How I Earned an A in World Literature

World Literature | Mr. Brennan | September 2015

While the primary focus of this course will be to develop your ability to read deeply, speak articulately, and write purposefully, an
equally importantperhaps even more importantfocus will be to develop your ability to self-regulate your own learning.
You have learned (1) that adhering to a particular mindset can either catapult you into a world of learning or confine you to a
prison of ignorance; (2) that when it comes to high achievement, grit may be just as essential as intelligence; (3) that all learning
is rooted in the neurological network of the brain and that engaging in meaningful tasks make all significant learning possible; and,
lastly, (4) that learning is about ones relationship with oneselfones ability to exert the effort, self-control, and critical selfassessment necessary to achieve the best possible resultsand ones ability to overcome risk aversion, failure, distractions, and
sheer laziness in pursuit of real achievement. In sum, you have learned how to become a self-regulated learner.
When approaching a learning experience, self-regulated learners progress through three sequential stages: planning, monitoring,
and evaluating. Given that setting a goal and establishing a plan of action is the first thing a self-regulated learner does when
taking on a learning task, prior to beginning our year together, I am asking you to do just that.

For the purpose of this assignment, imagine that it is the last day of the academic year: June 7, 2016. Calm and confident, you
arrive to class to receive your final grade for the course. When informed that you have earned an A, you simply smile. It is at that
moment you realize that all of your hard work has paid off. Impressed by the mentality, grit, and perseverance you demonstrated
throughout the year, Mr. Brennan asks you to write an essay that explains how you accomplished your remarkable achievement,
hoping to provide it as advice to next years senior class. Appealing to your altruistic nature, you welcome the opportunity.
For this assignment, you are to write an essay titled, How I Earned an A in World Literature.
Be sure to analyze the complexity of the learning process, and evaluate the mindset and behavioral strategies one should adopt to
become a successful self-regulated learner. Argue in favor of or against the recommendations provided in the excerpts provided.
Which claims and recommendations are the most effective? Can you identify any problems when evaluating the stated claims? Is
there anything the authors may have overlooked when developing their argument?
You will be expected to synthesize information from a minimum of two sources listed below,
and incorporate them into a coherent, well-developed essay.
Essays should be at least 750 words in length (approximately 2-3 pages).
Your essay should contain at least six citations from the sources.
Your essay will be graded according to the rubric provided (see back).
Your final draft must be uploaded to TurnItIn.com by Monday, September 28 at 3:00 PM.

The aim of this activitywhich could be applied to any goal or taskis to elevate your ambitions and make them more concrete
and attainable. Furthermore, by completing this assignment, you will not only gain a better understanding of how to become a
better learner, you will also be participating in the self-regulated learning process.

Sources
Dweck, Carol. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York: Ballantine Books, 2006. Print
Hanford, Emily. Angela Duckworth and the Research on Grit. American Radio Works. Fall 2012. Web.
Leamnson, Robert. Learning (Your First Job). University of Georgia Center for Teaching and Learning. December 2002.
Web.
Nilson, Linda. Creating Self-Regulated Learners: Strategies to Strengthen Students' Self-Awareness and Learning Skills.
Herndon, VA, USA: Stylus Publishing, 2013. Web. 19 January 2015.