Touchstones are projects that illustrate your comprehension of the course material, help you to refine skills, and demonstrate application of knowledge. You can work on a Touchstone anytime, but you can’t submit it for grading until you have completed the unit’s Milestone. After you’ve submitted a Touchstone, it will be graded and counted towards your final course score.

Touchstone 3: Success Narrative

ASSIGNMENT: For this Touchstone, you will be writing a 2-3 page success narrative consisting of three components. Specifically, you will write about the following:

Who I Am Now: Create a brief biographical statement describing your academic and professional history, as well as any relevant personal characteristics you’d like to share.

My Goals: Identify three (3) professional and/or academic long-term goals for your future. 

How I Will Get There: Based on the professional or academic goals you created, identify at least two (2) short-term steps for each of these goals, and set target dates for each of these short-term steps. Make sure that in your plan to achieve these goals, you account for obstacles that may present themselves along the way. 

Sample Touchstone

In order to foster learning and growth, all work you submit must be newly written specifically for this course. Any plagiarized or recycled work will result in a Plagiarism Detected alert. Review Touchstones: Academic Integrity Guidelines for more about plagiarism and the Plagiarism Detected alert. For guidance on the use of generative AI technology, review Ethical Standards and Appropriate Use of AI.

1. A. Directions
2. Step 1. Who I am Now
3. In this section of your narrative, write a paragraph describing your academic and professional history, and related personal characteristics.

Share your academic background, including your field of study, notable achievements, and any professional experience you have.

Highlight relevant personal characteristics, skills, or experiences that have shaped your journey so far.

Consider including personal anecdotes or impactful experiences that influenced your choices.

Step 2. My Goals

In this section of your narrative, write a paragraph stating three professional and/or academic long-term goals, and provide a brief description of each goal.

Identify three significant professional or academic aspirations you aim to achieve in the future.

Express how these goals align with your passions, skills, and values.

Step 3. How I Will Get There

In this section of your narrative, write a paragraph describing two or more short-term actions that you can take to achieve each goal described above.

For each of the three long-term goals, outline at least two short-term steps that will contribute to achieving them.

Consider potential obstacles or challenges that might hinder progress toward each step.

Provide strategies to overcome these obstacles or alternative plans if necessary.

Refer to the checklist below throughout the writing process. Do not submit your Touchstone until it meets these guidelines.

1. Who I Am Now
? Have you provided a brief biographical statement explaining your educational and career experiences thus far?
? Have you shared any personal characteristics (e.g., determination, flexibility) that you feel are relevant to your narrative?

• 2. My Goals
  ? Have you provided three long-term goals you wish to accomplish?
  ? Have you connected those goals to either your academic or professional aspirations?
• 3. How I Will Get There
  ? Have you identified and explained at least two short-term steps for achieving each of your three goals?
  ? Have you set target dates for each of these steps?
  ? Have you addressed any obstacles you might face in pursuit of these goals?
• B. Rubric

Advanced (100%)Proficient (80%)Needs Improvement (60%)Non-Performance (0%)

Who I Am Now (35 points)

Write a paragraph describing your academic and professional history, and related personal characteristics.Includes a detailed description of academic and professional history in a single paragraph; includes personal characteristics to support the description.Includes a partially detailed description of academic and professional history in a single paragraph; includes some personal characteristics to support the description.Provides an incomplete description of academic and professional history (i.e., either academic or professional history is not described); does not include any personal characteristics.Does not include an academic biographical statement or a professional biographical statement; does not include any personal characteristics.

My Goals (35 points)

Write a paragraph stating three professional and/or academic long-term goals, and provide a brief description of each goal.

• Identifies three professional and/or academic long-term goals; provides brief description of each.Identifies two professional and/or academic long-term goals; provides brief description of each.Identifies one professional and/or academic long-term goal; does not provide a description of the goal.Does not identify any professional and/or academic long-term goals.
• How I Will Get There (35 points)

Write a paragraph describing two or more short-term actions that you can take to achieve each goal described above. 

Provides a detailed explanation of at least two short-term actions that be taken to achieve each goal.Provides a partially detailed explanation of at least one short-term action that can be taken to achieve each goal.Provides an incomplete explanation of at least one short-term action that can be taken to achieve each goal.Does not explain any short-term actions that can be taken to achieve the goals.

Overall Reflection (20 points)

Incorporate thoughtful personal reflection to connect the goals and actions described in the composition.

Demonstrates a clear connection between the goals and the actions that will help achieve them. The composition is at least 500 words.Provides a partially detailed connection between the goals and actions and/or partially establishes a timeline for the plan to achieve the goals. The composition is 1-100 words too short.Provides goals and actions, but does not establish a clear connection between them, and does not establish a timeline for the plan to achieve the goals. The composition is 100-200 words too short.Does not demonstrate a meaningful connection between the goals and proposed actions and no timeline to achieve the goals has been provided. The composition is more than 200 words too short.