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
After gaining much knowledge from last semester, I chose these goals because I believe they best fit my work ethic and what CODES stands for. The goal that seems the most challenging is 5b: access information using effective, well-designed search strategies and appropriate sources. I believe this goal will be most challenging because appropriate sources and search strategies are essential to having a good Zotero folder and evidence for our research project. The assignment that I’m most excited about this semester is the Archival research because I’ll be able to learn things I’ve never known before. The strategies I will set for myself this semester is to stay organized, keep track of all assignments, and ask questions.
Midterm Introduction
During this semester. I developed many strengths and learned how to improve in many different aspects. Overall, I have been enjoying the first few weeks of this semester.; Each assignment has helped me build character and attain more knowledge. I developed better communication skills while also learning how to participate more. I learned how to take constructive criticism and be an active listener. I overcame this while giving and getting feedback. Going into the second semester, I want to continue developing better communication skills while improving my team-building skills to build a respectful and positive connection with our community partners and my research team. While also getting the key concepts of research methods and CODES 122.
Final Introduction
With my first year as a CODES scholar ending, I have learned a lot and taken away many things. Not only did CODES help me grow academically but it also helped me grow mentally and emotionally. I learned how always to be an academic weapon no matter the situation or circumstance. I learned that it’s okay to ask for help and reach out when needed. All my goals were chosen based on areas I wanted to grow in, something that I will always remember is when working in a group always be a team player and do your part no matter what. Don’t wait until the last minute to do your work and use the resources provided because they will be helpful. Overall, I’ve learned a lot as a CODES scholar, and I can’t wait for the new semester to start so I can gain more knowledge.
Course Goals
Goal 1 (20%)
Based on 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? |
| Create a pathway to discover the root of the problem Brainstorming solutions and being open-minded in group collaboration and research Mapping out cause and effects, and dissecting factors of the problem | Partner Visit/ Discussion Collaborative group work and research Source Analysis Lab | Our discussions with our partners and visits will highlight my ability to communicate efficiently while also addressing multiple factors or issues that might arise during discussions to grow and address different factors. My collaborations will show how open-minded and intellectual I am when addressing and hearing different factors. While also being mature & respectful of other solutions. My source analysis will show the breakdown of how I address multiple contextual factors within the source. |
Source Analysis One
After looking at both sources and including my prior knowledge. I noticed water issues are more widespread than we realize. The video shows how Centreville, IL isn’t the only town flooding or enduring water issues. It’s a major issue that comes with many negative side effects. Many of the effects are time-consuming or cause physical, mental, and emotional pain and issues. Most of the residents that experience the issue in Morrisa and Centreville are old and are already at risk with their health. I believe that makes the situation worse because flooding can lead to damage and mold. Mold can cause many issues for residents such as respiratory issues, headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, and exposure to toxic chemicals. One of the residents in the video already had cancer so exposure to mold or lead can worsen his health conditions. The Flood and Forgotten website show and connects to how horrible water contamination can be. There should be some moral and ethical obligations that the government should have to uphold because residents shouldn’t have to constantly endure this issue. In the video, the problem of insurance not covering damages was mentioned. That’s unfair because residents who live in these neighborhoods are either low-income or African Americans living in poverty. Both sources show how unethical the government can be to communities that don’t serve them well.
Source analysis one demonstrates how I’m able to be open-minded when reading and brainstorming so I can compare and contrast the different sources presented to me. While also thinking of the different factors included.
Source Analysis Three
The video Cahokia: Mississippian Metropolis was an informative source. I was able to learn allot about the history of Cahokia and how it came to be what it is now. I believe the background information offered in the Video will be able to help my group with our research. The video included extensive coverage of the rise of civilization while also giving a great introduction and covering the history of how Cahokia came to be. I believe the information in this video can be cross-referenced with the information we’re finding in our archival research. Also, can be cross-referenced with what we find from other sources about what is now Cahokia Heights. I was able to gain knowledge from everything in the video except from one part which is the idea of the Big Bang Theory. I don’t believe that’s how the world came to be or exactly what happened. I find it interesting how history starts and how all the places we have now developed from little to nothing like Cahokia. Being right near the Mississippi River is one of the reasons I believe the development of St. Louis and Cahokia was so major because both cities are right off of the river. The Mississippi River was used for industrial needs, goods, and travel. Overall, I enjoyed this source. I was able to retain information from it and I hope to later be able to use this knowledge when I’m doing the archival research. Hopefully, I can connect something found in the archives to this video.
Lab
Centreville, IL, is a small town located in St. Clair County. St. Clair County was the first county established in Illinois in 1790. Centreville, IL has a population of approximately 4,000-5,000 residents. The Centreville water system is connected to the East St. Louis water system. The water issues first developed in the 1980s after pump stations designed to pump away raw sewage from residential areas failed. (Flooded and Forgotten) Residents of Centreville still deal with sewage in their homes and yards.
Centreville, Illinois, is a majority black town with a very low median income rate. DataUsa shows Centreville’s population as 93% African American, and the average age is about 43 years. Additionally, the average household income in the Centreville area is around $15,000 a year. Centreville’s demographics could play a big role in the government’s reluctance to improve its living quality.
The residents of Centerville are not only facing a water crisis, but they also have to deal with poor infrastructure due to a poor sewage system. While also facing the lack of effort and help from the government. Their water system is poorly designed, causing thousands worth of damage to their houses and their land. Centreville is one of the poorest cities in the Midwest, having a poverty rate of 50%, making it difficult for residents to leave. Since most of Centreville’s demographics consist of African Americans, the government has shown a lack of sense of urgency.
poor government system that lacks a sense of urgency when it comes to figuring out a solution for the flawed water system that’ll stick. One of the main reasons why the government has not effectively catered to the residents of Centerville is finances. Centerville has been named one of the poorest cities in the Midwest region, having a poverty rate of 50% as of 2020 (Maganti, 2020). Due to it being such a poor city, it makes it extremely difficult for people to leave because residents invest the majority of their money into repairing their damaged homes. It creates an endless cycle because in the end their house will get damaged again due to the excessive amount of floodings that take place.
Today, Centreville has merged with the towns of Alorton and Cahokia to make Cahokia Heights. All three towns deal with similar water system issues, with Centreville being the most notorious for it. All three towns are majority African American towns with relatively low income rates per household.
While scrolling through houses located in Cahokia Heights on Zillow, one of the first things that are noticed is how cheap it is to purchase a home in the area. There were many 1,000 square foot homes listed for 10-15 thousand dollars. When looking at images of the inside of these homes, the water damage on the walls and floors are noticed immediately. There are most likely a number of residents in Cahokia Heights who chose to move there because of the affordability of buying a home but were fully aware of the issues they would face.
Today there are multiple lawsuits against Cahokia Heights regarding the quality of the city’s water systems and human rights violations. One of them is Centreville Citizens for Change V Common Fields Of Cahokia Public Water District. In this court case, the plaintiffs alleged that the water district intentionally discharged raw sewage into the residential areas violating the Clean Water Act. Currently, the case is still pending while the people of Cahokia Heights still deal with the presence of raw sewage and flooding in their homes every day.
The lab shows how I’m able to address multiple issues and examine all factors in a problem.
Transcripts from interview
The transcript shows how I and my interview partner Jada were about to collaborate together and make Essence comfortable to get the best answers possible for the interview.
Goal 2 (20%)
Based on 1a: Demonstrates ability and commitment to collaboratively work across and within community contexts and structures.
| 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? |
Ensure that all members feel included and have an opportunity to participate Co-create & collaborate to create a common goal that can meet community needs Volunteer my time to the community to show commitment. | Source Analysis Doing service with partners (Heartlands/JJK Fan) Group discussions Research Project Interview with my partner | My group discussions and research projects will show my commitment to collaborative work. My Source analysis will demonstrate the ability and commitment that I continuously put into my work. Doing service with our partners will show the commitment I have both for the community but also for my research project. I will work and collaborate with our partners to do service. |
Interview Transcript
This transcript from the interview Jada and I did shows how I was able to collaborate with another group member and show commitment and engagement about the topic we were dealing with.
Partnering with Heartland’s
Interview Transcripts & Partner Interview
The interview and transcript show how I was able to collaborate with my partner while also working in the community to get the best results for the interview.
Source Analysis Three
The video Cahokia: Mississippian Metropolis was an informative source. I was able to learn allot about the history of Cahokia and how it came to be what it is now. I believe the background information offered in the Video will be able to help my group with our research. The video included extensive coverage of the rise of civilization while also giving a great introduction and covering the history of how Cahokia came to be. I believe the information in this video can be cross-referenced with the information we’re finding in our archival research. Also, can be cross-referenced with what we find from other sources about what is now Cahokia Heights. I was able to gain knowledge from everything in the video except from one part which is the idea of the Big Bang Theory. I don’t believe that’s how the world came to be or exactly what happened. I find it interesting how history starts and how all the places we have now developed from little to nothing like Cahokia. Being right near the Mississippi River is one of the reasons I believe the development of St. Louis and Cahokia was so major because both cities are right off of the river. The Mississippi River was used for industrial needs, goods, and travel. Overall, I enjoyed this source. I was able to retain information from it and I hope to later be able to use this knowledge when I’m doing the archival research. Hopefully, I can connect something found in the archives to this video.
Goal 3 (15%)
Based on 12b: Facilitates collaborators’ contributions by building upon their contributions and noticing when someone is not participating and inviting them to engage.
| 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? |
| Being open to constructive criticism and reflecting on it Actively listening to whoever is speaking Holding team members accountable in a respectful way when one is lacking Practice respectful responses when working together Ensure everyone’s contributions are valued and recognized | Group Assignments / Final Project Class-Led Discussions/ Partner Meetings Discussions lead | Class-led discussions will give me the space to openly build upon others’ contributions. Partner meetings will allow me to add my contributions while also collaborating with others in my group about their ideas and or contributions. Group assignments will give me a space to respectfully invite members to engage while also respecting them & their ideas. |
Zotero Folder
Google Drive Sources
The Google Drive includes all the sources and represents teamwork and group collaboration. It shows how we were able to build upon each other ideas.
The final project shows how I was able to work with group members and collaborate and bring ideas together.
Goal 4 (25%)
Based on 12c: work independently toward goals by contributing and meeting deadlines
| 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? |
| Taking time to prep and focus to make sure all work is completely by deadlines Practicing time management to ensure deadlines are met Asking for help and or clarification if needed Staying focused and maintaining a good work ethic so goals are met Using quantitative information obtained during research | Source Analysis Planner/Google Calendar Research articles Zotero folders | Using Google Calendar and a planner will help me maintain organizational skills to ensure I meet deadlines. My Zotero folder will keep track of any information or data collected while doing research that will later help me meet deadlines needed while also working towards goals. Meeting the source analysis deadline will help me contribute to the class discussions while also making sure I’m thoroughly prepared for the discussions. Independently collecting and reading research articles will help me contribute to the Zotero folder. |
Each source analysis represents my ability to stay focused and demonstrates how I maintain a good work ethic by constantly working independently to make sure all source analyses are turned in by the deadline. Showing how I was able to independently work each time
Source Analysis One
After looking at both sources and including my prior knowledge. I noticed water issues are more widespread than we realize. The video shows how Centreville, IL isn’t the only town flooding or enduring water issues. It’s a major issue that comes with many negative side effects. Many of the effects are time-consuming or cause physical, mental, and emotional pain and issues. Most of the residents that experience the issue in Mirisa and Centreville are old and are already at risk with their health. I believe that worsens the situation because flooding can lead to damage and mold. Mold can cause many issues for residents such as respiratory issues, headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, and exposure to toxic chemicals. One of the residents in the video already had cancer so exposure to mold or lead can worsen his health conditions. The Flood and Forgotten website show and connects to how horrible water contamination can be. There should be some moral and ethical obligations that the government should have to uphold because residents shouldn’t have to endure this issue constantly. In the video, the problem of insurance not covering damages was mentioned. That’s unfair because residents who live in these neighborhoods are either low-income or African Americans living in poverty. Both sources show how unethical the government can be to communities that don’t serve them well.
Source Analysis Two
After looking at and comprising both sources, I favor the article more than the video. I learned many fundamental things from both of the sources. I would have liked it if the video was more interactive. I enjoyed the website more than the video. The article was short and simple. It showed how organizations from around the world also have a part in grassroots organizations. I enjoyed how the article included the three grassroots organizations in the articles and also what they aim for and their purpose. I enjoyed how when she was talking in the video, she took her time explaining everything by breaking all the information down instead of just throwing it all at once. The video helped me learn how to look at the whole problem while trying to help the oppressed. You have to start from the bottom and find the root of this issue or oppression and then work through helping those individuals. You have to aim to fix the issue at every level instead of just focusing on one level or one specific issue. Using a multifaceted approach to help solve the problem. Looking past the surface-level problem so you can understand the systemic issue. Being mindful while also being an advocate and spreading awareness for the oppressed since many can’t help themselves. I learned the important role that grassroots organizations play in the sustainability and function of certain communities.
Source Analysis Three
The video Cahokia: Mississippian Metropolis was an informative source. I was able to learn allot about the history of Cahokia and how it came to be what it is now. I believe the background information offered in the Video will be able to help my group with our research. The video included extensive coverage of the rise of civilization while also giving a great introduction and covering the history of how Cahokia came to be. I believe the information in this video can be cross-referenced with the information we’re finding in our archival research. Also, can be cross-referenced with what we find from other sources about what is now Cahokia Heights. I was able to gain knowledge from everything in the video except from one part which is the idea of the Big Bang Theory. I don’t believe that’s how the world came to be or exactly what happened. I find it interesting how history starts and how all the places we have now developed from little to nothing like Cahokia. Being right near the Mississippi River is one of the reasons I believe the development of St. Louis and Cahokia was so major because both cities are right off of the river. The Mississippi River was used for industrial needs, goods, and travel. Overall, I enjoyed this source. I was able to retain information from it and I hope to later be able to use this knowledge when I’m doing the archival research. Hopefully, I can connect something found in the archives to this video.
The Zotero folder shows in source I independently found and used for further research.
Goal 5 (20%)
Based on 5b: access information using effective, well-designed search strategies and appropriate sources
| 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? |
| Using primary sources for information Collecting credible evidence and using citations Evaluate research and informational sources | Group Research Zotero Folder Archival Research/ Research Project Researching and reading books outside of class | Group research will help me collaborate and identify primary sources that can be used for our research project. The Zotero folder will show my ability to access and provide credible and appropriate sources while also using well-designed search strategies to find the best evidence possible. Outside of class research will help me be knowledgeable and gain information, so I can better evaluate sources and decide which sources our best for the Zotero folder. Archival Research will help me further access information that will later be beneficial and a part of the research project. |
The Google Drive shows the sources and evidence used and how organizational strategies were used to keep count of everything found.
This evidence shows how I was able to add evidence found throughout the semester into our final project, to back up our research.