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                          Reflection and Exploration Essay (200 points)

This assignment is designed to help you develop your reflective skills and your college-level writing. It will also introduce you to the library and career resources available through GMU. Through careful analysis of the topics, you will explore how your background and previous experiences will contribute to your work in the BIS program.

This paper will deepen your understanding of your personal and professional goals and styles as learners so you can more effectively ground your work in the BIS program. To this end, you will explain how your previous experiences have contributed to your desire to earn your degree and how these experiences may help or hinder your progress in the BIS program. Using resources from the libraries and the Career Services Center, you will explore either your chosen career or one that is of interest to you.

Topics to Discuss

Who You Are (no more than two pages)

• Your personal biography in relation to how you came to the BIS program.
• Your preferred learning style and how it may help or hinder your work in the program.
• Your self-perceived weaknesses and strengths and plans for addressing those that relate to your success in college. (Explore GMU’s web site for information on student support such as study skills, counseling center, student groups, etc.)

Your Intended BIS Program

• Your educational goals, particularly as they relate to your decision to enter the BIS Program.
• An overview of your intended work in the BIS program—what will your concentration work be in, what disciplines will it entail, etc.?

• How will your previous experiences/strengths/weakness support your success in the concentration you are considering?
• Which aspects of your course work will be most challenging? How do you plan to overcome these challenges to succeed?
• How will you meet faculty to select a faculty advisor for your project? What would an “ideal” faculty advisor be able to help you with? What strengths do you bring to the advisor/student relationship?

Your Intended Career or One of Interest to You

• Describe the career as it is generally understood by practitioners.
• Name and describe the role of any governing bodies or associations.
• Outline required training and the general career path; describe where you are on this path.
• Describe the job opportunities for this career both now and in the future.
• Try to explain how your work in the BIS program will further your career goals.

Note: It is not necessary to share deeply personal or private information. This essay is intended to provide a foundation for your course work in the BIS program and should relate to your educational goals. Only include information you feel comfortable sharing.

Bibliography: This essay should include 5 – 7 outside sources (not including assigned course readings) related to your concentration and intended career.

Format for Essays

Page Setup: Typed, double-spaced, and with one-inch margins in a standard 12-point font, such as Times New Roman.

Page Length: 6-8 pages (not including bibliography).

Style: MLA or APA

Writing Expectations: The essay should follow the standard format of introduction, body, and conclusion. Your introduction should include a basic “argument” for your essay. The body should include paragraphs with clear topic sentences. The overall order of the information presented should make sense to a new reader who is not familiar with you or your career.