This reflection essay should engage this central question: How do the materials that you have selected for this essay contribute to your understanding of the Mercy Core Values and their relevance for envisioning the future?
Consider the following items:
Evolving Understanding:
Through readings and class discussion, how has your understanding of respect and integrity developed over the past month? How do you see respect and integrity shaping your understanding of justice and compassion? What do you understand justice and compassion to mean? (Draw upon the assigned and outside readings)
Lessons from the Past for the Future:
Why did you choose the materials you selected for this essay? How do these materials contribute to envisioning the future? Why do you think these materials are pertinent for responding to the challenges we face as a society? How do these materials challenge you / society going forward? (Draw upon the assigned and outside readings)
Life of Service:
How do you see respect, integrity, justice, and compassion translating into service? How do you envision the ways that the Mercy Core Values can translate into a life that contributes to overcoming some of the future challenges that you have identified?
Your response should incorporate meaningful references to at least two of the assigned readings from GEN400. You are free to move beyond two assigned sources in your reflection essay, but there should be an in-depth engagement with the words/ideas from at least two readings that we have covered in this course. You should be sure to integrate and cite key quotations from these readings to help develop your essay. Your response also should incorporate at least one selection of an outside reading, film, lab-like experience, speaker, etc. that you engaged within another course before GEN400 that relates to your understanding of Respect, Integrity, Justice, Compassion, and/or Service.
Use concrete examples from our assigned readings to help develop your reflection essay. Your essay should be at least four pages (1200-1500 words) and no longer than six pages (1800 words). It should be organized as an essay (Introduction / Body Paragraphs / Conclusion), but it should be sure to respond to the above questions. It also should include a Works Cited page that follows either the Turabian, APA, or MLA format.
Paper Specifications: All essays should be double-spaced, using 1” margins
left and right, (aligned left & ragged right), and 1” margins top and bottom. Use the Times New Roman 12 pt. font and number pages. The paper’s heading should include the following aligned with the left margin: Your name, my name, course, and date. Each paper also should include an original title (do not repeat the topic). Please number the pages.
