Dear Prof. DeSpain,
I will succeed in getting an A in this class by fulfilling the 5 learning outcomes highlighted below:
13. c. – Uses language to skillfully communicate with clarity and fluency. 30%.
This course is discussion-based, so I would deem it highly important to communicate that information using clarity and fluency as a requirement. So, I plan to demonstrate that by completing the reflections. In each reflection, I will clearly showcase the information gotten through class discussions, making it a cornerstone for the reflection. I will put up a few sections of my reflections to show this outcome was fulfilled.
12. b. – Facilitates collaborators’ contributions by building upon their contributions and noticing when someone is not participating and inviting them to engage. 20%.
It is important to build off of what my team/group says in ways that push us in the direction we need to go to complete our goals. It is also important for everyone to contribute, including myself. I will show this outcome by giving my peers appropriate advice and reviews for their work while receiving the same from them. I will put up sections of work that I peer reviewed or had peer reviewed and how I took that feedback and incorporated it.
11. a. – Evaluates texts’ scholarly significance to apply reading to other contexts or issues. 10%.
I believe it is important to see the reasoning behind why we are learning what we are learning. One of the main tenets of the CODES program is applying what we gather into something meaningful in our communities, so I will be looking for ties to relevant outside issues and contexts during readings and other activities. I will put up excerpts of my work that bring in these outside contexts.
8. a. – Uses clear organizational patterns and is skillful at presenting content cohesively. 25%.
This goes along well with the first outlined outcome as the speaking side of communicating. This class is about communicating, and I thus consider it impactful to do that as effectively as possible. By making multiple practice attempts to improve a presentation, I can make an overall better presentation of any variety (video, slideshow, etc.). I will put up the final product of videos made for assignments like DP #2.
7. a – Explores a topic in depth, yielding a rich awareness and/or little-known information indicating intense interest in the subject. 15%.
I find it hard to craft a well-written submission for an assignment without doing enough research, and back in high school I often struggled to get enough information. So, I made it a goal to gather enough information to confidently share on a topic if need be. I will put up the sources for each relevant assignment.
These are the outcomes that I believe will be most beneficial for me as a scholar and as an A+ student.
Sincerely, Brandon Underwood