ASSIGNMENT: Select one specific event in your academic or professional career when you used one of the employability skills below.

  • The innovation skill, which helps you use strategies to develop your ideas and create change
  • The communication skill, which helps you effectively share information, your ideas, and your perspective
  • The productivity skill, which helps you plan your time and your writing
  • The technology skill, which helps you use digital tools and devices to document your writing efficiently and effectively

Write a (500-800-word) narrative essay that describes this event. Some examples could include:

  • Firsts: Think of a "first" in your academic/professional career when you used your chosen skill, and describe that moment in detail.
  • Proud moments: Choose a moment when you felt proud about an accomplishment that was made possible by using one of the above skills.
  • Adversity: Describe a time when you had to think or act quickly to overcome a challenge using one of the above skills.

Your essay should include the following components:

  • In your introduction:
    • Explain the scenario.
  • In your body paragraphs:
    • Describe the employability skill you used and how it was used in your specific event.
    • Describe the benefits or shortcomings of using this skill and how the skill contributed to your success; or alternatively, how it could have been utilized differently to achieve greater success.
  • In your conclusion:
    • Describe what you learned about yourself through the experience and how you plan to utilize this skill in the future.

Sample Touchstone 1

Helpful Links:

  • Academic Integrity Guidelines
  • Ethical Standards and Appropriate Use of AI

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