Program Outcomes
Throughout my time in the Associate in Arts program, I have learned many skills that I have found invaluable to my current and future success. These six skills include the following: communication competence, cultural competence, creative problem solving, information and media literacy, understand the arts and the human experience, and social scientific literacy.
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Communication Competence
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The artifact I chose for communication competence is a proposal I wrote in ENG-112: Writing/Research in the Disciplines, which I took in the spring of 2016. The essay is titled “Finances: Learning before it’s too Late” and explores the issue of financial illiteracy, as well as several solutions to make it better. For this assignment, I had to choose a topic of my interest in a discipline I was interested in pursuing. In addition, I had to write a six to eight page paper in APA format. I wrote about this topic because it was a business topic, and business is the major I am going to pursue for my bachelor’s degree. With this essay, I wanted to showcase my APA formatting skills, as well as use facts, logic, and emotion in order to convey important information to the audience.
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In this assignment, I chose to talk about financial illiteracy because it really hit home. When I was prompted to write this essay, I was experiencing financial illiteracy in my life, so I wanted to conduct research on it to see if other people were experiencing the same problem. What I came to find out is that it is actually a very common problem in the United States. Learning this information made me aware that I was not the only person with the problem, which made me feel better. In addition, learning this information made me want to communicate it to my audience. If I did not know financial illiteracy was a widespread problem, chances are there are other people who are also unaware of it.
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The first goal I created for this assignment was to be able to utilize APA format correctly in order to create a professional-looking paper. In this paper, I had to create a title page, a header, in-text citations, an abstract, and a references page. I had to adhere strictly to the APA guidelines in order to ensure I formatted my paper appropriately. I chose this is as my first goal for this assignment because before writing this paper, I knew what APA format was and I knew how to do it. However, I did not understand the importance of it. When I wrote this paper, I understood how each of the different APA formatting aspects came together to form a professional-looking paper.
My second goal for this assignment was to be able to use logic, credibility, and emotional appeal in order to capture the attention of and relate to the audience. Before writing this assignment, I understood that in order to create a well-rounded essay, I needed to use facts to ensure logic, outside information to ensure credibility of my words, and emotional appeal to really get to the audience. However, until I wrote this essay, I struggled with how to put it all together. I did not know how to use these three skills in order to create depth in an essay. While writing this paper, I kept this goal in the back of my mind. I ultimately chose this goal because an audience needs to see logic, facts, and emotion in order to understand every aspect of a problem. These three ideas work in unison and if one is left out, the audience will not have a full understanding of the scenario.
This assignment was one that certainly challenged me. I chose to discuss financial illiteracy because I have struggled with it my entire life. I have never been knowledgeable about it, so I wanted to research and see if other people have struggled with the same issue. After completing the assignment, I learned far more than I thought I would. I realized just how big of an issue financial illiteracy is. It really opened my eyes and made me see that I was not alone in the issue. This essay truly reflects this program outcome because I was able to take a topic I was interested in and write it in a way that I was able to connect with the audience. I worked extremely hard in order to get my point across in a professional and meaningful manner. This assignment will allow me to write professional papers in the future because I know understand how to create a well-rounded essay that can connect to a specific audience.
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Cultural Competence
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The artifact I chose for cultural competence is a powerpoint presentation I completed in SOC-210: Introduction to Sociology, which I took in the fall of 2015. The powerpoint presentation is titled “Graffiti Writers” and explores the different terms and techniques used in graffiti. This presentation was actually a group presentation, but I am only presenting my piece of the presentation. We each did our own part, so I separated my section from the rest in order to portray my work. For this presentation, I had to conduct research using various types of sources in order to understand the world of graffiti writers. I wanted to explore a unique culture that I knew little about in order to gain newfound respect for it.
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In this assignment, I researched various symbols associated with graffiti, as well as many terms used in the culture. Some of the terms I learned were not foreign to me. However, their definitions were different than what I had known the terms to mean. Learning this emphasized that the same symbols and terms can mean completely different things to different people. Understanding these differences can help differentiate between different cultures and groups of people.
My first goal for this assignment was to be able to analyze specific works of graffiti in order to learn about specific cultures. With this assignment, I analyzed specific terms used in the graffiti world in order to understand the terminology. With this assignment, I learned that graffiti is a very private world, one in which most people know little to nothing about. By analyzing specific works of graffiti, I was able to see that specific numbers and images represent specific cultures. In addition, I learned that there is a difference between gang-related graffiti and non-gang related graffiti. This can be seen in the symbols and terminology used in this different pieces. Overall, before doing research for this assignment, I had no idea that specific cultures had specific words and numbers associated with that culture.
My second goal for this assignment was to better understand what graffiti is and how people use it to reflect their thoughts and emotions. Before completing this assignment, I was not aware of what graffiti actually was. I thought it was just a way for people to vandalize property. I had no idea it was an outlet for people to express their emotions and ideas. By completing this presentation, I was able to see how specific cultures use symbols to convey a message. For example, the number 187 is frequently used in gang graffiti in the United States to represent a death threat.
This assignment was very eye-opening for me. Before I completed this assignment, I did not have the slightest idea why graffiti existed. I also had my own biases about graffiti. I wanted to use this assignment to remain objective in order to learn about a new culture. It allowed me to research a topic I knew nothing about, and it gave me a newfound appreciation for graffiti. I realized that graffiti is not just a way to vandalize, but rather for people who feel as though they have no voice to be able to express their ideas and emotions to the people in their culture. This assignment will deem valuable to me in the future because it show me how important it is to be open-minded towards other cultures and groups of people. Even if we do not understand a culture, that does not mean that I can just shove it aside. Understanding different cultures is essential when it comes to social interaction in your personal and professional life.
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Creative Problem Solving
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The artifact I chose for creative problem solving is a persuasive speech I gave in COM-231: Public Speaking, which I took in the summer of 2017. The speech is titled “What are you Feeding your Pets” and covers the issues with many commercial dog foods, healthier alternative foods, and solutions the audience can implement. For this speech, I had to choose a topic I was passionate about and deliver a five to seven minute speech. I had to use specific techniques in order to persuade the audience, including credibility, facts, and an attainable solution.
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In this speech, I conducted a lot of research on commercial dog foods and the commercial dog food industry. I read articles, watched documentaries, and even researched the nutrition labels on popular dog food brands. I wanted to make sure I searched every place I could to find facts. This is a topic that has a lot of information posted about it, so I had to make sure I only included information from reliable sources, such as journals written by professors and veterinarians.
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The first goal I set for myself in this assignment was to be able to analyze the problem of commercial dog food and use facts to support the reason it is in fact an issue. In order to make my argument legitimate, I made sure to include facts and logic. Without facts, I knew that the audience would not take me seriously. I chose this goal because in the past, I have struggled with remaining objective in speeches. I have always tried to insert my own bias. However, I made sure to remain objective. To do this, I did a lot of research and included outside sources to support my thoughts.
My second goal for this assignment was that I will be able to come up with logical solutions to the problem that the audience can easily implement. I chose this goal because a really important criteria of this assignment was to be able to persuade the audience. In order to do this effectively, I had to make sure to come up with a solution that the audience could actually implement. If I had given the audience far-fetched solutions, they would have lost interest because they would know that the solutions would be impossible to implement. I ended up coming up with a three-part solution. It is a solution in which a single individual could implement all three solutions, two solutions, or even only one solution. The solutions are very straightforward and easy for the audience to implement in their own lives.
This speech was one that I was really passionate about. I have two dogs, and for a long time, my family and I struggled with what to feed them. We struggled with canine nutrition because there was just too much information out there. With this speech, I did a lot of research in order to dig dip into the heart of the commercial dog food industry. I not only wanted to learn about the food in order to help my dogs, I wanted to spread the message to other dog lovers. I knew that a lot of dog owners were as oblivious as I had been. This speech was of particular importance to me because I spoke about a topic that I was very passionate about. I love animals but have never known what I would want to do in the field, so researching for and performing this speech made me realize that I might want to pursue a major in this field someday.
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Information and Media Literacy
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The artifact I chose for information and media literacy is an essay I wrote in ACC-121: Principles of Managerial Accounting, which I took in the spring of 2018. The paper is titled “Lean Manufacturing: The Method Growing in Popularity” and discusses the history, benefits, drawbacks, and successes of lean manufacturing. I had to write a three to five page essay in APA format regarding a topic I had learned in the class.
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I chose to discuss lean manufacturing in this essay because I had really enjoyed learning about it in accounting. I particularly enjoyed learning this topic because it does not just relate to accounting, rather it relates to business as a whole. In addition, lean manufacturing is a method of manufacturing that is growing in popularity today. It is a very current issue, and I really wanted to explore it further because of its usefulness and practicality.
My first goal for this assignment was to be able to find and cite scholarly, peer-reviewed sources that add credibility to my writing. With a topic such as lean manufacturing, it was very important for me to find peer-reviewed sources to back up my work. This topic is so specific that without outside research, I would not have been able to do the topic justice. I had to include the outside information in the body of paper and include in-text citations, as well as include a references page to reference the sources I used. I chose this goal because finding scholarly sources was something I had always struggled with. I never knew where to look or what I was even looking for. With this assignment, I did a lot of research in order to find sources that I felt would make my essay stronger.
The second goal I set for this assignment was to be able to use various strategies, such as paraphrasing and quoting, to incorporate outside information seamlessly in my essay. In order to include outside sources in an essay, it is extremely important to use various strategies. Using only summarizing or only quoting can make the paper seem on-note. I chose this goal because I always found it hard to incorporate outside sources in various methods. I would usually gear towards only quoting or only paraphrasing. I wanted to make sure that in this essay, I used various strategies to make my paper more dynamic and interesting.
This essay was a difficult one for me. I had a difficult time deciding what I was going to write about. I knew there was a lot of information on lean manufacturing, almost a little too much. I had to narrow down the information in order to create an essay with a specific focus. This essay really helped me because it allowed to remain objective and utilize outside sources in order write a report about a topic that a lot of people are not knowledgeable about. I wanted to make sure I connected with the audience and that the audience could trust what I was saying. This essay will help me in the future not only because I learned about a current form of manufacturing, I also learned how one reference can make an essay that much more professional and credible.
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Understanding the Arts and the Human Experience
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The artifact I chose for understanding the arts and the human experience is an essay I wrote in ART-111: Art Appreciation, which I took in the fall of 2018. The paper is titled Stairway, and is about a piece of artwork titled Stairway by Victor Horta. The paper discusses the different elements and principles of art seen in the piece; it also analyzes the piece of art from the perspective of an art theory known as the formal theory. Lastly, the paper discusses my interpretation of the piece. For this essay, I had to write a two to four page paper with a title page and a works cited page.
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In this assignment, I used various sources of outside information to research the history behind the piece of architecture, the meaning of the piece, and the reason the artist created it. I chose this piece of architecture to discuss because I loved the idea of combining beauty and functionality into a beautiful piece of art. The fact that Victor Horta designed the entire Tassel House, from the structure of the house to the wallpaper and furnishings, is quite astonishing. When I look at art, I want it to inspire me and make me feel something; this piece of architecture accomplished that for me.
My first goal for this assignment was to be able to understand the historical context behind a piece of art. With this assignment, I did a lot of research in order to understand why Victor Horta created this house. It is such a beautiful work of art, I knew that there had to be a reason Horta created it. In fact, he designed this piece of architecture to showcase his passion for architecture and his lust for nature. He wanted to show his audience that the beauty of nature can be combined with the structure of a house to create something beautiful and magical.
My second goal for this assignment was to be able to understand the artist’s style and influences. With this assignment, I had to the piece of art through an art theory, and I chose to use the formal theories. The formal theories discuss how a piece of art was influenced by previous works of art. I chose this theory because Victor Horta was inspired by the works of artists, such as Paul Gauguin and William Morris. Both of these artists wanted to find a new way to bring nature into their art. This sparked a new art movement known as Art Nouveau, in which Victor Horta became a progressive leader in. He used the influences and styles of these former artists and added his own twists in order to create the Tassel House.
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This paper was one that really opened my eyes. I have never been an artistic person, but I was able to choose a piece of art that inspired me. I have always been fond of architecture because I love the idea of useful art. When I saw this picture, I thought it was just stunning, and I wanted to be able to share it with other people. The thing about this piece of art is that the artist had a specific vision, and I wanted to portray that vision to the audience. This assignment allowed me to see art in a different way. I have never been able to analyze a piece of art the way I did with this piece of architecture. This assignment has allowed me to open my eyes to art and will help me be more open-minded and creative when I look at art in the future.
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Social Scientific Literacy
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The artifact I chose for social scientific literacy is an essay I wrote in PSY-150: General Psychology, which I took in the spring of 2016. The paper is titled “Nicotine: Sleep’s Worst Enemy” and is about the impact nicotine can have on a person’s sleep cycle. This paper was my final term paper for the course, and I had to write a five to seven page paper about a topic that we had learned about in APA format.
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I chose to discuss the impacts nicotine can have on a person's sleep cycle because it was a very personal topic. One of my family members who smoked was dealing with sleep issues, so I wanted to research this topic to see if there was a correlation. I did extensive research, looking at various sources, to understand every angle of the problem. Once I found out that this was a common problem through my research, it made me want to write the essay even more because I wanted to share this newfound information with my audience. It was likely that many people were unaware of this sad truth.
My first goal for this assignment was to be able to use the social science of psychology to analyze the effects smoking can have on a person’s sleep cycle. With this assignment, I took a topic very personal to me and wanted to show just how bad of a problem smoking is. However, I wanted to make sure I used psychology to explain the consequences of smoking. Smoking is something that is mental, and I wanted to explore how someone’s particular actions can impact their life.
My second goal for this assignment was to be able to research and analyze the topic in order to validate the side effects seen by a large group of people, not just one person. I knew that my mom was having issues with smoking, but I was unaware if other people were having the same issues. I wanted to do research in order to validate my thoughts and see if smoking affecting sleep was actually a common problem. I did extensive research in order to find information that truly portrayed what I was discussing. I wanted the audience to understand just how bad of an issue this was. This is a topic I feel that is overlooked, so I wanted to shine light on it.
This paper was very challenging for me, in a personal way. I discussed something that was very personal to me and my family. I ultimately chose to write about this topic because I wanted to gather information in order to help my mom. She knew for a long time that she had sleeping problems, but she never once thought that it could be caused by smoking. With this assignment, I was not only able to open my own eyes, but I was able to open my mom’s eye. Once I told her what I had learned, she started trying to quit smoking. With this assignment, I hope that I was able to help my audience the way I was able to help my mom.