December Holiday Essay #1

MY CHOSEN VOCATION - DUE 01/07/13

Name:                                                                                  Date Given:                                        Date Due:                            Period:

Essay:    MY CHOSEN VOCATION

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”  -Larry Elder

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill

Goals are dreams with deadlines.  ~Diana Scharf Hunt

The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers.But above all, the world needs dreamers who do.  ~Sarah Breathnach

Compose an essay of at least five paragraphs but no more than seven which identifies, explains and elaborates on ONE vocation or career you are considering. Please follow the following format in completing your essay:

1.Describe the significant moment you realized you wanted to pursue this particular path.

2.Identify the traits you possess now that make you ideal for this career.

3.Identify the steps you are now taking or plan on taking to ensure you will become a greater success.

4.Explain the academic, personal and training skills required to achieve success at this vocation.

5.Elaborate on your ultimate goal in this vocation (Ph.D.? Oscar winner? President? Championship?) and use a living example of a person you admire in this field.

STEP 1: Free-write about two or three careers you have or are currently considering, focusing on when and why you want to pursue them. Do not over-think. Just write. Then identify the one you are most excited about.                                                                                                                           5 points

STEP 2: Complete a self-inventory chart. Put your name in a circle in the center and list as many qualities about yourself (10-15 is a strong goal). Then check off the ones that are a match for the career you wish to pursue.                                                                                                                          5 points

STEP 3: List all the activities you are now a part of or are planning to be a part of (sports, clubs, classes, and community organizations). Then circle the ones relevant to your chosen vocation.        5 points

STEP 4: Do some research online, at a library or by interviewing a real person (yes, a real human being you’re just meeting) about what it takes to get to that career. Research school, training, personal skills, advantages and disadvantages, salary, promotion, etc.                                                        5 points

STEP 5: Write a full rough draft that gives each section listed above at least one paragraph.  10 points

STEP 6: Find a person (family, friend, teacher, stranger) to read and critique your paper and then have them print, sign and date when he or she provided criticism.                                                10 points    

STEP 7: Follow my steps for revision, editing and publishing (mrwalkerfda.blogspot.com) and be tough on yourself, before you print out a clean, 99% infallible copy for publishing.

STEP 8: Type your final version using MSWord and in MLA format. Include all the stages of work listed above on looseleaf.                                                                            

STEP 9: Submit on time ensuring you have at least 15 vocabulary words, transitional phrases, complete sentences, 5-7 sentence paragraphs, a hook, thesis, and citation of any source you used.  50 points

STEP 10: Share with the class!                                                                                      10 points

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