We want to help you think about and understand your own learning and thinking so that you can better take charge of that learning.  In the course of the semester, we will help develop that understanding of your learning and thinking.  At the end of the semester, you should be able to assess your own work and make an argument about where you are in your learning (remember, an argument is not just conclusions but evidence offered in support of conclusions).  Here are some guidelines for the self-assessment that will help you make that argument.  You should attach the following to the front of your argument:

Purpose: I understand that the purpose of this activity is to assess my own performance across the term. If successful, this report will make it possible for those who read it to grasp explicitly what I have and have not learned this term in the way of thinking abilities. It will itself display critical thinking about my thinking. I will begin by stating the grade which I believe that I have the evidence to support. I will build a case for my grade using the criteria below and excerpts from my own work as support. (Note: Ironically, a well-reasoned case for you to get a low grade may well justify you getting a higher grade, while a poorly-reasoned and weakly-supported case for getting a high grade will certainly guarantee a lower grade. The most impressive response will be an accurate assessment of your strengths and weaknesses leading to the well-substantiated conclusion that you deserve the grade you do in fact deserve.)

Overall Course Goals and Objectives: The goal of the course is to develop thinking abilities and the knowledge and understanding that result from their use in the study of questions and issues.

My areas of strength: I am best at the thinking abilities listed below. In each case, I will attach evidence from my work along with accompanying analysis and commentary.

1)

2)

3)

4)

My areas of weakness: I am weakest at the thinking abilities listed below. In each case, I will attach evidence from my work along with accompanying analysis and commentary.

1)

2)

3)

4)

If the course grade is to be based on how well I develop thinking abilities and the knowledge and understanding that result from their use in the study of questions and issues, my grade should be a ___________________________.

Attached is a summary of the reasoning on which I base my judgment.

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