Senior Legacy ProjectThe Reflective Essay

Students will self-evaluate their level of college readiness by reflecting on their own experience and using specific textual evidence as support.

Conley identifies 4 key areas that have been correlated with college success.

To what extent (degree) do you possess the skills attributed with these 4 key areas?

OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL QUESTION

DeadlinesDrafts due to Advisor:Parts 1&2: Thu, April 3rd Parts 3&4: Mon, Apr 21st

Final draft due to Prinn or Mangiliman by Mon, May 12th

4-6 pages MLA formatTyped and double-spaced

These deadlines will be posted on the 12th

Grade Advisory Google Calendar

Writing Task

Prompt:

Evaluate your qualifications to graduate by

reflecting on how ESAT has prepared you to

be a vital contributor in college and today's

world. To defend your argument, you must

use evidence from your observations,

experiences, and readings.

judge

justify

Today’s Task

For each of the 4 parts, you will write a specific and detailed outline that evaluates your strengths and weaknesses in each area

Your essay will be divided into 4 parts. In each of the 4 parts, you must provide a self-evaluation:• Part 1: Key Cognitive Strategies• Part 2: Key Content• Part 3: Academic Behaviors• Part 4: Contextual Skills and Awareness

Structure and Organization

Key Cognitive Strategies:• Intellectual openness• Inquisitiveness• Analysis• Reasoning, argumentation,

and proof• Interpretation• Precision and accuracy• Problem solving

Your essay will be divided into 4 parts. In each of the 4 parts, you must provide a self-evaluation:• Part 1: Key Cognitive Strategies• Part 2: Key Content• Part 3: Academic Behaviors• Part 4: Contextual Skills and Awareness

Example Outline1 of the 4 levels of college readiness

Specific component(s) from each facet

Evaluation of strengths and weaknesses

Example of a specific class and assignment

Evidence from the Conley article with citation

II.

Part 1: Key Cognitive StrategiesThis part of the outline is due Thu, 3/20/14

Reread the description of each cognitive strategy. For each of the 7 cognitive strategies, self-assess your strengths and weaknesses

1. Intellectual openness

2. Inquisitiveness3. Analysis4. Reasoning,

argumentation, and proof

5. Interpretation6. Precision and

accuracy7. Problem solving

Guiding Questions:• Which cognitive strategy are you the

strongest in? Weakest? Which assignments or classes exemplify these strengths and weaknesses?

• What helped you master (or improve in) the use of the cognitive strategy?

• How can you become stronger in each cognitive strategy?

• You must use SPECIFIC evidence from the Conley article and detailed anecdotal evidence that reflects your experience as a student at ESAT

Structure and Organization

Key Content:Academic Knowledge and Skills• Writing• Research• English• Math• Science• Social Studies• World Languages• The Arts

Your essay will be divided into 4 parts. In each of the 4 parts, you must provide a self-evaluation:• Part 1: Key Cognitive Strategies• Part 2: Key Content• Part 3: Academic Behaviors• Part 4: Contextual Skills and Awareness

Part 2: Key ContentThis part of the outline is due Mon, 3/24/14

Reread “Academic Knowledge and Skills” starting on p. 15. For each of the 6 core academic subjects, self-assess your strengths and weaknesses.

Core Academic Knowledge and Skills1. English2. Math3. Science4. Social Studies5. World Languages6. The Arts

Guiding Questions:• Which core academic subject are you

the strongest in? Weakest?• Within each core academic subject,

which skills are you the strongest in? Weakest? Which assignments or classes exemplify these strengths and weaknesses?

• How can you become stronger in each core academic subject?

• You must use SPECIFIC evidence from the Conley article and detailed anecdotal evidence that reflects your experience as a student at ESAT

Structure and Organization

Academic Behaviors:• Self-monitoring• Study skills

Your essay will be divided into 4 parts. In each of the 4 parts, you must provide a self-evaluation:• Part 1: Key Cognitive Strategies• Part 2: Key Content• Part 3: Academic Behaviors• Part 4: Contextual Skills and Awareness

Part 3:Academic Behaviors

Reread “Academic Behaviors.” For each of the 2 key academic behaviors, self-assess your strengths and weaknesses

Academic Behaviors• Self-monitoring• Study skills

Guiding Questions:• Which academic behavior are you the

strongest in? Weakest?• Which assignments or classes exemplify

these strengths and weaknesses?• How can you become stronger in each

academic behavior? • You must use SPECIFIC evidence from

the Conley article and detailed anecdotal evidence that reflects your experience as a student at ESAT

Structure and Organization

Contextual Skills and Awareness

• Systemic understanding of the postsecondary educational system

• Specific knowledge of norms, values, and conventions of interactions

Your essay will be divided into 4 parts. In each of the 4 parts, you must provide a self-evaluation:• Part 1: Key Cognitive Strategies• Part 2: Key Content• Part 3: Academic Behaviors• Part 4: Contextual Skills and Awareness

Part 4:Contextual Skills and Awareness

Reread “Contextual Skills and Awareness” on p. 17. For each of the 2 areas, self-assess your strengths and weaknesses

Contextual Skills and Awareness

• Systemic understanding of the postsecondary educational system

• Specific knowledge of norms, values, and conventions of interactions

Guiding Questions:• Which contextual factor are you the

strongest in? Weakest?• How can you become more

knowledgeable and prepared in each contextual factor?

• You must use SPECIFIC evidence from the Conley article and detailed anecdotal evidence that reflects your experience as a student at ESAT

Share Aloud

1. Choose 1 of the 4 parts– Share with your partner 1 strength AND 1

weakness

2. Make a connection:– What connections do you see between this, our

prior, AND future learning?

• Part 1: Key Cognitive Strategies• Part 2: Key Content• Part 3: Academic Behaviors• Part 4: Contextual Skills and Awareness