Write a 1200-1500-word essay exploring an issue about which you have changed your mind. Create a short poem as a visual accompaniment that captures the essence of your message or claim. Growth Mindset Over the course of Module One, we have developed an awareness that a growth mindset enables learning, change and ultimately, holistic improvement resulting in evolution or expansion of thoughts, beliefs, ideas, knowledge and awareness. According to the National Research Council and The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, a growth mindset sets the foundation for “Intrapersonal Competencies” including: Intellectual Openness (Openness to Experience) Work Ethic (Conscientiousness) Positive Core Self-Evaluation (Psychological Health) According to Charles MacArthur of Writing Commons, “Growth Mindset refers to a personality construct theorized by Carol S. Dweck. People with a Growth Mindset assume traits such as intelligence and talent are a product of hard work, grit, determination.” Purpose: This essay asks you to consider a belief that you once held about which you have changed your mind over time. The heart of your claim will address the answer to one of the following questions: What is something you used to believe that you no longer believe? What is something you used to believe that you have since discovered was wrong or untrue? What is an issue with two or more sides where you may have changed your view or “switched sides?” You will make the argument that what you now believe is better or correct as opposed to your old way of thinking. You will analyze the issue and explain, using evidence, specifically how and why your mindset has shifted, how and why you have grown or expanded your thinking. What makes this new belief or thinking pattern better than the old belief? What have you learned? What have you gained? How has your life been improved by this new line of thinking? How does this evolved belief serve the greater good? Why does cultivating a growth mindset matter? Use these questions as a jumping off point. You do not need to answer all of them, necessarily, but your line of reasoning should be consistent with the essence of what these questions inspire. In a nutshell: You are making an argument that a new belief you hold as a result of having changed your mind is improved, better or more beneficial in some way than an old, formerly held belief. As a multimodal component, you will create a short poem that serves as a visual accompaniment to the essay using an easy graphic app or website like Canva.com. You will make the argument using three sources: TED Talk, or other article, featuring Dweck’s research on growth mindset This can be the video(s) from Writing Commons, from TED directly or from your own research. Poem, short fiction or essay featuring a theme that aligns with your altered belief (Using those we’ve read in Module One as examples) Academic article on the topic of your changed belief from the Sprague Library Requirements: This essay should demonstrate your ability to: Craft a clear, organized argument that explores a belief you once held that has changed or evolved over time as a result of having a growth mindset. Use three sources (detailed above) to support and develop your argument and document those sources using MLA format with a Works Cited page and in-text citations. Weave the sources into your argument/discussion naturally and with relevance, rather than discussing each source individually or in isolation. Demonstrate higher level thinking skills as outlined in Bloom’s Taxonomy, including analysis, synthesis and evaluation. Convey the significance of the belief (this may include a connection to a larger personal, social or cultural issue). Exhibit development through the writing process (drafts, peer review workshops, conference). Create clear, well-edited writing that is largely free of proofreading errors and errors of grammar, mechanics, and syntax. Grading Rubric: We will be using the FYW program assessment criteria as outlined in your syllabus. For the purposes of this assignment, I’ll offer additional detail about these criteria below. We will spend time in class helping each other understand and perform well in these areas: Central Claim (15 points)–The central claim is the point you want your argument to make, that your new belief (the “right” or “better” belief) has evolved from your old belief as a result of a growth mindset. The central claim of an argument should be debatable, complex, engaging and sophisticated. Development (20 points)–In order to effectively convey (argue) your belief as “right,” the details and evidence should support your central claim. Analysis (20 points)–Analysis explores and answers the questions “So what?” or “How?” or “Why?” The most successful analysis affirms and furthers the central claim by demonstrating its complexity and significance. In this particular case, you are analyzing how what you learned matters. Organization (15 points)- By controlling how you convey your growth and subsequent shift in your belief, you will keep your reader interested and wanting to know more. By keeping the reader engaged, you help them understand more completely what you want them to consider. If the reader gets lost because the prose becomes confusing, the reader is likely to disconnect from the point you want to argue or convey. The very best arguments will attempt to connect to reader experience well before the last paragraph. Clarity of Prose (20 points)- For this assignment, you will want to use active subjects and strong verbs in order to keep your readers engaged. Every sentence is structured appropriately, included intentionally because it adds meaning and every word is present with purpose. Mechanics (10 points)- You should make sure that any errors in spelling, punctuation, and sentence fluency do not detract from meaning.
