Composition I: Digital Portfolio & Reflection Letter AssignmentReflection Letter:
You will write a 1-2 page letter in which you reflect on your experiences with reading and writing this semester. Please use the formal letter template on PLATO under “Course Syllabus & Schedule.” I want to hear what you’re proud of and things you could have improved upon. Your audience for this letter is me (your instructor).
Letter contents:
(You don’t have to answer all of these questions—these are just some ideas!)
Reflections on your work in our class this semester: Overall, how do you feel about the semester and your writing experiences? Are you proud of your work?
What are you proud of? What could have been improved? What was the most difficult part of the semester, in my class or others? What assignments in our class were not helpful to you? (You can be honest!) What did you learn that most excited you? (2-3 paragraphs)
Reflections on your feelings about college writing: Did you have any other major writing assignments in other classes this semester? What were they like? Do you feel prepared for college writing? If you feel unprepared, what are you apprehensive about? (1-2 paragraphs)
Portfolio & Reflection Letter 1
Portfolio & Reflection Letter 2 Is there anything about your final project or portfolio that you’d like me to know?
A Deeper Look: The Semester-Long Research Project
Due Date: Various, but the Whole Shebang is Due at the End of the Semester
(see course schedule)
Assignment Description: The Deeper Look Project will give you an opportunity to explore a current issue in your field of study. Maybe you don’t have much knowledge of those issues yet, and that’s okay; this will be an opportunity for you to learn more about current controversies and conversations.
Based on what you discover about the issue, you will identify the issue’s causes, stakeholders, and deeper implications, and make a well-researched argument for change. You will choose the genre, audience, and purpose for your project based on what you learn.
Assignment Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to allow students to hone and practice their research, reading, and analytical writing skills. The project will facilitate deeper critical thinking about genre, audience, and the issues at stake in a particular area of study.
Here are some examples of some current issues in a few different fields and research questions to guide a project:
Nursing: In a recent study, 95% of people employed in nursing reported feeling burnt out, and 47.9% of burnt-out nurses report that they are actively looking for a less stressful nursing position or are seeking to leave the nursing profession all together. What can be done to address burnout among people in the nursing profession?
Education: The dropout rate for ELL/ESL high school students in Massachusetts was 5.8% in 2021, compared to 1.5% for all students. Why do English language learners drop out of school at higher rates, and what can be done to curb that trend?
Criminal Justice: Young people who have been incarcerated in juvenile detention centers are far less likely to complete school or perform well academically, which negatively affects their long-term career success.
How can the juvenile justice system better facilitate educational outcomes for children and teens?Audience: You will determine your primary audience for this project. As your instructor, will, of course, be one of the audiences for your assignment, but the project itself will be tailored to meet the purpose of the text. You will also share your project with the class during our research symposium.
Organization/Genre: The organization of your project will depend on its genre. You will work with your instructor and classmates to determine a genre for your argument. You might create a researched essay, a video, a speech, a website, a series of social media posts, a design for an outdoor display – the possibilities abound.
Formatting and Length: The length and format of your project will depend upon the genre you choose.
Citations: Please use MLA citations and include a Works Cited page if you cite any sources.
Last Completed Projects
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