You Have to UNDERSTAND
Before You Can Learn
Visual from Al Getler (source citation below)
Are you here because you are one of my students, and I told you to come check out this page to make sure that you UNDERSTAND the different expectations of assignments in our class? Maybe you are here because a search engine directed you based on content embedded within my site. No matter what brought you here, I am GLAD that you are here!
I consider myself a Lifelong Learner, and I hope to pass on this trait to my children, my students, and anyone I encounter. Being a Lifelong Learner is highly contingent on your UNDERSTANDING. If you don't understand something...it will not stick. If you do not understand something, you will mess it up. If you do not understand something, you will feel badly about yourself.
I consider myself a Lifelong Learner, and I hope to pass on this trait to my children, my students, and anyone I encounter. Being a Lifelong Learner is highly contingent on your UNDERSTANDING. If you don't understand something...it will not stick. If you do not understand something, you will mess it up. If you do not understand something, you will feel badly about yourself.
Well, I want your learning to STICK; I don't want you MESSING UP, and I want you to feel WONDERFUL about yourself!!
Please review the directions for specific assignments we will complete in my class. If you do not understand the directions, please contact me and I will work with you until the assignment makes sense. If you do not know what is expected of you, you will certainly not 'get it right,' and you will not be able to have the lessons from class 'stick'.
Finally, keep in mind that it is important for you to create ORIGINAL writings of your own, with an original 'take' on a topic. By doing this, you bring something NEW to the topic conversation. The writing is based on your understanding. Even if you are assigned a paper that requires research, YOU are the primary content of the paper as you assess a point, provide support on the point, analyze the source's views, and argue the validity of the source's claims. As you can see, the body paragraphs would be set up like this:
Finally, keep in mind that it is important for you to create ORIGINAL writings of your own, with an original 'take' on a topic. By doing this, you bring something NEW to the topic conversation. The writing is based on your understanding. Even if you are assigned a paper that requires research, YOU are the primary content of the paper as you assess a point, provide support on the point, analyze the source's views, and argue the validity of the source's claims. As you can see, the body paragraphs would be set up like this:
- Your topic sentence
- Your point
- Source Materials
- Your analysis of that material
- Your final sentence to argue that your point is valid.
Look at YOU! You are all over that paragraph. Keep learning. Keep understanding. Keep being original. You won't regret it!
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Getler, Al. “9 Ways to Be a Lifelong Learner.” Al Getler: Laughing and Learning About Leadership,
Al Getler, 8 Apr. 2013, algetler.com/ways-to-be-a-lifelong-learner/.
