Paper details:
The reflection piece is an important part of your project. Reflection is a crucial part of community service, which allows volunteers to look back on, think critically about, and learn from their service experience. Reflection may include acknowledging and/or sharing of reactions, feelings, observations, and ideas about anything regarding the activity.
Reflection papers should detail:
What you experienced: What did you observe? What issue is being addressed or population is being served? What was of particular notice?
What you learned; what impact did your experience had on you and on the community? What feelings or thoughts seem most strong today? How is your experience different from what you expected? What impacts the way you view the situation/experience? (What lens are you viewing from?)
What are some of the pressing needs/issues in the community? How does this project address those needs? How, specifically, has the community benefited?
How this might affect your behavior in the future: What seem to be the root causes of the issue/problem addressed? What kinds of activities are currently taking place in the community related to this project? What contributes to the success of projects like this? What hinders success? What learning occurred for you in this experience? How can you apply this learning? What follow-up is needed to address any challenges or difficulties?
A successful paper will (CRITT2 b, c; DIVGL1; DIVGL3):
Identify one’s own and others’ assumptions regarding their position on an aspect of a culture.
Describe how the cultural beliefs/practices observed in your field experience coincide with your own and any cultural assumptions that could be affecting your opinion.
Demonstrate how your own attitudes, biases, behaviors, or beliefs compare or relate to those of other individuals, groups, communities, or cultures.
Develop a hypothesis relating to the problem and future culture change.
Specifications:
Be no less than 3 pages in length (excluding references and citations)
Include peer-reviewed citations as needed and per relevance to your topic.
