tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070355695530434450.post6930580635589201223..comments2024-03-14T04:16:20.472-07:00Comments on In Socrates' Wake: What should philosophy majors know?Michael Cholbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02012523929044363216noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070355695530434450.post-73554320425729436292007-12-16T16:17:00.000-08:002007-12-16T16:17:00.000-08:00Anon, I've scoured the internet and not been able ...Anon, I've scoured the internet and not been able to come up with anything. A couple of options: <BR/>1. Write to ETS and ask them if they have any materials left over from the old philosophy subject test.<BR/>2. Ask around at undergraduate philosophy departments. Maybe some of them have kept old subject test info around?Michael Cholbihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02012523929044363216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070355695530434450.post-28132655058643743462007-12-14T23:49:00.000-08:002007-12-14T23:49:00.000-08:00I notice a few people have mentioned the GRE subje...I notice a few people have mentioned the GRE subject test for philosophy, that is now extinct. Do you know of any place on the internet where one could see this test. I would like to take a look at it to understand what it is really trying to assess.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070355695530434450.post-79208463283727425632007-08-29T16:49:00.000-07:002007-08-29T16:49:00.000-07:00Adam, I think it's tough to develop a summative as...Adam, I think it's tough to develop a summative assessment instrument to measure philosophical skills or (what you also seem interested in) breadth of exposure to philosophical ideas. I think Mike's right that having a thesis requirement (or simply looking at samples of student writing from their advanced courses) can be illuminating with respect to the former. Our department uses a rubric to compare a paper from an advanced course to a paper from earlier in students' careers to measure value-added improvement in student skills. We also administer a short (<20 questions) critical thinking test that none of us are entirely happy with. I saw a presentation recently about the Collegiate Learning Asssessment and was favorably impressed by how it assesses an integrated set of skills, including not only critical thinking, but also analytical writing, reasoning, etc.<BR/><BR/>The old GRE subject test did nicely with respect to breadth of philosophical content. We simply look to student transcripts to measure breadth. But I know of no better method.Michael Cholbihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02012523929044363216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070355695530434450.post-9999934801054240102007-08-28T11:43:00.000-07:002007-08-28T11:43:00.000-07:00Assessment has been a major focus on our campus in...Assessment has been a major focus on our campus in the past few years. Our department requires philosophy majors to complete a senior thesis. Assessment consists of having faculty read a few of these and assess them using a numerical rubric related to the following criteria:<BR/>1. The paper contains a clearly stated thesis on a particular philosophical issue.<BR/>2. The paper cites important figures from the history of philosophy in order to provide a clear and accurate account of some of the principal positions that have been advocated in regard to the issue.<BR/>3. The paper cites important contemporary philosophers in order to provide a clear and accurate account of some of the principal positions that have been advocated in regard to the issue.<BR/>4. The paper defends a thesis with a plausible line of reasoning, using complex argument forms and avoiding fallacies.<BR/>5. The paper clearly and charitably states philosophically respectable objections that have been, or could be, made against the thesis.<BR/>6. The paper develops adequate replies to these objections or, in light of them, modifies the thesis.<BR/>7. The paper includes proper citations and a bibliography and exhibits a familiarity with the tools of philosophical research.<BR/>8. The paper sustains a six to eight thousand word lengthy, argumentative prose style with a clear and logical organization and without resorting to padding.Mike Austinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02489700864050607425noreply@blogger.com