1. 1.

How to Organize & WriteYour Rationale Essay

2. 2. Workshop Description “Rationale: (n.) A statement of reasons.” (OED)• Your rationale
essay is unique. Few, if any, colleges require such a document from students.• It is very
different than other types of college writing. It is a personal statement of your goals, the
research you’ve done about related learning opportunities and your explanation of your
degree program.• Think of it as the cover letter to explain your résumé (degree plan) and
how your experiences (credits) best meet the requirements of the job (Area of Study
Guidelines and Gen Ed).• This workshop will help you organize your ideas and begin
writing/refining your rationale essay.
3. 3. Agenda• THE WHAT, WHEN, and PURPOSE of the Rationale Essay• THE HOW – How
to Organize the Rationale Essay• Rationale Essay Resources and Academic Support•
Questions?
4. 4. What is a rationale essay?• An essay that describes, explains and justifies your degree
plan.• An important part of your degree program portfolio that will be read by your mentor
and three faculty members.• A description of how your degree program fits the academic and
professional expectations in your field of study.• Usually 5 – 8 pages long.
5. 5. What is the purpose of the rationale essay?• To explain the reasons for the design of your
degree plan.• To show that you can effectively communicate to others that you understand
the design of your degree plan.• To explain why you think your degree program will provide
you with a sound educational experience.• To show how your degree plan will help you meet
your educational and professional goals.
6. 6. Purpose of rationale continued...• To show that you have understood and met the Area of
Study guidelines.• To show that you have understood and met the Concentration guidelines.•
To demonstrate that your degree program has depth and breadth.• To explain any concerns
your degree plan might raise (i.e. overlap).
7. 7. When do you write your rationale essay?• The last assignment of Educational Planning.•
When you have completed your degree plan.
8. 8. How to Organize Your Rationale• Introduction – a statement of your goals, degree plan.• 3
most important sections: 1. Area of Study Guidelines 2. Concentration Guidelines 3. General
Learning• Conclusion – a summary of your learning experience and its value to you and your
goals.Label the sections clearly in your essay.Your essay should be well organized andeasy
to read.
9. 9. I - IntroductionIt’s appropriate to describe in your introduction:• The Area of Study and
Concentration your degree represents.• Your personal, professional and academic goals.•
The research you’ve done to develop your degree plan.
10. 10. What does “research” mean?Research includes any resources you consulted to help you
create your degree:• Your mentor, other faculty members in relevant areas of study, the AOS
guidelines.• Other college curriculums/catalogs.• Experts in the field, current and future
employers, professional organizations, journals, graduate school admission offices, etc.
11. 11. II - Area of Study Guidelines• Using your Student Degree Planning Guide show how you
met each component of your area of study.• Don’t just make a list, but briefly describe how
you’ve met each component with a specific study, prior learning assessments, or credit by
examination.
12. 12. III - Concentration Guidelines• Again using the Student Degree Planning Guide discuss
how your degree meets the concentration guidelines: the skills and knowledge someone with
your degree should have.• Specifically point out what courses or PLAs meet the various
components of the guidelines. If you are currently working in the field, you may refer to your
job, but be careful not to simply describe what you do.
13. 13. III - Concentration guidelines continued• If there are no concentration guidelines for your
concentration, you must clearly explain what skills and knowledge someone in this field
should possess and point out how your degree plan will allow you to develop them.• You
may want to point out the progression of your learning in your concentration.
14. 14. What is “depth?”• Depth refers mostly to your concentration and the upper level studies
you’ve taken that have helped you develop a deeper understanding of your subject area.•
You might point out that you developed a good foundation with lower level studies and went
on (or plan to) take more advanced studies to increase your knowledge.
15. 15. IV - General Learning (General Education Requirements)• Point out that you have met
the general education requirements.• Point out the depth and breadth of learning in your
degree.• Make a statement about why you find it valuable to be broadly educated.
16. 16. What is “breadth?”• Breadth refers to the how many different kinds of studies are
represented on your degree plan: it shows how broadly educated you will be as a result of
your degree.• In your discussion of breadth, you should mention that you’ve met the General
Education Requirements.
17. 17. Breadth continued…• Refer the reader to the General Education chart you will have
attached to your rationale.• In your discussion of breadth include how and why the studies
outside your concentration are valuable to you.
18. 18. V -Conclusion• In your concluding paragraph you might reflect on the meaning/value
your education and this degree has for you.
19. 19. A good outline for your rationale:Introduction and Discussion of Degree Plan Design-
statement of degree (AOS & concentration)- statement of goals- definition/explanation of
your degree plan- researchArea of Study- demonstrate that you understand guidelines- show
how you will meet each componentConcentration- demonstrate that you understand
guidelines- show how you will meet each componentGeneral Learning- Point out progression
of learning (foundation through advanced level)- Point out integration of learning ( how your
general learning and concentration are interrelated)- Point out that the Gen Ed requirements
have been metConclusion - Reflections on your education and attaining your degree
20. 20. Reminder: What must the rationale essay include?• A statement of your • Explanation
how you met academic, career (and your Concentration personal) goals. guidelines•
Description of your program • Discussion of the depth and of study (AOS and breadth of your
degree concentration) • The general education• Your research requirements and the•
Explanation of how you met importance of general the AOS guidelines learning in your
degree
21. 21. Important considerations• Make sure you answer any questions in your essay that might
come up, such as why some credit that should be clearly present (i.e. to meet an AOS
Guideline) in your degree plan might be embedded in a course or prior learning.• If you have
an unusual degree for which there are no concentration guidelines in The Student Planning
Guide, the burden is on you to make sure the committee understands your degree.
22. 22. Important considerations continued…• If it appears that there might be possible overlap
between studies or PLA, make sure you explain.• Make sure you talk a bit about how your
concentration and general learning are integrated: how do some of the courses on the right
side of your degree support your concentration.
23. 23. REMBEMBER TO CHECK…• The essay must be an accurate reflection of your degree
plan. Check to make sure that the degree title matches, that all the courses or PLA topics
you mention in the essay are in fact on your degree plan.• Most rationales are 5-8 pages.
24. 24. Some rational rationale advice• Expect to write several drafts of the essay—so give
yourself the necessary time.• Double check that the titles of degree and courses match your
degree plan.• Use headings for the various sections of your essay.• Make sure you have
your name on the essay and number the pages.• It helps to date your drafts!
25. 25. Some rational rationale advice continued…• It’s important that your essay is well-written
and carefully proofread. In part you are demonstrating the quality of your thinking and writing
(thus your education) in this essay.• Your mentor must read and approve your essay before
it is submitted to the Assessment Office.
26. 26. What happens with the rationale essay during the review process?• Three faculty review
your degree plan and supporting materials; they carefully read your essay and refer to your
rationale during the portfolio discussion for answers that may arise during the review.• Your
rationale therefore needs to be clearly written, in terms that faculty outside of your particular
field of study will understand.