Core Skills:
Written Communication:
"The learner will exchange ideas and information with others using text in a manner effective and appropriate for the intended audience."
The student should possess the ability to use written words to articulate a point. To become a great writer takes time, effort, and research.
My first goal for this skill is to embrace the learning that comes with constructing a paper and clearly articulate my understanding of the topic.
The second goal for this skill I have is to thoroughly connect my readers to the point of view that I am expressing from my own analysis of the topic.
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Personally, writing has always been the greatest way for me to achieve full comprehension of a certain topic. Whether it is a research paper or an argumentative paper, I work hard to achieve a deep understanding of the subject. This paper, Into the Mind of Charlotte Bronte: Jane Eyre Analysis, was a lengthy analysis on a book of my choosing. Not only did this paper challenge my writing abilities, but it also required me to properly plan and research this paper. I learned an important lesson on time management as well as researching well. This paper relates to many of my short term goals I had set for myself in the beginning of the spring semester. I wanted to take advantage of my classical literature class and expand my understanding of classical literature. This paper allowed me to focus on the time management and research that was needed for me to see classical literature in a different light. I dedicated more time to this paper than I have in previous research papers, so I truly understood what the assignment was asking. This helped me to create a work that not only was I proud of, but I also fully understood the book in different aspects. This was a vital goal of mine, to focus on learning about classical literature outside of my regular education and this assignment truly inspired me to do so. I rekindled a passion for reading that helped me to fully accomplish the goals I had set when I began my education at South Piedmont Community College.
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Oral Communication:
"The learner will exchange ideas and information with others using the spoken word in a manner effective and appropriate for the intended audience."
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Good oral communication for students is when students can clearly and convincingly speak to people.
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The first goal for this skill I have is to apply what I learn from COM-231 in the spring of 2021 and use it to accurately present ideas in public settings.
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My second goal for this skill is to enhance my ability to physically communicate while orally communicating. For example, I shall dedicated 3 hours of practicing before speeches during the time I will be taking COM-231.
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When I took COM-123 at Suuth Piedmont Community College, I must admit my first emotion regarding the class was terror. Public speaking was not a class I had been looking forward to. The overwhelming fear regarding public speaking never diminished. However with the help of my professor, Todd Campbell, I was encouraged, inspired, and dedicated to producing a speech I was proud of. In preparation for the speech “Save the Dogs” I took the time necessary to practice. I memorized the speech, ran through it, and produced something I was proud of. This class taught me more than how to prepare or deliver a speech, it taught me how to excel at something I was afraid of. Therefore, I learned how to set goals and dedicate the time to achieve them. Personally, I never understood why a student getting their associates in art would find it necessary to take COM-123. Although once I completed the class I learned why. As I had approached the class with fear, I was able to walk away brave and proud of my public speaking skills. For someone who fears the idea of speaking in front of more than five people, I learned how to overcome my fear through hard work and dedication. This class was pivotal to my journey at South Piedmont Community College. I experienced a wonderful professor, while overcoming my fear of necessary skills. I am thankful to COM-123 for the growth and dedication I achieved through this class.
Cultural Literacy:
"The learner will demonstrate a “set of cognitive, effective, and behavioral skills and characteristics that support effective and appropriate interaction in a variety of cultural contexts.” (Bennett, M., 2008)"
The student has the knowledge and appreciation for other cultures and displays great consideration for others personal beliefs. The student also displays respect to all cultural traditions and differences.
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My first goal is to grow in my knowledge of other cultures traditions by spending more time studying different cultures. I would like to spend extra time studying each culture's art and artistic expressions by studying artists based from different cultures.
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My second goal for this skill is to use the knowledge I have attained from my education at Spcc and engage in appropriate conversations with people of different cultures.
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I gained much knowledge about unique cultures when completing this assignment in the spring semester of 2022. I researched the different aspects of French culture in contrast with Spanish culture. My understanding of each culture was very impactful. I learned, related, and appreciated all of the differences in all cultures across the world. This assignment challenged me in a way no other project has. I was required to understand a topic that was unfamiliar to me. The subject of this assignment was the unique, similar, and different aspects of the French and Spanish religious processes. The topic of this paper was challenging for me, but the more I gained knowledge about these cultures, the more I learned to appreciate their significance. Within society, the idea of culture can be very insignificant. However, while learning about other cultures, I was then able to witness the invaluable concepts that all cultures offer to society. Through this, I was taught to value the knowledge of understanding how different cultures function. I learned how important a religious foundation is within a thriving society. My goal for this skill was to better understand other cultures by taking the time to learn about them. This assignment challenged me to take that time. I walked away from this assignment and class with a better understanding of the intricacies of culture. This assignment encompassed a significant part of my education at South Piedmont. The paper alluded to the value the intricacies of culture had when it came to schooling at South Piedmont. I recall this assignment and think back to just how important it was to me and my goals as a person.
Critical Thinking:
"The learner will identify, interpret, analyze, or synthesize problems before developing and implementing solutions in a manner effective and appropriate for the intended audience."
The student has the ability to think through problems, situations, and scenarios critically and clearly.
The first goal for this skill I have is to improve my knowledge of mathematics by focusing 2 hours a day studying mathematics I found challenging within my education.
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My second goal for this skill is to enhance my understanding of statistical mathematics by taking Math-152 in the fall of 2021 and setting aside 2 hours of daily studying.
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When I completed this assignment in the Fall of 2022, I was relieved that I had overcome one of the most challenging assignments of my time at South Piedmont. Math had been something I didn't particularly appreciate since I was young, and this class was one of the biggest obstacles I overcame while at South Piedmont. The assignment was to choose a statistic and break it down using our own words into the different statistical concepts learned during the course. My class and I were challenged throughout the course; however, this assignment was one of the most complicated assignments to overcome. I was, however, determined to complete the project well. When I recognized the intensity of this course, I felt it best to be fully prepared to tackle this assignment. So, I reached out to a tutor, and we worked on constructing a statistic that showcased my knowledge of the course. I was proud to have achieved such a difficult task when I completed this assignment. The statistical math class I completed allowed me to surpass my goals for this skill. I learned to study well, take the time to understand concepts, and then showcase my knowledge of the concepts through the written project. I dedicated much of my time and energy to complete this course with all my effort. The written statistics project fully encompassed all the knowledge I was walking away with from this course. This artifact is yet another example of the overcoming abilities that South Piedmont fashions to their students.
Information Literacy:
"The learner will locate, identify, evaluate, use, and disseminate information ethically and responsibly."
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The student showcases the importance of accurate information when presenting for any topic.
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My first goal for this skill is to showcase my ability to properly research a topic and articulate my information clearly.
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My second goal for this skill is to use credible and reliable information to showcase the accuracy of my information.
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For this skill, I used a research paper from my English-242. This paper was impactful to me during my time at South Piedmont Community College. When I dove into this assignment for the first time, I was met with a plethora of options. The prompt of this paper was to showcase a written work with one point of view of privilege while comparing a piece that lacked privilege. The prompt became a challenge as there were many different selections of pieces. However, throughout this course, I was struck by many pieces, precisely these two. A White Man's Burden and the Discourse on the Logic of Language both of these pieces were deeply striking to me. Each of these written works showcased an entirely different perspective on similar ideals. My goal was to showcase the validity of each piece through my research without making claims with my own opinion, which was a great challenge. As I researched the authors and their other works, I began understanding each piece's perspective. I learned how they wrote, why they wrote, and what their end goal within their works was. Understanding the authors allowed me to develop a research paper to fully encompass my goal of accurately showcasing the information to my reader. I utilized the research of who these writers were to bring the facts to light about each piece. I established credibility, then clearly outlined my goals for this paper. When I began to construct this paper, I found that the reliability of my information was an essential function of this assignment. The necessity of viable information was very impactful for me during my time at South Piedmont. When I fully understood how valuable research and ethical information were when writing, I learned the importance of credible sources.