Reflective assignment

FINAL ASSIGNMENT: REFLECTIONS

PART 1: Reflective Essay

Write a reflective essay which discusses
• your progress as a writer/reader this semester
• and how the sudden shift to remote learning, which was enforced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, has affected your experiences.
To assess the progress you have made and the transformation you have gone through, it would be interesting to refer back to your “Literacy Autobiography”, where you shared your learning objectives along with the challenges you anticipated for this semester.
Use specific examples from your assignments throughout the semester to illustrate how well you have achieved the outcomes of this course. As you know, the outcomes for WRI 101 are to:

• Evaluate, paraphrase, and summarize academic texts.
• Compose analytic essays utilizing a range of rhetorical modes such as description, compare/contrast, cause and effect, causal, and rhetorical and process analysis.
• Produce an introductory argumentative essay that utilizes a variety of rhetorical strategies such as analysis, synthesis, and other rhetorical strategies.
• Assess the basic needs of audience, purpose, and context through critical reading and writing.
• Produce a basic academic style (clear, effective, and varied sentences).
• Identify and integrate basics of APA citation in written work.

Before writing, make an outline that shows the general organization of your reflective letter. Please see the guided outline template on the following page, as an example for a possible organizational strategy.
Compose your reflections in a five-paragraph-essay format, with a well thought out introduction ending with a thesis statement, three body paragraphs following logically from the thesis statement and from one another, and an effective conclusion. Don’t forget to add an interesting title.
The body paragraphs should start with clear topic sentences that explain the points of development you wish to expand on. Each paragraph should be supported with specific evidence from your assignments.
Follow all conventions of academic style you’ve learnt throughout the semester.
Use APA style.
Length: 2

Guided Outline Template

Title: Think of an interesting title representing your essay

I. INTRODUCTION
A. Hook: a question, anecdote, quote to grab the reader’s attention
B. Background: Set the stage for reader by sharing the main theme of your essay, which is your experiences in WRI 101, interrupted by the pandemic.
C. Thesis Statement: A statement that presents your body paragraphs

A thesis statement example: As a result of my experiences in WRI 101, I have not only improved my reading and writing skills, but also gained two important life skills: perseverance and adaptability.
(Note: Please do not write the very same sentence, it’s only an example.)

II. BODY PARAGRAPH 1
Topic Sentence: Your transformation as an academic reader

A. Supporting detail/evidence: The challenges you faced while responding to course requirements regarding academic reading; how you coped with this challenge

B. Supporting detail/evidence: An important academic reading skill you gained, the teaching/learning activities that helped you gain this skill, the assignments/tasks you demonstrated this skill effectively

III. BODY PARAGRAPH 2
Topic Sentence: Your transformation as an academic writer
A. Supporting detail/evidence: The challenges you faced while responding to course requirements regarding academic writing; how you coped with this challenge
B. Supporting detail/evidence: An important academic writing skill you gained, the teaching/learning activities that helped you gain this skill, the assignments/tasks you demonstrated this skill effectively

IV. BODY PARAGRAPH 3
Topic Sentence: The impact of the sudden shift to remote learning on your experiences in WRI 101
A. What challenges have you faced?
B. How did you cope with those challenges and adapted? What helped you stay focused and keep on learning?
C. What is an important skill/experience you gained as a result of this enforced shift to online learning? What helped you gain this skill? In which assignments/tasks did you used this skill/experience?
D. If the semester had not started in the form of face-to-face education, would your experiences be the same?

V. CONCLUSION
A. Final remarks on your overall transformation as a result of your experiences in WRI 101
B. Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would do differently?
C. What would you recommend to students who would take this course?
D. A memorable ending: referring back to an idea, example, anecdote, question shared in the introduction, a memorable quote, a thought-provoking question etc.