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Examples of Assessment by Institution |
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Reed College begins its assessment efforts in the freshman humanities course, the foundation of the Reed education, and its seven paper conferences throughout the year in which each student meets individually with his or her conference leader to discuss the student’s strategies, strengths, and weaknesses in making written arguments.
Another significant assessment is the Junior Qualifying Examination, part of the Reed curriculum since 1918, which is designed to test students’ general knowledge of their field and readiness to undertake the senior thesis project. It serves as a diagnostic aid in identifying weaknesses in a student’s preparation for advanced study, assists the student in unifying his or her knowledge, and provides academic departments feedback on program effectiveness.
A Senior Thesis is required of all seniors and has been a feature at Reed since its founding. The thesis is a yearlong course and process in which the student chooses a topic and an adviser, creates a research plan and bibliography, and undertakes the lengthy process of original research and writing or creative expression. Most students meet weekly with advisers.
At the conclusion of the second semester, the thesis is defended in front of an interdisciplinary committee of four faculty members in a two-hour oral examination.
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Reed College |
