We created a short help guide below for how to complete the paper. You can use this process for any assignment you have.

FIRST -- ANALYZE THE QUESTION

For your Self-Analysis Paper, you need to write a 3-4 page (advanced) 1-2 pages (intro) paper.

Use the questions that asked you to think of yourself as a learner, descriptively and then your strengths and limitations in the areas of your personal, academic, and professional lives. 

We defined strengths as those skills, attitudes, personal characteristics, interests, and past achievements that add to your sense of self- efficacy. They give you a sense of your identity and develop your confidence, competence, and self-esteem.

We defined limitations as those deficiencies, conditions, attitudes, and characteristics that have been obstacles to your achievements in the past.

The following were just thought questions to help you develop examples to support your analysis.

Think back to when you where younger; then move forward in time through your life. What were your accomplishments, your hobbies, and interests? What gave you satisfaction? What did you dislike? Try to remember the moments in your life when you forgot about the time, when you were so involved in what you were doing that you didn't notice time passing and you didn't want to stop. 

Describe some highlights and explain why a particular memory is a highlight. Don't rationalize your choices; just explore why these memories are good ones for you? How did you feel emotionally? Physically?

Read over what you have written and look for common themes. What kinds of things keep coming up? What would you say is your primary motivator or passion? Write this down!

The notes for these questions are the outline for your self assessment paper! Your goal is to write a 3-4 paged (or 1-2 paged) paper that does an indepth analysis of yourself in personal, professional and academic contexts. The questions above are to help you to think more deeply and make some plans for how to work with your strengths and overcome your limitations while tying into how you prefer to learn and how you have accomplished things in the past.

SECOND – MAKE YOUR PLAN TO ANSWER THE QUESTION

How we would approach answering the assignment?

As a list…

• INTRODUCTION - why am I writing this. State your purpose by restating the key parts of the question - this helps the reader (instructor) know you understood what was being asked of you and you are aiding the reader (instructor) in understanding what you are going to talk about.

• BODY – Can take different forms –
• Could be strengths as the focus in each of the three areas (academic, personal and professional) and then the limits in those areas as separate paragraphs

OR

• Each area (academic, personal and professional) as a separate paragraph with strengths and limitations both discussed under that particular area

• CONCLUSION - make a plan for success including a connection to the strentghs, limitations, and your learning style. 

You might also want to think of organizing the paper according to a mind map. See the sample below: