You explored several theories (growth mindset, emotional intelligence, grit, and learned optimism) that will contribute to a successful college experience. The purpose of this assignment is to identify the theory that you think will have the greatest impact on your college experience, explain the theory citing evidence from resources provided in study activities, and then analyze and evaluate its significance to your college experience.
There is no form provided for this assignment. You will need to create a new document on your computer and clearly label your responses as Identify & Explain, Analyze, and Evaluate. You may also choose to address these questions in essay form. The word counts are recommended guides to support the meaningful development of ideas.
1. Identify and explain the theory that you think will have the greatest impact on your college experience. The response should contain 150-200 words and use explanatory sentences. Explanatory sentences must include specific references from specific study activities. Using the learning activities provides evidence of learning from the experts’ sources.
You may want to answer the following questions in your explanation:
What is the main point of the theory (definition)?
To provide supporting details, you may want to ask: How was the theory developed?
Who are the leading researchers?
Why was the theory developed, or what is the purpose, impact, or importance of the theory?
2. Analyze your selected theory by providing ideas and examples to justify this theory as having the greatest impact on your success in college. Here you are answering why you think this theory will be important for college success. Your submission should demonstrate your awareness of the connections between the expert sources and their significance to you. The analysis should focus on why this theory will impact your college success. Your response should be between 150-200 words and use explanatory sentences.
Below are some questions that may help guide your analysis. These questions should help begin and encourage your thinking, but not limit your considerations by only answering these few questions.
What ideas stood out to me? Why? Were they new, or in opposition to existing beliefs?
What are the observations, or past experiences that shape my understanding?
Which aspects of the theory will impact my college success – make connections?
3. Evaluate the potential impact of this theory on your future college goals. Your evaluation should be your opinion, or judgments of the information previously analyzed and may address how this will be important. Your response should be between 150-200 words and use explanatory sentences.
Below are some questions that may support your evaluation.
What choices have I made in the past that reflect the theory? Which choices have not? What outcomes resulted from those choices?
Which aspects of the theory do I value? What components of the theory have helped me gain insights, and from what evidence?
How might the knowledge of the theory help my personal growth?
What are the possible outcomes and consequences of applying this theory to my future?
