Letter to Self

**Assignment Description**

For this assignment, you will write a letter to your future self, which you will read at the end of this introduction to philosophy course. This letter will capture your current understanding of philosophy, your philosophical beliefs, and your expectations for this course. It will serve as a benchmark for your personal and intellectual growth throughout the semester.

**Instructions**

Write a letter addressed to your future self at the end of this course, following the outline provided below. Your letter should be 350-500 words long.

**Letter Outline / Template**

Dear Future [Your Name],

[Introduction: 1-2 sentences welcoming your future self and explaining the purpose of this letter.]

1. My Current Understanding of Philosophy

What I think philosophy means:

Why I believe philosophy is important:

How I think philosophy applies to everyday life:

2. My Core Philosophical Ideas

[Discuss at least three philosophical ideas or concepts you currently find intriguing (you may look through the textbook, syllabus, or online to get some examples)]

a. Idea 1:

What it means to me:

Why it’s interesting:

b. Idea 2:

What it means to me:

Why it’s interesting:

c. Idea 3:

What it means to me:

Why it’s interesting:

3. A Philosophical Question I’ve Pondered

Briefly describe the question:

What makes this a philosophical question?

How have I approached thinking about it?

Do I have any tentative answers or thoughts on it?

4. My Expectations for This Introduction to Philosophy Course

What I hope to learn:

Skills I want to develop:

How I think this course might change my perspective:

5. Predictions About My Philosophical Growth

[Make at least two predictions]

a. Prediction 1:

b. Prediction 2:

6. Questions for My Future Self

[Ask at least three questions]

a. Question 1:

b. Question 2:

c. Question 3:

7. Closing Thoughts

[1-2 sentences reflecting on how you feel about starting this philosophical journey]

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Current Date]

**Submission Guidelines**

Format: Double-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins

File format: PDF or Word document

Filename: LastName_FirstName_FutureSelfLetter.pdf (or .docx)

**Grading Rubric** (50 points total)

| Criteria | Excellent (10-9) | Good (8-7) | Satisfactory (6-5) | Needs Improvement (4-0) | Points |

|———-|——————|————|——————–|———————–|——–|

| Understanding of Philosophy (10 points) | Demonstrates a clear, thoughtful understanding of philosophy and its importance | Shows a good grasp of philosophy with minor misconceptions | Basic understanding of philosophy with some significant gaps | Little to no understanding of philosophy demonstrated | |

| Philosophical Ideas (10 points) | Clearly articulates 3+ philosophical ideas with insightful explanations | Describes 3 philosophical ideas with adequate explanations | Mentions fewer than 3 ideas or explanations lack depth | Ideas are unclear or unexplained | |

| Philosophical Question (10 points) | Presents a complex question with thoughtful analysis of approach | Describes a philosophical question with some analysis of approach | Mentions a question but provides little analysis | Question is unclear or missing | |

| Course Expectations & Predictions (10 points) | Expresses clear, reflective expectations and makes insightful predictions | States reasonable expectations and makes logical predictions | Mentions basic expectations and/or predictions | Expectations or predictions are vague or missing | |

| Writing Quality & Reflection (10 points) | Well-written, deeply reflective, and follows all guidelines | Clearly written, shows reflection, and mostly follows guidelines | Writing is clear but lacks depth or doesn’t fully follow guidelines | Poorly written, lacks reflection, or ignores guidelines | |

| | | | | Total: | /50 |