Assignment

Directions for Definitions

This is your opportunity to reflect on what you have learned from this class, to add your own examples and explanations, and to connect these to issues that are meaningful in your life. Using your own words and examples helps with long-term retention of information, making the material in our course more accessible to you for years to come (Hopkins, et al. 2016).

Source: Hopkins, R. F., Lyle, K. B., Hieb, J. L., & Ralston, P. A. (2016). Spaced retrieval practice increases college students` short-and long-term retention of mathematics knowledge Educational Psychology Review, 28, 853-873.

Ideally, you would completely write out your definitions in advance. However, because there are so many terms, while studying it is enough to write down a quick definition in your own words, list your example, your contrast, and where we define the term in class (which reading or lecture). Then during the midterm, you can use your notes to compose a full definition with complete sentences and full citations.

To define a term:

A. Explain what it means in your own words.

B. Give your own original example.

C. Provide a contrast (that is, give your own example of something that the term does not mean).

D. Cite all sources. That means: include both in-text citations and an end-of-text reference list Definitions without citations will not receive full credit.

Use complete sentences.

Answers will be graded using these standards:

A. Does the definition give enough information so that someone who has never heard the term before will be able to understand it accurately based on this definition?

B. Does the definition demonstrate that the student fully and accurately understands the definition, for instance by including the student`s own wording and own original examples?

C. Does the answer incorporate the nuances of each concept, as we discussed in detail during the discussions and as explored in the instructor`s feflections at the end of each Module?

D. Answers will be graded for clarity, conciseness, completeness, accuracy, and proper citing of sources.

This means if you use the lectures, cite the lectures. If you use the textbook, cite the textbook, including the page number. If you use an online source, cite that source. Answers that do not include a citation will not receive full credit. Feel free to post your citations to the Exam Discussion Board before taking the exam to see if your citations are complete. Answers that copy the words from another source without giving that source credit, or that use generative AI such as ChatGPT, will receive zero points, and may result in failing the exam and an F in the course.

I know it is a lot of work to cite. It can help to remember why we do it: one key reason is because citing helps stop the spread of false information and fake news. We want to verify that the information we share is accurate. In academia, the writing standards are designed to promote and protect knowledge and to promote and protect accurate information.