reflective essay
Writing your Hallmarks reflections
Each artifact in your portfolio should be accompanied by a reflective essay (about 300 words, 1 typed page).
1. Identify your artifact
· When and where did you complete the work for the artifact?
· What was the assignment or experience and what was its intended purpose?
2. Connect the artifact to the Hallmarks learning goal
· How does this work connect with the selected Hallmarks learning goal?
· Which specific aspects of the learning goal does this work address?
Learning goal is rigorous inquiry
3. Reflect on your learning experience
Conclude your essay with a paragraph exploring one or two of the following questions, as appropriate to the artifact:
· How did your work on this project build on your previous learning or skills?
· How did you grow or change as a result of this learning experience?
· What challenges did you face in this work and what would you do differently the next time?
· How would you explain the value of what you learned to a family member?
· How would you explain the value of what you learned to a potential employer?
· Why was this a memorable or significant learning experience for you?
Grading rubric for Hallmarks reflections
|
Level of Achievement |
1. Identify your artifact |
2. Connect the artifact to the Hallmarks learning goal |
3. Reflect on your learning experience |
Clarity of Communication
|
|
Advanced |
The essay provides a detailed and thoughtful explanation of the artifact’s context and purpose. |
The essay includes a thorough and detailed assessment of how the artifact achieved the learning goal. |
The essay offers thoughtful and detailed reflection on the learning experience. |
The essay’s expression is consistently clear and well-organized. |
|
Proficient |
The essay provides detailed information about the artifact, its context and purpose |
The essay includes reasonably detailed assessment of how the artifact met the learning goal. |
The essay offers detailed reflection on the learning experience. |
Most of the essay’s expression is clear and well-organized |
|
Satisfactory |
The essay provides basic information about the artifact, its context and purpose. |
The essay provides a basic assessment of how the artifact met the learning goal. |
The essay offers some basic reflection on the learning experience. |
The essay’s expression is fairly clear, with some vague or disorganized passages. |
|
Developing |
Identifying information about the artifact, its context and purpose is limited or unfocused. |
The essay includes limited or vague assessment of how the artifact met the learning goal. |
The essay offers limited or unfocused reflection on the learning experience. |
Some parts of the essay are difficult to understand due to unclear or disorganized expression. |
|
Needs Improvement |
Little or no identifying information about the artifact or its context and purpose. |
The essay includes little or no assessment of how the artifact met the learning goal. |
The essay offers little or no reflection on the learning experience. |
The essay is difficult to understand due to unclear or disorganized expression. |
|
Percentage |
20% |
30% |