Unit Two focused on strategies for formal reports and creating a LinkedIn profile. During this time, I wrote a research proposal, a report outline, survey and interview, and created a LinkedIn profile. The reflection will focus on the creation of my LinkedIn profile as well as the writing, peer review process, and editing of my research proposal.
Creating a professional LinkedIn profile was an intimidating experience; a big challenge during the process was balancing a profile with an engaging and professional tone. Knowingly the details to omit was another large challenge, as social networking often involves putting yourself out there. In this regard, putting the details out in public made me feel vulnerable. Overall, the assignment allowed me to view my professional abilities, experiences and goals, objectively, displaying them in a professional manner. Additionally, it opened my eyes to areas that I was lacking in; for example, I should work on more personal projects that highlights my abilities as an educator and promotor of schooling. Drawing from the “Ten best LinkedIn Advice” memo, aided me greatly in the processes of developing my profile. Without much information going into the assignment, I learned to write concisely, and effectiveness regarding my professional experiences. The LinkedIn assignment equipped me with a variety of tools and skills that I hope to use in improving my profiles in the future.
The formal report, on the other hand, felt much more daunting in comparison. With no experience in writing a formal proposal, I found it difficult to find a topic. I stumbled upon my idea, when discussing the efficacy of peer tutoring blocks with my fellow peers, and I found it frustrating that many students were not able to efficiently schedule more time. Writing the proposal itself proved to be difficult as I was unaware of the processes and information I needed to prepare. Although the project started rough, I am confident that my final report proposal adequately outlines the proper information required of a professional formal report. As this is the first time I am writing a formal report, I am uncertain how effective the information in my report will be presented. One area that I will need to spend more time on, is writing in an engaging, persuasive and professional tone. I wonder if I should study the use of technical jargon or phrases when writing the report itself, as to maintain a persuasive tone without jeopardizing the engagement or professionalism of the report.
I am always glad to peer review works of my peers, as it enables me to understand different elements which I may have overlooked initially. I peer reviewed Glen’s proposal on smoking on campus. In his initial proposal, Glen had created many points on the importance of separating smoking from students and children at his university. I found that Glen’s scope was much more developed, outlining distinct areas of investigation. In comparison, my scope was broader, allowing me to develop it as I proceeded with the assignment. I realize that the vague scope of my initial report has caused the development of my formal report to become unclear. It was not until I wrote my formal report progress that I had developed the formal report more concisely and narrowed key aspects of interest. As I have never had an experience drafting a formal report, this was informative and I learned a great deal regarding the key elements of crafting such a document. Additionally, I greatly appreciate Glen’s review, as he kindly pointed out areas where I may overlook during edits; this aids in the constant development of my writing skills. It is nice to have others identify areas of confusion in my writing.