Your Goal Grade
Highlight the header for the column below to indicate which grade you plan to work toward in the course. Meeting the basic requirements for your chosen letter grade, according to the table below, is mandatory.
| A Work | B Work | C Work |
-Misses one class or less, or completes make-up work for excused absences -Annotates all readings thoroughly -Makes substantive comments in discussions -Completes all assignments on time (or has an approved extension request) -Work demonstrates intellectual engagement, care, effort, and growth in response to feedback -Collaborates substantially, contributes to vision, works equally with peers | -Misses two classes or less, or completes make-up work for excused absences -Annotates readings -Often participates in discussion -Completes all major assignments on time (or has an approved extension request) -Completes most SAs on time -Work demonstrates care, effort and growth in response to feedback -Collaborates equally, completes required work | -Misses three classes or less, or completes make-up work for excused absences -Completes most readings -Sometimes adds to discussion -Completes all major assignments on time (or has an approved extension request) -Completes at least four SAs -Meets minimal expectations on assignments; shows limited growth in response to feedback -Completes required collaborative work |
First-Week Introduction
With the conclusion of the first semester, I have learned many new skills and faced numerous challenges, both in and out of CODES. Although a struggle at times, these challenges have given me insight into the expectations of college and CODES, as I have crafted the foundation of learning which I will continue to build upon throughout college and beyond. The following contracts I have chosen to be graded on are selected to bolster my prior knowledge, as well as allow myself to explore new avenues of education. I plan to receive an A in this class.
Midterm Introduction
The second semester of CODES has brought with it numerous challenges. From data analytics to the many reflections, CODES has challenged me to learn and push my boundaries. Despite this, I have overcome the challenges and succeeded in all aspects of the program. Working with my team, we have uncovered numerous data points that deepen or understanding of East Saint Louis, worked with local leaders and non-for-profit organizations, and dedicated ourselves to the betterment of the Metro East. For these reasons and more, I can approach the rest of the semester with confidence.
Final Introduction
My first year of college was filled with academic and personal challenges. Balancing coursework and research demanded perseverance and adaptability. I faced setbacks in experiments, struggled with time management, and adjusted to independence. Through resilience and support, I refined my study habits, sought mentorship, and developed confidence, turning obstacles into growth opportunities.
Course Goals
Choose five goals from the CODES Student Learning Outcomes that you’d like to work toward. Choose goals that are relevant to the scope of this course, select artifacts/examples based on activities assigned for this course, and explain characteristics in a way that illustrates how your artifacts/examples demonstrate your progress toward the goal.
Goal 1 (20%)
2C) Transforms ideas through synthesizing knowledge from multiple domains.
| What will you do to learn the content/ develop the skill? | What examples will you add to the portfolio to demonstrate your learning? | What characteristics of the chosen examples demonstrate you have met your goal? |
| With my participation in the first semester CODES classes, I have gained experience with utilizing multiple sources to defend a stance. I have chosen this outcome to build upon this skill and develop my research ethic. | The biodiversity survey, Article annotations, In-class discussions, and data visualizations will demonstrate proficiency in this skill. | These projects will show a deep understanding of research methodology. The projects should demonstrate my ability to learn from a variety of different sources. |
This article annotation assignment displays my ability to dissect a text, evaluate it, and summarize it in a concise manner. Because of this, I feel it is a good fit for this goal.
This assignment displays my ability to connect real world topics and my understanding of the nature of human relations to the text. Because of this, I feel it shows my proficiency in this learning outcome.
My knowledge on the topic of water equity assisted in the analysis of the article. Due to this, I feel as if I effectively displayed understanding of the topic and the learning outcome.
By unraveling the unique context in which research is conducted, I have displayed my understanding of the topic as well as the learning outcome.
Goal 2 (10%)
8B) Uses compelling, appropriate delivery techniques.
| What will you do to learn the content/ develop the skill? | What examples will you add to the portfolio to demonstrate your learning? | What characteristics of the chosen examples demonstrate you have met your goal? |
| I am proficient in giving spoken presentations, including conferences and meetings. This outcome will allow me to further my rhetorical skills and bolster my presentation techniques. | Presentations, communicative assignments, research demonstrations, and rhetorical analysis projects will depict this skill. | Proficiency in public speaking and rhetorical techniques. |
During this presentation, my team and I utilized numerous methods to convey the information seen within the slideshow to the audience. This further developed my oratory abilities.
My comments on the article and my understanding of neocolonialism provided a unique perspective to the class. Due to this, I feel this article displays my skills in this field.
Goal 3 (30%)
9C) Implements solutions to address multiple contextual factors.
| What will you do to learn the content/ develop the skill? | What examples will you add to the portfolio to demonstrate your learning? | What characteristics of the chosen examples demonstrate you have met your goal? |
| Assessing difficult issues is a core part of the CODES program. With this, the knowledge of problem solving through numerous avenues becomes deeply important. | Data analysis and review, biodiversity survey assignment, problem solving skills, and a rich understanding of the importance of ethics show proficiency in this skill. | Demonstrations of problem-solving skills along with working through wicked problems can display this skill. |
My ability to communicate with the interviewee displays my proficiency in synthesizing data through interviews. Because of this, I feel as if it displayed this skill effectively.
By dissecting the key points of the article, I feel as if I fully developed and challenged both commonly held and my own ideas on the ethics of AI in education. Due to this, I feel this is evidence which displays my proficiency in this skill.
Through a historical and socioeconomic lense, I was able to recognize many of the systemic issues the Gullah people face and develop my understanding of both the context and the issue itself. Due to this, I feel this is evidence for my proficiency in this skill.
By analizing the difficulties of working within groups, I challenged my preconceived notions on the topic, developing my understanding accordingly. Because of this, I show proficiency in the selected outcome.
Through my understanding of human psychology, I was able to uniquely dissect the intricoes of the topic of positionality. Because of this, I feel I have a well-rounded view of the learning outcome.
By deciphering the intricacies of research and the processes that go into it, I have depicted proficient understanding in both the article and the learning outcome.
Goal 4 (20%)
11A) Evaluates texts’ scholarly significance to apply reading to other contexts or issues.
| What will you do to learn the content/ develop the skill? | What examples will you add to the portfolio to demonstrate your learning? | What characteristics of the chosen examples demonstrate you have met your goal? |
| The use of scholarly skills such as rhetorical analysis, literary theory, and research are all critical to combating wicked problems. This outcome will reinforce these skills. | Top 5 assignments, written works, data analysis and research papers will demonstrate this skill. | Using multiple different source types in research assignments will demonstrate an increased understanding of this skill. |
My deep analysis of the text and responses to the prompts given show my ability to read deeply into a text and explore the different perspectives presented within it.
My unique approach to the textual analysis of the source provided unique context to the article, connecting the issue to my understanding of water infrastructure. Because of this, I feel it displays my proficiency in this skill.
Through my research on the topic of data cleansing, I was able to connect the reading to real world examples of data cleansing. This depicts a deep understanding of the learning outcome.
This reflection displays my understanding of the topic and how it relates to both the real world and my prior understanding of the topic. This displays my prowess on the topic and understanding of the learning outcome.
Goal 5 (20%)
13B) Uses appropriate, relevant, and compelling content to illustrate mastery of the subject, conveying the writer’s understanding, and shaping the whole work.
| What will you do to learn the content/ develop the skill? | What examples will you add to the portfolio to demonstrate your learning? | What characteristics of the chosen examples demonstrate you have met your goal? |
| Knowing which resources are valid when analyzing a source is imperative to the understanding of said source. This outcome will encourage the growth of this skill. | All written literary analysis, including top 5, data analysis, biodiversity readings and scholarly article reviews demonstrate this skill. | Accurate and concise reviews of literary works will demonstrate proficiency in this field. |
This reflection demonstrates my ability to convey understanding through responses to the given prompts. This assignment used complex topics, all of which I demonstrated understanding of.
With the complexity of the given assignment, I feel as if my annotated bibliography demonstrates my critical thinking skills and understanding of complex issues such as data cleansing.
This article displays my understanding of the text and how it relates to the greater social setting. This displays my understanding of the topic and how it relates to the text.
This presentation describes how I connect real world posts to sociological concepts. This displays my understanding on the topic and how it relates to the learning outcome.