Today you will read some example self-assessment documents and consider how they use word choice.

Readings for August 13

For today’s session, please read the following:

• National Guard self-assessment brochure.
• USDA self-assessment document.
• Denver County Public Schools Employee Brief.

Work for August 13

• Analyze the self-assessment documents you have read for today for Powerful Word Choice. Post your responses in the forums:

  • Forum Post on National Guard Self-Assessment Brochure
  • Forum Post on Denver Schools Self-Assessment Statement 
  • Forum Post on USDA Self-Assessment Statements 

• If you have any questions about the assignment, go to Questions about Project 6 in the forum and add them.

• Details on how to submit Project 5 will be posted tomorrow (8/14). Your final is due by 11:55 PM on Saturday, 8/15. There is no grace period.

• Complete the Course Evaluation, if you have not done so yet (more details below).

Course Evaluation

Please fill out the Student Perceptions of Teaching (SPOT) survey for this course. I do not see the feedback until after grades are submitted, and your comments are anonymous.

The feedback helps the department make important decisions about teaching methods, course content, and faculty promotion. Written comments help me decide what to keep or change the next time I teach the course.

Notice in particular how the example in the bullet formula in the 2014–2015 Guide moves from a generic idea (“communication skills”) to a very strong statement about what the person has accomplished. That idea of highlighting your “Demonstrated Accomplishment/Contribution” is what you should work for in your report for Project 5. For instance, rather than saying you were a strong forum participant in your Project 5 report, choose a strong verb and add clarifying details the show your accomplishment or contribution.

Go to the Project 5: Course Completion Report in the Forums and respond to at least one of the three self-assessment statements there:

• National Guard Self-Assessment Brochure 
• USDA Self-Assessment Statements 
• Denver Schools Self-Assessment Statement 

You will find questions there to get your conversation started. As always, feel free to engage each other in discussion by quoting one another as you reply. You are only required to post a reply to one of the three statements; however, you may feel free to reply to more than one. In fact, if you have not met your minimum requirement for the forums yet, you can take advantage of this chance to post some extra replies.