MFA Thesis Assessment Rubric The Thesis Directr shuld bring cpies f the MFA Thesis Assessment Rubric t the Thesis Defense make cpies ahead f time! All MFA rubrics shuld be cmpleted AT THE THESIS DEFENSE. All cmpleted MFA rubrics shuld be placed in Anna Leahy s mailbx within 3 business days f the defense. The Thesis Directr is als required by the University t cmplete the library s checklist, which can als be cmpleted at the defense (r after the student makes changes based n the defense) and which serves as a mre extensive rubric fr SLO #1. SUBMIT A COPY f that cmpleted checklist t Anna Leahy s mailbx. TITLE OF THESIS: GENRE OF THESIS: THESIS AUTHOR: DATE OF THESIS DEFENSE: This thesis defense date represents cmpletin f the thesis (X in ne circle): While enrlled in ENG 597: Thesis fr the first time. While enrlled in ENG 508-A: Thesis (cntinuing enrllment) fr the first time. While enrlled in ENG 508-A: Thesis fr the secnd time. Other; please explain here: SLO #1: Write a bk-length prject that is f a piece in cnjunctin with guidelines in the English Department s Graduate Handbk, including deadlines, publishable length, and chesiveness f the whle. Because assessment has shwn that MFA students ften neglect basic manuscript preparatin requirements (with dire cnsequences in the real wrld f publishing and grant writing), it remains especially imprtant t track this SLO. Please CIRCLE yur selectin fr each item. 1. The thesis adheres t ne f the fllwing page limits: FICTION OR NFICTION: 150-250 pages POETRY: 48-80 pages OTHER: please define: 2. The thesis is paginated crrectly. 3. The thesis cntains a crrect Table f Cntents.
4. The thesis submitted in 12-pt. Times New Rman fnt. 5. A Critical Statement f between 7 and 10 pages is included. If n, skip items #6 and #7. 6. The Critical Statement is prfessinal in cntent, tne, and fcus. If n, please explain here: 7. The Critical Statement assists in understanding the thinking, prcess, and/r aesthetics underpinning the thesis. If n, please explain here: 8. The thesis was successfully defended in frnt f a minimum f three (3) faculty members.
SLO #2: Write using prficient sentence-level skills, including grammar, syntax, and vcabulary. Please CIRCLE yur selectin fr each item. If yu want t add cmmentary, write that under Nte any significant prblems 1. The thesis emplys apprpriate punctuatin. ADVANCED: The thesis cntains punctuatin errrs, but nly as they are apprpriate t the style r vice. ADVANCED: The thesis cntains few (0-5) punctuatin errrs. SATISFACTORY: The thesis cntains several (5-10) punctuatin errrs r repeats the same type f errr in several instances. (Nte: D nt cunt, fr instance, all cmma errrs as ne type f errr; Oxfrd cmma incnsistency wuld be a different type f errr than cmmas missing frm a dialgue tag.) UNSATISFACTORY: The thesis cntains many punctuatin errrs, nt merely ne errr repeated in numerus instances. Nte any significant prblems in punctuatin here: 2. The thesis emplys apprpriate syntax (mdificatin, parallel structure, cmplete sentences, etc.). ADVANCED: The thesis deviates frm standard syntactic structures, but nly as they are apprpriate t the style r vice. ADVANCED: The thesis emplys standard syntactic structures. SATISFACTORY: The thesis ccasinally deviates frm standard syntactic structures in ways that undermine the style r vice, cnfuse, r demnstrate amateurism. UNSATISFACTORY: The thesis regularly deviates frm standard syntactic structures in ways that undermine the style r vice, cnfuse, r demnstrate amateurism. Nte any significant prblems in syntax here: 3. The thesis emplys apprpriate grammar usage (ther than punctuatin and syntax). ADVANCED: The thesis cntains grammatical errrs, but nly as they are apprpriate t the style r vice. ADVANCED: The thesis cntains 0-3 grammatical errrs. SATISFACTORY: The thesis cntains 4-10 grammatical errrs. UNSATISFACTORY: The thesis cntains mre than 10 grammatical errrs. Nte any significant prblems in grammatical usage here: 4. The thesis emplys effective idim and frmality. ADVANCED: The thesis shifts idim and frmality, but nly as apprpriate t supprt the verall style, vice, r effect.
ADVANCED: The thesis uses effective idim and frmality. SATISFACTORY: The thesis ccasinally shifts idim and frmality, but nt ften enugh t undermine the style, vice, r effect. UNSATISFACTORY: The thesis regularly shifts idim and level f frmality in ways that undermine the style r vice, cnfuse, r demnstrate amateurism. Nte any significant prblems in idim and frmality here: 5. The dictin f the wrk is apprpriate fr the cntent and effect. ADVANCED: The thesis misuses dictin, but nly as apprpriate t supprt the verall style, vice, r effect. ADVANCED: The thesis uses effective and innvative dictin. SATISFACTORY: The thesis uses dictin effectively but nt innvatively. SATISFACTORY: The thesis ccasinally misuses uses dictin, but nt ften enugh t undermine the style, vice, r effect. UNSATISFACTORY: The thesis regularly misuses dictin in ways that undermine the style r vice, cnfuse, r demnstrate amateurism. Nte any significant prblems in dictin here: 6. Overall, the thesis reflects a plished quality n the sentence-level; it flws apprpriately. Yes, it demnstrates prfessinal sentence-level quality thrughut. Yes, verall, but it needs editing n the sentence level in sme places. N, it needs significant revisin n the sentence level.
SLO #3: Write demnstrating prficient use f genre elements, techniques, and basic genre cnventins. Please CHOOSE the apprpriate sectin (either fictin r petry), then CIRCLE yur selectin fr each item in that sectin. Creative nnfictin and mixed-genre thesis prjects will nt be assessed fr SLO #3 at this time; skip SLO #3 nly fr thesis prjects that clearly cannt be assessed as fictin r petry. FICTION 1. The wrk f fictin is a fcused stry rather than mere narrative. ADVANCED: The piece effectively tells a finished stry is a cmplete dramatic actin. ADVANCED: The piece is successfully experimental. It might nt tell a cnventinal stry, but it successfully cnveys the sense f a stry in sme fashin. The stry wrks. SATISFACTORY: The piece is partly successful: it attempts t tell a stry but falls shrt because f inadequate use f fictinal elements/techniques. UNSATISFACTORY: The piece is mere narratin, r the writer failed t tell the stry cherently r effectively due t an inadequate grasp f fictinal elements/techniques. Nte any significant prblems here: 2. The piece emplys a cnsistent pint f view that is apprpriate t the plt r purpse. ADVANCED: The pint f view f the piece is sensibly chsen, is cnsistent, and is effective in telling the stry. ADVANCED: The pint f view f the piece is uncnventinal/experimental, but is cnsistently emplyed and effective: the piece wrks despite r because f the uncnventinal pint f view. SATISFACTORY: The pint f view f the piece is fairly cnsistent, but is inadequate t tell the stry effectively: it seems haphazardly chsen, leads t awkward tricks t cnvey infrmatin (infrmatin dump in dialgue, fr instance) and/r is marred by narratr intrusin r small lapses in viewpint. UNSATISFACTORY: The pint f view in the piece is incnsistent, haphazard, needlessly awkward, r in sme ther fashin a detriment t the piece. Nte any significant prblems in pint f view here: 3. The piece emplys a useful/apprpriate mix f scene and synpsis. ADVANCED: The piece emplys develped scenes, detailed synpsis, and brief synpsis t tell its stry. ADVANCED: The piece makes uncnventinal r experimental use f scene and synpsis, r cnveys infrmatin via interir mnlgue, r perhaps is uncnventinal in defining what cnstitutes infrmatin. The piece wrks despite r because f experimentatin r uncnventinality. SATISFACTORY: Althugh the piece tells the stry it sets ut t tell, it is weakened by revealing t much in synpsis, by underwriting r verwriting scenes, r by attempting t cnvey t much in dialgue.
UNSATISFACTORY: The piece is ineffective because f pr use r mix f scene and synpsis: excessive synpsis, badly underdevelped scenes, expsitin dumped int dialgue, etc. Nte any significant prblems in scene and synpsis here: 4. The piece emplys sufficient and effective use f descriptin f setting and character. ADVANCED: The piece cntains enugh descriptin t prvide verisimilitude and t make the writing visual and therwise sensry. The writer has clearly pictured the scenes and has cnveyed thse pictures thrugh detailed, sensry language. The writer has put in the details that matter. ADVANCED: The piece is uncnventinal in its use f descriptin in the abundance f descriptin r in the manner in which it s cnveyed, but the uncnventinality f the presentatin is right fr the particular stry that s being tld. The piece wrks. SATISFACTORY: The piece wants mre descriptive detail. Althugh the writer tells the stry, the reader is smetimes disengaged because f weak specificity. UNSATISFACTORY: The piece fails t engage the reader because f a lack f descriptive detail. The stry lacks verisimilitude because f a want f descriptin. The writer has failed t put in the details that matter. Nte any significant prblems in descriptin here: 5. The piece cntains well-develped primary characters and sufficiently develped secndary characters. ADVANCED: The characters in the piece are rund: lifelike, authentic, and engaging. ADVANCED: The piece emplys an uncnventinal use f character is sme useful way, perhaps purpsely flattening characters, making characters ut f the rdinary r inhuman, r emplying experimental methds f characterizatin. The piece wrks despite r because f uncnventinal characterizatin. SATISFACTORY: The piece tells a stry but is in sme way ineffective because f weak r indifferent characterizatin. UNSATISFACTORY: The piece misses the mark because characters are flat, inauthentic, implausible, r in sme ther way ill-drawn. Nte any significant prblems in characterizatin here: 6. The piece cntains well-written, useful, t-the-pint dialgue when dialgue is required. ADVANCED: The piece emplys dialgue that wrks that is apprpriate t the characters, that is essential t the telling f the stry, and that is sensibly frmatted and attributed. ADVANCED: The piece emplys uncnventinal dialgue techniques in phrasing r frmatting in rder t achieve an experimental artistic effect. The piece wrks because f r despite its uncnventinality.
SATISFACTORY: Dialgue is marred by ccasinal lapses: cntent that s nt relevant t the stry, effrts at dialect r slang that dn t quite wrk, insufficient dialgue attributin, t much r t little dialgue, etc., but these faults weaken rather than ruin the piece. UNSATISFACTORY: The piece is in sme sense ruined by the inadequate emplyment f dialgue. Dialgue cntains randm r useless infrmatin, speechifying, badly rendered dialect, r is bviusly emplyed t dump infrmatin that wuld better be revealed in scenes and synpsis. Nte any significant prblems in dialgue here: POETRY 1. The cllectin shws cherence acrss pems in terms f frm, cntent, theme, r vice. ADVANCED: The cllectin is artfully cherent withut being redundant. ADVANCED: The cllectin wrks against cherence as part f its experimental apprach, but may be cherent in its experimentatin. SATISFACTORY: The cllectin s cherence may be smewhat bvius r smewhat blique but is emerging. UNSATISFACTORY: The cllectin lacks cherence and suggests an arbitrary selectin and rdering f pems. Nte any significant prblems here: 2.Individual pems emply useful/apprpriate frmal r structural elements, such as lineatin. ADVANCED: Frmal r structural elements are sphisticated, shwing bth cherence and variety. SATISFACTORY: Frmal r structural elements are cmpetently written, demnstrating apprpriate but nt especially riginal r artful use. UNSATISFACTORY: Frmal r structural elements are unsphisticated, seemingly lacking in purpse, r t incnsistent t demnstrate cmpetence. Check all that apply. The cllectin emplys pems that are: Free verse Fixed frm Prse pem Experimental in visual frm Nte any significant prblems in pint f view here: 3. The cllectin emplys useful/apprpriate metaphr and ther cmplex figures f speech. ADVANCED: Metaphr, simile, and ther cmplex figures f speech are emplyed apprpriately and artfully.
ADVANCED: Metaphr, simile, and ther cmplex figures f speech are avided as part f the experimental mde. SATISFACTORY: Metaphr, simile, and ther cmplex figures f speech are used but embdy uneven artfulness r smetimes lack cntext. UNSATISFACTORY: Metaphr, simile, and ther cmplex figures f speech are nt used r are used arbitrarily. Nte any significant prblems in scene and synpsis here: 4. The cllectin emplys useful/apprpriate sund devices such as repetitin, rhyme (end and/r internal), nmatpeia, rhythm, r cntrast. ADVANCED: Sund devices such as repetitin, rhyme, r cntrast are emplyed apprpriately and artfully. ADVANCED: Sund devices such as repetitin, rhyme, r cntrast, perhaps in favr f spken cnversatin r ther mdes, are avided as part f the experimental mde. SATISFACTORY: Sund devices such as repetitin, rhyme, r cntrast are used but embdy uneven artfulness r smetimes lack effect. UNSATISFACTORY: Sund devices such as repetitin, rhyme, r cntrast are nt used r are used arbitrarily. Nte any significant prblems in descriptin here: 5. The cllectin emplys cncentrated language. ADVANCED: Cncentrated language is achieved apprpriately and artfully. ADVANCED: Cncentrated language is avided as part f experimental mde. SATISFACTORY: Cncentrated language is smewhat uneven within a pem r frm pem t pem. UNSATISFACTORY: Cncentrated language is nt achieved; verwriting, perhaps as expsitin, is prevalent. Nte any significant prblems in characterizatin here: 6. The cllectin emplys vivid, apprpriate sensry imagery. ADVANCED: Sensry imagery is used apprpriately and artfully. ADVANCED: Sensry imagery is avided as part f the experimental mde. SATISFACTORY: Sensry imagery is smewhat uneven within a pem r frm pem t pem. UNSATISFACTORY: Sensry imagery is nt used, is cliché, is nt artful, r is inapprpriate t cntext and effect. Nte any significant prblems in dialgue here:
SLO #4: Invent a distinct persnal vice r style apprpriate fr cntent and effect in the given piece. Please CIRCLE yur selectin fr each item. 1. Dictin and syntax cnvey a distinctive manifestatin f the writer s, character s, r speaker s perspective and sensibility. ADVANCED: The thesis demnstrates cntrl f dictin and syntax t cnvey a distinct perspective r style. ADVANCED: The thesis is successfully experimental in dictin and syntax, perhaps cntaining cntradictins r tensins thrugh which a distinctive style emerges. SATISFACTORY: The thesis is partly successful; it emplys clear chices in dictin and syntax t cnvey a perspective r style but is nt always cnsistent r distinctive. UNSATISFACTORY: The thesis has fails t emply dictin and syntax in a way that cnveys a distinctive perspective r style. 2. Pint f view is carefully and cnsistently emplyed t manifest the writer s, character s, r speaker s perspective and sensibility. ADVANCED: Chice and applicatin f pint f view demnstrates a cntrl f craft t cnvey a distinctive perspective r style. ADVANCED: Chices in pint f view are experimental, challenging cnventin, but als clearly purpseful and cntrlled in cnveying a distinctive perspective r style. SATISFACTORY: Chice and applicatin f pint f view may nt always be cnsistent, demnstrating a develping cntrl f craft that prduces a wavering r bland style. UNSATISFACTORY: Chice in pint f view is incnsistent and struggles t cnvey a distinctive perspective r style. 3. The structure f the piece(s) is intimately cnnected t the perspective r style f the piece. ADVANCED: The thesis demnstrates cntrl f structure that cmplements and cnstructs a distinctive perspective, sensibility, r style. ADVANCED: The thesis is successfully experimental; it challenges the reader s expectatins f structural cnventins and uses its structure tward a distinctive perspective, sensibility, r style. SATISFACTORY: The thesis demnstrates a develping cntrl f structure, incnsistent at times, r relying n generic structures that lead t lack f distinctiveness. UNSATISFACTORY: The thesis is ineffective in its cntrl f structure. 4. The details included and mitted and level f detail f the piece(s) creates a distinctive perspective r style. ADVANCED: The thesis demnstrates cntrl f detail in relatin t style. ADVANCED: The thesis is successfully experimental; it challenges the reader s expectatins f detail t create a distinctive style and wrks because f uncnventinality. SATISFACTORY: The thesis demnstrates a develping cntrl f detail that, at times, may cme acrss as banal r cmmnplace. UNSATISFACTORY: The thesis is ineffective in its cntrl f detail