What? So What? Now What? Community Engagement Reflection Final Paper
The Community Engagement Reflection Paper is a form of structured reflection. Structured reflections enhance learning that results from
community-based service. The process of reflection is a necessary component of service-learning courses. Structured opportunities that allow for
critical reflection upon the service experience enables learners to examine and form their beliefs, values, opinions, assumptions, judgments and
practices related to actions or experiences, gain a deeper understanding, and construct their own meaning and significance for future actions. This
Reflection Paper is formatted in the What? So What? & Now What? paradigm.
The Community Engagement Reflection Paper is due by ____________________________
Attach your 3-page double-spaced, type-written paper as a Word document to Blackboard.
Directions: Complete a personal reflection about what you have learned from your experience in this course. Attach the completed reflection paper
to this assignment on BlackBoard. Do NOT copy and paste in the text box provided; but rather, attach the file. Failing to complete this assignment
correctly and posting it in a timely manner may impact your grade in the course and your status in the program. This is a reflection specifically
about your experiences during this course. This assignment is not an evaluation of the teacher or of the course. You will have an
opportunity to complete course evaluations additionally.
Format: In no more than 3 double-spaced, type-written pages, complete a reflection about your experience in this course. APA format should be
used (Times New Roman 12pt font) including title page and references formatting (if applicable). To guide your paper, use the three headers:
What? So What? and Now What?. Include each of these three phrases as section headers in your paper. An example of a satisfactory reflection
paper is provided on Blackboard.
Content: In preparing the content of your paper, think about the following questions for each of the three sections. Your responses should address
the prompts listed below.
1. What? This section is about what you learned in this course.
● What did you expect to get out of this course?
● What did you experience and/or learn while in this course?
2. So What? This section is about the importance or significance of what you learned in this course.
● What did you learn about others and yourself during this course?
● How are you different now as a result of taking this course?
● What about this course was effective? Why was it effective?
● What values, opinions, and decisions have you made or changed through this course experience?
● How has your experience contributed to your growth?
3. Now What? This section is about how your future will be impacted by this course experience.
● Is it important to you to stay involved in community engagement?
● How will your community engagement efforts contribute to career?
● Where do you go from here?
What? So What? Now What? Reflection Final Paper Grading Rubric
Virginia Commonwealth University
Requirement
Rater’s Name: _______________________________
Exceeds Expectations
5
Meets Expectations +
4
Student Name: ________________________
Date: ___________________________________
Meets Expectations
3
Below Expectations
2
What?
Description of what was learned in the class.
Learning outcomes in
multiple domains (e.g.,
academic, interpersonal,
civic) are thoroughly
described.
Learning outcomes in multiple
domains are touched on (but
not thoroughly described) or
outcomes in only one domain
are thoroughly described
Learning outcomes in only one
domain are described, but these
are not thoroughly described.
Learning outcomes are
vaguely described or not
described.
So What?
Description of the importance or significance of the
learning that occurred.
Multiple aspects of the
importance/significance of
the learning are thoroughly
described.
Multiple aspects of the
importance/significance of the
learning are touched on (but
not thoroughly described) or
only one aspect of the
importance/significance of the
learning is thoroughly
described.
At least one aspect of the
importance/significance of the
learning is described, but this
aspect is not thoroughly
described.
Importance/significance
of the learning is vaguely
described or not
described.
Now What?
Description of how the student’s future will be
impacted by what was learned in the class.
Multiple impacts of the
learning on the student’s
future are thoroughly
described.
Multiple impacts of the learning
on the student’s future are
touched on (but not thoroughly
described) or only one impact
of the learning on the student’s
future is thoroughly described.
At least one impact of the
learning on the student’s future
is described, but this impact is
not thoroughly described.
The impact of the learning
on the student’s future is
vaguely described or not
described.
Control of Syntax and Mechanics.
Degree to which the writing style displays excellence
in grammar and usage.
Uses graceful language that
skillfully communicates
meaning to readers with
clarity and fluency, and is
virtually error-free
Uses straightforward language
that generally conveys meaning
to readers. The language in the
essay has few errors.
Uses language that generally
conveys meaning to readers with
clarity, although writing may
include some errors.
Uses language that
sometimes impedes
meaning because of errors
in usage.
Formatting.
3 double-spaced, type-written pages, APA format used,
Times New Roman 12pt font, includes a title page and
references are formatted in APA style.
All formatting requirements
are met.
Most formatting requirements
are met, only minor errors or
omissions appear.
Most formatting requirements
are met. A few serious errors or
omissions appear.
Formatting requirements
are done incorrectly or
omitted in multiple
instances.
COMMENTS:
TOTAL POINTS = _________/25