Guidelines Analytical Paper
Depending on the major they are pursuing, some students will write an analytical paper as part of their Field Experience (internship). The guidelines will follow.
Note: In addition to providing a hard copy original of your analytical paper, please submit (to the Field Experience Office) an e-mail attachment of the paper saved in Microsoft Word or Rich Text Format OR provide a copy of the paper on a disk.
The paper you prepare should accomplish the following objectives:
- Familiarize the reader with the duties you completed as an intern. Remember the grader has reviewed your list of duties and responsibilities and the Site Visit Report.
- Draw connections between coursework and workplace learning. Several connections are possible. First, you can explain how your coursework related directly to your internship duties. Alternately, you can address any gaps or disconnections between what you learned in class and what you were expected to know or learn as an intern. Finally, you can explain how your internship leads you to place greater or less value on selected courses you've completed or made you eager to learn about topics not fully covered in your classes.
- Render a judgment about the importance and utility of your internship. The paper should support your judgment with examples, recollections, or comparisons. You may comment upon the nature of the work you did or the quality of the supervision you received. One way to render the judgment is to consider how strong a candidate you are for an entry-level position in your field. Then consider how strong a candidate you would be without an internship. Keep in mind that your experience as an intern need not be completely positive in order for you to benefit from the field experience. You may have benefited from a placement that created stress or put you in a difficult position with a site supervisor.
Criteria for Grading:
- Does the paper achieve purposes outlined above?
- Is thepaper well written, carefully proofread, and professionally presented?
- Does the paper demonstrate strong analytic skills by the writer?
- Does the paper support reasonable judgments with useful, credible information?
- Does the paper reflect the professionalism of the writer? Does it honor the confidentiality and good will of the firm or clients an intern worked for?
Papers are generally seven to ten pages in length. They usually begin with an introduction that describes the site and intern's responsibilities. The body of the paper draws the comparisons and connections between previous coursework and internship duties. The conclusion contains the judgments about the worth of the Field Experience to the student. Students may elect to include appendices with samples of work completed.
Due Date: Your paper is due in the Field Experience Office within 2 weeks of the completion of your hours. If there are less than two weeks left in the term; the paper is due by the last day of classes (this does not include finals week).
