ASSIGNMENT 1

Overview:

This week’s assignment is all about you.  Unlike the other assignments in this course, your work in this assignment will be a private conversation (of sorts) between you and your instructor.  Be as honest as you can in your assessment so you can use this information to make the most of your education as you move forward in this class and through your future learning experiences.

What is a SWOT analysis?

A SWOT analysis is a tool for evaluating the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (or SWOT) associated with something—usually a company, organization, or project, but can be applied to analyze an idea, an argument, or, as we are doing in this assignment, a person.

We separate the ideas of strengths and weaknesses as internal factors (personal strengths and weaknesses), from the ideas of opportunities and threats as external factors (outside opportunities and threats to learning).  These factors are usually presented in a chart with bullet-points followed by a brief narrative about each factor.

The first step in completing a SWOT analysis is to identify the specific areas being analyzed.  For the purposes of this assignment, you are asked to analyze the skills you acquired throughout your general education so far.  The categories we will analyze are defined as:

1. Communication skills;

2. Critical thinking skills;

3. Respect for diversity;

4. Professional, social, and ethical responsibility; and

5. Lifelong learning practices

Assignment Criteria:

Complete a personal SWOT analysis evaluating your understanding and skills in the five following categories:

1. Communication skills;

2. Critical thinking skills;

3. Respect for diversity;

4. Professional, social, and ethical responsibility; and

5. Lifelong learning practices

Your assignment should include:

1. A SWOT graph with bullet-points defining your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as they relate to the five university learning objectives.
2. A brief narrative describing each defined trait.

There is no page-length requirement for this assignment, however; you should make every effort to provide a complete and accurate personal analysis. Utilizing the SWOT Template (linked below) should help you structure and address every element in the assignment. Pay close attention to detail, including grammar, usage, design, and depth.

SWOT Template

Reflection Journal

This week, through our readings and discussion, we have had the opportunity to get to know each other and the nature of service-learning and civic engagement. Additionally, we have begun to explore the following course outcomes:

·                                 read and extract information and ideas from a variety of texts; – Critical Thinking

·                                 express a well-informed, personal viewpoint and show an understanding of his or her own biases; – Critical Thinking & Communication & Respect for Diversity

·                                 articulate how learning extends beyond the classroom. – Lifelong learning & Communication & Social, Ethical and Professional Responsibility

In your journal, reflect back on what you have learned so far through the course readings, assignment, and our discussion. Answer each of the following questions to guide your reflection:

1.                             What, if anything, did you find surprising, particularly challenging, or interesting? (10 pts)

2.                             From what you know about this course so far, what connections can you make to previous learning experiences, and how do you think this course will help you as you move forward in your college and professional life? (10pts)

3.                             How do the course outcomes (listed above) for this week apply to your experience so far? (10pts)

4.                             How do you see service learning or community service helping you hone your strengths and sharpen your weaknesses? (10pts)

5.                             What questions do you still need answered? (10pts)