In our class, each week is made up of a module which has a scenario for you to think about,a graded assignment related to the scenario, and an optional ungraded discussion which youcan participate in if you like. The class discussions are completely optional and are there foryou to get to know and interact with your classmates. They do not affect your grade in theclass either positively or negatively.Scenarios/AssignmentsThe course is built around 5 scenarios that follow a new middle manager (you) through thefirst 6 months in the new position. Each scenario describes a situation that requires you totake action.The assignments are linked to the scenarios. For example, in the first scenario you have justbeen hired in your dream job and will now lunch with the CEO. You know he always ask newmanagers to describe their passion for the profession/industry so the assignment is to prepfor this lunch by composing a short, 500 word response.So, after reading the scenariothe action is to complete the assignment for that module!Scenario 1: Prepping for lunch with the bossYou’ve just landed your dream job with a dynamic organization. The CEO is very charismatic,and he meets with every new management employee. You’ve been tracking this man’scareer for several years through the alumni news of your university. The CEO graduatedabout 10 years before you, but he is still very involved in the university. The CEO wasrecently interviewed for the New York Times column, Corner Office. The CEO commentedthat he always asks new hires "What motivates you, what’s your passion?" You’re going tobe prepared for this lunch, so you’ve started sketching out ideas about how youll respondwhen he asks you his signature question.Assignment 1: This I Believe due July 19This I Believe EssayFor this first assignment, Id like to know what you value and whats important to you vis a vis yourprofession, your industry, your career, or your education. The model for this essay and its guidelinesis a radio program, This I Believe, first begun by Edward R. Murrow in the 1950s and revived by NPRseveral years ago. The program highlights inspiring beliefs of both famous and ordinary people. Thisproject continues today as an online forum.In a 500-word essay, you are to write your own statement of personal, professional belief. This ischallenging! It requires a level of introspection so deep that no one else can do it for you. Use thefollowing suggestions, adapted from http://www.thisibelieve.org, as a guide:Name your belief: If you cant name it in a sentence or two, your essay might not be about belief.You are writing an essay, not a list. Focus on one core belief, which you will explain, define, anddevelop through the essay.Tell a story: Be specific. Take your belief out of the ether and ground it in specific events of yourlife. Consider moments when your belief was formed or tested or changed. Think of your ownexperience, work, and life, and tell of the things you know that no one else does. Make sure yourstory ties to the essence of your professional or educational philosophy and the shaping of yourbeliefs. Tell me how you reached your beliefs, and if they have grown, what made them grow.Your story need not be heart-warming or gut-wrenchingit can even be funnybut it shouldbe real.Be positive: Please avoid preaching or editorializing or finger-pointing. I do not want your viewson the American way of life, democracy, or capitalism. (These are important but for anotheroccasion.) I want to know what you live by, what you DO believe, not what you dont believe.Be personal: Avoid speaking in the editorial we or the projecting you or the accusing they.The project is this I believe, not this everyone believes, this my company believes, or thisAmericans/Russians/Scientologists believe. Make your essay about you; speak in the firstperson. I recommend you read your essay aloud to yourself several times, and each time edit itand simplify it until you find the words, tone, and story that truly echo your belief.Feel free to visit http://thisibelieve.org/theme/work/ for examples. There are thousands! You can alsobrowse by theme, by age of writer, or by featured essay. Some of my favorites include Always Be Cool tothe Pizza Dude (http://thisibelieve.org/essay/23/), Satisfaction for a Job WellDonehttp://thisibelieve.org/essay/17342/, and Teacher, (http://thisibelieve.org/essay/68896/).Submit your essay to Turnitin and include your originality score before uploading it to LEO.Please follow the library’s instructions for submitting papers to Turnitin at How do students get started?Log in to Turnitin with your e-mail address and the personal login password you created.Once you login you will see a list of your classes. Click your class title to see the list ofassignments associated with it.In the assignment list look for the title of your assignment. To the right of the title clickthe Submit button.Leave the default setting single file upload where you see choose a paper submissionmethod.Enter submission title, i.e., the title of your paper.To upload a file, click on the Browse button, find the paper on your computer or flash drive, thenclick Upload.You will be prompted to check if you are uploading the correct paper. Be sure it is the paper youwant to send to Turnitin, then click submit.
