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Nicholls State University
General Education Requirements

Alignment of Academic Profile Tasks and Nicholls General Education Objectives

AP Reading and Critical Thinking:

Level 1 At level 1, a student is able to perform the following tasks:

  1. Recognize factual material explicitly presented in a reading passage
  2. Understand the meaning of particular words or phrases in the context of a reading passage

Level 2 At level 2, a student is able to perform the following reading tasks:

  1. Synthesize material from different sections of a passage
  2. Recognize valid inferences derived from material in the passage
  3. Identify accurate summaries of a passage or of significant sections of the passage
  4. Understand and interpret figurative language
  5. Discern the main idea, purpose, or focus of a passage or of a significant portion of the passage

Level 3 At level 3, a student is able to perform the following critical thinking tasks:

  1. Evaluate competing causal explanations
  2. Evaluate hypothesis for consistency with known facts
  3. Determine the relevance of information for evaluating an argument or conclusion
  4. Determine whether an artistic interpretation is supported by evidence contained in a work
  5. Recognize the salient features or themes in a work of art
  6. Evaluate the appropriateness of procedures for investigating a question of causation
  7. Evaluate data for consistency with known facts, hypotheses, or methods
  8. Recognize flaws and inconsistencies in an argument

NSU Reading Objectives:

Depending upon the type of text, the student will be able to

  • Define or describe authorial purpose and/or thesis and tone
  • Differentiate between main ideas or themes and supporting details;
  • Identify stated and implied ideas
  • Describe the strategy of organization or structure
  • Distinguish between fact and opinion
  • Make logical inferences from their reading
  • Accurately summarize, paraphrase, and organize information from their reading

Related NSU Higher-Order Thinking Objectives:

  • Evaluate problems/issues/consequences/ raised
  • Recognize applicable general and/or disciplinary-specific modes of inquiry available to find answers, to problem-solve, to investigate;
  • Accurately apply the processes of deduction, induction, and other key elements of logical reasoning such as the differences among facts, inferences, assumptions, opinions, and theories;
  • Accurately interpret evidence/findings, especially alternative positions different from their own;
  • Evaluate the quality of reasoning behind arguments, interpretations, and/or beliefs;