ERIC Number: EJ694916
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005-Apr
Pages: 9
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0363-4523
EISSN: N/A
The Use of Application Essays as an Effective Tool for Assessing Instruction in the Basic Communication Course
Jones, Adam C.; Simonds, Cheri J.; Hunt, Stephen K.
Communication Education, v54 n2 p161-169 Apr 2005
The assessment of student learning in general education courses is of critical importance in higher education. This study examined the utility of a particular writing assignment, application essays, as a course assessment tool in a basic communication course. Application essays are one page compositions asking students to describe a communication event and to use a single concept from class to analyze that experience. A content analysis of 369 application essays contained in 140 student portfolios coded (a) categories of communication events, (b) categories of course content, and (c) the quality of the linkages between them in the student writings. In general, students focused on mass media events, and utilized concepts developed early in the class. Seventy percent of the conceptual connections were appropriate. Results were used to subsequently modify the application essay assignment to encourage more diverse topical coverage.
Descriptors: Essays, Education Courses, Course Content, Writing Assignments, Mass Media, Content Analysis, Student Evaluation
Customer Services for Taylor & Francis Group Journals, 325 Chestnut Street, Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420 (Toll Free); Fax: 215-625-8914.
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A