Remember your first formal writing assignment for this course? It was your “Initial Reflection.” Take a minute to dig that out of your files and read over it. Now, after you finish reading it, take a minute or so and think about just how much you have learned this semester. You have read, talked about, written about, made observations about yourself and others – all with the underlying goal of learning more about the aging process. Wow! I mean it, think for a minute just how much you have accomplished! 

Okay, now that you’ve reflected a little bit on this semester’s work, it is time to write your “Final Reflection.” For this formal writing assignment, I’d like you to follow the list below and write about bit about where you are now. Part of the purpose of this assignment is for you to develop a better, clearer understanding of just how much you have learned – BUT – the additional purpose is for you to also see where and how much more there still is to learn. Learning does not end with a class or a degree – The world is a great big place and there is always more to know/learn/explore!

As always, be sure you are using APA style, professional language, and your most polished grammar. One exception to your APA for this assignment – you may use “I.” This is about you after all! So let’s get started on this…

For this assignment, write a minimum of 3 paragraphs (roughly 300-500 words) but you may have more than 3 if you wish. You will be writing in a narrative style which means, don’t just list the following questions with an accompanying answer. Your writing should flow more like a story or a case study. The way that I am writing these instructions is an example of the style/tone I’m describing to you. In your paper incorporate all of the following items: 

What do you now know about aging and your health that you learned during this class?
What do you now know about the older adults in your community that you can relate to what you learned during this class?
Describe if you anticipate handling the aging process differently based on what you’ve learned in this class. How?
Revisit your biggest questions and/or concerns about aging in yourself and in your community. Were any of these questions answered or concerns addressed? 
Did you learn what you wanted to from this course? Why or why not?
What is the one thing you would change about this course that you believe would make it better?
What else did you learn during this course that you think you will keep using over and over?