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December 19, 2001
Conceptual Framework Reading,
Writing, and Communication Programs
By Scott Carlson, Chronicle of Higher Education

Washington -- Some additional items address other important aspects of how students spend their time and what the institution asks them to do, which directly and indirectly affect their engagement.

The results discussed in this section are not presented in a table but are available from the NSSE website. The five items about the extent to which the institution emphasizes different kinds of mental activities represent some of the skills in Bloom's (1956) taxonomy of educational objectives.

The standardized alpha for these items is .70 when the lowest order mental function item, memorization, is included. However, the alpha jumps to .80 after deleting the memorization item.

This set of items is among the best predictors of self-reported gains, suggesting that the items are reliably estimating the degree to which the institution is challenging students to perform higher order intellectual tasks. Patterns of correlations among these items are consistent with what one would expect.

For example, the item related to the number of hours spent preparing for class is positively related to several questions surrounding academic rigor such as the number of assigned course readings (.25), coursework emphasis on analyzing ideas and theories (.16) and synthesizing information and experiences (.16), the number of mid-sized (5-19 pages) written papers (.15), and the challenging nature of exams (.21). Likewise, the number of assigned readings is predictably related to the number of small (.24) and mid-sized (.29) papers written. Interestingly, the quality of academic advising is positively correlated with the four higher order mental activities, analyzing (.15), synthesizing (.17), evaluating (.15), and applying (.17), and is also positively related to the challenging nature of examinations (.20).

The set of educational program experiences (e.g., internships, study abroad, community service, working with a faculty member on a research project) have an alpha of .52. Working on a research project with a faculty member is positively related to independent study (.27), culminating senior experiences (.25), and writing papers of 20 pages or more (.15).

Also, students who had taken foreign language coursework were more likely to study abroad (.24). It's worth mentioning that the national College Student Experiences Questionnaire database shows that the proportion of students saying they have worked on research with a faculty member has actually increased since the late 1980s, suggesting that collaboration on research may be increasingly viewed and used as a desirable, pedagogically effective strategy (Kuh & Siegel, 2000; Kuh, Vesper, Connolly, & Pace, 1997).

Finally, the time usage items split into two sets of activities, three that are positively correlated with other aspects of engagement and educational and personal gains (academic preparation, extracurricular activities, work on campus) and three items that are either not correlated or are negatively associated with engagement (socializing, work off campus, caring for dependents).

Less than 1% of full-time students reported a total of more than 100 hours across all six time allocation categories. Three quarters of all students reported spending an average of between 35 and 80 hours a week engaged in these activities plus attending class.

Assuming that full-time students are in class about 15 hours per week and sleep another 55 hours or so a week, the range of 105 to 150 hours taken up in all these activities out of a 168-hour week appears reasonable. A few of these items have out-of-range but explainable skewness and kurtosis indicators.

They include the number of hours spent working on campus (72% work five or fewer hours per week), the number of papers of 20 pages or more (66% said "none"), number of non-assigned books read (78% said fewer than 5), and the number of hours students spend caring for dependents (78% reported 5 or fewer hours).

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November 19, 2001
State of California
English-Language Arts
Content Standard,
Grades Eleven and Twelve
By Delaine Eastin,
Superintendent of Public Instruction

Curriculum Standards:

Reading
Grades 11 & 12

Reading

1.0 Word Analysis, Fluency, and Systematic Vocabulary Development
Students apply their knowledge of word origins to determine the meaning of new
words encountered in reading materials and use those words accurately.

Vocabulary and Concept Development
1.1 Trace the etymology of significant terms used in political science and history.
1.2 Apply knowledge of Greek, Latin, and Anglo-Saxon roots and affixes to draw
inferences concerning the meaning of scientific and mathematical terminology.
1.3 Discern the meaning of analogies encountered, analyzing specific comparisons as well as relationships and inferences.

2.0 Reading Comprehension (Focus on Informational Materials)
Students read and understand grade-level-appropriate material. They analyze the
organizational patterns, arguments, and positions advanced. The selections in
Recommended Readings in Literature, Grades Nine Through Twelve illustrate the
quality and complexity of the materials to be read by students. In addition, by grade twelve, students read two million words annually on their own, including a wide variety of classic and contemporary literature, magazines, newspapers, and online information.

Structural Features of Informational Materials
2.1 Analyze both the features and the rhetorical devices of different types of public
documents (e.g., policy statements, speeches, debates, platforms) and the way in
which authors use those features and devices.

Comprehension and Analysis of Grade-Level-Appropriate Text
2.2 Analyze the way in which clarity of meaning is affected by the patterns of
organization, hierarchical structures, repetition of the main ideas, syntax, and word
choice in the text.
2.3 Verify and clarify facts presented in other types of expository texts by using a
variety of consumer, workplace, and public documents.
2.4. Make warranted and reasonable assertions about the author's arguments by using elements of the text to defend and clarify interpretations.
2.5 Analyze an author's implicit and explicit philosophical assumptions and beliefs
about a subject.

Expository Critique
2.6 Critique the power, validity, and truthfulness of arguments set forth in public
documents; their appeal to both friendly and hostile audiences; and the extent to which the arguments anticipate and address reader concerns and counterclaims (e.g., appeal to reason, to authority, to pathos and emotion).

3.0 Literary Response and Analysis
Students read and respond to historically or culturally significant works of literature
that reflect and enhance their studies of history and social science. They conduct
in-depth analyses of recurrent themes. The selections in Recommended Readings in Literature, Grades Nine Through Twelve illustrate the quality and complexity of the materials to be read by students.

Structural Features of Literature
3.1 Analyze characteristics of subgenres (e.g., satire, parody, allegory, pastoral) that are used in poetry, prose, plays, novels, short stories, essays, and other basic genres.

Narrative Analysis of Grade-Level-Appropriate Text
3.2 Analyze the way in which the theme or meaning of a selection represents a view or comment on life, using textual evidence to support the claim.

3.3. Analyze the ways in which irony, tone, mood, the author's style, and the "sound" of language achieve specific rhetorical or aesthetic purposes or both.

3.4. Analyze ways in which poets use imagery, personification, figures of speech, and sounds to evoke readers' emotions.

3.5. Analyze recognized works of American literature representing a variety of genres and traditions:
a. Trace the development of American literature from the colonial period forward.
b. Contrast the major periods, themes, styles, and trends and describe how works by members of different cultures relate to one another in each period.
c. Evaluate the philosophical, political, religious, ethical, and social influences of the
historical period that shaped the characters, plots, and settings.

3.6 Analyze the way in which authors through the centuries have used archetypes
drawn from myth and tradition in literature, film, political speeches, and religious
writings (e.g., how the archetypes of banishment from an ideal world may be used to interpret Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth).

3.7 Analyze recognized works of world literature from a variety of authors:
a. Contrast the major literary forms, techniques, and characteristics of the major
literary periods (e.g., Homeric Greece, medieval, romantic, neoclassic, modern).
b. Relate literary works and authors to the major themes and issues of their eras.
c. Evaluate the philosophical, political, religious, ethical, and social influences of the
historical period that shaped the characters, plots, and, settings.

Literary Criticism

3.8 Analyze the clarity and consistency of political assumptions in a selection of literary works or essays on a topic (e.g., suffrage, women's role in organized labor). (Political approach)
3.9 Analyze the philosophical arguments presented in literary works to determine
whether the authors' positions have contributed to the quality of each work and the
credibility of the characters. (Philosophical approach)


Writing

1.0 Writing Strategies
Students write coherent and focused texts that convey a well-defined perspective and
tightly reasoned argument. The writing demonstrates students' awareness of the
audience and purpose and progression through the stages of the writing process.

Organization and Focus
1.1 Demonstrate an understanding of the elements of discourse (e.g., purpose,
speaker, audience, form) when completing narrative, expository, persuasive, or
descriptive writing assignments.
1.2 Use point of view, characterization, style (e.g., use of irony), and related elements for specific rhetorical and aesthetic purposes.
1.3 Structure ideas and arguments in a sustained, persuasive, and sophisticated way and support them with precise and relevant examples.
1.4 Enhance meaning by employing rhetorical devices, including the extended use of parallelism, repetition, and analogy; the incorporation of visual aids (e.g., graphs,
tables, pictures); and the issuance of a call for action.
1.5 Use language in natural, fresh, and vivid ways to establish a specific tone.

Research and Technology

1.6 Develop presentations by using clear research questions and creative and critical research strategies (e.g., field studies, oral histories, interviews, experiments, electronic sources).
1.7 Use systematic strategies to organize and record information (e.g., anecdotal
scripting, annotated bibliographies).
1.8 Integrate databases, graphics, and spreadsheets into word-processed documents.

Evaluation and Revision

1.9 Revise text to highlight the individual voice, improve sentence variety and style, and enhance subtlety of meaning and tone in ways that are consistent with the purpose,audience, and genre.

2.0 Writing Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics)
Students combine the rhetorical strategies of narration, exposition, persuasion, and
description to produce texts of at least 1,500 words each. Student writing
demonstrates a command of standard American English and the research,
organizational, and drafting strategies outlined in Writing Standard 1.0.

Using the writing strategies of grades eleven and twelve outlined in Writing Standard 1.0, students:

2.1 Write fictional, autobiographical, or biographical narratives:
a. Narrate a sequence of events and communicate their significance to the audience.
b. Locate scenes and incidents in specific places.
c. Describe with concrete sensory details the sights, sounds, and smells of a scene and the specific actions, movements, gestures, and feelings of the characters; use interior monologue to depict the characters' feelings.
d. Pace the presentation of actions to accommodate temporal, spatial, and dramatic mood changes.
e. Make effective use of descriptions of appearance, images, shifting perspectives, and sensory details.

2.2 Write responses to literature:

a. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the significant ideas in works or
passages.
b. Analyze the use of imagery, language, universal themes, and unique aspects of the text.
c. Support important ideas and viewpoints through accurate and detailed references to the text and to other works.
d. Demonstrate an understanding of the author's use of stylistic devices and an
appreciation of the effects created.
e. Identify and assess the impact of perceived ambiguities, nuances, and complexities within the text.

2.3 Write reflective compositions:
a. Explore the significance of personal experiences, events, conditions, or concerns by using rhetorical strategies (e.g., narration, description, exposition, persuasion).
b. Draw comparisons between specific incidents and broader themes that illustrate the writer's important beliefs or generalizations about life.
c. Maintain a balance in describing individual incidents and relate those incidents to
more general and abstract ideas.

2.4 Write historical investigation reports:
a. Use exposition, narration, description, argumentation, exposition, or some
combination of rhetorical strategies to support the main proposition.
b. Analyze several historical records of a single event, examining critical relationships between elements of the research topic.
c. Explain the perceived reason or reasons for the similarities and differences in
historical records with information derived from primary and secondary sources to
support or enhance the presentation.
d. Include information from all relevant perspectives and take into consideration the
validity and reliability of sources.
e. Include a formal bibliography.

2.5 Write job applications and resumés:
a. Provide clear and purposeful information and address the intended audience
appropriately.
b. Use varied levels, patterns, and types of language to achieve intended effects and aid comprehension.
c. Modify the tone to fit the purpose and audience.
d. Follow the conventional style for that type of document (e.g., resumé, memo) and use page formats, fonts, and spacing that contribute to the readability and impact of the document.

2.6 Deliver multimedia presentations:
a. Combine text, images, and sound and draw information from many sources (e.g., television broadcasts, videos, films, newspapers, magazines, CD-ROMs, the Internet,
electronic media-generated images).
b. Select an appropriate medium for each element of the presentation.
c. Use the selected media skillfully, editing appropriately and monitoring for quality.
d. Test the audience's response and revise the presentation accordingly.


Written and Oral English Language Conventions

The standards for written and oral English language conventions have been placed
between those for writing and for listening and speaking because these conventions are essential to both sets of skills.

1.0 Written and Oral English Language Conventions
Students write and speak with a command of standard English conventions.

1.1 Demonstrate control of grammar, diction, and paragraph and sentence structure and an understanding of English usage.
1.2 Produce legible work that shows accurate spelling and correct punctuation and
capitalization.
1.3 Reflect appropriate manuscript requirements in writing.


Listening and Speaking

1.0 Listening and Speaking Strategies
Students formulate adroit judgments about oral communication. They deliver focused and coherent presentations that convey clear and distinct perspectives and
demonstrate solid reasoning. They use gestures, tone, and vocabulary tailored to the audience and purpose.

Comprehension

1.1 Recognize strategies used by the media to inform, persuade, entertain, and transmit culture (e.g., advertisements; perpetuation of stereotypes; use of visual representations, special effects, language).
1.2 Analyze the impact of the media on the democratic process (e.g., exerting influence on elections, creating images of leaders, shaping attitudes) at the local, state, and national levels.
1.3 Interpret and evaluate the various ways in which events are presented and
information is communicated by visual image makers (e.g., graphic artists,
documentary filmmakers, illustrators, news photographers).

Organization and Delivery of Oral Communication
1.4 Use rhetorical questions, parallel structure, concrete images, figurative language, characterization, irony, and dialogue to achieve clarity, force, and aesthetic effect.

1.5 Distinguish between and use various forms of classical and contemporary logical arguments, including:
a. Inductive and deductive reasoning
b. Syllogisms and analogies

1.6 Use logical, ethical, and emotional appeals that enhance a specific tone and
purpose.

1.7 Use appropriate rehearsal strategies to pay attention to performance details,
achieve command of the text, and create skillful artistic staging.

1.8 Use effective and interesting language, including:
a. Informal expressions for effect
b. Standard American English for clarity
c. Technical language for specificity

1.9 Use research and analysis to justify strategies for gesture, movement, and vocalization, including dialect, pronunciation, and enunciation.

1.10 Evaluate when to use different kinds of effects (e.g., visual, music, sound,
graphics) to create effective productions.

Analysis and Evaluation of Oral and Media Communications
1.11 Critique a speaker's diction and syntax in relation to the purpose of an oral
communication and the impact the words may have on the audience.
1.12 Identify logical fallacies used in oral addresses (e.g., attack ad hominem, false
causality, red herring, overgeneralization, bandwagon effect).
1.13 Analyze the four basic types of persuasive speech (i.e., propositions of fact,
value, problem, or policy) and understand the similarities and differences in their
patterns of organization and the use of persuasive language, reasoning, and proof.
1.14 Analyze the techniques used in media messages for a particular audience and
evaluate their effectiveness (e.g., Orson Welles' radio broadcast "War of the Worlds").

2.0 Speaking Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics)
Students deliver polished formal and extemporaneous presentations that combine
traditional rhetorical strategies of narration, exposition, persuasion, and description.
Student speaking demonstrates a command of standard American English and the
organizational and delivery strategies outlined in Listening and Speaking Standard 1.0.

Using the speaking strategies of grades eleven and twelve outlined in Listening and
Speaking Standard 1.0, students:

2.1 Deliver reflective presentations:
a. Explore the significance of personal experiences, events, conditions, or concerns, using appropriate rhetorical strategies (e.g., narration, description, exposition, persuasion).
b. Draw comparisons between the specific incident and broader themes that illustrate the speaker's beliefs or generalizations about life.
c. Maintain a balance between describing the incident and relating it to more general, abstract ideas.

2.2 Deliver oral reports on historical investigations:
a. Use exposition, narration, description, persuasion, or some combination of those to support the thesis.
b. Analyze several historical records of a single event, examining critical relationships between elements of the research topic.
c. Explain the perceived reason or reasons for the similarities and differences by using information derived from primary and secondary sources to support or enhance the presentation.
d. Include information on all relevant perspectives and consider the validity and
reliability of sources.

2.3 Deliver oral responses to literature:
a. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the significant ideas of literary
works (e.g., make assertions about the text that are reasonable and supportable).
b. Analyze the imagery, language, universal themes, and unique aspects of the text
through the use of rhetorical strategies (e.g., narration, description, persuasion,
exposition, a combination of those strategies).
c. Support important ideas and viewpoints through accurate and detailed references to the text or to other works.
d. Demonstrate an awareness of the author's use of stylistic devices and an
appreciation of the effects created.
e. Identify and assess the impact of perceived ambiguities, nuances, and complexities within the text.

2.4 Deliver multimedia presentations:
a. Combine text, images, and sound by incorporating information from a wide range of media, including films, newspapers, magazines, CD-ROMs, online information, television, videos, and electronic media-generated images.
b. Select an appropriate medium for each element of the presentation.
c. Use the selected media skillfully, editing appropriately and monitoring for quality.
d. Test the audience's response and revise the presentation accordingly.

2.5 Recite poems, selections from speeches, or dramatic soliloquies with attention to performance details to achieve clarity, force, and aesthetic effect and to demonstrate an understanding of the meaning (e.g., Hamlet's soliloquy "To Be or Not to Be").

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