Final Defense Letter

Purpose
The purpose of the final defense letter is to:

• Provide the opportunity for you to explore your overall growth and development during your semester;

• Evaluate your ability to achieve the goals you set out in your Individual Development Plan

• Explain how your goals changed if they did, why they changed and your success in achieving them;

• Analyze how you were able to connect your classroom learning (whether on campus or in D.C.) with your internship and
other experiences (such as civic engagement);

• Describe why you believe the experience is worthy of academic credit.



Category Target Acceptable Unacceptable
Reflection on overall Student thoughtfully explores Student identifies his/her Student does not
growth and and identifies his/her overall overall growth and identify his/her growth
development during growth and development in the development in the five areas in the five areas.
the semester five areas identified in the identified in the Individual
Individual Development Plan. Development Plan.

Provides critical
reflection on his/her
ability to set and meet
goals
Student is able to provide Student provides analysis on No analysis on goal
critical analysis on his/her goal his/her goal setting skills and setting skills or ability
setting skills as well as his/her his/her ability to meet the to meet goals.
ability to meet the goals. Student goals.
will note whether he/she had to
adjust the goals, why and how
they were adjusted.

Connection made
between classroom
learning and other
practical experiences
Student demonstrates his/her
ability to apply knowledge and
skills acquired in the classroom
to practical experiences
(internship, civic engagement
project or other experiences).
Student uses specific examples
of the connections made and the
benefits of being able to make
the connections.
Student demonstrates his/her No connection made
ability to apply knowledge between classroom
and skills acquired in the learning and other
classroom to practical practical experiences.
experiences (internship, civic
engagement project and other
experiences).

The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars

1
Justification for the Student provides strong and
academic credit for the compelling case for his/her
experience receipt of academic credit for
the entire experience.
Writing style, The student’s writing is clear
grammar and overall and concise. The length is
organization appropriate. Grammar
punctuation and spelling are
correct. The letter is well-
organized and easy to follow.
The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminar
2
Student provides good case
for his/her receipt of
academic credit for the entire
experience.
The student’s writing is clear
and concise. Grammar,
punctuation and spelling are
correct. The letter is well-
organized.
There is no compelling
justification for
academic credit for the
experience.
The student’s writing is
not clear or concise.
There are grammatical
and spelling mistakes.