Module 1: Why Is Writing Important?
Many of the concepts that you learned in this module are important to your completion of this course; however, you can also use much of this information in the coming years of your life. Perhaps you are considering what job you will seek after high school graduation, or you may be considering a post-secondary education, like an apprenticeship, community college, or a four-year institution. Before you begin this assignment, read through both of the options below and then complete the option that best matches your future plans.
Option A: Career Exploration and Job Application
You may already have an after-school or weekend job, or you may already be involved in an apprenticeship program. Whether or not you are involved in a career, there are many resources available to help you find a job. For this assignment, you will identify a possible career, examine all of the different factors related to that career, and create a job-specific cover letter to accompany your resume.
Use the following directions to complete this assignment:
- Explore the My Next Move website to explore possible careers. On this website, you can search for specific careers, search careers by industry, or get suggestions on a career based on your interests.
- Once you have identified a possible career, take a screen shot of the profile page. The profile page will provide you with information about the knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the job, as well as the job forecast and possible salary information. Paste the screenshot into a word processing, presentation, publishing, paint, or graphics application.
- Now, pretend that you are applying for a job in this career. Use the information you found to create a one-page cover letter to accompany your resume. Remember, the most important part of a cover letter is your description of why you are the best person for the job.
Before you begin, access the Career Exploration and Job Application Assignment Checklist to make sure that you include all of the items required for full credit. You may need to use resources outside of this course to complete this assignment. If so, please submit a Works Cited document. If you need assistance, visit the Developmental Module for information on citing any resources that you used.
Once you have completed this assignment and the reflection below, please submit your screenshot, cover letter, and reflection to the dropbox.
Option B: The Common Application
Many colleges and universities are now using the same application to evaluate student admissions. In some instances, students can complete the same application online and then submit it to multiple institutions for consideration. For this assignment, you will complete a paper or digital version of Common Application, including the narrative writing component found on the last page of the application.
Use the following directions below to complete this assignment:
- Explore The Common Application website. Make sure to access the Application Resources section to learn more about the college admissions process and financial aid.
- Download and complete a sample version of the Common Application.
- Then, access the 2015-16 Common Application Essay Prompts website. Select a prompt to complete as part of your mock-application assignment. Make sure that read all of the essay guidelines provided on the sample application.
Before you begin, access the Common Application Assignment Checklist to make sure that you include all of the items required for full credit. You may need to use resources outside of this course to complete this assignment. If so, please submit a Works Cited document. If you need assistance, visit the Developmental Module for information on citing any resources that you used.
Options to complete and submit the sample Common Application include:
- Complete a hand-written application. Then, take a digital photo of the completed work and submit the photo file to the dropbox.
- Complete a hand-written application. Then, scan the completed work and submit the scanned file to the dropbox.
- Complete the application using available software (e.g., a presentation, publishing, paint, or graphics application). Submit the completed file to the dropbox.
- Use a mobile or computer-based application to complete the application and export the final product for submission to the assignment's dropbox.
Once you have completed this assignment and the reflection below, please submit your application, essay, and reflection to the dropbox.
Reflection
Think about the option that you chose to complete in this assignment. Take some time to consider the following questions:
- Why did you choose that option?
- How will your completion of this assignment help you as you plan for you life after high school?
In a digital document separate from your essay, compose three to four sentences responding to these questions.
Once you have completed this module, please complete the module test.