Reflective Commentary Assignment 3 [with effect from January 2018 only’ a) Needs Analysis b) Self-Assessment Commentary Itis now time to reflect back on the goals and objectives you laid out for yourself in the Needs Analysis prior to writing your Essay. Please answer the following questions in the form of a 750-word commentary: 1. Evaluate your achievement of the goals you laid out in your needs analysis at the beginning of this course. Be as specific as possible about items A, B and C for questions 2 and 3 of Part VII. (NA) N . What other weaknesses can you identify for targeting in your next academic writing assignment? How will you go about tackling them? Lay out specific goals for the future (similar to what you did for Questions 2 and 3 of Part Vil in the Needs Analysis). (NA+ general) be Reflect on the process-writing approach used in this course: How did using a writing-process oriented approach (planning, drafting, developing, reviewing, revising, editing, and proofreading) help you create a more effective Argumentative Essay? GEL 4, Which parts of the writing process were the most difficult for you? Why? GE1GE1401 University English 2016-17 [old materials] Unit 9 Reflection In Unit 2, we introduced you to reflection as an integral part of the writing process. In fact, reflection and awareness are crucial for any type of learning to take place. In this unit, we will deal with this topic in more detail. The reason is that you are asked in your final Self-Evaluation Commentary (see assignment guidelines and Activity 4 below) to reflect back on your Needs Analysis (from Week 2), and the learning/writing goals you had set for yourself. In the following, we will cover different learning styles (Activity 1), the reflective learner (Activity 2), and reflections on past learning experiences (Activity 3). Activity 1: Learning Styles ‘What sort of learner are you? Have a look at these websites on learning styles: /mww ldride.net/learningstvles.MLhtm - tells you about the different learning styles and you can do a free test to find out about yours. hto://mwwengr.ncsu.edu/learningstvles/sweb html - a questionnaire to discover your learning style. Now here are some personal questions about your approach to studying: 1. Do you consider yourself a good student? Why (not)? 2. Where is your favorite study place? Why? 3. Can you read when traveling? Do you read in bed? 4. What time of day do you study? 5. Do background noises or smells affect you? 6 What subject are you best in? Why do you think this is so? 7. What subject are you worst in? Why do you think this is so? 8 Have you learnt anything new this month? Who taught it to you? 9. Have you ever taught yourself a new skili? How? 10. What strategies do you use to learn? 11. if you have made even a little improvement in your worst subject or skill, how did you do it? Was it a conscious effort? 12. if you have made absolutely no improvement, why do you think this is so? Activity 2: Being a Reflective Learner Effective reflective learning involves five stages: 134‘GE1401 University English 2016-17 Self-awareness Reviewing Planning Monitoring Evaluating Reflection is not simply about thinking superficially about what happened in the past but critically looking at what happened on a deeper level: inside out, upside down and from 360 degrees. ity 3: TI g about a Past Learning Experience ‘Think about a significant learning experience that happened in the past. (It can be an experience that happened ‘when you were very young or an experience that occurred just recently.) Use these questions to help you: What happened? What went riahtfwrona? What happened as a result of your action/inaction? Why things turn out the way that they did? What is left to learn? What should you do from here? Other questions you might consider are: > What did you learn? How useful was it? Was it an important lesson? What made this learning experience significant? How might it affect your future learning? vvvy How did you feel about the experience at the time? How do you feel about it now? 135,GELAO1 University English 2016-17 > Has the experience affected the way you learn now? If so, how? Get into groups and discuss your significant learning experience with your classmates. Method 1 You can simply answer the above questions and combine them into a report. Method 2 Reflection can work very well when you think about what you are doing BEFORE, DURING and AFTER your learning experience. your learning BEFORE (ie. weighing ) [Ask yourself: Sepeeatt What do I already know that is relevant? your learning before ‘What would I like to learn from this? experience deciding on ‘What will I be able to do that I cannot do now? Pr particular P| | approach) DURING (ie. thinking | [Ask yourself: ‘on your feet) What am I learning? ‘Who and what is helpful? experience ‘What connections can T make to other areas of study? How and where can I use this new knowledge and > > competence? ‘AFTER, (e.looking | [Ask yourself: back) Whet can I do better now? your learning ‘Who and what helped? experience What surprised me? > >i What questions still need to be answered? What next? Use the table below to help you organize your reflection. (You don’t have to answer all of the questions.) 136‘GE1401 University English 2016-17 the ‘Ask yourself: Your reflection learning experience Before * What did I already know that was relevant? * What did T want to learn from this? * What was I able to do that I could not do before? During = What wes I learning? = Who and what was helpful? * What connections could/did I make to other areas of study? * How and where did I use this new knowledge and competence? After = What can I do better now? * Who and what helped? = What surprised me? ~ What questions still need to be answered? = What next? Now that you have looked at the first method of reflecting, look at the second method that follows Method 3 Whereas the first method focused on what happened before, during and after your learning experience, the second method will look at how you can reflect by DESCRIBING and ANALYZING your experiences. Here is a step-by-step approach to how you can do this. 137GE1401 University English 2016-17 Step i: What exactly happened, in your own words? What did you see? What did you do? What was your reaction? What did other people do? Describe the ‘What do you see as the key aspects of the situation? experience/your What were the reasons for the way you responded? actions ‘Step 2 What were your feelings at this time? What are your feelings now? Are there differences? Why? Describe your feelings What "good" emerged from the situation e.g. for self, others? What troubles you, if anything? Vv What were the feelings of others involved? How do you know? What are the main reasons for feeling differently from the others who were involved, e.g. family, friends, etc.? Step 3: What were you trying to achieve? What are the implications for you (and others involved)? Out of these eae descriptions, What needs to happen to alter the situation lyze th expeiferice & What happens if you decide not to alter anything? consider new approaches to What might you do differenty if faced with a similar situation learning again? What would be the consequences of alternative actions for yourself, others? ‘What information do you need to face a similar situation? What are the best ways of getting further information about the situation should it arise again? 1238