Discussing wandering diagrams

Before coming to section, you should have prepared a "wanderings diagram" as described in the Brooks textbook.  You should bring a printed version of that wanderings diagram to discussion section this week.

Here are some activities your TA may organize during section:

  • Swap wanderings diagrams with the student next to you, and see if you can identify three "strengths" (defined any way you like) that are clearly represented by the items and connections of the diagram.  Write these down on a piece of paper.  Then your TA will go around the room and ask each student to introduce their partner using those three strengths, referencing specific items from the wanderings diagram that explain or justify naming those strengths.  
  • If you brought your printed resume to class, take it out and compare your wanderings diagram to your initial resume.  Can you find two things on your resume that are NOT represented on your wanderings diagram?  (If so, add them to the diagram.)  Can you find two things on your wanderings diagram that are NOT evident from your resume?  (How would you add them to the resume?)  Your TA will go around the room and ask each student what kinds of differences or similarities they identified between their wanderings diagram and their resume.

Here are some questions your TA may ask you to consider during section:

  • Do you find it helpful to force yourself to organize your thoughts visually in this way, or is it more productive for you to use text?  
  • Name one thing that surprised you about yourself or your career narrative so far as you started to fill out and then make links in your wanderings diagram.
  • If you had to sum up your wanderings diagram in a single word, what would that word be?
  • How do the learning goals that you identified in your previous assignment connect to your wanderings diagram?  Are there learning goals that you have that are not represented by anything on your diagram?
  • How does the definition of a "liberal education," that you read about in the Student Guide and explored when writing your learning goals essay, connect to your wanderings diagram?  Would you say your wanderings diagram provides evidence that you are pursuing a liberal education?  How so?