BIS 300
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Fall 2013
Reflection and Exploration Essay (20 points)
Due: October 9
Hardcopy to your instructor and posted on Class Blog
This assignment is designed to help you develop your reflective skills and your college-level
writing, and to introduce you to library and career resources as you research topics related to you
BIS Program. 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 in order to ground your work in the BIS program. 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 Service Center library and website, you will explore either your chosen career or one that is
of interest to you.
Topics to Discuss
Who You Are
 Your personal biography in relation to how you came to the BIS program (no more than
two pages).
 Your learning style/personality style and how it may help or hinder your work in the
program (MBTI type and learning).
 Your self-perceived weaknesses and strengths and your 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?
 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 in order 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
 Describe the career as it is generally understood by practitioners.
 Name and describe the role of any governing bodies or associations.
 Outline any required training and the general career path. Describe where you are on this
path.
BIS 300
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Fall 2013
Explain how engaging in this career will benefit yourself, your profession, and your
community.
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 a bibliography of 5 – 7 sources (not including assigned
course readings) related to your concentration and intended career with citations. Remember to
review the sources Matt Meyers and Christal Ferrance showed you at our Career Services and JC
Library visit of Sept 11th including ProQuest, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational
Outlook Handbook, Passport Career, Career Shift, and Vault, the latter four on the Career
Resources page.
Format for Essays
Page Setup: Typed, double spaced, with one-inch margins in an 11- or 12-point standard font,
such as Times New Roman.
Page Length: 7-10 pages (not including bibliography).
Style: MLA, APA, CMS, or CSE [The style you select should be identified on the first page,
under your name].
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.
For more on writing the college essay, see the guidelines at: http://writingcenter.gmu.edu/
Once posted on the class blog, you need to comment on at least two of your colleagues’ papers.
Engage in an insightful and thoughtful discussion with them. Compare and contrast your
experiences and views with your fellow students.