Project Phase 4: Integration & Reflection

Updates 7/29/25

Timeline: Weeks 13-15

  • Deliverable: Project Synthesis

All due dates on course schedule and course Google calendar.

Back to Main Project Page

Overview

Phase 4 brings together your entire semester’s work and reflects on what you’ve learned. Rather than writing a traditional final paper, you’ll create a comprehensive synthesis document that combines all your completed work with thoughtful analysis of your learning process.

  • Formatting and other information on Main Project Page under Essential Information
  • Project Synthesis
    • Name it: “Project Synthesis – [Your Name]”
    • Due Wednesday, Dec. 10

Part A: Document Organization

Project Synthesis Structure

Your final document should include all components in this order:

  1. Assessment of Learning & Process (3.5 pages – NEW writing)
  2. Chapter Review + Values + Topics (from Phase 1)
  3. Annotated Bibliography (from Phase 2)
  4. TPG Proposal + Budget (from Phase 3)
  5. Link to Presentation (from Phase 3)

Use the section headers (above, 1-5) so your instructor can navigate easily.

Place the document in the shared folder and send an email to your instructor.

Part B: Assessment of Learning & Process (3.5 pages)

This is the only NEW writing required for Phase 4. Review your work (Chapter review + values + topic ideas, Annotated Bibliography, TPG, Presentation), then answer these questions:

Research Process & Topic Learning

What You Learned About Your Topic (1/2 page)

    • How has your understanding of your topic evolved?
    • What surprised you most in your investigation?

What You Learned About the Research Process (1/2 page)

    • What research skills did you gain (library databases, source evaluation, etc.)?
    • How did the step-by-step process help you manage a complex project?
    • What role did the science librarian play in the development of your project?
    • Might you submit this TPG proposal? A different one?

AI Worksheets and AI Collaboration (1/2 page)

    • Have you used AI in previous work or courses? What was your experience?
    • Did the AI Worksheets have an impact on your course project? In what way?
    • Did AI help you learn, or did it just do work you should have done on your own?
    • What recommendations do you have for the use of AI in this class in the future?

Integration Across Components (1/2 page)

    • How did your values assessment guide your topic selection?
    • How did your annotated bibliography strengthen your proposal?
    • How did all your work impact your final presentation?

Conscientiousness Assessment: Conscientiousness is the most important predictor of college success and workplace effectiveness. It involves:

      • Desire to do tasks well and take obligations seriously
      • Efficiency, organization, and self-discipline
      • Planned rather than spontaneous behavior
      • Dependability and achievement orientation

Assess your conscientiousness in this class (1/2 page)

    • How did you manage the multiple deadlines and complex requirements?
    • What strategies worked/didn’t work for staying organized?
    • How could you improve your conscientiousness for future courses and career?
    • Do you think conscientiousness matters for college and career success? Why?

Transferable Skills Analysis Review the Transferable Skills page and comment on five skills you developed (1/2 page)

    • Which skills improved most through this project?
    • How might these skills apply to other courses or future work?
    • Which skills do you still want to develop further?

Self-Assessment & Grading (1/2 page)

    • What grade do you think you deserve for the overall course project? Why?
      • Consider your Chapter Review and Annotated Bibliography grades
      • Compare your presentation quality to classmates’ work
      • Account for timeliness of submissions and engagement with feedback
      • What improvements have you made based on instructor feedback?

Part C: Keywords Completion

Keyword Assignments

If you’ve missed any keyword assignments during the semester:

    • Complete missing keywords for partial credit
    • Contact instructor that you’ve completed outstanding keywords

Common Challenges & Solutions

“I don’t remember what I was thinking earlier in the semester” → Reread your earlier work carefully; look at instructor feedback; consider how your thinking has evolved

“My reflection seems repetitive” → Focus on specific examples and concrete learning moments rather than generalizations

“I’m not sure how to assess my own work” → Use the grading criteria from each phase; be honest about strengths and areas for improvement

“The document seems really long” → That’s okay! This represents a full semester of work – it should be substantial

Assessment Criteria

Your Project Synthesis will be evaluated on:

Learning Assessment Quality

    • Depth of reflection on both content and process learning
    • Specific examples and evidence of growth
    • Honest self-evaluation of strengths and challenges
    • Thoughtful connections between project components

Organization & Completeness

    • All required components included and properly organized
    • Clear section headers and logical flow
    • Complete integration of previous work
    • Professional presentation of final document

Critical Thinking

    • Sophisticated analysis of the research process
    • Thoughtful suggestions for course improvement
    • Realistic self-assessment supported by evidence
    • Forward-thinking about skills and future applications

Final Grading Breakdown

Your complete course project grade (400 points total) includes:

    • Phase 1: Chapter Review & Presentation (100 points)
    • Phase 2: Annotated Bibliography (100 points)
    • Phase 3: TPG Proposal & Presentation (100 points)
    • Phase 4: Project Synthesis, Attendance & Improvement (100 points)

Looking Forward

Beyond This Class

Consider how this project experience prepares you for:

    • Other courses requiring research and writing
    • Future TPG applications or other funding opportunities
    • Career skills in project management, research, and communication
    • Graduate school applications and research experiences

Celebrating Your Achievement

Completing this project represents significant intellectual growth. You’ve moved from initial ideas to a fundable research proposal – that’s genuinely impressive work that many students never attempt.