Reflective Essay Standards
Purpose of the essay:
The WISE reflective essay is supposed to be an opportunity for you to reflect upon what you have learned this semester. Look over your portfolio in order to refresh your memory of what you have done this semester, and consider the following:
v What were your expectations when you started this class?
v What was your attitude toward English?
v What did you think about the idea of linking English and History?
v How have your ideas changed?
v What was the most surprising thing you learned?
v What was the most important thing you learned?
v Are you the same sort of writer today that you were when you started the class?
This is not a technically difficult paper, so relax and let some of your creativity shine. Show the instructor the best writing you are capable of producing. Start early, take your time, write more than one draft, and have someone look it over before you submit it. Don’t forget the things we talked about in class about interesting introductions, drawing the work together, and conclusions that leave the reader feeling satisfied.
Specifications:
The essay needs to be presented in CMS format as described in Blakesley. That means you need to have the right margins, the right-sized font, and the indented paragraphs, etc..
You do not have to use external sources unless you want to. If you do use them, be sure to document them with concise notes (explained and illustrated in Blakesley 494-95 and in a bibliography page which looks exactly like the bibliography in Blakesley 497).
There are no “right” or “wrong” “answers” here. The essay will be graded on:
a) the quality of your writing (which includes mechanics, use of language, organization, and content; and
b) the extent to which you follow the instructions in this document.
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