Hopefully during this course, you have recognized different cognitive functions that you use in your everyday life (e.g., attention, memory, making decisions, managing emotions... etc.). My goal with this class is to help you LEARN information that you can apply outside of class and beyond the final exam. Engaging in real-life application also helps you learn and remember the material at a deeper level (which actually will help you for exams, so it's a win-win situation for everyone!). With that in mind, you will submit a two-page (double spaced, Times New Roman 12-point font, 1- inch margins) self-application plan that does two things: 1) discusses how concepts taught in this course have affected you personally or apply to your life (i.e., the "application" section) and 2) a specific plan explicitly outlining steps you can take to change or improve a cognitive aspect in your daily life (i.e., the "plan" section). For the "application" section, you can talk about multiple concepts (for example, you might have thoughts on how the memory information you learned applies to your life and thoughts on how your new knowledge of heuristics and biases apply to your life). For the "plan" section, please focus on one concept where you outline steps on how you will apply, change, or improve this concept to your life (for example, what steps might you take to improve your decision making?). I would recommend writing about a 1 to 1 pages for the first "application" section and about page to 1 page for the second "plan" section, but how you split the paper up between the two portions is up to you (just make sure you address both and they total to two pages!). The rubric for this assignment is a little less "strict" than past assignments, as I truly want to hear about your experiences and how what you have learned has impacted or could impact your day-to-day life. To help guide you for the first "application" section, here are some questions you should consider answering (you don't need to answer all of them; this is to help you get started): How has your understanding of your own mind and thought processes changed? Could you make any improvements in these areas? Have you learned anything that could improve your academic performance? Athletic performance? Have you learned anything that could improve your social relationships? How might what you have learned impact your view of others? Have you learned anything that might help you better understand those around you, be more compassionate, be less quick to judge... etc.? Has your view of individuals who might suffer from cognitive problems (e.g., amnesia, language difficulties, psychopathologies... etc.) changed? How so? How could your new knowledge help you better understand your own emotions? The emotions of others? For the second "plan" section, MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE (AND BE CLEAR!): What cognitive aspect are you going to change or improve? In what type of situations are you going to make this change (e.g., in your academic performance, in your social relationships, in your athletic performance... etc.)? List at least three steps (could be more, but needs to be at least three) you will take to make this change (be specific!). Could include:

o Recognizing when you need to make a change (be specific- how will you recognize this?) o Specific thought processes/cycles you are going to change o Specific behaviors you are going to stop doing (or start doing) o Reporting to someone or writing down/recording your progress What do you hope to accomplish in the end after following this plan? Again, you MUST INCLUDE ALL ASPECTS of your plan, as outlined above (and do so explicitly and clearly, so we know without a doubt you included all the relevant information). In addition to that, if your paper is thoughtful, reflects on your experience and learning, and applies to your life, you will receive full points. To further help you, below is a list of things that WILL also cause you to lose points: Being less or over 2 pages (a few lines in either direction is fine) Paper not being double spaced, Times New Roman 12-point font, or 1-inch margins Failure to demonstrate thoughtful reflection in your discussion of how this class and your new knowledge has impacted you/applies to your life Lack of a specific plan to change/improve a cognitive concept in your life Poor grammar/punctuation mistakes (it needs to be a well written paper that is easy to read/flows well). Lateness (see late policy in syllabus) In total, this assignment is worth 20 points. I am excited to hear what you have learned and how it applies to your life!