1. Kennedy-King College’s Assessment Academy Project Report
October 2013

2. A Brief History of Writing Across the Curriculum
WAC has been an ongoing initiative at KKC for nearly ten years
Two years ago, WAC was added as a project to KKC’s Assessment Academy Project with the Higher Learning Commission
Last year, WAC worked in partnership with the Dean’s office to assess our students’ writing across the general education curriculum

3. What We’ve Done…
Re-tooled scoring rubric to provide a better snapshot of student writing (based on Academy mentor recommendation)
During committee collected 230 writing samples from 10 departments
During committee collected 377 writing samples from 23 different courses

4. What We’ve Done…
Held workshops to train committee members on paper scoring
Scored writing samples analytically using revised WAC rubric
Compiled data for distribution to faculty
Provided concrete recommendations for improving writing on campus

5. WAC Analytic Scoring Rubric (Old version)

7. 2012-2013 WAC Scores (Raw Numbers)
Composition
Organization
Style
Sentence Structure
Usage
Mechanics 4
101 90 76 66 61 64 3
155
142
135
145 2
103
112
141
144
126
134 1 18 20 32 35 34

8. 2012-2013 WAC Scores (Percentages)
Composition
Organization
Style
Sentence Structure
Usage
Mechanics 4
27%
24%
20%
18%
17% 3
41%
38%
36% 2
30%
37% 1 5% 9%

9. Some Quick Takeaways…
Composition is the strongest aspect of our students’ writing with 68% scoring a 4 or 3.
Sentence Structure is the weakest aspect of our students’ writing with 47% achieving only a 1 or 2.
Usage and Mechanics also proved difficult for our students with only 55% achieving a 4 or 3 in both areas.

10. How We Compare To Last Year…
Composition Scores:
Net Change
4 – 37% 27%
3 – 44% 41%
2 – 17% 27%
1 – 2% 5%

11. How We Compare To Last Year…
Organization Scores:
Net Change
4 – n/a 24% n/a
3 – n/a 41% n/a
2 – n/a 30% n/a
1 – n/a 5% n/a

12. How We Compare To Last Year…
Style Scores:
Net Change
4 – 29% 20%
3 – 39% 38%
2 – 31% 37%
1 – 1% 5%

13. Sentence Structure Scores:
How We Compare To Last Year…
Sentence Structure Scores:
Net Change
4 – 32% 18%
3 – 41% 36%
2 – 25% 38%
1 – 2% 9%

14. How We Compare To Last Year…
Usage Scores:
Net Change
4 – 22% 17%
3 – 43% 38%
2 – 32% 36%
1 – 2% 9%

15. How We Compare To Last Year…
Mechanics Scores:
Net Change
4 – 25% 17%
3 – 43% 38%
2 – 32% 36%
1 – 2% 9%

16. Why The Change? Bigger sample size Rubric changes
Submissions focused only on general education classes
Submissions process

17. Concrete Things We’ve Done:
Recommend all faculty provide writing rubrics to students for all writing assignments
Encourage use of the Writing Center tutoring services through adoption of GradesFirst technology
WAC Committee regularly meets with Communications Department to discuss strategies

18. Concrete Things We’ve Done:
WAC Committee makes annual presentation of findings to all faculty and staff during Faculty Development Week
WAC Committee members have been participants on college search committee for new institutional researcher

19. Where We’re Heading…
WAC is scheduled to officially report out of the Assessment Academy this fall
WAC will meet separately and with Department Chairs to formulate specific more recommendations to improve writing
WAC will continue to explore ways to expand awareness of the project and to increase submissions.

20. Where We’re Heading…
Recommendations will be shared and refined with the English Department
Final recommendations will be distributed to entire KKC faculty through Department Chairs

21. Thank you
Questions?