4 ESSAYs

reflective_essay--due_july_28.rtf

Class: Here are the instructions for your final, reflective essay that is due at the end of the semester. As a reminder, you will submit only one draft of this essay for grading, which will be submitted in your Assignments folder. Feel free to respond to this note with any questions or concerns.

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WRTG 291 - Final Project: Reflective Essay

INTRODUCTION:

Throughout this semester in WRTG 291, we have examined various views on technology and its impact on society. We have looked at the writings of various authors who have written pieces on the following themes:

a) How are online technologies changing the way we live?

b) How is technology changing our definition of what it means to be human?

c) What role should technology play in education?

Your final writing assignment calls for you to reflect on your writing, reading, and research experiences in an essay. The essay should be 700-900 words, double spaced and have the following academic essay elements:

1) a clear introduction, body, and conclusion

2) a clearly identifiable thesis statement at the end of the introduction

3) evidence based upon your recollections and any material from the course (whether from the texts, the online resources, the feedback to drafts, or the conference topics, the reading material) that you might find relevant to mention in your discussion

Length: 700-900 words

Possible approaches for the reflective essay in WRTG 291:

On the following pages, you will see descriptions of two examples of approaches that you can take in your reflective essay. Each approach has three (3) parts. Be sure that you clearly understand what is expected of you. If you have questions, be sure you ask your instructor.

You should choose only one of these tasks, and you may not choose any other topic.

Approach #1 – Self-Evaluating How Your Views on Technology Have Changed

or Remain Unchanged

What You Will Do:

In this essay, you will reflect on the various authors you have read in your theme for writing assignment #1 (the response essay). You will also reflect on any additional authors you read while conducting research and completing writing assignment #2 (the annotated bibliography) and writing assignment #3 (the synthesis research essay).

You will then examine how your views have changed, have not changed, or perhaps have changed in some areas and remain the same in other areas, on any aspects of technology that the authors discussed.

For example, perhaps you never considered the notion that the Internet may be affecting reading skills in society and making us less literate. On the other hand, perhaps you never thought that the Internet might actually be making us smarter. Perhaps your views have changed on one of these topics. Or perhaps you have considered such arguments but still remain unconvinced of them after having read them during the semester.

In this essay, you will integrate various authors that you have read into your writing in addition to integrating your own reactions to the authors. You will reflect on how your views of technology may or may not have changed during the course of the semester.

How you might develop this approach:

Since your essay uses a traditional structure for academic writing, you could try the following technique:

1. Think of your thesis as a “then and now” proposition. Your essay’s introduction can offer readers a brief look at what your views were on a certain aspect of technology when you began the semester in WRTG 291. Then, it could lead to a thesis statement that begins with a phrase such as “At the beginning of the semester, I thought ___. Now my understanding has changed.”

2. Discuss how and why your views on the impact of technology have changed. If they have not changed, discuss why not. You will need to include the following:

a. Evaluate the arguments made by the authors that you want to include in this reflective essay.

b. Discuss how your views have changed and why they have changed, integrating and synthesizing the source material and your own analysis throughout.

c. Discuss how your views have not changed and why they have not changed, integrating and synthesizing the source material and your own analysis throughout.

Please be specific and use quotations, paraphrases, and/or summaries of certain authors. Write robust, well-developed paragraphs as you reflect on your “technological thinking journey” throughout the semester.

3. In your conclusion, summarize in a succinct fashion the main points with which you want the reader to leave your essay.

Approach #2- Reflecting on Your WRTG 291 Writing and Research Experiences:

What You Will Do:

In this essay, you will evaluate your learning experience in WRTG 291. Your purpose is to estimate where you think your writing and research skills were when you began the course. By examining the work you did in WRTG 291, you will then identify the skills that this course helped you learn and develop.

How you might develop this approach:

Since your essay uses a traditional structure for academic writing, you could try the following technique:

1.      Think of your thesis as a “then and now” proposition. Your essay’s introduction can offer readers a brief look at why you took WRTG 291 and lead to a thesis statement that begins with a phrase such as “I began WRTG 291 with “X” writing skills; now I…”

2.      Discuss when/where/why you learned particular skills. You will need to include the following:

a. Evaluate how you approached certain assignments and tasks in the class.

b. Evaluate how you interacted with class materials (these can be materials in Course Content, conferences, the texts, the online resources, the Course Modules, the feedback you received on drafts of essays, the discussions in the classroom areas, etc.).

c. Then, discuss when/where/how/why you learned particular skills that helped you complete the assignments successfully and increase your writing skill set.

In analyzing your acquisition of skills, it will be helpful to consider the course outcomes for WRTG 291. They are as follows:

· locate, organize, and evaluate diverse sources in order to construct an academic essay

· apply the writing process to develop a research topic appropriate for an academic audience

· integrate appropriate sources to construct unified, coherent, and well-supported paragraphs

· demonstrate accurate grammar, mechanics, and documentation style in writing

In writing this section of the essay, please be specific. For example, you might refer to specific grammatical issues (outcome #4 ) and the process of developing a topic (outcome #2). You might refer to research skills (outcome #1) and your ability to integrate sources into your writing (outcomes #2 and #3). You might refer to challenges you had in writing paragraphs (outcome #3) and how the development of the paragraphs might have been enhanced by the use of sources in your writing. You might consider your experience in finding sources (outcome #1) and how the perusal of those sources helped you focus in on a topic (outcome #2).

These are just some suggestions to help you develop your points that you want to make for your essay. Do not be afraid to discuss any areas in which you felt you did not achieve as much as you would have liked or wish you could have had more instruction or practice. This information will be very helpful to your instructor.

3.      In your conclusion, consider the skills you feel you are taking away from WRTG 291 and how these skills will help you in future courses you take. Also, consider areas in which you think you will want to continue improving.

DUE DATE

Since this essay assignment replaces a final exam, you will only submit your final draft of your reflective essay. Your essay is due in your Assignments folder at the end of the semester – July 28, 2013

Analytic Rubric

CRITERIA

4

3

2

1

COMMENTS

PART I: Introduces the topic with an effective introduction & thesis statement (20%)

PART II: Develops the body of the essay with examples and references either to secondary sources on technology(option #1) or class discussions, video tutorials, textbook materials, & class modules (option #2) (40%)

PART III: Employs a fluid writing style & word choice (15%)

PART IV: Maintains accurate grammar & punctuation (15%)

Part V: Features an effective concluding paragraph, which should also describe how the course may inform future writing assignments/projects (10%)

Score Sheet

INTRODUCTION=20%

Assignment features an effective introduction with a clearly expressed thesis statement

4 Points

Assignment features an introduction and thesis statement, but the focus of the essay is not clear; thesis is vague

3 Points

Assignment features an under-developed introduction and thesis

2 Points

Assignment does not feature an introduction

1 Point

BODY=40%

Assignment features effective body paragraphs that are developed with examples and references to class discussions, video tutorials, textbook materials, and class modules (option #2) or to secondary sources on technology readings (option #1); body paragraphs are framed with topic sentences

4 Points

Assignment features body paragraphs that make some references to class discussions and materials and/or technology readings; topic sentences are not clearly expressed

3 Points

Assignment features under-developed body paragraphs; body paragraphs digress/regress; no topic sentences

2 Points

Assignment does not feature body paragraphs

1 Point

STYLE & WORD CHOICE=15%

Assignment employs a fluid writing style and vocabulary; transitions are effectively used throughout the essay

4 Points

Assignment features clear language and appropriate word choice; paragraphs have some digression/regression

3 Points

Assignment features awkward sentence structures; sentence meaning is not clear

2 Points

Assignment features incoherent language

1 Point

GRAMMAR=15%

Assignment has no grammatical/punctuation errors

4 Points

Assignment has 1-3 grammatical/punctuation errors

3 Points

Assignment has 4-5 grammatical/punctuation errors

2 Points

Assignment has 5 or more grammatical /punctuation errors

1 Point

CONCLUSION=10%

Assignment features an effective conclusion that also reflects on how future writing assignments/projects may be informed

4 Points

Assignment features a conclusion; however, the relationship between the conclusion and the body of the essay is not clearly expressed

3 Points

Assignment features an under-developed conclusion

2 Points

Assignment does not feature a conclusion

1 Point