Exercise2:Criticalreflection
The idea behind the critical reflection assignment is that you read four peer‐reviewed articles and think about them. The articles should have some theme or idea in common. This is training in what you will be expected to do later in your studies. What a critical reflection is will partly be covered during the lectures the 13th‐14th October but below there is also a short description under What is a critical reflection. Instructions:
To get a passing grade on this exercise you should do the following: 1. Find a partner. This exercise should be carried out by working in pairs. Preferable the partner is someone from the own program since each program will have their own articles. You are however allowed to team up with someone from another program for in which case you can choose to which program you want to belong. Note that you can only choose one of the programs to which any of you belong and that both of you for the duration of the exercise will count as to belong to that program. You are also allowed to work alone if all your classmates already have teamed up. This is however not recommended since it is easier to write a good critical reflection if you are able to discuss the content with a partner. 2. Find four articles. We have provided each program with one article that you must use. These are available as .pdf‐documents on the course web‐page although in some cases you will there be instructed to visit the course assistant’s office to collect the article in paper‐form because of copyright issues. The other three articles you should find on your own although for some programs we have also a second optional paper you can use if you want to (together with the first). The articles should have a similar theme or idea such that you are able to connect them in your critical reflection. This is further described in What is a critical reflection. The articles should of course also be in your area of study or closely related. 3. Read the articles, think about their differences and similarities and discuss them with your partner. 4. Write a critical reflection according to the following instructions: a. Format: The reflection should be written on a computer and type size 12 should be used. It has to be handed in either as a .pdf or .doc document. b. Checklist: A checklist (available on the course website) should be added and filled out at the end of the document. This checklist should not be included for word‐counting (see “c”). The checklist is added to make sure that you actually have looked at all the important instructions. c. Length: The number of words (excluding the reference list) should be between 1,900 and 2,100. If the essay has any fewer or more words we will not correct it at all. The number of words should be written in the checklist d. Spelling and Grammar check: Before handing in your paper (or your pair’s paper to be exact) it should pass a spelling and grammar check (Word or Apples corresponding software are recommended). If we find too many spelling or grammatical errors we will stop correcting it and return it back without comments (and without a passing grade). e. The structure should follow the instructions under What is a critical reflection f. There should be no “deadly sins” and you should apply what you have been taught during the lectures. 5. Hand in your paper by sending it in an email to the course assistant with the subject: TGTU51: Critical Reflection Exercise, Program , LiU‐ID1, LiU‐ID2 (with the right program and Liu‐Ids of course). The email should contain a .pdf or .doc file with your critical reflection and the file should be named: TGTU51_Critical_Reflection_Exercise_Program_LiU‐ID1_LiU‐
ID2.pdf (or.doc) with your correct program and LiU‐Id for the two persons in the group. If you work alone you should only have one LiU‐Id and if you are from different programs you should use the program from which you have chosen articles. Deadline for handing in your paper is 31/10 2011 13.00. Late hand‐ins will not be accepted. Whatisacriticalreflection
A critical reflection should contain the structured academic version of the ideas and thoughts you get when reading for example one or more articles. You ideas and thoughts should then be discussed throughout your reflection and different aspects should be considered and so on. For example; you could discuss if you find something particular interesting, if the articles present opposing views or if they do not. Do they contradict eachother and what could the reasons be for this? Do you think the authors are ignoring something important? These are just some examples of ways to think when you read the articles. You must “build your own bridges” using the material provided by your articles. Your paper, your critical reflection, should be constructed from ideas or comments found in the articles and that you develop in some way. When you write your paper remember that the paper must have an Introduction, a body and a Conclusion. Here follows some tips and instructions for the different parts: Introduction
 There should be a “thesis statement”. This is one or perhaps two sentences that tell the reader what you are going to discuss and argue. You should also provide some context for the discussion which will follow (this might introduce the articles that you are basing your work on) and indicate how you intend to organise the essay. Mainbody
 Check that each paragraph contains a main idea and supporting ideas. Is there a topic sentence that indicates the main message of the paragraph? This is something we took up in the first lecture. Do you connect the sentences and paragraphs in a logical manner? Are sentences punctuated appropriately? This too was taken up in the lectures. Conclusion
 Is there a summary or conclusion at the end of your paper? Does the conclusion how the body of your text is relevant? Does it all tie together at the end? The conclusion should not introduce any new issues. General
 Do you define the terms you use clearly? 
What does the paper do (describe a situation, explain causes and effects, develop an argument)? Referencing
 Is the in‐text referencing correct and consistent throughout the paper?  Have you quoted correctly?  Is your reference list complete and correct? When you have written the first draft of your paper, make a check list from the sections above and ensure that you have satisfied all the points. Two pairs of eyes should manage this effectively. Fix anything that needs to be fixed. Remember that successful writing is the product of a number of drafts. REMEMBERYOURREADER!!!