Assessment Item 1 Reflections Essay

Assignment Overview

Task

In this task, you will write an 800-word reflection on your own standpoint and analysis of a selection of media sources provided to you. This reflection will establish your baseline knowledge as you progress through the subject. You can complete this task after working through the Topics 1 & 2 content and learning activities.

In your response, aim to go beyond a ‘question and answer’ style response. Instead, use the task prompts to develop a synthesised discussion, using full sentences and paragraphs.

Instructions

Part A - Standpoint Investigation (approx. 400 words)

Using the required reading by Russell (2020) (in Module 1, Topic 1) reflect on your own positioning using the below prompts.

• What do you know / not know about Indigenous Australian peoples and communities?

• Where and/or from whom did that knowledge come?

• What do you know / not know about Australian culture and history?

• What might be some limitations to your knowledge?

• Russell (2020) presents 4 anchor principles: Knowing Self, Social Justice, Action, Restorying. Which one do you most identify with? Explain how the chosen principle relates to your understanding of your own positioning and include an in-text citation for this reading in your work.

Part B - Media Analysis (approx. 400 words)

The media is an example of a powerful institution which shapes knowledge. Choose one of the provided media sources located in the Assessment 1 tab in the subject site. Analyse your chosen source using the following prompts:

• What overt and/or covert assumptions do you notice about Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians?

• What assumptions might different viewers infer? What in the source leads you to this understanding?

• How are Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians positioned?

Assessment Requirements Brief

The assessment is an 800-word reflective essay divided into two key sections, designed to establish the student’s baseline understanding of Indigenous Australian peoples, culture, history, and media representation. The key requirements are:

1. Part A – Standpoint Investigation (approx. 400 words)

• Reflect on personal knowledge and gaps regarding Indigenous Australian peoples and communities.

• Identify sources of that knowledge and potential limitations.

• Reflect on knowledge of Australian culture and history, including limitations.

• Connect your reflection to one of Russell’s (2020) four anchor principles: Knowing Self, Social Justice, Action, Restorying, explaining why the chosen principle resonates with your standpoint.

2. Part B – Media Analysis (approx. 400 words)

• Choose one provided media source.

• Analyse overt and covert assumptions about Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

• Consider how different audiences might interpret the media.

• Examine the positioning of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in the chosen media source.

Additional Instructions:

• Use full sentences and paragraphs; avoid a simple question-and-answer format.

• Include in-text citations where applicable.

• Focus on synthesising discussion rather than summarising content.

Learning Objectives Covered:

• Develop self-awareness and reflection on personal positioning regarding Indigenous Australians.

• Apply critical thinking to analyse media representation.

• Demonstrate understanding of social justice principles and ethical considerations.

• Enhance academic writing skills in reflection and analysis.

Assessment Approach by the Academic Mentor

The Academic mentor guided the student step by step to ensure the reflective essay met all requirements and learning outcomes. The process included:

Step 1: Understanding the Assessment Requirements

• The mentor first discussed the purpose of the reflection and media analysis.

• Emphasised the distinction between descriptive writing and reflective, analytical writing.

• Highlighted the word count split (400 words per section) and the need to synthesise ideas.

Step 2: Part A – Standpoint Investigation

• The mentor instructed the student to start with self-reflection using Russell’s (2020) anchor principles.

• Guided the student to:

  1. List existing knowledge and gaps about Indigenous peoples and Australian history.

  2. Identify the sources of their knowledge (e.g., school, media, personal interactions).

  3. Reflect on limitations of that knowledge and how biases may have formed.

• Advised on selecting the most personally relevant anchor principle, explaining its significance to their own perspective.

• Provided examples of how to integrate the in-text citation and relate it to personal positioning.

Step 3: Part B – Media Analysis

• The mentor directed the student to review the provided media sources carefully.

• Encouraged critical thinking by prompting questions like:

  • “What assumptions are being made about Indigenous people?”

  • “Are these assumptions overt or subtle?”

  • “How might different viewers perceive this?”

• Guided the student to analyse positioning, including framing, language, and imagery.

• Emphasised structuring the analysis logically, linking observations back to the reflection in Part A.

Step 4: Drafting and Structuring

• The student was advised to write in full paragraphs, combining description, analysis, and personal reflection.

• Mentor suggested using transitional phrases to ensure flow between ideas.

• Encouraged self-editing to maintain clarity, coherence, and word limit adherence.

Step 5: Review and Refinement

• The mentor provided feedback on:

  • Depth of reflection and critical analysis.

  • Integration of anchor principle and media analysis findings.

  • Academic tone, sentence structure, and grammar.

• Student revised the draft according to feedback, improving clarity and depth of insight.

Outcome and Achievement

• Final Outcome: A cohesive 800-word reflective essay meeting the assessment criteria.

• Key Achievements:

  • Clearly articulated personal standpoint regarding knowledge and gaps about Indigenous Australians and Australian culture.

  • Linked reflection to Russell’s anchor principle, demonstrating critical self-awareness.

  • Conducted a thorough media analysis, identifying assumptions and positioning.

  • Demonstrated the ability to synthesise ideas and write analytically rather than descriptively.

• Learning Objectives Covered:

  1. Self-awareness and understanding of personal positioning (Knowing Self).

  2. Critical reflection on media influence and social assumptions (Social Justice & Restorying).

  3. Analytical skills in evaluating sources and drawing evidence-based conclusions.

  4. Development of academic writing skills in structured, reflective essays.

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