Assessment 1:

Reflective writing - Understanding your values, beliefs and assumptions

Description

As particularly emphasised in Topic 1, this unit has a strong focus on strengthening your skills of critical thinking and reflection. Why are these skills important? In your role in the tourism or hospitality industry or in business more generally, as well as in everyday life, you will be constantly dealing with people from different backgrounds, cultures, and worldviews. This is particularly so when engaging with the concept of sustainability, which remains a challenging, often distorted and evolving concept in tourism practice as well as in political and business contexts. Thus it is important to understand differing perspectives on how people think about sustainability, the environment and tourism as well as having the ability to critically examine the values, beliefs and assumptions underlying these perspectives.

In order to analytically engage in informed discussion, understanding yourself is a vital starting point. Thus Assignment 1 is focussed on your own values, beliefs and assumptions, where they might come from, and when they might need challenging. This assessment aims to encourage and develop your critical reflection skills on sustainable tourism issues. It is designed to help you identify, understand and think critically about your beliefs, values and assumptions as they relate to the environment/nature.

The task

Reread Kath Fisher's paper (Reading 1.1). In this article, Fisher distinguishes between values, beliefs and assumptions.

- In preparation for your assignment, start by reflecting on your life and identify and list some of your key values.

- Then, considering your relationship with / understanding of the environment/nature, select and outline at least one value, one belief and one assumption that YOU have currently.

- In your assignment:

(1) write out the selected value, belief and assumption, and then for each;

(2) elaborate and reflect upon why you might have that value, belief or assumption; and

(3) how they affect your attitudes towards the environment/nature. You may also want to compare and contrast your views with differing perspectives; and/or reflect on what (if anything) could lead you to change your perspectives.

Of course, it is necessary to write in the ‘first person' (using ‘I'), but remember this is still an academic assignment, so link to additional references other than the paper if appropriate, and include a reference list.