An introduction tells the reader what the coming article is about. An introduction is usually a paragraph of 3-5 sentences. For this introduction, answer the following questions:
Was there a specific moment when I decided to continue my education? If so, what was it?
What inspired me to take this step?
Why did I choose to become a member of the Walden community?
The first and longest section of your draft should describe who you are today as a result of this first-term course and starting your educational journey. Consider your personal plan for success at Walden.
Part 1: Today I am…
Think about some of the course themes and big ideas we discussed and connect them to the way you will approach learning and future classes.
Be specific and point to course examples to support your ideas.
Answer these questions to develop this section:
How do I plan to be fully human in this online academic world?
Consider the ideas discussed in the Week 1 resources about what it means to be human.
How ready do I feel to embark on this journey?
How do the tools and available support contribute to achieving my goals?
The second section is about your future. Be practical.
Make a commitment to yourself and the classmates who might need your support during the program. Think about your reasons for being here and what you hope to achieve.
Answer these questions to develop this section:
How am I managing the business of being a student?
What questions do I still have about my enrollment, my program, my planned course of study?
How will I protect my learning process?
What time management and support network decisions have I made? Consider the Time Management Toolkit Resources.
How might I identify a mentor (colleague with different professional skills, someone in your profession, community, or a Walden Faculty Member) to support my educational efforts
What are my technical challenges and how might I solve them?
Walden is committed to social change. Your choice to pursue further education is in and of itself an act of social change.
In the third section, explain how you might:
Contribute to social change at home, in your current employment, and in your community.
Become a mentor to others in the program?
Identify at least two university resources that you believe will be useful to you in your academic journey. Explain in detail why you have chosen these resources.
In the final week we will add one more section and a conclusion to this draft.
Assignment Resources
Undergraduate Writing: https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/undergraduate/priorlearning/drafting
Grammarly: https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/academic-skills/grammarly
