1. Appendix D
COM/155 Version 5
1
Associate Program Material
Appendix D
Selecting a Topic and Brainstorming Worksheet
Complete the following and post as an attachment.
List two objects, people, subjects, or concepts
you are going to compare and/or contrast.
Online education vs. Traditional education
What are the similarities between the two
objects, people, subjects, or concepts? List as
many similarities as you can.
Academic requirements
Assignments
Exams, tests
Course plan or Syllabus
Student-teacher communication
Diversity
Collaboration with peers
What are the differences between the two
objects, people, subjects, or concepts? List as
many differences as you can.
Type of communication between students,
teachers, and peers.
Flexibility
Face to face interaction
Required equipment for online courses
Are you going to focus on similarities,
differences, or both? Explain your rationale.
Both I want to show my audience that even
though there are slight differences in online
education and traditional education, you
will still receive the same education, just
choose what fits best for you.
What do you want your readers to learn and
understand after reading your essay? What is
the purpose of your essay?
I want them to learn that there are
alternatives to getting a college degree. My
purpose is to influence them to choose the
type of learning environment that suits
them best.
What three or four parallel points of
comparison and/or contrast will you address in
your essay? For example, if you were going to
compare and contrast two teachers, your
parallel points might be each teacher’s
homework policy, classroom conduct policy,
and demeanor.
Academic requirements
Student/teacher/peer interactions
Flexibility
Explain why this is an appropriate and
workable topic selection for the final
assignment.
I feel this topic has many comparable
qualities and it appeals to my own interests
as well as others.

2. Appendix D
COM/155 Version 5
2
Reflect on what you learned in Ceridwen Dovey’s video. Write a 100- to 150-word paragraph
describing how your own writing process is changing as you complete the activities in this course.
Once I have made the decision to work on improving my writing I start to think about exactly what
I need to work on. I consider how to handle my process of writing and discovering my ideas for a
topic. To me writing is much more than just putting words on paper. It is very nature writing is a
series of forward and backward steps as writers think, reflect, and revise. My writing is changing
everyday as I continue to complete different activities. I seek response from family, friends and
from my peers and even my teachers say on how well I am doing in my course.