonstrate integrative and independent thinking, originality, imagination, experimentation,
problem solving, or risk taking in thought, expression, or intellectual engagement):
Major Professor: _______________________________________________________________________________
Committee Member:_____________________________________________________________________________
Committee Member:_____________________________________________________________________________
Major Professor Signature:_________________________________________ Date: ________________________
Instructions
1. The Major Professor completes this report by recording the vote of the committee: Fail, Pass,
Pass with Distinction. A Pass in the final oral examination signifies the Supervisory Committee and
Department's acceptance of the final writing project or thesis. Two of the three committee members
must vote to Pass for the student to pass the examination. Students may also Pass with Distinction, a
relatively rare honor. The Supervisory Committee's decision to Pass with Distinction acknowledges
that the performance on the final oral examination was outstanding and that the writing project or
thesis itself is distinguished. The Supervisory Committee's decision to Pass with Distinction must
be unanimous.
2. The Supervisory Committee's determination of Fail, Pass, or Pass with Distinction should be
made in light of the Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for the Master of Arts Program in English
at Kansas State University. Those program aims have been articulated as follows:
Upon completion of the Master of Arts degree, graduate students in English are expected to be
able to do the following and to demonstrate their ability to do the following:






Read carefully, with historical and contextual perspective
Conduct research within the field of English
Think analytically and critically about literature and language
Recognize and analyze the perspectives and assumptions that they and other readers and
critics bring to texts and interpretations
Write well, with an understanding of audience and purpose
Demonstrate integrative and independent thinking, originality, imagination,
experimentation, problem solving, or risk taking in thought, expression, or intellectual
engagement
Moreover, though no specific pieces of knowledge can define the Master of Arts in English for
every student, Master of Arts students in English should be able to demonstrate the acquisition
of substantial knowledge about literature and language in the context of their area of
concentration.
3. The Major Professor provides a written summary of the student's performance on the final
writing project or thesis and final oral examination. This written report should also provide a more
specific evaluation of whether the writing project or thesis and exam meets, exceeds, or fails to
meet the Department's 4th and 6th SLOs. Typed comments are preferred. A downloadable form is
available at: http://www.ksu.edu/english/programs/graduatestudies/examreport.doc.
4. The Major Professor completes this report and returns it to the Director of Graduate Studies
within seven days of the examination. The Major Professor should deliver the Final Oral
Examination ballot to the Graduate School. The student should be instructed to present a clean,
revised, final copy of the final writing project to the Director of Graduate Studies or a clean,
revised, final copy of the thesis to the Graduate School.
5. The Major Professor lists the names of the other committee members and signs the report on
behalf of the whole committee to certify both the vote and the summary judgment of the committee.