Modern Languages and
Literatures Departmental Writing Goals

By the time they have completed their major requirements, all French and Spanish majors should be able to accomplish the following in their language of study:

1. write comprehensively for those unaccustomed to non-native writers: describe and narrate in all major time frames, use connected discourse of paragraph length, and exhibit good accuracy of frequently used structures;
2. use general vocabulary in all contexts and specialized or professional vocabulary in areas of focus;
3. function as their own editors by demonstrating skillful use of proofreading, editing, dictionaries, and spell checkers;
4. formulate a thesis and write a paper successfully supporting that thesis in well-organized, logical, and developed paragraphs;
5. tailor writing to appropriate audience and communication purpose for work, academic, and personal needs;
6. understand the conventions of writing about literature and other kinds of texts;
7. demonstrate a working knowledge of MLA style and appropriate use of sources in order to avoid plagiarism;
8. generate well-organized and developed responses to short-answer and essay test questions.

The above goals should be demonstrated in reflective writing (as opposed to spontaneous writing) when the writer has time to plan, organize, edit, and rewrite.

The goals were formulated with the guidance of the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines C Writing, by Karen E. Breiner-Sanders, Elvira Swender, Robert M. Terry (revised 2001). Advanced high is an appropriate goal for the undergraduate level of foreign language acquisition.