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Self-improvement Form

Name of student: Student ID:

ENGL E101F

English Learning Portfolio

Self-improvement Form

Instruction: Complete one form for one area of self-improvement. Finalize the form

With your tutor’s consent through consultation sessions.

1. Area to improve on:

After self-evaluation and observing my performance in class, I have identified my weakness in 'Academic

Communication,' particularly in effectively acknowledging my sources in essays and research papers.

Consultation sessions with my tutor further highlighted the need to improve this area.

2. Goals:

To improve my skills in academic communication, focusing specifically on acknowledging sources using

APA format correctly in all my essays and research papers.

I aim to achieve a minimum score of 90% in the 'Acknowledging Your Sources' criteria in all graded

written assignments by the end of this semester.

This goal is attainable with the use of supplementary learning materials, practice, and feedback from my

tutor.
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This goal directly relates to my course objectives and will improve my academic performance.

By the end of this semester, I should have met or exceeded my goal.

3. Approaches used to achieve the goals:

To comprehensively enhance my understanding and application of 'Acknowledging Your Sources,' a

multi-faceted approach is crucial. First, I plan to attend two extra tutorial sessions dedicated solely to

this topic. These sessions provide tailored guidance and clarifications on APA-style intricacies that

general classes may need to cover. Secondly, I will actively practice writing at least two essays per week,

including citations and references in APA format. This hands-on approach will provide me with the

repetitive practice essential for mastery. Finally, I will submit these practice essays to my tutor for

feedback. This step is critical because expert review can pinpoint areas I may still need improvement,

enabling targeted learning. This feedback loop with my tutor ensures that my practice is frequent and

effective, making it a focused and actionable strategy for accomplishing my academic goals.

4. Content:

The material that I will use is from "The American Psychological Association. (2019). Publication manual

of the American psychological association. American Psychological Association, 428.

The website I will visit includes Purdue OWL: APA Formatting and Style Guide. Retrieved from

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/

general_format.html

I will use McMillan, V. (2012) reference book. Writing papers in the biological sciences. Macmillan.

I will participate in Weekly exercises on the 'Academic Communication' section of the course pack and

Participate in online APA citation workshops.

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5. Possible obstacles and solutions:

One potential obstacle is time management, as juggling my regular coursework alongside additional

practice could be strenuous. To counter this, I plan to create a meticulous study schedule that dedicates

specific blocks of time for mastering 'Acknowledging Your Sources.' Another obstacle might be the

complexities associated with understanding the nuances of APA citation and referencing. To address

this, I will engage in focused consultation sessions with my tutor, targeting specific areas of difficulty and

iterating my practice based on received feedback. This way, I aim to turn challenges into opportunities

for growth.