Literary Analysis Outcomes and Assignments chart 3.31.2011
Core Curriculum
Learning Outcome
Critical Thinking—
Communication
Document1
Learning
Outcome
1-A. Applies
generic
conventions to
elucidate
meaning in
literature
AND/OR
Novice
Apprentice
Proficient
Assignment
Analyzes elements of
genre to demonstrate a
convincing claim about
the meaning or function
of a literary text
Seamlessly integrates analysis of all
or most elements of genre relevant
to proving a convincing claim about
the text’s meaning or function
Offers apprentice-level work
but evaluates as well as
analyzes genre or meaning;
may also incorporate a
theoretical approach to
understanding the text
Literarycritical
analysis
essay
1-B.
Demonstrates
how cultural and
historical
contexts shape
meaning in
literature.
Considers how the time
and place of a literary
text’s composition affect
its meaning or function
Uses specific, textual evidence
effectively to prove a clear claim
about how the time and place of a
literary text’s composition affect its
meaning or function; the argument is
informed by research
Analyzes specific details from
the literary text to
demonstrate how the time
and place of composition as
well as the text’s intended
audience prove a convincing
claim about the text’s
meaning or function; the
argument is informed by
ample research and may also
evaluate culture, history,
and/or genre
Literarycritical
analysis
essay
2.Identifies how
language
manifests
meaning in
literature
Identifies how language
influences a literary
text’s meaning or
function
Analyzes multiple elements of
language to demonstrate a
convincing claim about the meaning
or function of a literary text
Seamlessly integrates analysis
of all or most elements of
language relevant to proving
a convincing claim about the
text’s meaning or function
Literarycritical
analysis
essay
3. Uses textual
evidence to
demonstrate a
convincing
written claim
Offers a qualified thesis
statement and
demonstrates a meaning
or function of the literary
text via analysis of
Offers a creative, perceptive and
well-qualified thesis statement;
considers alternate interpretations
and analyzes meaning or function of
the literary text using ample, specific
Delivers all the qualities of
apprentice-level work but also
offers a clear, creative,
perceptive, well-qualified
thesis statement informed by
Literarycritical
analysis
essay
Literary Analysis Outcomes and Assignments chart 3.31.2011
about meaning in
literature.
Information Fluency
4. Derives
evidence from a
literary text to
demonstrate a
claim
5. Cites textual
evidence
according to
Modern
Language
Association style
Document1
specific textual
evidence;
organization is
transparent, relevant,
and effective; diction,
voice, and style are
mostly consistent and
appropriate; the essay is
mostly free of
grammatical, spelling, or
diction errors and shifts
in tense or point of view.
Supports claims by
appropriately
summarizing,
paraphrasing, and/or
quoting from a primary
literary text; also edits
and interprets quotations
to show how they
support claims.
Uses current MLA
documentation to cite
evidence from one
literary source with
reasonable accuracy;
includes an accurate
“Works Cited” page
documenting one literary
source
textual evidence; organization is
transparent, relevant, and effective;
diction, voice, and style are
consistent and appropriate; the essay
is free of grammatical, spelling, or
diction errors and shifts in tense or
point of view.
research; may also undertake
synthesis and/or evaluation in
addition to analysis.
Delivers all the qualities of the novice
essay and adds clear and simple
signal phrases to summarize,
paraphrase, and/or quote from the
literary text; also interpolates full or
partial quotations from the literary
text into the writer’s style to support
and qualify claims;
isolates and analyzes particular
language of integrated quotations to
support and qualify claims
Uses current MLA documentation to
cite evidence accurately from one or
more literary sources; includes an
accurate “Works Cited” page
documenting one or more literary
sources
Delivers all the qualities of the
apprentice essay; also
effectively uses other primary
and secondary sources to
inform the argument
Literarycritical
analysis
essay
Uses current MLA
documentation to cite
multiple literary, primary or
secondary sources with
consistent accuracy; includes
a consistently accurate works
cited page with entries for
multiple types of sources
Literarycritical
analysis
essay