As part of each application, students are asked to submit a short 1-2 page reflection about their research experience, including growth and new understandings gained through the process. In the reflection, students should address each of the following broad categories, though it is not necessary to answer every question listed below, nor must question be answered in any particular order; questions are shared to elaborate on the reflection expectations. Additionally, students' reflections should be in their own voice and represent their own process, taking an approach that feels authentic and that may not necessarily follow the order presented below.
Topic
- Identify how your topic changed over the course of the assignment process. How was your topic informed or shaped by the research you uncovered?
Research Resources
- What library materials (e.g. databases) did you use during your research process? If relevant, how else did you interact with the library during this assignment process (e.g. research consultations, course-embedded library sessions, skill workshops, etc)?
- How did library resources benefit your work?
Evaluation
- How did you select sources for your work? What did you do to determine which materials would be the strongest to support your message or thesis?
- What approaches, perspectives, and authorities do your sources represent on your topic? How do you interact with your sources to reflect a nuanced approach to your topic?
Learning and Growth
- What challenges did you encounter and how did you address them?
- What skills did you learn and employ throughout the research process?
- Overall, how have you grown as a researcher and scholar?
Generative AI
- Please summarize your use of generative AI – whether you used it and, if so, how it was incorporated into the research process and final project.
Be sure to include the title of your project on the reflection page!
