Cole Gross Instructor: Reader 4/19/14 English 111

Synthesis Reflection

The synthesis essay was an assignment to identify a problem with learning in the 21st century and to apply what we have read, learned and discussed into our paper to identify, explain, and to possibly give a solution to our problem. The problem I chose was using the tactic of the fear of failing to try and motivate students to exceed in their academics. I chose this problem because as a team leader of sports groups, project groups and work teams I have learned that using the fear of failing is not an effective tactic. I was extremely interested in this topic because my goal is to try and show how this tactic has a negative impact on the student, employee or group member. I used sources to help show how negative it can be. However, I did in fact apply another perspective for argument. For my introduction I decided to bring in a personal experience with two of my coaches. One of which used the fear of failing tactic to try and motivate us to play harder, the other used a more positive tactic and didnt necessarily punish us for failing but instead taught us how to succeed. I thought this was a perfect way to begin my paper and set up my proposed problem. It introduces and almost gives credit to my opinions about the situation. I go into detail about how when the one coach used the fear of failing it really put a barrier around us and as a team we had always felt held back from our full potential. The other coach encouraged us to go above and beyond and did not punish us for failing but rather sat us down and taught us on how we could perfect our game.

The introduction described a problem I introduce in my paper about how using the fear of failing tactic can create a barrier of mind. I used Jack Mezirows article on how he described what factors can create a habit of mind. This was a perfect correlation to my problem, I continued using Mezirows habit of mind theories and directly related them with Marry Sherrys In Praise of the f word and Mike Roses I just wanna be average These other two articles gave examples of how in students prior education they were given this type of tactic early and thus created two kinds of students; one whom wished to do the bare minimum and another who after falling way behind decides to take an adult educational course on basic academic skills. Quoting and siting from these articles really helped me put together a sound argument and it helped me provide a hypothesis on the use of this fear of failing technique. At first I used the three articles listed above individually, both describing and relating them to the reader and the problem I was discussing. Setting up examples and giving a voiced opinion and description of examples in those articles helps provide another viewpoint on the problem being expressed. The expert viewpoint and my viewpoint have both been set up in the beginning body paragraphs of my synthesis essay. I then combine all three of my expert sources to try and create a hypothesis that can give another, more positive, viewpoint on the problem. I used examples primarily from Sherry and Roses articles saying how the use of the fear of failing early in a students educational career can really hold them back and create a habit of mind. So I imposed a new theory, as an educator instead using the fear of failing technique as your primary method of teaching, use it as a last resort. The only way this method of motivation can work is if the educator identifies how the student can be motivated. Exhaust all methods of motivation and if none have worked use the fear of failing tactic to try and motivate them. I use the example of Freedom Writers here, a movie based on education in a rough neighborhood.

Finally in my body paragraph I discuss a method that an educator can take in trying to motivate their students. I did research on the internet and tried to pull as many motivation techniques an educator can do and tried to create a set list that an educator can follow. I brought in my own experience in this list. There are basic to very drastic measures of motivating students and when all else has failed the educator resorts to the fear of failing method to finally motivate the student.