Reflection Letter

Reflection Letter and Self-Evaluation

Points: 50 (Reflection Letter--graded on completion) 50 (self-evaluation graded on substance)

100 total

Due: End of Final Exam period (5/22) to Blackboard

Format: (Reflection Letter) Printed letter, properly formatted, 1.5 single-paced pages

Self-Evaluation: 1-2 single-spaced pages

This assignment has two separate but related tasks. You should write them up and present them

separately, but you can upload them in one file if you wish.

Reflection Letter:

This reflection letter is a reflection that you will address to me on how you have changed as a

communicator and what you’ve taken away from the course. It is also a space for you to share

other things you think I should know or other things you feel.

WHY:

I assign this for three reasons. First, we know that self-reflection and evaluation is a useful

element of learning. Taking the time to look at what you’ve gained or learned helps you…learn.

Second, it allows me to see what is “sticking” from the course. If I see that almost everyone is

taking away or finding particular topics really useful, that’s really helpful for me. Finally, it gives

me a chance to get some feedback on the course itself and how I teach it. We will do teaching

and course evaluation forms, but those are often returned after the next semester has begun and

do not always provide useful feedback. Please be candid/frank in these reflections. These letters

are graded almost entirely on completion/depth. I will read the detailed feedback, including

critical feedback, after final grades are entered. That’s because I want you to feel comfortable

telling me if you did not like an assignment or the way I taught or something else. You giving me

that feedback will not negatively affect your final grade. Simultaneously, if you write me a three-

page sonnet about my teaching brilliance, it’ll be a big self-esteem boost over the break, but also

won’t affect your final grade. Finally, I know that this semester was not what any of us signed up

for. So, I want to give you a space to (if you wish) vent about life, talk about how things were

different, or just think on paper).

HOW:

In no more than two single-spaced pages, I’d like you to reflect on how you have experienced

the class and what you make of the ideas that we have worked with thus far. These letters are

another opportunity for you to reflect and provide me feedback on the experiences in this class,

ultimately contributing to the improvement/adaptation of this course for future students. Make it

interesting and engaging, and please, be candid. Here are some guiding questions. Don’t feel like

you have to answer them all, but feel free to address them if you so desire. You can format this

letter/these answers however you wish, but I highly addressing these issues.

1) Your experience with the course a. What challenges did you face in the assignments in Speech Communication, and

how did you deal with them?

b. What’s the thing you learned from this class that surprised you the most? c. Which speech was your favorite to do as a speaker? Why? d. Which speech was most enjoyable/valuable as an audience member? Why?

e. What do you think is the most valuable thing you learned in this class? f. If you had to summarize the three biggest takeaways (for you personally from the

class, what would you say they are?

2) The course and your feedback on it a. If you could give incoming students in this class advice next year, what would it

be? (This advice is often distributed to students in my sections next semester at

the beginning of the class)

b. What did you like or dislike about the course? Why? c. If you could change three things about how the course runs (not the time, room,

etc), what would you change and why?

d. What three things about the course would you definitely keep the same? Why? e. What would you add to the course? Why? f. The biggest challenge in this course is usually speech anxiety or nerves around

speaking. Keeping in mind that coronavirus totally sunk our last three speeches

and the second half of the semester, do you feel like there was meaningful

progress on your speech anxiety? If so, how? If not, what do you think might have

helped?

g. Anything else you think I should know or any last thoughts that you’d like to share?

In general, the letter is a chance for you to reflect on your experience in the course, how you

changed during it, and what you are taking away.

Self-Evaluation:

This brief write-up is a chance for you to reflect on your own growth and development as a

public speaker. While the reflection letter is more about the course and your overall experience,

this focuses on how you have changed as a public speaker and where you want to keep

developing.

First, go and find the earliest video recording you have of a speech. If you did the practice

videos, then your one for the introductory speech should still be available on Vocat. If not, then

your practice informative speech should be available. If you do not have a video of your earlier

speaking at all, this will be a bit more abstract/challenging to complete. View the video and take

notes on what you notice. Then, watch your ceremonial speech video and do the same. After

doing that, write an evaluation of no more than 1-2 single-spaced pages that evaluates your

progress and changes as a public speaker. I’d like you to reflect on your own

growth/development and your experiences with the course. Focus on your strengths and

weaknesses, the areas you have improved and need to improve, and how far you think you have

come as a public speaker.

You might speak to questions such as the following:

• How do you think the speech process went? Are there any things you wish you would have done differently in the speeches?

• If you could go back to the beginning of the semester, how (if at all) would you approach the speeches differently?

• How does your delivery compare from the first to the most recent video? Are there any significant differences? If so, what are they?

• How does your comfort and confidence level differ between the videos, if at all?

• What are you better at now than when you started? What is something that you’re still working on?

• What part of public speaking do you feel you improved on the most this semester? Why?

• Which part of public speaking do you feel like is your biggest challenge still? Why?

• Which activities were most/least helpful for practicing public speaking?

• What parts of public speaking do you most want to continue working on? Why?