RLS 122 – Perspectives on Leisure
Assignment 2 -  From Wants to Goals:  A goal setting exercise

Introduction: 
The purpose of this exercise is to, first, identify what you want in life: your hopes, aspirations, desires, dreams, possessions, and qualities of life (referred to here as your ‘wants’).  Then you’ll shape your wants into goal statements, and then for each of those goals you’ll formulate specific objectives for achieving those goals.  

Instructions: 

1.  Begin this exercise by listing, as quickly as possible, all the wants you can think of in a period of 7 minutes.  We will likely do this during class time.  

2.  During the listing exercise, DO NOT STOP WRITING and DO NOT lift your pen from the paper.  It is vitally important that you not break the connection between your mind and the paper.  

3.  After the listing exercise is over, evaluate your list.  Are there extraneous or non-meaningful ideas that need to be deleted?  If yes, then do so.  Are you suddenly reminded of more wants as you review your exercise?  Feel free to add new wants now, and throughout the rest of the exercise.  

4.  Now you’ll categorically analyze your desires, separating your list out into distinct categories.  Collect your wants into groups of similar responses and assign categories that define the subject content of each group.  Here are suggestions for possible categories. 

Relationship Goals 
Spouse/Partner/S.O.
Children
Friends 
Co-Workers
Financial Goals 
Health/Fitness Goals 
Altruistic Wants
Emotional Desires
Cultural Wants
Community Goals
Legacy Goals
Travel/Vacations 
Leisure Goals
Entertainment
Education Goals
Career Goals
Material Possessions Goals

5.  Now you should refine your goals; make sure they’re written as clearly as possible. 

6.  Organize your wants in order of importance.  Circle the 10 most important desires on your list.  What do you strongly value and what is most important for you to have in your life.  

7.  From this list of wants you will come up with your five ultimate goals, with three SMART objectives for each goal.  What does SMART mean?  It’s an acronym for determining whether or not an objective has been properly written.  (Okay okay so this really should be SMAT, but doesn’t SMART sound better?)  

Your objectives should be…
•	Specific – clearly written
•	Measurable – specifically stated so you’ll know when it is complete
•	Achievable\Realistic – likely that they will be possible through your own personal effort
•	Time sensitive – should have a schedule (e.g. in three weeks, or by March 1)

8.  It’s strongly recommended that you have at least one goal for each of the following:  
•	leisure
•	lifestyle
•	career

9.  Complete the handout “Qualities of Leisure Experience.”  

10.  Write a series of paragraphs about your goal setting, clarifying and illustrating your goals and objectives, and writing about your priorities for your leisure life, and how this fits with the major goals and objectives of your life. 

This paper, including the goals and objectives section, should be 500 words in length.  

RLS 122 – Perspectives on Leisure

WRITING ASSIGNMENT TWO:  FROM WANTS TO GOALS

Name: 					   Date: 

Project Element	Possible Points	Points Earned	
Completed 5 ultimate goals (5 points each)	25		
Completed 3 objectives for each goal (1 pt. ea.)	15		
Reflection activity—priorities in your leisure life	5		
Summary and illustrative paragraphs 	10		
Mechanics, including: 
•	Composition
•	Format
•	Grammar
•	Spelling
•	Sentence Structure
•	Paper Organization
•	Writing Style	10		
Overall project development	10		
Deductions for late papers, word count deficiencies			
Total	75		

HAND IN THIS FORM WITH YOUR PAPER