OPIE Student Achievement Scale

Elementary Level

Core - Communication Situations — OPIE D200 / 5200D

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to do the following with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Initiate, respond to, and sustain effective communication about basic life skills and campus related topics using comprehensible pronunciation and language clarification techniques through conversation-based tests/quizzes and communication situation assignments.
Demonstrate ability to use vocabulary for basic life skills and campus communication.

Core – Grammar — OPIE D200 / 5200D

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to identify, form and contextually produce the following structures with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Simple sentence patterns
Basic time and tense
Simple verb patterns
Basic modals
Simple noun and pronoun patterns
Simple article and determiner patterns
Simple modification patterns
Simple relationship patterns

Listening/ Speaking — OPIE D201 / 5201D

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to do the following with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Accurately identify the main idea, keywords, and major details in a short piece of oral discourse on familiar topics and respond to follow-up questions
Accurately identify and discriminate between basic phonemes, grammatical features, stress, rhythm, and intonation patterns in isolated words and carefully spoken sentences
Accurately produce basic phonemes, grammatical features, stress, rhythm, and intonation patterns in isolated words and carefully spoken sentences
Appropriately ask and answer simple Yes/No and Wh-questions on familiar topics
Present basic information, short descriptions, or narratives on familiar topics in planned and spontaneous speech

Reading/ Writing — OPIE D202 / 5202D

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to do the following with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Accurately identify and use basic parts of speech, synonyms & antonyms, roots & affixes
Accurately identify basic transition words and vocabulary associated with fact/opinion and various rhetorical patterns
Answer basic WH, T/F, Y/N questions from a reading passage in short answers and complete sentences
Accurately identify main ideas and supporting ideas in short reading passages
Write phrases and sentences which meet writing needs for life skills (e.g. asking and answering questions, sending and receiving brief messages/e-mails, completing forms …)
Connect related words to write meaningful sentences using simple and some compound and complex sentence patterns
Write several related sentences (50-125 words) using basic transition words in response to a reading, prompt or question on familiar topic
Write a complete paragraph - focused topic sentence, at least three supporting sentences (relevant support) and an appropriate ending
Revise writing for simple content issues and edit for vocabulary, grammar and other common errors
Write several related sentences (50-125 words) in response to a prompt or question on familiar topics within a specified amount of time

Intermediate Level

Grammar – Core — OPIE D300 / 5300D

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to identify, form and contextually produce the following structures with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Time and tense
Verb patterns
Modals
Tag questions
Article and determiner patterns
Modification patterns
Noun clauses as the object of the verb
Relationship patterns
Direct and indirect speech

Writing – Core — OPIE D300 / 5300D

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to do the following with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Write logically ordered paragraphs for various genres which have a topic sentence with a controlling idea, include several relevant sentences with varied support, use transitions that signal organization and progression, and include an ending that returns to the main idea and appropriately uses concluding devices
Revise writing to improve unity, organization, and language use, and edit for errors in vocabulary, grammar, punctuation and mechanics
Write a multi-paragraph text with at least two paragraphs that discuss two aspects of a topic, have topic sentences with controlling ideas, include several relevant sentences with varied support, use transitions that signal organization and progression, and include endings that return to the main idea and appropriately use concluding devices
Write paragraphs (100-150 words) and a multi-paragraph text (200-250 words) in response to a prompt or question within a specified amount of time

Listening/ Speaking — OPIE D301 / 5301D

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to do the following with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Accurately identify main ideas and details in a variety of oral discourse genres by responding to comprehension questions based upon 5-10 minutes of discourse
Accurately identify and produce phonemes, grammatical features, focus words, stress, rhythm and intonation patterns, and connected speech/linking in clearly spoken sentences
Express and support point of view, narrate, describe, or explain with “paragraph” length oral discourse using appropriate transitions and connectors
Present a summary of an oral report or mini-presentation
Ask for and respond to information about a variety of topics
Reproduce in basic notes the main ideas and details from a simplified (3-5 min.) mini-lecture and identify specific information needed to respond to a given listening activity

Reading/ Vocabulary — OPIE D302 / 5302D

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to do the following with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Skim for important ideas, scan for facts/details, and differentiate between fact vs. opinion, in 4-7 paragraph texts and extensive readings
Demonstrate comprehension of a 4-7 paragraph text by answering questions about main ideas and supporting details in own words as well as using synonyms and antonyms for the purpose of retelling and summarizing
Differentiate between the topic, thesis, main ideas, and supporting ideas in a variety of rhetorical structures and organize into short, detailed outlines in own words
Demonstrate the ability to draw conclusions (inferences, explicit vs. implicit) from a reading passage
Accurately identify the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary through the use of word forms, roots and affixes, context clues and knowledge of English grammar
Use proper synonyms, antonyms, derivational suffixes and definitions of learned vocabulary in context and through sentence creation

Advanced Level

Grammar – Core — OPIE D500 / 5500D

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to identify, form and contextually produce the following structures with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Time, tense and verb patterns (integrated and ongoing)
Passive Voice
Sentence patterns
Adjective, adverb and noun clauses
Quoted and reported speech
Gerunds and infinitives
Modals
Causatives
Conditional sentences
Articles
Relationship patterns

Writing – Core — OPIE D500 / 5500D

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to do the following with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Write essays with a minimum of 5 paragraphs (400-600 words) in a variety of genres that include a well-developed introductory paragraph including thesis statement, at least 3 well-developed paragraphs that support the thesis statement, transitions between paragraphs, and an appropriate concluding paragraph
Write a paragraph-length summary of academic texts using paraphrases, quotes, and in-text citations where appropriate
Revise writing to improve unity, organization, and language use and edit writing for errors in vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, and mechanics
Write essays (250-400 words) with a genre appropriate response to a prompt or question within a specified amount of time

Reading – Core — OPIE D500 / 5500D

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to do the following with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Demonstrate comprehension of a passage by identifying main ideas, supporting details (both major and minor); scanning for pre and post reading questions; and skimming to accurately identify the thesis, important ideas, implied main ideas, and rhetorical structure
Demonstrate comprehension of a reading by identifying implicit/explicit information, fact/opinion and author’s purpose in texts, and by evaluating the logic and weight of arguments presented in a 2-4 page passage
Paraphrase and summarize various lengths of texts

Advanced Level Elective

Listening/ Note-taking/ Speaking (Advanced and Bridge Elective) — OPIE D701 / 5701D

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to do the following with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Accurately identify main ideas and supporting details in short academic lectures
Accurately record main ideas, supporting details (clearly showing the relationship between the two), and organizational structure from short academic lectures in a clear note-taking format incorporating symbols, abbreviations, charts, and diagrams
Use annotated and revised notes to summarize, participate in group discussions, and respond to both oral and written questions
Recognize the purpose of lecture language symbols
Deliver a well-organized, comprehensible short oral report, mini-presentation or informal talk that maintains audience interest, integrates point of view, and uses appropriate vocabulary
Initiate, sustain and bring closure to communicative tasks pertinent to campus and community life

Advanced Reading Skills (ARS) (Advanced, and Bridge Elective) — OPIE D702 / 5702D

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to do the following with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Skim for topic, thesis, important ideas and rhetorical structure and scan for main ideas, implied main ideas, and pre and post reading questions
Demonstrate comprehension of main ideas and supporting details in a text
Demonstrate comprehension of a reading by identifying explicit/implicit information, fact/opinion and the author’s purpose in texts, and by evaluating the logic and strength of arguments presented in a text
Use context clues, roots, and affixes to infer the meaning of unknown words in a text
Create meaningful sentences using vocabulary (and their various parts of speech) from the Academic Word List

Bridge/Pathway Levels

Combined Skills 1 / Pathway 1 — OPIE D960 / 5960D Core – Writing

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to do the following with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Write essays with a minimum of 5 paragraphs (400-1000 words; 2-5 pages) in a variety of genres that include a title, well-developed introductory paragraph including thesis statement (with clearly stated position), at least 3 well-developed paragraphs that support the thesis statement, transitions between paragraphs, and an appropriate concluding paragraph
Revise writing to improve unity, organization, and language use and edit writing for errors in vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and documentation of sources
Use grammatical structures in writing that communicate intended meaning and particular relationships (e.g. clauses and phrases of description, time, condition, cause/effect…) for clarity of expression
Write a paragraph-length summary of an academic text using paraphrases, quotes, and in-text citations where appropriate
In a paragraph, summarize accurately, objectively, and completely the main information from an assigned passage or article, and respond to it in a second paragraph by giving an opinion and personal experience and/or discussing the source’s strengths and weaknesses
Synthesize or integrate information and ideas from 2-3 sources (written and/or oral) into their writing
Research a topic, find sources in the library and/or online, evaluate the quality and appropriateness of the sources, and use standard style conventions for documenting sources
Write essays (300-400 words) or short-answer exams based on familiar content with genre-appropriate responses to prompts or questions within a specified amount of time

Combined Skills 1 / Pathway 1 — OPIE D960 / 5960D Core - Reading

Demonstrate comprehension of main ideas and supporting details of extended academic reading passages up to 5 pages long
Demonstrate understanding of an academic text by identifying facts, opinions and other critical thinking skills including inferences, authorial point of view, purpose, bias, and tone and interpreting charts, graphs, diagrams, and illustrations
Use context clues to ascertain the meaning of unknown lexical terms found in academic readings
Use new lexical terms acquired from the Academic Word List and other academic sources

Combined Skills 1 / Pathway 1 — OPIE D960 / 5960D Core – Listening/ Speaking

Give a 5-7 minute logically organized academic presentation (with reasonable fluency, accuracy, and complete articulation of ideas) acknowledging credible information and ideas from 1-3 sources
Summarize and convey to an audience with factual accuracy and completeness, the main ideas of media, academic readings, and/or oral presentations

Combined Skills 2 / Pathway 2

OPIE D970 / 5970D Core – Writing

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to do the following with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Write essays with a minimum of 5 paragraphs (400-1000 words; 2-5 pages) in a variety of genres that include a title, well-developed introductory paragraph including thesis statement (with clearly stated position), at least 3 well-developed paragraphs that support the thesis statement, transitions between paragraphs, and an appropriate concluding paragraph
Revise writing to improve unity, organization, and language use and edit writing for errors in vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and documentation of sources
Use grammatical structures in writing that communicate intended meaning and particular relationships (e.g. clauses and phrases of description, time, condition, cause/effect, …) for clarity of expression
Write a paragraph-length summary of an academic text using paraphrases, quotes, and in-text citations where appropriate
In 2-4 pages, summarize accurately, objectively, and completely the main information from an assigned passage or article, and respond to it by giving an opinion and personal experience and/or discussing the source’s strengths and weaknesses
Synthesize or integrate information and ideas from 3-6 sources (written and/or oral) into their writing
Research a topic, find sources in the library and/or online, evaluate the quality and appropriateness of the sources, and use standard style conventions for documenting sources
Write essays (300-400 words) or short-answer exams based on familiar content with genre-appropriate responses to prompts or questions within a specified amount of time

OPIE D970 / 5970D Core - Reading

Demonstrate comprehension of main ideas and supporting details of extended academic reading passages up to 10 pages long
Demonstrate a clear understanding of the differences between fact and opinion as well as using inferences and inferred main ideas and other critical thinking skills such as authorial point of view, purpose, bias, and tone and interpreting charts, graphs, diagrams, and illustrations
Use context clues to ascertain the meaning of unknown lexical terms found in academic readings
Use new lexical terms acquired from the Academic Word List and other academic sources

OPIE D970 / 5970D — Core – Listening/ Speaking

Give a 5-7 minute (or 4-6 min. each within a group) logically organized academic presentation (with reasonable fluency, accuracy, and complete articulation of complex ideas) acknowledging credible information and ideas from 2-4 sources, and using well-designed visual (and/or other media) aid
Summarize and convey to an audience with factual accuracy and completeness, the main ideas of media, academic readings, and/or oral presentations

Bridge - Electives

Composition — OPIE D805

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to do the following with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Demonstrate proficiency in writing at the paragraph level (including producing strong topic sentences and appropriate range of support and potentially incorporating these paragraphs into an essay)
Write essays with a minimum of 5 paragraphs (400-800 words; 2-4 pages) in a variety of genres that include a title, well-developed introductory paragraph including a thesis statement (with clearly stated position), at least 3 well-developed paragraphs that support the thesis statement, transitions between paragraphs, and an appropriate concluding paragraph
Revise writing to improve unity, organization, and language use and edit writing for errors in vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and documentation of sources
Use grammatical structures that communicate intended meaning and particular relationships (e.g. clauses and phrases of description, time, condition, cause/effect, …) for clarity of expression
In a paragraph, summarize accurately, objectively, and completely the main information from an assigned passage or article
In 1-3 pages, summarize accurately, objectively, and completely the main information from an assigned passage or article, and respond to it by giving an opinion and personal experience and/or discussing the source’s strengths and weaknesses
Synthesize or integrate information and ideas from 3-5 sources (written and/or oral) into their writing
Research a topic, find sources in the library and/or online, evaluate the quality and appropriateness of the sources, and use standard style conventions for documenting sources
Write essays (300-400 words) based on familiar content with genre-appropriate responses to prompts or questions within a specified amount of time

Grammar for Writing — OPIE D804

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to do the following with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Produce sentence structures (simple, compound, complex) that accurately convey intended meaning
Demonstrate sentence level focus and grammatical form appropriate to the idea that’s being advanced in written discourse
Write single and multi-paragraph texts that are grammatically accurate
Edit writing for accuracy

Advanced Grammar OPIE D803

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to identify, form and contextually produce the following structures with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Verb tenses
Subject – verb agreement
Passive voice
Articles
Adjective clauses
Adverb clauses
Conditionals
Modals and modal perfect verbs
Gerunds and infinitives
Noun clauses
Correlative conjunctions
Pronoun agreement
Referents
Prepositions

Oral Comm for University Classes — OPIE D715 / 5715D

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to do the following with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Demonstrate ability to work with a team and use strategies needed to effectively lead and/or participate in group discussions and debates
Summarize and convey to an audience with factual accuracy and completeness, information from various sources, such as media, academic readings, and oral presentations
Synthesize information and ideas from multiple sources with formal acknowledgement into an intelligible 5-7 minute (4-6 minutes within groups) presentation using well-designed visual aids and/or other media
Demonstrate effective verbal and non-verbal delivery

Reading & Writing About Literature — OPIE D809 /5809D

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to do the following with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Demonstrate knowledge of the background and context, as well as overall comprehension, of the reading texts, either orally or in writing
Accurately identify aspects of literary genres of the texts being read
Use new lexical terms acquired from the assigned readings
Utilize content and themes of reading texts in composing papers in a variety of genres (narrative, creative, and academic essay), integrating source material from texts as necessary
Write an essay exam using familiar content, such as from a reading that the class has studied and discussed
Present information about the background and context of the reading texts

TGERI — OPIE D806 / 5806D

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to do the following with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Document information, including electronic resources, accurately, consistently, and in conformity with an agreed-upon academic style; and annotate information resources
Design effective searches utilizing appropriate search terms and categories and Boolean logic and demonstrate ability to execute information search strategies using electronic, print, and other media resources
Accurately identify, select, and appropriately narrow a research topic; select appropriate information resources--electronic, print, and other media; and evaluate all information resources in terms of sets of criteria
Accurately identify and explain issues of academic honesty, including what plagiarism is and how to avoid it
Design and carry out a small-scale research study using elements of qualitative and/or quantitative research
Present research results in both written and oral forms with linguistic accuracy and the appropriate register of academic English
Incorporate supporting material from outside sources in academic writing and provide appropriate acknowledgement and accurate citation of these sources

Test-Taking Strategies — OPIE D807 / 5807D

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to do the following with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Articulate what various types of test questions are asking them to d
Utilize appropriate strategies to correctly answer various types of questions on tests
Demonstrate English language skills (listening, reading, writing, speaking/grammar, and vocabulary) through answering questions of the types typically found on English language proficiency tests

Exploring American Culture — OPIE D810

Student Learning Outcomes – by the end of this course, students will be able to do the following with a minimum of 70% accuracy:

Demonstrate, in writing, comprehension of the main ideas of extended academic reading passages.
Use target vocabulary to communicate accurately and appropriately.
Synthesize main ideas in a logically organized academic presentation (with reasonable fluency, accuracy and complete articulation of ideas).