Code 221 Contract
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
This semester, I chose goals that complies with working in my group. I hope these goals allow me to grow as a person and help me work better as a group member. I’m pretty much determined to make sure I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing while working with others. To start off, I chose goal 3c which states applying ethical concepts to a question and considers their full suggestions. This goal will help me be more diversed and more efficient. The second goal I chose was 1c which states tailoring communication strategies to effectively listen, express, and adapt to others to establish relationships both in person and online. This goal will allow me to work on my communication skills which is valuable while working with others. Third goal is 9c which states “implements solutions to address multiple contextual factors”. This will allow me to step up for my group and try my best to find different ways to find answers to our questions if we ever find ourselves stuck on a certain assignment. For my fourth goal, I chose was 1b which states connecting and extending knowledge from academic study to civic engagement. This goal will help me dive deeper in our project. Last goal I chose is 11c which implies reading using an appropriate lens and can engage in a continuing dialogue within and beyond a discipline or a community of readers. This goal will allow us to break down information we find during our research and use the information to its full potential. I’m most excited to work on our final project so we can wrap this whole project up! I’m really ready for all assignments. Strategies I’m forcing on myself will be communication skills.
Midterm Introduction
During the first half of the semester, I’ve learned a lot about the research process — from designing effective survey questions to thinking critically about how to interpret responses. One of the biggest skills I’ve developed is being able to ask the right kinds of questions — the ones that go beyond surface-level answers and actually give insight into how people think or behave. I’ve also gained more experience with organizing and planning out a research project step by step, which has helped me stay on track.
What I’ve enjoyed most so far is getting to focus on a topic that feels meaningful — young adults and water conservation. It’s been interesting to see how people around my age engage (or don’t engage) with environmental issues. I like that this project gives me a chance to connect what we’re learning in class to real-world behavior.
One thing I struggled with early on was getting people to participate in my survey. It was frustrating at first not seeing any responses, especially after putting so much effort into creating thoughtful questions. But I learned that how you share a survey is just as important as the questions themselves. Once I posted it in more active spaces like GroupMe chats, things started to pick up. That experience definitely taught me to be more flexible and strategic in the way I approach data collection.
This semester I have done a good job on hitting all of my goals to some capacity. Reading, Evaluates texts’ scholarly significance to apply reading to other contexts or issues is the goal I think I have improved the most on gaining a lot of evidence through my reflections and surveys.
Overall, this first half has taught me a lot — not just about research techniques, but about how to adapt when things don’t go as planned. I’m looking forward to building on what I’ve started and seeing where the second half of the semester takes me.
Final Introduction
[Now that the semester is over, use your introduction to reflect in-depth on your process. How well did you meet the goals you set out to meet? What did you learn that surprised you? Focusing on your goals for this class, what do you want to remember to take with you into your future courses? What strategies can you use to continue developing toward these goals?]
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.
| What concepts are you going to learn, or skills are you going to develop? | How will you learn the content/ develop the skill? | What evidence will you add to the portfolio to demonstrate your learning? | How will you and I assess the evidence of your learning/skills? |
| Reading, Evaluates texts’ scholarly significance to apply reading to other contexts or issues. (20%) | Read our book for class and apply it to our class discussions and real life issues | Readings Survey Articles Editing group work Reflections | Complete weekly reflections on time and answer questions fully |
| Information Literacy, Accesses information using effective, well-designed search strategies and appropriate sources. (20%) | Analyze various sources of evidence for the research report Work with SIUE resources to format references | surveys Reflections Articles Reading Group discussions | Perform “Excellent” work according to the research report rubric Perform “Excellent” on the pre-assignments for the research report |
| Collaboration, works independently toward goals by contributing and meeting deadlines. (20%) | Even tho we might be in groups I will work independently on my task and get it done | group projects Implementation plans Text messages Group meetings Group presentation | Always have my part of a group project complete and on time |
| Written Communication, Demonstrates a thorough understanding of context, audience, and purpose. (20%) | I will improve this goal through my reflections or any other writing assignments | Reflections Articles Implementation plans Individual project Survey | Perform “Excellent” work according to the research report rubric |
| Reads using an appropriate lens and can engage in a continuing dialogue within and beyond a discipline or a community of readers. (20%) | I will share my initial interpretations with my group by discussing my observations and explaining how the perspective I chose shaped my understanding of the topic. | -Reflection -Data Collection and Content Assignment -Final presentation -Final project | -Respect -Adaptability -Reflection -Collaboration |
