Capstone Assessment Matrix
Department of History
B.A. Program
Semester: Fall
Spring
Year______ History 491
History 492
Honors
Student’s Name:
Instructions: As part of the Department’s program of outcomes assessment, each student in one of our capstone
classes is assessed. Using one of your existing course assignments as a writing sample appropriate for this
evaluation, please rate the student’s performance using the following criteria. If an evaluation of a particular
measure is not appropriate given this assignment, please tick the not applicable (N/A) box.
Type of writing sample:
In-class essay
Take-home exam
Length of writing sample:
Research paper
Honors thesis
Other:
pages; Please attach assignment to first student matrix
Weak(1)
Adequate(2)
Strong(3)
1. Demonstration of ethical use of
sources/proper citation (SLO 1)
2. Analysis of Primary/Secondary
Sources (SLO 2)
3. Formulation of historical
questions/argument (SLO 3)
4. Deployment of appropriate and
broad range of sources (SLO 3)
5. Reach convincing
conclusion(SLO 3)
6. Application of relevant historical
facts and context(SLO 4)
7. Understanding/Development of
interpretation(SLO 4, 5)
The above measures are linked to the following student learning objectives:
1. By the senior year, each major will demonstrate ethical use of sources and provide accurate and properly
formatted citations in all formal papers for either capstone course (491 or 492).
2. Each major will demonstrate in their research project(s) for either capstone course (491 or 492) or the Honors
research semester (493) the abilities: to distinguish between primary and secondary sources; to identify
and evaluate evidence.
3. Each major will demonstrate, in either capstone course and/or in writing the Honors thesis (494), the ability to
formulate a clear argument, support the argument with appropriate and thorough evidence, and reach a
convincing conclusion.
4. Each major will demonstrate the ability to compare and contrast different processes, modes of thought, and
modes of expression from different historical time periods and in different geographic areas.
5. Each major will demonstrate in research topic choices and resulting papers the ability to recognize and
articulate the diversity of human experience, including ethnicity, race, language, sex, gender, as well as
political, economic, social, and cultural structures over time and space.