Final Reflection Guidelines and Rubric

Overview
Your third longer-term assignment in this course is a presentation or short paper in which you will share your question derived at the end of your observation
journal in learning block 4-3 and discuss why it is important and how developments in the social sciences contribute to our understanding of ourselves, each
other, and the world around us.
This final reflection will assess the following course outcomes, which you focused on throughout Theme 4:
● Investigate major developments in the progression of social scientific thought for informing critical questions that drive social scientific inquiry
● Articulate the value of the social sciences for their impact on contemporary issues
Prompt
Your third project is a presentation or short paper (you are free to choose) that explores the question you posed at the end of your observation journal. With
that question as your topic, you will explain why the answer to it is important to understanding yourself, other people, and the world around you and how the
social sciences have developed to help us answer these important questions. The critical elements of this assessment will be evaluated by the information in
your presentation or paper. Be sure your actual question is apparent on the presentation or paper.
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed in your submission:
I. Explain why your question is important to you as a member of society.
II. Detail the major developments in social science thinking that drive questions regarding studying the individual. Use course resources to back up
your discussion.
III. Explain how finding the answer to your question might impact others around you. For instance, who might be most invested in the answer?
IV. Detail the major developments in social science thinking that drive questions regarding studying others. Use course resources to back up your
discussion.
V. Explain why studying human behavior and identity is a valuable human endeavor.
VI. Detail the major developments in social science thinking that support the study and advancement of the social sciences as necessary and valuable.
Use course resources to back up your discussion.
Supporting Work and Resources
Throughout Theme 4, there are supports you will use as you work directly on different elements of the final reflection.
1. In learning block 4-3, you submitted your observation journal. Review your submission and the feedback for this assignment via the Project 2 submission
link in the My Grades section of the course. Use the question you created from your observation journal for your final reflection. You are free to
incorporate any feedback from your instructor on this question into your final reflection.
2. In learning block 6-3, you submitted a micro-presentation or short answer response to give you an opportunity to practice elements of the final
submission. For this assignment, you reflected on what you considered to be some of the most significant developments covered in Theme 3 and
addressed the following:
a. Identify the developments and how they impact individuals or larger groups/cultures.
b. Describe how the developments changed society’s understanding. How is the development applicable outside of the social sciences?
View this submission and the feedback for this assignment via the My Grades section of the course and incorporate this assignment into your final
reflection.
3. If you choose to submit a presentation instead of a paper, you may use PowerPoint, Prezi, or another presentation platform of your choosing. Reference
the Supporting Resources document for instructions on how to use different presentation programs. Be sure to include notes as needed in your
presentation in order to meet the outlined critical elements.
4. In learning block 7-1, it was suggested for you to work on Section III of your project. If completed, use this as well as the instructor feedback when
working toward your final submission. You can view this via the Student Dashboard.
5. Learning block 8-1 includes a Final Reflection Submission Checklist that you can use to ensure you have met all the requirements of this project. Your
instructor is available to provide guidance and answer any questions you may have as you work to finalize your final reflection.
Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: Your actual question must be apparent on the presentation or in the short paper. If you choose to write a short paper, it should be
double spaced and 1–2 pages in length. Note for students choosing the presentation option: If using Prezi, be sure to include a Word document with notes. If
using PowerPoint, be sure to include speaker notes.
Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Importance of
Question
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates mature awareness
of the connections between the
question and being a member of
society
Explains why the question is
important as a member of
society
Explains why the question is
important as a member of
society, but is overly generalized
Does not explain why the
question is important as a
member of society
16
Studying the Self Meets “Proficient” criteria and
examples chosen demonstrate
insight into social science
thinking
Details major developments in
social science thinking that drive
questions that support studying
the individual, using course
resources to back up arguments
Details major developments in
social science thinking that drive
questions that support studying
the individual, but does not
utilize course resources to back
up arguments, is cursory, or has
inaccuracies
Does not detail major
developments in social science
thinking that drive questions
that support studying the
individual
16
Answer Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates mature awareness
of the connections between the
answer to the question and
others
Explains how finding the answer
to the question might impact
others
Explains how finding the answer
to the question might impact
others, but is overly generalized
Does not explain how finding the
answer to the questions might
impact others
16
Studying Others Meets “Proficient” criteria and
examples chosen demonstrate
insight into social science
thinking
Details major developments in
social science thinking that drive
questions that support studying
others, using course resources
to back up arguments
Details major developments in
social science thinking that drive
questions that support studying
others, but does not utilize
course resources to back up
arguments, is cursory, or has
inaccuracies
Does not detail major
developments in social science
thinking that drive questions
that support studying others
16
Human Endeavor Meets “Proficient” criteria and
details demonstrate insight into
social scientific study
Explains why studying human
behavior and identity is a
valuable human endeavor
Explains why studying human
behavior and identity is a
valuable human endeavor, but is
overly generalized
Does not explain why studying
human behavior and identity is a
valuable human endeavor
16
Study and
Advancement
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
examples chosen illustrate a
strong argument for the value of
social scientific study
Details the major influences on
social science thinking that
support the study and
advancement of the social
sciences as necessary, using
Details major influences on
social science thinking that
support the study and
advancement of the social
sciences as necessary, but does
Does not detail major influences
on social science thinking that
support the study of the social
sciences
16
course resources to back up
arguments
not utilize course resources to
back up arguments, is cursory, or
has inaccuracies
Articulation of
Response
Submission is free of errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, and organization
and is presented in a
professional and easy-to-read
format
Submission has no major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
Submission has major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that negatively impact
readability and articulation of
main ideas
Submission has critical errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that prevent understanding of
ideas
4
Total 100%