Life Learning Paper

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Keys to Success for Writing Life Learning Papers Well, you finally made it! You are now ready to begin writing your first life learning paper, which will be initially in draft. Before you begin, there are some final directions that will be the keys to your success in writing llps. In brief review, you have learned that all life learning papers will: • Be critically analyzed using Kolb’s Model of Experiential Learning • Have four distinct sections that reflect Kolb’s Model. • Be 7½ – 12 pages in length, with none being less than 7½ pages and no more than 12 pages, using Times New Roman 12 point font • Include documentation of the learning • Follow APA formats Also: You will write 3 life learning papers. Two (2) of these life learning papers will be submitted in draft form BEFORE you submit them for a final review and evaluation on Week 6. Producing the drafts is one key to success! For the first draft  Choose a life learning paper topic that you feel you have the most

learning. o Look over your program planning form. o Look at the possible llp topics that you and your Academic

Advisor identified during your initial academic advising session.

o Pick one of those topics that you feel the most confident about concerning your learning experience and knowledge. Write on that topic.

o Do not choose a philosophy llp for your first llp. Philosophy llps are more abstract and are easier to write after you get more comfortable with Kolb’s Model.

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 When you have identified the llp topic for your draft, return to the Life Learning Paper Information page in the Professional Studies Google Site.

o Go to the Life Learning Paper Guides, find the guide for your topic.

o Follow the guide! o Do all four sections of the life learning paper.

 As you are writing the paper, you may come to a section that just

isn’t coming together for you. o Do your best with the section and then go on to the next

section. o Your instructor will be able to give you feedback on how to

develop the section.

 All life learning papers must have documentation. o However, for the draft, just include a list of documentation

you are going to supply at the end of the paper. o If you don’t know what or how to document, indicate that

on the paper, too. The instructor can give you suggestions.

 Don’t forget about using all the Life Learning Paper resources available to you in the Professional Studies Resource Guide.

o Resources include the sample life learning papers and other documents.

o Refer to these if necessary.

 Remember: there are no points or grading for the draft. So relax! Do your very best, but don’t be stressing out about the grade.

Feedback from your Instructor and from Turnitin.com  You will receive timely feedback from your instructor about the

writing and content of your draft.  Although you will not receive any points from this draft

submission, you will get valuable feedback from your instructor

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about any kind of editing, revision, or expansion that is needed before you submit your llp for final evaluation on week 6.

 These are the kinds of feedback that are typical – o give a more detail description, provide more information

here, move this paragraph from this section to another, etc. o This feedback will give you confidence while taking away

some of the stress!

 You turn your draft into Turnitin.com o Turnitin.com will identify any areas that might be

considered as plagiarism. o This gives you a great “heads up” to do some proper

citation, rewriting in your own words, or other kinds of editing before you submit your llp for its final evaluation on week 6.

So REMEMBER! After more than 25 years of teaching thousands of learners how to write life learning papers, the faculty and academic advisors of the School of Professional Studies are experts in guiding learners through the life learning paper process. Based on that knowledge, here are the keys to successfully writing life learning papers:

• First and foremost: Follow the life learning paper guides! This cannot be stressed enough. More than any other tool or reference that you have, this is the most valuable! The guides will help you to stay on track and address each area of the paper properly. If you try to write

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the llp without a guide, you will most likely have to rewrite most of the paper. Follow the llp guides!!

Even though you are not being graded for the draft, turn in the draft and make all changes as identified by the instructor. Your instructor is going to give you valuable advice on how to develop your llp. So, make all changes.

Lastly, as you are writing the draft, you may have questions. Make contact with either your instructor or academic advisor. No question is too small or inconsequential. An email or phone call can quickly alleviate anxiety or stress.

So, you are ready. You have all the information and tools you need in order to write your first life learning paper.