Senior Project/Job Shadow Class

Senior Project Component #2: Reflective Essay

Directions: Now that you have completed your senior project, it’s time to synthesize your takeaways!

Taking time to reflect upon and think through the process of completing your project and how it relates to your
postsecondary goals is a valuable part of project-based learning and can often lead you to develop some insightful
reflections. Below is a checklist for topics that must be covered in your essay as well as the rubric that will be used to score
your work. Head to the course message board for example essays from past years.

Once you have completed your rough draft, submit it in Week 17’s Drop Box. I will be leaving you feedback and an initial
score. This score is not permanent. Once you have revised your essay using the feedback that I have left, you will be
resubmitting it for a final grade.

Reflective Essay Checklist

 In MLA format (like an English paper)

 Has an introduction and conclusion
 5-7 double-spaced pages
 Answers the following questions
o What was your project on? Provide an overview of the process of completing your
project. 1-2 pages
o Which career-related skills did you learn? What sort of knowledge did you develop?
(What new skills and knowledge did you learn while completing this project? Did you
learn time management? Specific skills and knowledge related to your career goals?). 2-
3 pages
o How is your project relevant to your career goals or postsecondary plans? (How did this
project help you work towards your goals after high school? Were there specific parts of
your project in particular that helped you towards your goals?) 1 page

Reflective Essay Rubric

60% or under 70% 80% 90% 100%

-Not double-spaced -Not double-spaced -Not double-spaced -Double-spaced -Double-spaced and

or in MLA format. or in MLA format. or in MLA format. and in MLA format. in MLA format.

-Essay is unclear -Essay is unclear -Clear, logical and -Clear, logical and -Clear, logical and
and not sequential. and not sequential. sequential essay. sequential essay. sequential essay.

-The description of -Briefly describes -Fully describes the -Fully describes the -Fully describes the
the project is the nature of the nature of the nature of the nature of the project
unclear and lacks project and project, but project in detail in detail and depth.
detail. additional details clarifying details and depth.
could have been could have been -Comprehensively
-Does not fully provided. provided. -Explains how the explains how the
describe the nature project is relevant project is relevant to
of the project or -Describes some of -Explains how the to and relates to and relates to future
provide clarifying the process of project is relevant to future career goals. career goals.
details. planning, executing and relates to future
and completing the career goals, but -Identifies skills -Identifies skills and
-Does not fully project. could have provided and knowledge knowledge developed
describe how the more reflection. developed during during the project.
Senior Project/Job Shadow Class
Senior Project Component #2: Reflective Essay
project is relevant -Briefly describes the project.
to and relates to how the project is -Identifies some -Describes and
future career goals. relevant to and skills and knowledge -Describes but does justifies the process
relates to future developed during not justify the of planning,
-Does not reflect on career goals, but the project. process of executing and
insights gained could have provided planning, executing completing the
from the project, more reflection. -Does not reflect on and completing the project.
questions or further insights gained from project.
topics for research. -Does not reflect on the project, as well -Goes above and
insights gained from as any questions or -Does reflect on beyond reflecting on
-Less than 3 pages the project, as well further topics for insights gained insights gained from
in length. as any questions or research. from the project, as the project, as well as
further topics for well as any any questions or
research. -5-7 pages in length. questions or further further topics for
topics for research. research.
-Less than 5 pages in
length. -5-7 pages in -5-7 pages in length.
length.