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Application Essays As An Effective Tool For Assessing Instruction In The Basic Communication Course: A Follow-Up Study, Joseph P. Mazer, Cheri J. Simonds, Stephen K. Hunt

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The assessment of student learning in general education courses is of critical importance in higher education. This study examines the utility of a writing assignment (application essays) in a basic communication course as an effective assessment tool. The authors conducted a content analysis of student portfolios to determine the extent to which application essays provide evidence of student learning in the basic course. The present study extends the findings from recent assessment efforts (Jones, Simonds, & Hunt, 2005) to explore types of mass media events students address in application essays and assess the revisions made to the assignment based on …