Assignment Content
This required Reflective Paper gives students an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge obtained in class and relate that knowledge to a scenario, situation, or event that pertains to specific material and theories learned in class (see DIEP plan below).
To gain a better understanding of this assignment, please watch the videos and read the resources provided below.
The following webpage from the University of South Carolina also provides valuable information about the benefits but also the pitfalls of writing a reflective paper:
https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/assignments/reflectionpaper
Your reflective paper will have 3 major sections: introduction, the body, and conclusion.
Introduction: In the introduction paragraph you will introduce the reader to the your topic by providing a brief overview of the topic and writing your thesis statement. In this paragraph, also include the following:
The specific theory that you are going to talk about (do not just cite the author of the textbook, cite the specific theory and author of the theory instead)
The page number(s) where the theory is discussed in the textbook.
Body: the body of the paper will contain the “bulk: of your paper. Here you will engage the reader in your “reflection” about the topic. Please include:
A thorough explanation of your topic and how the theory that you chose relates to the scenario, situation, or event that you chose to discuss in your paper.
Remember, think D.I.E.P.! Describe, Interpret, Evaluate, Plan!
Conclusion: in the conclusion section you will briefly re-visit and “wrap-up” the main themes/ideas presented in your paper, so the reader will understand what your intent was when you wrote about your topic. The conclusion section is basically a summary of the narrative within your paper.
Expected APA style format guidelines:
use Times New Roman, font size 12 pt.;
double-spaced;
1-inch margins (top, bottom, right, left);
The paper must include: a cover page followed by the 3 major sections of the paper itself.
If you cite any external sources in the paper (sources that do not come from the textbook), then you will need to include the References page.
Length: minimum of 250 words and no more than 400 words (not counting the cover page and the References page)
If you paper include external references, use only scholarly references (no blogs, websites, etc.).
To learn about APA style citations, please visit APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition)
A link to an APA formatted paper can be found HERE.
Spell-check and proof-read your paper.
Other important considerations:
Students may run their topics by the instructor. However, be sure to sufficiently narrow down your topic. You may achieve that by asking yourself:
How does the theory I am going to discuss relate to my chosen scenario, situation, or event?
What is my goal in addressing this theory in relationship to my chosen scenario? What makes my scenario particularly important?
Cite your external sources (as in-text citations and in the references page). External sources are any sources that do not appear in the textbook itself.
Do not include any identifiable information in your paper such as other people’s names, names of businesses, managers, employees, etc.
While you can use first-person in your paper, avoid sharing personal details (names, places, addresses, etc.), as faculty must report suspected cases of abuse or neglect to higher authorities. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding this.
Please watch the video below for a better understanding of what the expectations are for the Reflective Paper (please enable closed captions if needed).
STEP 4: Once your Written Project is finished, submit your final draft using the “attachment” feature in the “Submission” box below. Upload only your finalized project containing your answers.
For the reflective paper, I chose to write about: Employee motivation
