Essay Instructions: I WROTE THE ESSAY, BUT I WOULD LIKE IT GROOMED. ALREADY HAVE A TITLE PAGE. I DID NOT WRITE TWO ITEMS IN THE ASSIGNMENT:
1. APPLICATION OF LEARNING FUTURE
2. CLOSING PARAGRAPH THAT REFLECTS THE TITLE
Assignment One
Your first assignment should be presented as completely as possible and be your best writing effort.
1. Choose one of the three topics listed above
2. Assignment needs to be seven to nine pages of narrative
3. Double space only
4. One-inch margins?all sides
5. Times New Roman font style?12 point type
6. Include section headings within the essay
7. Include a Title Page (even though not required by MLA) with required information and formatting (see page 17 of these Guidelines)
8. Follow Assignment Guidelines on page four of this document, and MLA guidelines
in The Little, Brown Compact Handbook (see pages 376?383)
9. Any research references must be in MLA format.
Assignment Guidelines
Assignment One must include the following content,
and be written in the following sequence:
I. Introduction
A. Opening Paragraph that Reflects on Your Title
Short introductory paragraph ? Provide a few thoughts about the topic you?ve chosen and how this relates to your life.
B. Present Status in Military or Reserves
Tell about your present status in the military. How
long have you been in the military? How long do you plan to remainin the military? What is your current job in the military?
C. Purpose of Paper
Are you using this degree to help with future
promotions within the military? Are you interested in having this degree as a stepping stone to a bachelor?s degree someday? Are you preparing yourself for civilian employment?
II. Description of Learning
A. Military Training
Give an overview of the most meaningful experiences and training you have received in the military, beginning
with boot camp. Go into more detail about those experiences that
have had the most lasting effect on you.
B. General Education-College Level (Communication Arts, Social Sciences, Humanities, Math and Science/Technology)
Give an overview of the college classes you
have taken on a college campus that are considered part of a normal college program, i.e., communication arts, social sciences, humanities, math, science and technology. Highlight those courses that you feel have had the most profound impact upon you. If you have not taken any such courses, indicate that.
C. Other Academic Courses and Academic Tests (CLEP/DANTES, PACE,
Correspondence Courses, etc.)
Indicate how you have acquired any other college level credits, i.e., CLEPS, DANTES, correspondence courses, or personal interest courses such as real estate or financial planning, etc.
D. Life Experiences (one to three areas that are not military)
Discuss one to three areas of your life other than military, i.e., life prior to joining the military, marriage, parenting,
traveling. Traveling could have occurred because of the military, however, you should focus on the cultural aspects of traveling.
III. Application of Learning
Here you are to focus on how you have applied what you have learned. Give a very specific example of how you have applied something you learned to a new situation in the past; give another very specific example of how you are presently applying something you have learned; and, give a third very specific example of how you hope you will have the opportunity to apply something you have learned to a new situation in the future. These examples could come from any aspect of your life about
which you have written earlier in the assignment, and these examples need not be major, earth-shaking events.
A. Past
1.Specific Learning:
2.How you hope to apply that learning to a new situation in the future:
B. Present
1.Specific Learning:
2.How you hope to apply that learning to a new situation in the future:
C. Future
1.Specific Learning:
2.How you hope to apply that learning to a new situation in the future:
IV. Closing Paragraph that Reflects on Your Title and Brings Closure to the Essay
How the Associate of Arts Degree Contributes to My Career Goals
I. Introduction
A. Opening Paragraph that Reflects on Your Title
How the Associate of Arts Degree will contribute to my career goals is a two-part answer. First, defined in most publications, an Associate of Arts Degree will allow me to acquire writing, oral communication, and critical thinking skills associated with the foundation experiences in the arts and sciences. Even though I been out of the academic role for over 20 years, I work with these skills everyday, from participating in working groups, giving daily briefs and working on time critical projects associated with Department of Defense. Second, the Associate of Arts Degree is the focal point that will lead me to a change in career fields.
B. Present Status in Military or Reserves
I proudly like to say that I served over 20 years in the Armed Forces. I am currently in the United States Navy and plan on staying in for 4 more years. My primary duties is Assistant Strike Officer for Commander Carrier Group 7, I assist the Strike Officer in preparation and dissemination in Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) operational task, weapons doctrine, strike plans and training directives to ships in our Battle Group. I review TLAM exercises and recommend courses of action required to achieve and maintain proficiency in weapons delivery. I am personally involved in the improvement process of present and future Tomahawk weapon systems and tactics.
C. Purpose of Paper
My time in the Navy is coming to end and promotions within the military are very tight especially when they want a younger and smaller force. As you read in my earlier paragraph I need to prepare myself for civilian employment. . In the following paragraphs I will discuss my educational background, life experiences and give you specific examples on what I?ve learned in the past and present, which will help me, achieve my career goal; An Associate of Arts degree. The Associate of Arts degree is needed for my next step in life so I can prepare myself to achieve my ultimate goal in attaining a Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Technology and an inevitable change in my future career field.
II. Description of Learning
A. Military Training
My most meaningful experiences and training I?ve received were in the military. Starting with boot camp back in 1982 is the place where you learn all the rules needed to become successful in the Navy. They teach you about Honor, Courage and Commitment. These core values helped me out in my daily life in all relationships with peers, superiors and subordinates. It made me willing to make honest recommendations and accept those of junior personnel. Also gave me the moral and mental strength to do what was right, even in the face of personal or professional adversity. The training taught me to treat each individual with human dignity and be committed to positive change and constant improvement.
B. General Education ?College Level
My overview of college classes is very limited considering most of my time spent in the Navy was away from any opportunity to attend school. I did get a chance to attend a lower level college English course in 1995. The course seemed to be a review of high school English. This course helped me in the military by teaching me a more effective way in the techniques for gathering ideas, the use of brainstorming and the grouping of ideas in my daily work.
C. Other Academic Courses and Academic Tests
Most of my college level credits were ascertained by attending many technical courses throughout my Navy career. Early in my career, Fire Control ?A? School taught me theories in electromechanical, microwave, radar and solid-state electronic fundamentals. Next I went to my ?C? schools in Gun Fire Control, Harpoon and Tomahawk Weapon systems. This core curriculum enabled me to hone my skills in troubleshooting and maintaining computer and electrical/electronic systems. After many years working on the Navy?s weapon systems, I went to Instructor ?C? school. I transitioned from technician and worked on instructional methods and tasked based curriculum development including instructional design. With all these courses combined in my career I went to various leadership and management courses, which introduced me to planning, budgeting, organizing and problem solving.
D. Life Experience
Life prior to the military was growing up with my parents. I remember when I was in the third grade and had a very difficult time learning my multiplication tables. My dad went to the store and bought back multiplication flash cards. This was the first time I was introduced with flash cards using them repetitively to reinforce my learning. It took a week to learn my multiplication tables using that method and to this day I still use flash cards at work to memorize specific technical items.
During my military career I became a parent. That was very long life experience. Parents need to educate themselves in Psychology. For example my daughter will soon graduate High School next year and here intent was not to go to college. After seeing me enroll in college, she now wants to attend. She has a freshly educated mind and helping get through some of my course work. Now I am learning from her.
Through out my military career I traveled and lived in many countries outside the United States. One place I will reflect on is Japan. Living in Japan for 2 years was one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. I have a lot of respect of their culture, enjoyed touring the countryside and joined in there festivals. Learned how to drive on the left side of the road, convert dollars to yen and speak a little Japanese.
III. Application of Learning
A. Past
Typing class was one of the most beneficial classes I took in High School. I learned more than just memorizing the keys in typing class. It taught me how to organize and format my thoughts. This was the lynch pin transition to computers in the early 80?s. I am on the computer daily typing e-mail, letters, instructions and policies. I recommend to any High School student to take this class.
B. Present
Recently I took a course on to become a Drug and Alcohol Program advisor. This course provides me the tools to manage my command''s drug and alcohol abuse prevention program. I learned about life choices related to drug and alcohol use, interpersonal relationships, health, stress management, fitness, and financial responsibility. I used what I learned by giving quarterly briefs to personnel at my duty station. I feel strongly about this program because when I came in the Navy it was non-existent.
C. Future
1. Specific Learning:
2. How you hope to apply that learning to a new situation in the future:
IV. Closing Paragraph that Reflects on Your Title and Brings Closure to the Essay
