Satsuma High SchoolSenior Project Handbook

2016-2017Principal: Josh Verkouille

Asst. Principal: Steve CochranSenior Counselor: Ashlee Smith

Senior Project Coordinators:Joy Crisler

Lee JayTiffany Miller

Based on the Davidson High School HandbookCompiled by Sarah Hoeb and Lydia Shantazio

Table of ContentsI. Senior Project Component Due

Dates………………………………………….. 4

II. Introduction to Senior Project…………………………………………………….5

III. Senior Project Portfolio Checklist………………………………………………10

IV. RésuméRésumé Assignment Expectations…………………………………………….…11Résumé Form………………………………………………………………………13Sample Résumé…………………………………………………………………….14Résumé Rubric……………………………………………………………………...15

V. ProposalForming a Research Question…………………………………………………….16Senior Project Topic/Product Ideas...……………………………………………17Senior Project Topic Template…………………………………………………....20Proposal Assignment Expectations………………………………………………21Proposal Template…………………………………………………………………22Proposal Rubric…………………………………………………………………….23

VI. Project MentorMentor Assignment Expectations………………………………………………...24Contacting a Mentor……………………………………………………………….25Mentor Arrangement Guidelines………………………………………………...26Mentor Consent Form……………………………………………………………..27Mentor Interview ………………………………………………………………….28

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Mentor Final Evaluation…………………………………………………………..29Parental Consent/Liability Release Form……………………………………….31Product Plan………………………………………………………………………..32

VII. Project Log BookProject Log Book Assignment Expectations……………………………………..33Senior Project Mentor Time Log………………………………………………….34

VIII. ResearchEthical Commitment and Plagiarism Policy…………………………………….35Works Cited Assignment Expectations………………………………………….36MLA Citation Reference Sheet……………………………………………………37Research Notecards Assignment Expectations………………………………….39Annotated Bibliography Assignment Expectations…………………………….40Creating MLA Format……………………………………………………………..41Sample Annotated Bibliography…………………………………………………43Annotated Bibliography Rubric………………………………………………….46Sentence Outline Assignment Expectations…………………………………….47Sentence Outline Rubric…………………………………………………………..48Research Paper Assignment Expectations………………………………………49Sample Research Paper……………………………………………………………50Research Paper Rubric…………………………………………………………….53

IX. PresentationsLetter to the Judges Assignment Expectations………………………………….54Sample Letter to the Judges ……………………………………………………....55

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Sign of Commitment Instructions………………………………………………..56Sign of Commitment Rubric………………………………………………………57Senior Project Presentation Expectations………………………………………..58Learning Stretches………………………………………………………………….60Speech Outline Template………………………………………………………….61Visual Presentation Assignment Expectations………………………………….64Rubric for Visual Presentations…………………………………………………..65

X. Reflective EssayReflective Essay Assignment Expectations……………………………………...66Reflective Essay Rubric……………………………………………………………67

XI. Board Night Judging Rubric…………………………………………………….68

This handbook is intended to help you understand the Senior Project, see the big picture, plan ahead, and get started. Dates and other details

should be regarded as approximate and tentative. Specifics and changes—should they be necessary—will be announced in a timely manner as the school year progresses. Some assignments and particulars may vary from

teacher to teacher; however, the basic requirements will remain the same.

PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOUR PARENTS/GUARDIANS!Please note that a copy of this handbook can also be found on the

Satsuma High School webpage under the senior class page and your teachers’ individual pages.

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Tentative Schedule of Due DatesAssignment (Teacher Responsible) Due Date**Senior Project Handbooks given out in English class on Tuesday, September 6.

Topic (Miller) Tuesday, September 13

Resume (Jay) Thursday, September 15

Proposal (Miller) Thursday, September 22

Mentor Consent Form (Crisler)  Friday, September 30

Throughout Second Quarter: Mentor Hours

Mentor interview uploaded to Google Classroom TBD

Research Paper Works Cited (Miller)  Thursday, January 19

Research Paper Notecards (Miller) Friday, January 27

Research Paper Annotated Bibliography (Miller) Tuesday, February 7

Research Paper Outline (Miller) Tuesday, February 14

Research Paper Rough Draft (Miller) Tuesday, February 21

Research Paper Final Draft (Miller) Tuesday, March 7

Mentor Log Book (Crisler) TBD

Sign of Commitment (Miller) Monday, March 20

Letter to Judges (Miller) Wednesday, March 29

Presentation uploaded to Google Classroom  3 PM Friday, March 24

In-class presentations (Miller and Jay)  Week of March 27-31

Reflective Essay (Miller) Tuesday, March 28

Mentor Final Evaluation (Crisler) Thursday, March 30

Product (Crisler) Tuesday, April 4

Portfolio (Miller) Thursday, April 6

Board Night Thursday, April 20

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Welcome toSatsuma High School Senior Project

2016-2017

“The Senior Project introduces a process of lifetime learning to you, the student. Learning should not end with your formal education. In the world beyond school, learning is ongoing. Adults must research, read, write, and

collaborate with others in an effort to solve problems, expand opportunities, and satisfy curiosity.”

– Kuna High School Senior Project Handbook 2012

The Senior Project provides you with the opportunity to learn skills you may use in the workplace while also providing you with hands-on experience in a real-world setting. You will also be able to create relationships with people in the community and network for possible job or internship positions after high school. Many Senior Project students have gone on to get paying jobs with their mentors after school ended, as well as internships and important recommendations from business and community leaders. Moreover, the Project must be successfully completed as a component of English 12, which is a required course for all graduating seniors. This process has been highly acclaimed and proven successful in many high schools across the country.

The Senior Project is a fitting conclusion to students’ high school education because, though the project, they are able to demonstrate accumulated skills in reasoning, research, problem-solving, human interaction, organization, and public speaking. This is appropriate for the culmination of their K-12 education because these are the very skills and abilities which they will be expected to demonstrate as college students and/or employees.

The Senior Project is composed of four basic parts: the project, the portfolio, the presentation, and the product. This is a long-term project that will take the entire school year to complete. You will also be required to spend several hours outside of school working on this project. You are allowed to choose a researchable topic of interest to you. Make sure to choose something that you are genuinely interested in or passionate about because you will be spending a lot of time working on this project!

Planning ahead will ensure that you Senior Project experience will be less stressful and much more enjoyable. You will be doing other reading and writing assignments in your senior level classes throughout the year as well, so follow the Senior Project calendars given to you by your teachers. Assignments must be received on the due date, or they receive a grade of zero. You will receive additional information and instruction on these major assignments as their time gets closer.

Project Supplies and RequirementsYou will keep a separate notebook exclusively for your Senior Project. Your

teacher will provide you with plastic sheet covers and tab dividers for your Senior Project portfolio, but you are responsible for providing your own three-ring binder.

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You will be expected to show your teachers your organized notebook frequently. Good organization is one of the many qualities needed for a successful Senior Project—so get off to a good start!

Choosing a ProjectYou will begin by choosing a topic for learning. You may choose

anything from hands-on projects to career studies. The project begins with an essential question that drives your research. This question will guide not only your research, but also the project experience, the journal, the product, and the presentation.

Choose something you know little or nothing about but that you have an interest in. The Senior Project involves new learning. Choose something that you think will be beneficial for you to know. It may relate to a career interest that you have or a topic of personal interest to you.

Projects that are already requirements in another course that you are enrolled in are not appropriate or acceptable for your Senior Project. Learning new job-related skills is very appropriate. Talk to your teachers about past projects or your own project ideas.

Finding a MentorAs part of your Senior Project, you will need to find an adult in the

community who is willing to work with you and direct you in regards to your chosen topic. This person will be your Senior Project mentor. A mentor is a person with real expertise in the field of your topic. It is someone with a great deal of experience in your field. This mentor will guide and supervise you during your community service or job shadowing experience. Your mentor will supervise the time that you spend on the community service/job shadowing aspect of your project. Your mentor does not complete your project for you. He/ She will be a resource for you when you have a question or need guidance. Your mentor will also sign off on your mandatory service hours as well.

Once you have decided on an area of interest, your mentor can help you plan out what you will do and what might be an appropriate research paper topic. It is your responsibility to find and obtain a mentor, and ultimately, you will be held accountable for having a suitable mentor.

Find a mentor. Take chances. Look into new fields. Don’t be afraid to ask someone you do not know to be your mentor. Do not ask family members or friends to be mentors. This is not appropriate for Senior Project. You may have more than one mentor if you wish, and this is to your advantage. Your mentor cannot be someone here at Satsuma High School, your parents, friends, or anyone younger than 25! In addition, it is recommended that you send a letter of request to your prospective mentor asking him/her to help you on the project you have chosen.

Time Requirements

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The project involves about 25+ hours of course work and 10+ hours of community service or job shadowing. Hours must be logged and completed by the time you are scheduled to present your Senior Project! Your hours can be completed any time during the months after your proposal has been approved, and they may be turned in prior to the due date. You are not expected to be a pro in this short time, nor is your mentor expected to be with you all of the time during your job shadowing/ community service. Your community service hours will be due before your research hours. Please

follow the Senior Project calendar that is given to you at the beginning of the schoolyear

The Project ProposalA formal proposal will be the first major component of your project.

This will be completed during the first few weeks of your Senior English course. Before your project becomes official, it must be approved by your Senior English teacher. You must convince your teacher that your project is worthwhile and feasible. Not only is the proposal a very important assignment in its own right, but approval of the proposal is necessary for you to receive credit for later parts of the project.

If a situation arises where you must change your research topic, this must be done at the very beginning of the school year before the research process begins. If you choose to change your topic, you must complete a new proposal, and it must be approved by your Senior Project teacher. Please note: you may not change your topic after first semester!

Possible Projects

Teaching Projects: Design and teach a unit to elementary students.

Community Projects: Serve as an aide in a senior citizen’s home or a daycare center or hospice. Assist members of a city committee to prepare a presentation. Get active in a political party or union, etc….

Vocational Projects: Contact several different employers who are willing to provide you with job-shadowing opportunities in a field related to your topic. Survey employers as to job requirements and specifications. Work as an intern/observer in a business/professional office or in a city agency with an elected official. Learn aircraft welding. Learn a new job skill.

Performance Projects: Create and perform in public a dance, a play, a reading, musical number, give a speech, etc….

Primary Research Project: Compile an oral history. Research a building or a landmark. Research an ancestor. Survey area residents of some matter of concern to our own city government or business or a neighborhood association. Conduct an independent science experiment, etc….

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Production Projects: Design and build a boat, a piece of furniture, or a model house. Rebuild an engine. Build a computer. Build a website. Draw a series of illustrations for a book. Paint a series of portraits. Create a photo essay. Write and produce a film, etc…

*** This is not an exhaustive list! **** These points are only meant to be examples, but there are many different projects out there for you to complete. Just be creative and ambitious!

The Research ComponentAs an important part of your project, you will do research and reading

that is relevant to the topic of your project. There must be some relationship between your research and your project. The research component will begin fairly early in the Senior Project process and will culminate in an annotated bibliography and a research paper. The research paper must be 4-6 pages in length and relevant to your topic. It must be in MLA format. Your Senior English teacher will give more detailed instructions on the formatting of the paper as the school year progresses.

The Project Log BookYou will keep a Log Book that will record the date, time and details

each time you work on your project. This should be periodically reviewed by both your mentor and your Senior Project teacher.

Write it down anytime you work on your project. Document your time, what you did, conversations with your mentor, conversations with others about your project, what you learned, problems you solved, obstacles you faced, etc…. * Your mentor MUST sign off on all of the community service hours or job shadowing hours that you complete.* You must have a minimum of 10 service hours that are performed outside of school. *

The PresentationsClassroom practice presentations will begin during the final phase of

your Senior Project, and they will be the preliminary to the final public presentations. The final classroom rehearsal will be a dress rehearsal in which you will wear your planned outfit for Senior Project Board Night. It is important that your instructor approve your chosen attire. It needs to be appropriate to a professional academic setting. You will receive classroom grades for both the in-class presentation and your Board Night presentation. You can be pulled from the Board Night schedule if your presentation is not sufficient or acceptable.

A schedule will be drawn up well in advance so that you will know exactly what day you will need to bring your things to school. Your final presentations will need to be between 5-8 minutes in length. For your first classroom rehearsal, your speech must reach at least 4 minutes. Plan on about 10-15 minutes of actual presentation time as the judges will want to ask you questions about your project at the end.

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Effective presentations utilize visuals, demonstrations, and whatever else helps to show what you accomplished and learned throughout Senior Project. You will receive feedback from your classroom teachers and fellow students on your presentation so that you can improve your speech before Board Night.

You will do a public presentation in late April. Time limits and formats are similar to the classroom presentations. The public presentation will allow community members to give input to the quality of your work. You will receive the Board Night schedule well in advance so that you can plan and prepare. You MUST present on Board Night! It is a heavily-weighted test grade, and it is the culmination of your Senior Project experience!

We believe that this project can become the highlight of your high school career if you use this opportunity wisely. This project incorporates the Alabama State and District Standards for research, writing, speaking, and organization. These skills will benefit you in your future whether you decide to go to college or to enter the workplace after graduation from high school.

The Project GradeIn accordance with state standards, the Senior Project is pass/fail. Your

Senior Project grade will be a large part of both your English 12 and Government/Economics grades. Your Senior Project assignments will be counted as Test grades, which comprise 60% of your final average. In addition to Senior Project work, you will also be completing the 12th grade literature curriculum objectives assigned by the State and the District as well as the Government/Economics curricular objectives by the same institutions.

Senior Project assignments MUST BE SUBMITTED ON THE DEADLINE OR THEY WILL RECEIVE A GRADE OF ZERO. One of the primary rationales behind completing the Senior Project is meant to teach the importance of meeting deadlines. If you miss a deadline at your job, you can be fired. Senior Project is set up in the same way. You must learn responsibility and accountability for your actions. Meeting a deadline means you have your assignment ready to submit when you walk into class.

If you fail to submit an assignment by the deadline, you will receive a grade of zero; however, you must still submit that assignment before you are allowed to receive credit for the next Senior Project grade! If you fail to do this, you will accumulate many zeros; and it will be difficult for you to pass your courses. You MUST stay organized and submit assignments on time or you will not be successful on your Senior Project.

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Senior Project Final Portfolio ChecklistThe following items must be in your final portfolio. For Board Night, you must place clean, corrected, word-processed copies of each assignment in your portfolio.

Assignment DateComplet

ed

Score

Revision

Student

Initials

Teacher

Initials

Letter to the Judges

Senior Project ProposalMentor Consent Form

Mentor Interview

Works Cited

Annotated Bibliography

Sentence Outline

Log Sheets

Journals

Résumé

Sign of Commitment

Reflection Essay

Community Service Pictures(min 5)Product Pictures(min 5)Completed Portfolio

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The Résumé

The AssignmentYou will be responsible for creating a professional résumé that you can use

when you enter the workplace. Résumés and application forms are two ways to provide potential employers with written evidence of your qualifications and skills. Generally, the same information appears on both a résumé and an application.

A résumé must be very easy to read so that an employer can see at a glance who you are, where you can be reached, what kind of work you can do, and why you’re qualified for that kind of work.

A résumé should be short, preferably a single page typed. It must be error free. It includes honest, positive information that is related to your job goal.

You need two types of information to prepare for your résumé:1. Self information: Completing a background and experience list will give you

the information required to prepare your résumé. If you’ve worked before, list your jobs. Next, write down the work

duties for the jobs you’ve listed. Now, think about the skills or talents it took to do each work duty. Write them down.

List your hobbies, clubs you belong to, sports you’ve been involved in, church and school activities, volunteer experience you’ve had, and things that interest you. Look at the first item on your list. Think about the skills or talents it takes to do that item. Write them all down.

Look at the abilities (talents) identified on your background and experience list. You have talents that you use every day. Now, find out what JOBS can use your talents.

Don’t limit yourself. The important thing is not the job title, but the skills and abilities of the job.

2. Job information: Gather specific information on the job you’re applying for. Here’s what you need:

Job duties (to match your skills needed to do the job) Get the information about the job duties from the job announcement. If the job announcement or ad is vague, call the employer and ask for a description of job duties.

Education and experience required (again, so you can match your education and experience with that required for the job)

Hours and shifts usually worked Pay range (make the top offer the minimum acceptable!)

The best way to select information that belongs on your résumé is to think like an employer. Ask yourself, “If I were hiring a person for this position, what training and experience would be related?” Give brief, specific, positive information that would be of interest to your next employer. Do not give unrelated or negative information.

Contact Information

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Tell the employer your full name, street address, apartment number, city, state, zip code, and telephone number (including area code). You should also include an email address. Note: If you do not have a professionally worded email address, create one now.

Employment goal or job objectiveTell the employer the specific job you are interested in. Good examples are, “An entry-level clerical position”, “customer-service position in the retail industry”, or, “A challenging position with a stable company.” Remember, keep it simple and to the point.

Summary of QualificationsTell the employer your major selling points in 3-5 lines. Be brief, summarize, give facts—not opinions. (This section is optional.)

Work Experience or Work IndustryTell the employer about your work experience in one of two ways—either by job titles and dates, or by functions and skills. Later in the publication you will see outlines and sample résumés which will help you decide which way would work best for you.

EducationTell the employer about any job-related training or education. List your most recent training first.

If you are a recent graduate with little work experience, you might want to list the following information before your work history: the name of the school, the degree or certificate received, dates, course titles related to your job goal, scholarships, honors, grades, and extracurricular activities.

If you have been working for over five years, you don’t need to give as much information about your education. Name the school, city, state, degree or certificate, or course work and dates (dates are optional).

Include your high school unless you have a higher degree. Never include your grade school or middle school.

School Activities/Work SkillsList any extracurricular activities, volunteer experience, or work skills you have that could be beneficial to a potential employer.

ReferencesList the names and contact information for up to three people who could speak to a potential employer on your behalf. These can be former employers or coworkers, people with whom you have shared community service or volunteer experience, coaches or teachers and similar adults. Do not include a relative as a reference.(Information taken from Wisconsin Job Center website- Resume Writing-A Basic Guide)

(If you already have a similar resume on file, you may use it in place of this form)

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SENIOR RÉSUMÉ

Full Legal Name: _____________________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________ AL Zip ______________

Phone # ____________________________________

Plans after High School: College_____________ Work___________

Career Goal: _________________________________________________________________________

What special talents or aptitudes do you have that might help you qualify for a scholarship?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

List school activities (grades 9-12):________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________List community and church activities (grades 9-12):________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Awards and Honors (grades 9-12):________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Work Experience: _____________________________________________________________

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John Smith123Street Name

Satsuma, Alabama 36572(251) 555-2424

John.smith@email.com

OBJECTIVEAn entry-level clerical position will allow me to obtain knowledge of the day-to-day work of a business through a part time job, summer internship and/or job shadowing experience

WORK EXPERIENCECashier, 2014-presentDairy QueenSaraland, Alabama

Child Care, 2012-2014Various familiesSaraland and Satsuma, Alabama

EDUCATIONSatsuma High SchoolSatsuma, AlabamaAnticipated graduation date: May 2016

NOTABLE SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND AWARDSA Honor RollStudent Council OfficerClass OfficerBaseball Team Captain

REFERENCESSusan JonesManager, Dairy Queen Saraland123 Street AddressCity, State ZIP(251) 555-1234

Jim WilliamsBaseball Coach, Smalltown High School1234 Street NameCity, State AL(251) 555-4321

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Résumé Rubric

Name: ______________________________________________ Date: ___________________

Neat and Organized: _____________/20

Contains Applicable Information: _____________/60

-Personal Information

-Objective

-Work Experience/Activities

-Education

-References

Free of Spelling and Grammar Errors _____________/20

Total : ______________/100

Teacher Comments:

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Formulating a Research Question

All research begins with a question derived from a general topic that piques your interest, often through general reading, topical discussions, lectures, family experiences, etc. In many cases the general topic is set by your instructor.Generally, the question should be

1. RelevantThe question should have some bearing on the topic and remain within the limits that were set beforehand.

2. InterestingChoose a topic that interests an stimulates you otherwise searching could become tedious.

3. Focused and specificThe question should not be too broad or vague. You can, however, begin with a broad question and then narrow it down to be more specific. You can narrow the question down by-a particular aspect, e.g. economic, psychological-a particular time period-a particular event, e.g. 9/11, rape, divorce-a geographical area-gender-age group

The result should be a question for which there are two or more possible answers. The following examples illustrate how to narrow broad topics to create focused research questions.

Broad topic Narrow topic Focused topic Research Question

Is there an associationWomen’s Women and Women smokers between cigarettehealth cancer and breast cancer smoking and breast

cancer risk?

Computer game How does violence inComputer Computer game violence and computer games games violence children affect children?

What role, if any,

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Eating Teenagers and Teen peer pressuredoes peer pressuredisorders eating disorders and eating play in the

disorders development of eating disorders?

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Senior Project Topic and Product Ideas

This is not an exhaustive list. These should be ideas to help you find the product right for you. Be creative!

Topic Ideas Product IdeasAnything related to the teaching profession

Lead a small group tutorial at a school Create and implement a class or small group activity

Anything related to music (history of rock and roll, rap, etc.)

Write and perform your own music Arrange a concert by your peers (including program,

performance, and advertising)

Anything related to athletics

Produce an exercise routine video (Plan the routine and train people to perform the routine)

Organize a kickboxing/yoga/zumba class after-school group

Create a “teenager-friendly” website explaining all the rules and regulations of being recruited by a college or university

Anything related to politics

Volunteer with a local political organization and/or campaign

Volunteer with the Election Board of Mobile County Create and implement a voter registration campaign

Anything related to dance

Choreograph, teach, and present a dance routine at a fine arts/dance recital

Create and implement a dance lesson/program at a school/church/YMCA, etc.

Anything related to childcare

Volunteer at a YMCA/preschool; Your time at the organization should involve designing and leading an activity.

Implement and facilitate childcare for a school-sponsored event (concerts, games, etc.)

Anything related to art and/or carpentry

Create backdrops for a chorus concert/dance recital Create major pieces of decoration for a Prom

Committee, etc. Paint a mural (with prior approval of artwork) at the

school Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity

Anything related to computers

Create a website for a school department or club Collect old computers and reconfigure them to

distribute to families that need them Organize a computer skills tutorial

Anything related to English Language Learners

Teach a Spanish class after school for teachers Volunteer in the school office working with Hispanic

parents (making phone calls for teachers, transcribing progress reports, answering phone calls, etc.)

Anything related to cars

Plan and present a program on basic car care at a club event (i.e. Women’s Club, Girl/Boy Scouts, etc.)

Complete major work on a vehicle that you own

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Organize a carwash or oil change service (including advertising, planning, carrying out) for a limited time

What are the effects of homelessness on children?

Organize a toy drive for the local shelter Develop a tutoring program for children Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity

Why should Music Education be funded?

Volunteer to teach music at a preschool Perform at a concert and donate ticket sale proceeds to

a school music programWhat are the benefits of funding Visual Arts Education?

Volunteer to teach art at a preschool Sponsor/organize/publicize an art supply drive for a

local school classroom Organize an art show featuring student work; Create

brochures that emphasize the importance of art in schools. (Donations can go to purchase art supplies at an elementary school.)

How can minorities improve their chances of passing possibly-biased standardized tests?

Create and implement an informative seminar for parents

Tutor students one-on-one to help them pass standardized tests

Design and teach a lesson on simple tips to improve scores on standardized tests

How does media impact teen body image?

Create an art project/mural which positively depicts females of all sizes

Design and teach a lesson to a health class/or club (i.e. Girl/Boy Scouts)

Write a series of several articles on the issue. Arrange for your articles to be published in a newspaper.

Write and produce a script for a drama on the issueCan youth make a difference in a political campaign?

Create and update a webpage that provides information on how to research political candidates’ views on issues

Work on a local election campaign as a volunteer Organize an election campaign for a candidate for

student governmentHow do ethical issues affect photojournalism

Create several issues of an online school newspaper Volunteer to help students/teachers complete the

school yearbook at a local schoolArt of ceramics, pottery, sculpting

Example of work

Fashion Design Design portfolio/fashion show/model/historical storyboard

Historical architecture of Mobile

Create a walking tour/slides/brochure

Battle of __________

Create a map/model

War of Create a map/model

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___________Martial Arts Demonstration videoSewing, quilting Example or workCooking/Cuisine Recipes, dishesCatering, weddings

Pictures/plans/menu

Landscape Landscape designSenior Project: How it should look…

Your research question should be specific and researchable. Think beyond “what are the requirements to become a (career).”

Research Question: How has abuse of young women increased in America since 1990?Product: Create a memory quilt for a local women’s shelter.Community Service/Job-Shadowing: Volunteer at a women’s center

Research Question: How does teaching children to train and care for animals help to prevent young adult crime?Product: Adopt a horse and work with at-risk children, teaching them care and grooming techniques.CS/JS: Work with Mobile County Mounted Police and help to saddle, groom, and clean up after the horses.

Research Question: How do dreams and sleep deprivation affect people’s lives during the night?Product: Record a video, reading a story to help people fall asleep. Create a dream catcher.CS/JS: Visit a nursing home and spend time with people that feel lonely. Speak with them about their sleeping routine.

Research Question: How do premature babies differ from full-term babies?Product: Collect used baby clothes and baby items for parents who have premature babies and little money.CS/JS: Bring people flowers and things to comfort new mothers. Volunteer at an Early Intervention Center to help premature babies.

Research Question: How do the playwriting techniques of Tennessee Williams differ from those of William Shakespeare?Product: Create a Shakespearean costume.CS/JS: Dontae time at a local theater, help with a production

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Senior Project Topic Template

Name: ___________________________________________ Date: ______________________

Topic 1)

______________________________________________________________________

Research Question

1)___________________________________________________________

Community Service/Job Shadowing

1)___________________________________________

Possible Product

1)_____________________________________________________________

Topic 2)

______________________________________________________________________

Research Question

2)___________________________________________________________

Community Service/Job Shadowing

2)___________________________________________

Possible Product

2)_____________________________________________________________

Topic 3)

______________________________________________________________________

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Research Question

3)___________________________________________________________

Community Service/Job Shadowing

3)___________________________________________

Possible Product

3)_____________________________________________________________

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The Proposal

Statement of the AssignmentDuring the first part of Senior Project, you will draft a proposal for your Senior

Project topic. The proposal will be a graded assignment. Once your proposal has been approved, your Senior Project is “official.” If for some reason you must change an approved topic, you must rewrite and resubmit a new proposal in order to continue work on the Senior Project.

Rationale Your Senior Project teacher must know what you will be working on during

the project phase and must make sure that you have chosen a topic that you will be able to effectively research.

Your ability to persuade your readers that your project is worthwhile, serious, and viable is a very important criterion for the project.

The formal proposal is frequently encountered in business writing, so you should be familiar with this form.

Description Your proposal must be submitted in the form of a memorandum (see

attached template) It must be organized into clearly headed blocks or sections according to its

main parts. It must be typed. Clarity, thoroughness, format, and appearance will be grading criteria.

Proposal Approval

Be prepared to submit a hard copy to your teacher, along with an electronic copy to TurnItIn. You must also keep a copy for yourself on your jump drive. BACK UP ALL OF YOUR WORK! Your teacher must sign off on your project proposal for it to be approved. Once she has signed your proposal, you can consider your proposal as accepted and begin working on the research. Keep your accepted proposal in your portfolio. Keep another copy with you as you begin to research your topic as it will provide you with a way to stay focused and keep your goals in mind.

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Proposal TemplateTO: Senior Project Teachers

FROM: (Your Name)

DATE: (Current Date)

SUBJECT: SENIOR PROJECT PROPOSAL

Topic: (1 -3 words telling your topic choice, i.e. Global Warming, Technology Trends, etc…)

Overview: 3-5 sentences briefly describing what your project is about and what it will look like.

Essential Question: What is the big question your hope to answer through this process? It should be clearly defined and measurable. Your thesis statement will answer this research question. You should also list supporting questions that you would like answered as you are working on discovering the answer to your big question. Examples: If your topic is Global Warming, you might ask a research question like this: “Do mankind’s activities- especially burning fossil fuels to create energy- affect climate? How? Why? “

Objectives: What goals do you hope to accomplish with this project? At this point, what do you see the final product or experience being? How will you know if you have been successful? Answer these questions in the objective section.

Statement of Significance: How is this project going to impact your life? Will you be gaining new knowledge, or is this an extension of prior knowledge? Why is this project worth doing? Convince your audience that your project is worthy of study, and tell your audience how this project is new learning for you.

Plan: Explain the what, when, where, how long, with whom (other than your mentor) of your

project. When will you meet with your mentor? How often ( guess if you don’t have one yet)? What days will you set aside for your project? What are your ideas for a product? How many hours per week will you need to complete this project?

Requirements: Time, money, materials, equipment, facilities, and/or assistance from others. Be realistic on the cost and the money. Where will you obtain the needed items? Do some initial footwork to get an approximate idea of the costs and materials.

Problems and Solutions: Try to anticipate potential problems that might arise, and then attempt to plan for them. If you’ve already found a mentor, this might be something to talk with him/her about.

Possible Mentors: You will need a list of at least 3 possible mentors. You don’t have to have them approved yet. Be sure to include the mentor’s name, title, project qualifications, and contact information.

Senior Project Teacher Approval: Your teacher’s signature will be the final stamp of approval on your document. Create a signature line for your teacher to sign.

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Proposal RubricThis rubric will be used to grade and assess your submitted proposal. For the final portfolio, you must submit a corrected and ungraded copy of the proposal.

Standard Description PointsOverview 3-5 sentences of a

clear and defined description of the project

_______/10

Essential ResearchQuestion

Research question is clearly defined and measurable with several supporting questions.

_______/20

Statement ofSignificance

Student has a clear project vision, and the project is ambitious and challenging. Details new learning.

_______/20

Plan Plan specifically details who, what, where, when, and how long required for student success.

_______/10

Requirements Time, money, materials, etc. are clearly defined and realistic.

_______/10

Problems and Solutions Anticipates all likely problems and obstacles, and offers possible solutions for each.

_______/10

Mentors Listed at least 3 possible quality mentors with all requisite information.

_______/10

Professionalism Complex sentences usedNo grammatical or spelling errors.Follows formatting requirements

______/10

Final GradeComments:

Teacher Comments:________/100

Teacher

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Signature: _________________________________________________ Date: _____________

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The Mentor

Statement of the Assignment: You must find a mentor (25 or older) with expertise in your area of interest. Your mentor cannot be someone at Satsuma High School, a parent, family member, or friend! In addition, if your mentor cannot commit to at least 10 hours of time to teach and guide you, you may choose to find another expert to give you direct instruction on what you want to learn.

You must complete and submit the mentor form as soon as you have identified a mentor. At the first meeting with your mentor, have him/her help you define and articulate your project goals. Once the mentor is approved, you may begin meeting with him/her as needed. Your mentor will sign off on the project goals you have listed, and they will also sign off on each hour that you spend at community service/ job shadowing. Mentor hours cannot be completed in a single day! We advise that your parents or guardians meet and speak with your mentor so that you can all work together to arrange meetings and work time. Rationale:

Having a mentor that is an expert in your chosen field of research will allow you access to a great resource as you are learning about your topic.

Your mentor should be someone that can help guide you to the places that you can find information and answers rather than simply giving the answers to you.

Mentor’s Role: Be a resource for you; however, you are expected to do your own work with

mentor assistance only when needed. Provide guidance on the shape or form of the project. The mentor will help

determine what you need to learn in order to accomplish the goals of the project.

Mentors should help students get started and the guide them through the process of deciding what steps to take and in what order. The mentor should not make decisions.

Provide emotional support when you experience setbacks or roadblocks. Be able to attest to what they have seen you do. They will be asked to

complete an evaluation of your work, and to sign off on all of the community service/ job shadowing hours you completed.

Mentors should be available for scheduled meetings throughout the school year and complete evaluations in a timely manner.

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Contacting a Mentor

When reaching out to possible mentors, you are acting as a representative of Satsuma High School and should present yourself in the most professional manner possible. Follow these tips to help you when speaking with potential mentors.

In-person Dress in your school uniform or in another neat and professional outfit Introduce yourself (first and last name) and briefly explain your

objective:o “Hi, my name is John Smith, and I am a senior at Satsuma High

School. I am looking for a mentor to complete ten hours of job shadowing/community service.”

If contacting a business with which you have no previous experience, ask to speak to a manager or other supervisor about their policy on allowing job shadowing/community service.

Be sure to exchange contact information for future contact.

Telephone Introduce yourself (first and last name) and briefly explain your

objective:o “Hi, my name is John Smith, and I am a senior at Satsuma High

School. I am looking for a mentor to complete ten hours of job shadowing/community service.”

If contacting a business with which you have no previous experience, ask to speak to a manager or other supervisor about their policy on allowing job shadowing/community service.

Be sure to leave your contact information for future contact.

Email Use your @satsumaschools.com email address. Use a salutation (Dear________, To Whom It May Concern, etc.) Introduce yourself (first and last name) and briefly explain your

objective:o “Hi, my name is John Smith, and I am a senior at Satsuma High

School. I am looking for a mentor to complete ten hours of job shadowing/community service.”

Ask about the company/organization’s policies regarding allowing job shadowing/community service.

Use correct grammar and punctuation. Include a contact phone number

Feel free to contact more than one possible mentor! It may take you a few tries to find the right mentor for you and your project.

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Mentoring Arrangement Guidelines

The requirements of the Senior Project Mentors are as follows:o The mentor will meet with the student for a minimum of ten hours to

complete the project. These ten hours should be spread out over the time allotted for projects. All ten hours cannot be completed on the same date.

o The mentor should be at least a 25-year-old adult who is not related to the student and who resides in the city or in a nearby one.

o The mentor will assist the student in establishing objectives and keeping a log of all activities completed while meeting.

o The student will assist the mentor while on the job.o The mentor will assist the student in designing the project in the area

of study. For example, a graphic arts intern might help produce a t-shirt order and design something for a business. The student may assist in an existing project or design a new project with the assistance of a mentor. The area is flexible; the only requirement is some sort of visual aid that can be reproduced to document the completion of the project.

o In order to determine a student’s grade for that phase, the mentor will provide feedback about both the student and the project, and report to the teacher any senior who is not meeting the timelines or requirements in order to determine the student’s grade for that phase.

Basically, the mentor needs to meet with the student for at least ten hours to discuss, assist, and provide guidance on the product phase. The purpose is not to waste time or materials, but to gain some “real world” experience and knowledge before leaving high school. Each student should maintain a photographic record of visits and work on the project.

Mentors are asked to contact us with any questions or concerns. We may call you to check progress or verify the student’s work. Thank you again for agreeing to assist our students in this exciting and meaningful endeavor.

SHS Senior TeachersMs. Joy Crisler, Lee Jay, and Tiffany Miller251-389-8190jcrisler@satsumaschools.com, ljay@satsumaschools.com,

tmiller@satsumaschools.com

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Satsuma High SchoolSenior Project

Mentor Consent Form

Mentor Contact Information

Name: __________________________________________________

Date:_______________________

Company or Organization Affiliation:

___________________________________________________

Role at Above Organization: ________________________________ Years of Experience:

________

Company Address:

___________________________________________________________________

Contact Phone: _____________________________ Contact Email:

____________________________

Mentor Signature and Consent

I understand that my position is primarily one of advising and giving technical assistance when needed and appropriate. I understand that it is not my responsibility to complete this project. I agree to supervise and sign off on the hours the mentee works. When requested I agree to send a written evaluation of _______________________________________’s work. Based on my experience and expertise, I approve of the Project Proposal. I am willing to serve as _______________________________________’s mentor and I understand that I will be expected to complete a final evaluation on the student’s performance.

Mentor Signature:_____________________________________ Date:___________________

Parent Signature and Consent

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As the parent/guardian of _______________________________________, I am aware that he/she is engaged in completing the Senior Project at Satsuma High School. I approve of the project proposed and the choice of the mentor.

Parent/Guardian Signature: __________________________________________ Date:____________

Parent/Guardian Name (Print): ________________________________________________________

Contact Phone: _________________________ Contact Email: ________________________________

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Mentor Interview

Early in your job shadowing/community service process, you will formally interview your mentor. You will video and audio record this interview and submit it to Google Classroom for your teachers to view/grade. Prior to conducting the interview, you must have your submit the interview questions and have them approved by your teacher. Your interview should contain at least ten questions.

Sample interview questions:

What influenced you to choose this career? What makes you stand out from others? How many hours a day do you need to get your job done? How many years of experience have you had? How many year of college/training are required? How has your college experience prepared you for a business career? What is the best part of your workday? The worst? Does this job cover your financial expenses? What skills and abilities are needed? What specific goals, including those related to your occupation, have

you established for your life?

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Mentor Final Evaluation

Student:This form is a required part of the documentation for the Senior Project. It is your responsibility to make sure that this evaluation has been completely filled out by your mentor and submitted to you teacher by__________________________.

Fill in the information below and then pass this document to your mentor to complete the remaining sections. Student Name:______________________________________________________________

My Learning Objectives (transfer from your Proposal)

1. ___________________________________________________________________________________________

2.____________________________________________________________________________________________

3.____________________________________________________________________________________________

Mentor:

Thank you for your willingness to guide this student through his/her Senior Project. Please take a minute to assess the student’s achievement through this process in the following areas:

1. Do you believe the student met the objectives listed above? YES_____ NO______EXPLAIN: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Did the student meet the required number of community service/job shadowing hours? (10 Hours) YES__________ NO___________

3. Did the student behave in a professional manner during his/her mentor hours, including the following areas:

Yes Noa. Dress □ □b. Punctuality □ □c. Attitude □ □d. Speech □ □

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If you marked “no” to any of the above, please explain:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What evidence of new learning was provided by the student: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________ _____________________Mentor Signature Date

Please do not give this form back to the student. Please remit the completed form back to the Senior Project teachers in one of these forms:Mail: Satsuma High School

Attn: Tiffany Miller and Joy Crisler1 Gator CircleSatsuma, AL 36572

Email: tmiller@satsumaschools.com or jcrisler@satsumaschools.com

Fax: Attn: Tiffany Miller or Joy Crisler(251) 380-8191

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Satsuma High SchoolSENIOR PROJECT

Parental Consent/ Liability Release Form

To the Parent/Guardian of ______________________________________:

Your child is about to embark upon an exciting educational journey. Successful completion of the Senior Project provides the student with the opportunity to demonstrate advanced proficiency in the attainment of the General Learner Outcomes (GLOs):Self-Directed Learner; Complex Thinker; Effective Communicator; Community Contributor; Quality Producer; and Effective and Ethical User of Technology.

In an effort to ensure successful completion of this three-phase project, we ask that you discuss the project with your child and initial the items below indicating your understanding and approval of such terms.

______ I approve of my child’s selected research paper topic as: ____________________________.

______ I approve of my child’s selected project and understand it will entail work to be done on

his/her own time, and I am aware of the Senior Project timeline.

______I acknowledge that the Community Mentor selected is at least 25 years of age and is not a

relative of my child.

______I understand that all transportation from work beyond the school day is theresponsibility of the student and parent.

______I understand that integrity and honesty will be upheld throughout the Senior Project.

Any suspicion of plagiarism or dishonesty in any aspect of the Senior Project will result

in a referral to the Senior Project Committee and withdrawal or disqualification from the

program.

______I understand that Satsuma High School and the Department of Education and their

agents are not responsible for all potential risks resulting from the Senior Project, and

all claims arising from any financial obligation incurred, and damage, injury, or accident

suffered, while my child participates in the Senior Project.

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______________________________ ____________________________ _____________Parent/Guardian Name (Print) Parent/Guardian Signature Date

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Product Plan

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Describe your proposed product giving as much detail as possible. How does your product relate to

your research topic?

Estimated time required:

What materials are needed?

Estimated costs of materials:

What skills are needed to complete this product?

Project Log Book

The Project Log Book is essential in documenting the time and effort you put into the project as well as a narration for you to reflect on after the project is complete. Your log book will consist of two parts: the journal and the time log and reflections for your community service and job shadowing.

Using the templates provided to you, your Time Log will consist of the following parts:

Date: When you completed the community service/job shadowing hours

Hours: How much time you logged on that visit

Meeting Place: Where you met your mentor for community service/job shadowing

Description: What you did while you were there or questions that you had for your mentor

Mentor Initials/Signature: Your mentor MUST SIGN OFF ON EVERY ENTRY! If he/she does not, that entry is not valid.

**Please note: if any student is found to have falsified any entry or information on the Log Book, that student will automatically receive a

failing grade of a zero.

Journals: Your journals will be completed through your Satsuma High School Google Docs account and Google Classroom. You will have a different journal question each week that must be posted by the end of the week for a grade. At the end of the school year before presentation time, you will copy and paste all of your journal entries into a Word document, format them to your teacher’s specifications, and then print them out and put them in your portfolio. You will receive weekly grades for your journal entries.

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Date Amount of

Time Spent

Meeting Place Description of Activities Mentor

Signature

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Name: __________________________________________ Mentor:__________________________________________

Regular Meeting Time/Place:________________________________________________________________________

Senior Project Mentor Time Log

Ethical Commitment and Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism is a form of cheating, and cheating will not be tolerated.

Plagiarism is defined as the use of another’s words or ideas as one’s own, whether found in printed material or in electronic media.

In order to avoid plagiarism, one should appropriately use sources, such as direct quote use of the author’s words verbatim with quotation marks and correct documentation, paraphrase use of the author’s ideas in one’s own words by changing sentence structure and using correct documentation, summary use of the author’s general ideas and correct documentation.

Academic Honesty is the student’s responsibility. If plagiarism is not discovered in the writing process but appears in the final product, the same penalties will apply. Blatant acts of plagiarism—which includes submitting the work of another, either published or unpublished in full or in part—will receive a zero.

Students’ research will be evaluated and graded throughout the writing process. A paper which contains plagiarism will not be accepted. If a teacher catches the plagiarism early in the writing process, she will instruct the student on how to make the necessary changes. If a final copy of the paper contains a pattern of plagiarism, it will be subject to earning a grade of zero.

I understand that if the final copy of my research paper receives a zero for plagiarism, it must be written correctly in order for me to continue with the Senior

Project. I also understand that when the paper is redone, there will be no change in the grade I receive.

I alone will complete the research necessary to write the research paper component of the project.

I will not use a paper and/or information gathered from another student, past or present.

I will document my paper accurately to avoid plagiarism. I will complete all the work necessary for the completion of the project that evolves

from the research paper. I will not buy or falsify the completion of the project. I will include only work that I have completed in the portfolio. I will not include work of any type that belongs to another student. The portfolio will reflect the work and

effort that I have exerted throughout the completion of the Senior Project.

As an honorable young adult with integrity, I agree to adhere to the above criteria in completing my Senior Project. I understand that if I fail to adhere to these standards and submit work that is not my own creation, I will face the penalty of receiving a zero for that particular component of the Senior Project.

Student Name: __________________________ Student Signature: __________________________

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Parent Name: ___________________________ Parent Signature: ____________________________

Date: _____________________

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The Works Cited

Statement of AssignmentAn integral component of completing scholarly research is to properly

document your sources. In English classrooms, the standard format for this documentation is MLA (Modern Language Association). As you are conducting research for your project, you will need to create a list of information about your sources. This list will eventually become the Works Cited page of your research paper.

RationaleAny English composition class expects the full use of MLA format in

documenting sources, so this is a skill you need to hone now as you begin your own scholarly research. Proper documentation of your research is essential to avoiding plagiarism.

Description of the AssignmentYou will need locate and document a minimum of three sources to potentially

be used in your paper. You should list the sources as you would at the conclusion of your research paper: in MLA format and listed alphabetically. This list should be typed in 12 point Times New Roman. Also, for this particular assignment—since it is not actually appearing at the conclusion of a research paper yet—you will need to include the MLA heading taught in English class.

This assignment will count as a 75 point grade. Each source will count 25 points toward that total. A point will be deducted for each error in the citations. Even the smallest punctuation is essential to having a source documented in correct MLA format.

The following page is a MLA citation reference guide to help you with the formatting of sources. You may also want to consult websites such as the Online Writing Lab from Purdue University or the MLA website for additional help. Of course, you may also check with your English teacher for

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MLA Citation ReferencePRINT SOURCES

Basic Book (one author)

Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication.

Medium of Publication.

Book with no author

Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication.

Book with an editor

Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. Ed. Editor’s First and Last Name. Place of Publication:

Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication.

Essay or Portion from a Collection ( Book)

Lastname, Firstname. “Title of Essay.” Title of Collection. Ed. Editor’s Name(s). Place of

Publication: Publisher, Year. Page range of entry. Medium of Publication.

Article in Well-Known Reference Book

“Title of Entry.” Title of Reference Book. Edition. Year. Medium.

Multi-volume Works

Lastname, Firstname. “Title of Section.” Title of Collection/Book. Translator or Editor’s Name.

Vol. #. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year. Page range of entry. Medium of

Publication.

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Article in Magazine or Newspaper (print) – note that pagination is different

Author(s). “Title of Article.” Title of Periodical. Day Month Year: pages. Medium of

Publication.

ONLINE SOURCESRemember to use n.p. if no publisher name is available and n.d. if no publishing date is

given.Entire Website

Editor, author, or compiler name (if available). Name of Site. Version Number. Name of

institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher), date of resource

creation (if available). Medium of publication. Date of access.

Part of a website- one webpage

Editor, author, or compiler name (if available). “Title of Webpage/Section.” Name of Site.

Version number. Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor or

publisher), date of resource creation (if available). Medium of publication. Date of

access.

Online Magazine/ Newspaper

Editor, author, or compiler name ( if available). “Article Name.” Name of Site. Version Number.

Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher), date of

resource creation (if available). Medium of publication. Date of access.

Online Scholarly Journal Article

Author lastname, firstname. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal. Volume. Issue (Date): pages.

Database Used. Web. Date Accessed.

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Research Notecards

Statement of AssignmentNotecards are exactly what they sound like: cards filled with notes of the

information you have found in your sources. This is a way to deduce the large amount of information found in your sources into a more user-friendly format to help you sift through the information that will actually appear in your final paper. For example, if you have found a book to use as a source; you cannot conceivably use the book in its entirety in a four-page paper. You must go through the book to find the information most useful to your purpose. Notecards will help you do this.

Rationale for the AssignmentResearch is a very tedious and time-consuming process. Given the large

amount of reading you will be doing to help you with your paper, taking notes on that information is the best way to help yourself along the way. In any reading situation for school or work, you need to know how to effectively filter through large amounts of text for what you find to be the most important or relevant information.

Description of the AssignmentYou will need to complete this assignment on index cards. The cards can be

any size (minimum 3x5) or color that you would like. Some students prefer to use larger cards in order to fit more information on them. Some students like to color-code their cards. These are personal preferences based on individual learning styles. Your teacher will be checking 25 of these cards, but you are encouraged to complete many more than this. Each notecard should have the following components:

The last name of the author or title of source (whatever is the first piece of information appearing in the MLA documentation from the Works Cited) in the upper right corner of the notecard.

A substantial amount of notes from the source—This can be a paraphrase, summary, direct quotes, or bulleted pieces of information.

A brief statement explaining how this information is useful to answering your essential research question.

The page number(s) where this information appears in the printed source or the word “Web” in the case of an internet source

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The Annotated Bibliography

Statement of AssignmentIn your Proposal, you have indicated an area of interest, some project goals, and

some plans for achieving those goals. One major component of Senior Project is the research that you do based on your topic. You must do extensive reading and research that is relevant to your Senior Project topic.

Sources of information may include, but are not limited to, books, magazines, web sites, databases, manuals, trade and professional literature, interviews, video and film. Strive for a variety of sources. You must have a minimum of 8 research sources for the final paper. You must have at least 3 AVL sources, 1 book source, and 2 internet sources. The other sources may be chosen at your discretion. Your English teacher will approve of the sources selected. For the annotated bibliography, you must have 3-5 reputable sources.

Note cards will enhance the quality of your sources. You will be provided with a template explaining how to correctly format your note cards.

A note about plagiarism: don’t do it. When doing research, it can be very easy to accidentally plagiarize by not citing where you have found the information you are using to answer your Essential Research Question. The best way to avoid plagiarizing is to document your research and keep it organized.

Rationale As you are researching, you will need an organized way to collect your information.

Note cards and an annotated bibliography will allow you to collect that information and comment on it so you will know what will be useful to your essay.

Your ability to collect information from credible sources to help you answer your essential question will make your Senior Project more meaningful to you.

The annotated bibliography is a frequently encountered form of research writing with which you should be familiar.

Description of the Assignment Should be in MLA format (heading, font, page numbers, etc.) 4-5 credible sources properly documented in MLA format. Each annotation should include:

- 3-5 sentences of summary- put the source into your own words- 3-5 sentences of evaluation- explain how this will be beneficial to your

research and project- 2-3 sentences verifying source credibility-you will need to explain and justify

to your audience that your source is credible. 1” inch margins Double spaced 12 pt. Times New Roman font Entries in alphabetical order See the sample attached bibliography for the proper format. Annotated

bibliographies not in proper format will not be accepted! Creating MLA Format Using Microsoft 2007 and Newer

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(1) First, get on your program for Microsoft Word and click on Home, which is at the top of your screen.(2) Click on Page Layout.(3) The first step for setting up MLA format is to set up your margins. So, click on Margins. Set your margins. In order to do so, you may have to click on Custom Margins. Your top margin should be 0.5,and the other three margins should be set at 1.0. Do not change the numbers for the gutter. Click on OK. You will return to your blank Home page.(4) On the tool bar at the top of your screen, check the Spacing. Make sure a zero (0) is set for before and after; this sets up your paragraph spacing.

Note: Every time you type something in MLA format, you will have to set up these margins and this spacing.

(5) Next, click on Insert at the top of your screen. Click on page numbers. Then, click on top of page (Header). Some boxes will appear. Click on the Plain #3 box. (This is the box that shows the number1 at the right-hand top of the box.)(6) You should now be back on your page, and the number 1 should appear at the right-hand top (½” from the very top of the page.) Set your cursor on the number 1. (a fuzzy box will appear—ignore it) and correctly type your last name and then add one space before the number 1 with your space bar. (7) Click on Home at the top of your screen. Then, highlight your name and the number 1with your cursor. Set your font size at 12 and select Times New Roman as your style. (This should set your font and style for your entire paper.)(8) Now, click on Design. Click on Close Header and Footer.(9) After you set up your margins and header on the computer, but before you begin to type the first page, hit Ctrl and the number 2 at the same time, and your computer will automatically double-space for you.(10) Before you begin typing the text of your paper, make sure your font is still set at 12 and your style is still set at Times New Roman. Fix them if they changed. (11) You must add the identifying information. So, at the left one-inch side and top margins of the first page where your curser should be if you have followed the above directions, type your name and then hit Enter, type your teacher’s name and then hit Enter, type the class name and then hit Enter, and type the date in inverted order and then hit Enter. If you have set your margins correctly and have set up the double-spacing correctly, then your identifying information should be set up correctly. (12) Now, at the top of your window, click on the icon that allows you to center your title, which you will type next. Then, type your title. (Remember, do not place it in quotation marks or underline it or italicize it.) Then, hit Enter. It should be centered and be located two spaces below your identifying information. (13) At the top of your window, click on the icon that allows you to type your text starting at the left of the page.(14) The sentences you type should double-space automatically (if you set up your double-spacing correctly).

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Creating MLA Format Using Google Docs

(1) First, log in to your @satsumaschools email address. (2) When the options of apps appears, choose Docs. You should open a blank document.(3) Next, click on Insert beneath the title of your document. Click on page numbers. Choose

the first option (top of page).(4) You should now be back on your page, and the number 1 should appear at the right-hand

top (½” from the very top of the page.) Set your cursor on the number 1. (a fuzzy box will appear—ignore it) and correctly type your last name and then add one space before the number 1 with your space bar.

(5) Highlight your name and the number 1 with your cursor. Set your font size at 12 and select Times New Roman as your style. (This should set your font and style for your entire paper.)

(6) Click anywhere outside of the header box to close it out.(7) After you set up your header on the computer, but before you begin to type the first page,

you need to make sure your text will be double-spaced. Go to the spacing icon on the toolbar. It should be the sixth from the right with lines and a vertical arrow. Click on the icon and select Double.

(8) Before you begin typing the text of your paper, set your font size at 12 and your style to set Times New Roman.

(9) You must add the identifying information. So, at the left one-inch side and top margins of the first page where your curser should be if you have followed the above directions, type your name and then hit Enter, type your teacher’s name and then hit Enter, type the class name and then hit Enter, and type the date in inverted order and then hit Enter. If you have set your margins correctly and have set up the double-spacing correctly, then your identifying information should be set up correctly.

(10) Now, at the top of your window, click on the icon that allows you to center your title, which you will type next. Then, type your title. (Remember, do not place it in quotation marks or underline it or italicize it.) Then, hit Enter. It should be centered and be located two spaces below your identifying information. (11) At the top of your window, click on the icon that allows you to type your text starting at the left of the page.(12) The sentences you type should double-space automatically (if you set up your double-spacing correctly).

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*Sample Annotated Bibliography*Neil Mabry

Mrs. Shantazio

English 12

11 October 2012

Attainability of College: An Annotated Bibliography

“College Scholarships- Free Scholarship Grants Program.” College Admissions- SAT-University

& College Search Tool. College Board, 2010. Web. 11 Oct. 2012.

With so many different types of scholarships, it is important to understand the process.

Identifying your interests and career plans will help with the scholarship process.

Scholarships can be found in many places varying from local scholarships, various

organizations, small businesses, large corporations, to the institution to which a student

hope to attend. Contacting the local State Department of Education is a great way to look

for additional scholarships. While this article doesn’t have a specific author attached to it,

the College Board is a not-for-profit organization that is designed to provide future

students with information about scholarships. The College Board is a reference tool

designed to help teachers of AP courses as well as students. The President of the

organization has credentials to be an authority on this topic; he has served as governor of

West Virginia, helped rewrite the SAT, and helped develop AP programs in

underprivileged schools.

“Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program.” Ed.gov.US Department of Education, 2009. Web. 11

Oct. 2012.

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Mabry 1

Work study programs offer qualifying students the opportunity to work off part of their

college tuition through employment on campus. The students must qualify for financial

aid as determined by the FAFSA. Campus jobs must pay at least the federal minimum

wage. This website is published by the US Department of Education, which designs,

manages, and regulates all such programs, and is therefore not only reliable, but probably

the most reliable source for this information. The US Department of Education creates

federal financial aid policies for the nation. As a website run by the government ( it’s

a .gov site), it is reliable, even though it is not signed by an individual author.

Weston, Liz Pulliam. “ How much college debt is too much?” MSN Money. 11 January 2008.

Web. 7 October 2012.

Weston’s article cautions students to be prudent and not overextend themselves or their

parents when making plans to pay for college. Instead of borrowing upwards of $ 21, 000

( the national average debt of a graduation college student), Weston suggests grants,

work-study, and widening your choices in schools as viable options to debt. She also

advises college students and their families against tapping into the equity on existing

properties, as the interest rates are traditionally higher on second mortgages than on

educational loans. In “How much college debt is too much?”, Weston advises potential

college students to weigh all options before taking out loans, cautioning students of the

negative impact and effects repayment of loans can have on a student’s future. So often,

loans appear to be the easiest and simplest way to pay for college, but actually can have a

long-lasting, negative impact on the student’s post-college life and finances. Weston has

written multiple books on the subject of finance, including Easy Money: How to Simplify

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Mabry 2

Your Finances and Get What You Want Out of Life , and she is the winner of the 2007

Clarion Award for online journalism. She writes exclusively for MSN Money.

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Mabry 3

Annotated Bibliography Rubric

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Student used a minimum of four sources. __________/10

Student clearly and effectively summarizes main points of the source according to direction. __________/20Student chooses sources that are relevant to his or her topic.

__________/10

Student evaluates whether the source will be helpful in answer his or her research question. __________/20

Student efficiently describes why the sources are reliable.

__________/10

Student has correctly formatted bibliography:

Page number __________/5

Heading __________/5

Spacing __________/5

Margins __________/5

Title __________/5

Hanging Indention __________/5

Bibliographic Material __________/25

Total: __________/125Comments:

Sentence Outline

Statement of AssignmentOnce you have collected the substantial amount of research relevant

to your Senior Project, you will then need to decide how you plan on presenting that information in written form. By this stage of your project you will have compiled a great deal of material, and you will need to find an organized way to incorporate that data into paragraph form infused with your own thoughts and ideas. This is where a detailed sentence outline will become vital. By prewriting, you will be able to ensure that your paper includes all of the necessary information you need to make an intelligent and well thought-out explication of your findings and doing so in an organized fashion.

Rationale of AssignmentSolid organization is key to success in any form of writing. Especially

when writing lengthy documents, it can be very easy to get off-track or leave out important pieces of information or research you had initially intended to include. By creating a detailed sentence outline, the student will be able to have a written road map for their research in order to achieve his/her goal of answering the essential question of the Senior Project. Moreover, once a student has completed a detailed sentence outline, the task of completing the rough draft of the research paper becomes less daunting.

Description of Assignment

Must be typed in MLA format Must include a title (even if it’s a working title) All pieces of information should be written as grammatically and

syntactically correct sentences. Must include a sound thesis statement that guides the outline Must cite at least five sources in correct MLA parenthetical citations Must follow traditional Roman Numeral sequencing taught in class Must contain at least five major sections with each piece including at

least three descending pieces of information Must contain an attached properly formatted Works Cited page

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Outline Rubric

Name: __________________________________________________

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Student has properly edited outline for spelling and grammatical errors

____________/20

Student includes his/her thesis statement

____________/10

Student has given enough information for each topic to thoroughly and correct support the thesis statement

____________/20

Uses complete sentences

____________/10

--Fragments --Run-ons

Student has correctly formatted bibliography:Header _________/5Heading _________/5Spacing _________/5Margins _________/5Proper Outline Format ___________/20

Total __________________/100Comments:

The Research Paper

Statement of AssignmentIn addition to your hands-on project, you must complete a 3-5 page research

paper that answers , explains, and evaluates the Essential Research Question that was laid out in your Proposal. Using your Annotated Bibliography research you will answer your Essential Research Question in an essay. The answer to your questions should become your thesis statement. Since the research essay will be completed before your project, this should be outside information on your topic, NOT a reflection on your project of the work you are completing. Your sources should be the ones you have already read and found in your Annotated Bibliography.

Plagiarized essays, in any form, will not be accepted and will be grounds for a zero. When in doubt, cite! You must submit your paper to TurnItIn.com and you must supply your teacher with a hard copy by the due date in order to receive credit for this assignment.

Rationale for the Assignment Researching your topic from other experts in the field will give you another

perspective on your topic. Your ability to collect information from credible sources to help you answer

your essential research question will make your Senior Project more meaningful to you.

The research essay is a frequently encountered form of writing with which you should be familiar.

Description of the Assignment Essay must fully and completely answer a thesis statement laid out in the

introduction paragraph. MLA format with parenthetical citations and a Works Cited Page Typed, Times New Roman, 12 pt. font 6-8 Concrete details from the research you collected on your Annotated

Bibliography, properly cited.

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*Sample MLA Paper and Works Cited*

Note: Your paper and Works Cited will be much longer!

Firstname Lastname

Instructor’s Name

Course Number

5 May 2023

Center Title, Do Not Bold or Underline

Created by Kirby Rideout of Collin County Community College, this is a template for

formatting a research paper in MLA format. The paper has one-inch margins all around. Each

page has a header of last name and page number. The paper will be double-spaced throughout,

no extra space between sections or paragraphs. The entire paper, including the heading and title,

needs to be in the same type and size of font. This template uses Times New Roman 12pt font.

Because it is easy to read, this font is definitely appropriate for college essays. Make sure that the

essay is left aligned, not fully justified. One space between sentences is standard; however,

double-spacing between sentences is okay. Follow your instructor’s preference in spacing and be

consistent. Hit the enter key only once at the end of each paragraph.

In the MLA format, you document your research in parenthetical citations. This allows

you to “acknowledge your sources by keying brief parenthetical citations in your text to an

alphabetical list of works that appears at the end of the paper” (Gibaldi 142). Notice that in this

brief citation the period goes after the parenthesis. The information in parenthesis should be as

brief as possible. You will use the author’s last name or a shortened title for unsigned works. If

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Last Name 1

you used the key information (author’s last name or the title of an unsigned work) in your text,

do not repeat it in the parenthesis. Gibaldi explains:

The information in your parenthetical references in the text must match the

corresponding information in the entries in your list of works cited. For a typical

works-cited-list entry, which begins with the name of the author (or editor,

translator, or narrator), the parenthetical reference begins with the same name. . . .

If the work is listed by title, use the title, shortened or in full. . . . (238-239)

Notice how the long quote was set off by an extra one-inch margin rather than quotations marks,

and in this case, the period goes before the parenthetical citation. Chapters 5 and 6 of the MLA

Handbook give more information on works cited and parenthetical citation.

After the last paragraph in an MLA style essay, force the document to begin a new page

for the Works Cited page. The Works Cited page will still have the one-inch margins all the way

around and have the heading of last name and page number. This page will also be double-

spaced throughout with no extra space between entries. Items in a Works Cited page will be

alphabetized by the first word of each entry (author’s last name or title of work). Each entry will

use a hanging indent, in which lines after the first indent half an inch. You do not need to include

the URL address in your MLA citation on your works cited page. The sample Works Cited page

that follows has the entry for the MLA Handbook and then templates for some of the most

common types of sources used. For more information, refer to chapters 5 and 6 of the MLA

Handbook.

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Last Name 2

Works Cited

Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 6th ed. New York: MLA, 2003.

Print.

Lastname, Firstname. Title of the Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year. Medium of

Publication.

Lastname, Firstname. “Title of the Article.” Name of the Scholarly Journal. Volume.Issue

(Date): first page-last page. Medium of Publication.

Lastname, Firstname. “Title of the Newspaper Article.” Title of the Newspaper Date, edition:

Section Page number. Medium of Publication

“The Title of the Article.” Title of Magazine Date: page number. Name of the Library Database:

Name of the Service. Name of the library with city, state abbreviation. Date of access.

Medium of Publication.

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Last Name 3

Research Paper Grading Rubric

Content

Introduction: ________/10

-thesis statement/well-developed/introduces topic

Body of Paper:________/40

-content supports thesis-logical organization-proper paragraph structure-topic sentences and transitions-clear knowledge of subject

Conclusion: ________/10-wraps up paper effectively-summarizes main point

Length of Paper: ________/403-5 pages (without Works Cited page)

Mechanics: ________/30-sentence structure, S/V agreement-punctuation, capitalization, spelling

MLA Format-font ________/5-margins ________/5-header

________/5-double-spaced

________/5

-Correctly used parenthetical citations________/25

Sources-Validity of sources ________/10-8 sources used

________/10-All sources used in paper ________/10

Works Cited Page-alphabetical order ________/5-hanging indention ________/5-correct format

________/10

TOTAL POINTS: __________/225

Comments:

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Letter to the Judges

The Assignment

As one of the final steps in the Senior Project process, you will be required to write a letter to your panel of judges. This letter will introduce you to the judges, and it will be the first thing they read when they look at your portfolio. In other words, it will be their first impression of you, so it needs to be good! In the business world, you will often have to write cover letters and business letters, so this assignment is important because it teaches you the basics of formal letter writing. This is a skill that will be very valuable to you in the future.

The Rationale This letter will introduce you to the judges, and give you the opportunity to

make a good first impression. It will allow the judges to get a brief summary of who you are as a learner,

and of how Senior Project has benefitted you. Formal letter writing is an important aspect of the business and academic

world, and you need this skill to thrive in the workplace as well as in academics.

Requirements One page Business letter format ( you may download a business letter template on

Microsoft Office online) 4 short paragraphs Follows the sample given 12 pt. Times New Roman Signed Uses formal language and correct grammar

* Use the sample provided on the following page to help you write and format your letter. *

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Sample Letter to the Judges

(one inch margins all around)

Your street addressYour city, state ZIP

Date (format should spell out name of the month: example April 10, 2005)(4 enters)

Dear Judges: (2 enters)

Paragraph 1 – Thank them for agreeing to be a judge for your senior project. Tell themwhen and where the presentation will take place. Add a sentence showing yourexcitement to be able to present your senior project to them.(2 enters)

Paragraph 2 – Tell a few things about yourself—what you like to do, what you areinvolved in here at school, what your future plans are.(2 enters)

Paragraph 3 – Tell them a bit about your project—what it is and why you chose theproject you did.(2 enters)

Paragraph 4 – Thank them again and that you look forward to them participating in yoursenior project presentation.(2 enters)

Sincerely,

(4 enters. After letter is printed you will sign your name in this space)

Your name

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Sign of Commitment Instructions

Directions for Senior Project Sign of Commitment

After your Senior Project Proposal and Research Paper Proposal are approved, you will create a Sign of Commitment, which will be displayed in school and on the Satsuma High School website. This sign announces to the school community your project topic, research paper focus, fieldwork, and final product.

While creativity is encouraged, you must follow these guidelines: Your sign must be minimum 8 ½” X 11” in size but no large than half a poster

board. Your sign must include:

o Your full nameo Your project topic must be clearly and largely printed on your poster.

We must be able to see and clearly read any words on your poster.o Your research question must appear on your poster.o You must use complete sentences and proper punctuation.o You poster must be colorful, attractive, and neat.o All words must be spelled correctly. You should also use proper

grammar.o You must have a visual connection on your poster. This basically

means that you have decorated your poster so that it connects to your topic. You may draw a picture, create a collage, etc. BE CREATIVE!!!!

o A photo of you (no larger than 2”X2”) It can be your senior photo, a favorite photo of yourself, or your image superimposed onto a graphic or symbol on your sign.

o Students may wish to use Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, or Publisher to create their signs.

** Please have pride in your work. This will be hanging in the school lobby!!**

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Sign of Commitment Rubric

Correct Size: ___________/10

Topic Clearly Listed: ___________/10

Community Service (fieldwork) Clearly Listed: ___________/10

Final Product Clearly Listed: ___________/10

Graphic or picture related to topic: ___________/10

A clear and appropriate picture of yourself: ___________/10

Neat and organized: ___________/10

Legible: ___________/10

Creativity: ___________/10

No Misspellings or Grammar Errors: ___________/10

Total Points: ___________/100

Teacher Comments:

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Senior Project Presentations

The Senior Project culminates in a formal presentation given in front of members of the community. This presentation allows you share all that you have learned throughout your Senior Project experience.

You will give a 5-8 minute presentation for your classmates and Senior Project speaker before you give your speech on Board Night. Your teacher will grade you using the same rubric the community members will be using on Board Night. This should be considered as a dress rehearsal for your community presentation. Use the comments and feedback from your teacher and your fellow students to better prepare for the community presentation.

Additionally, you will make a presentation to a panel of patrons of the district, community members, and/or faculty members. The two presentations will have the same time limits, share the same material, and will likely be quite similar.

Your presentation should focus on: What you did Why you did it What you learned

Your research, your journal, and any pictures or artifacts you have will all come together in your presentation.

Preparing the PresentationYou will have a 10-12 minute time slot which includes the setup, delivery, and

take down of your presentation and visual aids, as well as judge’s questions. The actual speech should be between 5-8 minutes. Try not to go over your allotted time, as it can bring down your score and hold up the rest of the presenters. However, keep in mind that a shorter presentation will not provide your audience enough information to determine the success and value of the project. One that is too long may be cut off before it is finished. Edit thoughtfully and time yourself as you practice. Have equipment and materials at the ready.

When you have finished speaking, be ready to answer questions from the judges about your project and your research. You are required to complete a PowerPoint presentation or a Prezi to accompany your project. You must use visual aids to provide your audience with context and evidence collected during your project. This slide show will also help you to stay organized, focused, and on-topic in your speech. You may also bring in other visual aids or artifacts to use as evidence of research. You will also need to bring in your created product. Products or artifacts may include but are not limited to:

Objects (no weapons) Models Video Flipcharts Project Photo albums Printed handouts Power points

Your presentation is first and foremost an informative speech. All the tips and techniques you learned in speech class should help you here. Classroom presentations will be graded. Content, organization, delivery, and overall effect will be the criteria for grading.

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Scheduling In-Class PresentationsPresentations will be scheduled day-by-day so that they will be

complete before public presentations begin. Your teacher will post a schedule so that you will know exactly what day you must be ready to bring your things to school. For the dress rehearsal, you will need to wear the clothes that you will be wearing on Board Night. Your Senior Project teacher must approve your outfit beforehand.

Gentlemen, wear nice slacks, dress shoes, button down shirts, and ties. If you have a sports coat, this would be an appropriate time to wear it. No cargo pants or T-shirts. Ladies, you may wear dress slacks, skirts, or dresses. Dresses and skirts should come to the knee. Dresses and skirts should not be too tight or figure hugging. Do not put your cleavage on display. Do not wear heels higher than 2 inches. You will be uncomfortable, and it will look unprofessional. Do not wear flashy jewelry; it is a distraction. Be tasteful and classy. Dress as if you are going to a job interview.

Once the dress-rehearsal schedule is drawn, it is very difficult to reschedule you without bumping someone else from their time slot. If you do not come to school on the day of your presentation, and you have not notified your teacher that you will be absent, you will receive a grade of zero on your dress rehearsal. If you must be absent on the day of your rehearsal, you must contact your teacher via phone or email beforehand. You must also provide a VALID written excuse from a parent/guardian, or doctor to be able to make-up your speech.

Scheduling Public PresentationsA master schedule of all presentations will be drawn up well in advance

in order to give you ample time to adjust your schedule. Make sure you are not scheduled to work nor do extracurricular activities on Board Night. Board Night is a major part of your Senior Project grade and experience.

Specific room assignments will take into consideration what presentation media you have requested. On the day of Board Night, you will be required to stay 15-20 minutes after school in order to set up the room that you will present in. This will be for a grade, and if you leave before doing it, you will not present on Board Night. On Board Night, you must arrive at the SHS library no later than 5:30. You will remain in the library until you are called out for your presentation. When you finish your presentation, you may check in with your Senior Project teachers, and then leave.

Final presentations will be judged by the community member panelists. They will not directly grade you, but your teacher will take their critique sheets into account to arrive at a grade. They will evaluate you on how clearly and completely your presentation conveys your project. Appearance and overall effect are also important.

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Possible Learning Stretches

Emotionalo Overcoming fear of speech and introducing myself to professionalso Fear of failure (Can I do this?)o Selling myself and the whole idea of Senior Project to a total strangero The importance of emotional stability throughout the project or the

importance of maintaining a positive attitude even when things go wrong

Intellectualo Ability to write a research paper and choose a project connected to the

topico Computer skillso Internet researching skillso Learning business etiquette including writing a business letter,

interviewing skills, proper dress, phone etiquetteo Ability to take so many segments, parts to form the big picture

Physicalo Lack of transportationo Lack of moneyo Lack of parental supporto No computer

Life Skillso Organizationo Interpersonal communicationo Sacrificeo People disappoint you, even adults

ReflectiveThe importance of investigation and forethought before decision making so that you choose the topic you really, really want or you cannot embrace the project

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Speech Outline Template

Directions: You may use the following as an outline as a guide to help you complete your speech. Fill in the blanks with your speech, and work on perfecting and memorizing your key points.

* Before your speech, don’t forget to shake hands with the judges and introduce yourself*

I. IntroductionA. Attention

Grabber:__________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

B. Good Evening, my name is:__________________________________________________

C. I chose to do my Senior Project on the topic of: _________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

D. I chose this topic because: ___________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

II. Body A. During my research, I discovered four/five outstanding facts.

1. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

B. I chose to do my community service at ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________(Name organization)

1. I chose to do my community service at this organization because:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________(relate community service to your topic and research)

2. During community service, I worked closely with a mentor who helped to guide me through my service experience. My mentor’s name is:

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________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________and he/she ( list position, experience, etc.)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3. ( Discuss community service in depth) During my first visit: ___________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4. Also during community service, I: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________5. As a result of community service, I chose to create the following product: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________6. I chose this product idea because:___________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________7. This product was used to:

_________________________________________________8. (Discuss the product development step-by-step)

a. In order to develop my product I first had to: _____________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

b. Secondly/ Then: ______________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________c. Thirdly/Lastly/ Following that: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________d. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________e. I faced/ experienced a few challenges while creating my product.

For example: (Describe the challenges you faced) ____________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________f. Conclusion:

C. During Senior Project, I experienced two learning stretches. 1. My first learning stretch was intellectual/physical/emotional.(describe your first learning stretch) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2. My second learning stretch was intellectual/physical/emotional.

(describe your second learning stretch)__________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________

D. Completing Senior Project was challenging because: (Describe your challenging component) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

E. However, throughout Senior Project I learned to/that: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________(Describe a life skill you developed)

F. Senior Project also taught me that I can/am: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________(List element of self-discovery)

III. This concludes my speech. Thank you for your time. Are there any questions? (Take this time to answer judges’ questions)

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Visual Presentation Instructions

The AssignmentYour in-class and Board Night presentation must be accompanied by a visual

presentation using presentation software (e.g. PowerPoint, Google Presentation, Prezi, etc.). By accompanying your spoken words with a visual component, you will be better able to keep your audience’s attention as well provide graphic representations of the full scope of your Senior Project experience.

The RationaleBecause of technology’s substantial presence in daily life, it is important that

you become fluent in incorporating common technology into oral presentations. College classes and workplaces will often require this type of accompaniment with speeches and presentations.

InstructionsYour presentation must have nine slides/screens. Your slides must be in order according to these instructions. Use a professional-looking design scheme for your presentation. Do not use bright or distracting colors or templates. Avoid distracting animation and sound effects. Font should be no smaller than 20 point.

Slide One: Attention grabber centered on the slideSlide Two: Your name, topic, and research question centered on the slideSlide Three: Four outstanding facts from your research written in bullet form—These

should be phrases, not complete sentences. You will expand and explain them in

your speech.Slide Four: Collage of pictures related to your topic—Use non-copyrighted

images only.Slide Five: Community service/job shadowing pictures—You must have AT

LEASTfive pictures from your community service. This should be action shots

of you doing something.

Slide Six: Picture of your mentor with his/her name centered aboveSlide Seven: Your two learning stretches, bulleted and labeled as either

physical/emotional/intellectual—These descriptions should not be written in competed sentences—just phrases.

Slide Eight: List your challenging component(s) and your element of self-discovery

(something positive your learned about yourself during Senior Project).Slide Nine: A picture and a description of your final product

Your presentations will be due on Google Classroom prior to in-class presentations.

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Rubric for Visual Presentations

Name:_________________________________________________

- Dark Background (SOLID COLORS)- No sounds or animation unless it is coming from a video that you have

included on your presentation- Simple Backgrounds (NO BUSY IMAGES)- -Center your title on each slide at the top of the page.- Be consistent with font.- Use bullets or Roman Numerals- No italics- No font size smaller than 20 point font

___________/20

Slide 1: Attention Grabber___________/10

Slide 2: Your Name, Your Topic, Your Issue___________/10

Slide 3: Outstanding Facts___________/10

Slide 4: Picture or Collage___________/10

Slide 5: Listing of you Community Service___________/10

Slide 6: Mentor ___________/10Slide 7: Learning Stretches (two)

___________/10Slide 8: Challenging Component/ Element of Self-Discovery

___________/10Slide 9: Description of your product and explanation

___________/10

___________/110

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Reflective Essay

Statement of AssignmentAfter you have completed the research and service elements of your Senior

Project, you will reflect on the process and outcomes of your Senior Project experience. This essay should comment on your thoughts and feelings about how your project progressed, what you learned, and what personal skills you gained during the project.

Using your research and your personal experiences during community service/job shadowing, explain what you learned/gained from this project. Topics could include, but are not limited to:

What went well What didn’t go as planned and how you overcame that obstacle What you learned from your mentor How the knowledge you gained will affect your life How you will use this knowledge in the future

Rationale of Assignment Your ability to look back at your process and critique its effectiveness will

allow you to gain perspective on your project. Reflection allows you to see what you can improve upon for the next learning

venture you undertake. Reflection is a process employers and educators will require (i.e. job

performance reviews!)

Description of the Assignment 2-3 pages in MLA format Double Spaced Times New Roman, 12 pt. font 6-8 Concrete details ( examples from your research, journals, or presentation) Addresses multiple aspects of your project Uses concrete evidence from your project to explain what you learned.

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Reflective Essay RubricThis rubric will be used to assess your performance on the reflective essay. You will be graded in the following categories:

Content Area Description Total PointsThesis -Describes what you

learned/gained from the project.- Extremely clear, challenging and interesting.

_________/15

Introduction -Actively engages the reader in an interesting way.-Clearly introduces the topic with plenty of detail-Includes the thesis statement

__________/15

Body Paragraphs - Includes a clear and focused topic sentence that helps to explain the thesis-Structure is organized and coherent-Paragraphs are in logical order

___________/15

Concrete Details - 6-8 concrete details from your research or experience-Relevant to the thesis-Add to the meaning of the essay

___________/15

Discussion - Author’s ideas are clearly expressed, interesting, and relevant to the thesis

____________/10

Conclusion -Rephrase the information presented-Does not present brand new ideas-Refers back to the main thesis -Reconnects to the hook in the intro

____________/15

Professionalism -Complex sentences-Word Choice is appropriate-No grammatical or spelling errors-Accurate MLA formatting

_____________/15

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Portfolio 30 25 20 15 10 0

Speech Content 30 25 20 15 10 0

Speech Delivery 30 25 20 15 10 0

TOTAL POINTS: __________________/100COMMENTS: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Student’s Name: ________________________________________________ Date: ________________Board: _______________ Time: _______________Title of Research: _____________________________________________________________________Total Score ______________________/ 240

30-Professional/Superior- Information shared demonstrates superior depth. The student went above and beyond what is expected.

25-Excellent- Skill use is above average. Student addressed all elements in a manner that demonstrates that he/she spent considerable time and effort.

20-Average- Skill use and other information shared seems competent but needs improvement. Most elements addressed.

15- Below Average- Skill use and other information attempted, but the student needs significant improvement.

10-Poor Effort- Inadequate display of skill. No planning evident.0- No evidence

1. Thoughtful responses/Care taken in creation2. All selections have been completed3. Correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling

Comments: __________________________________________________________________________

1. Introduction-grabs audience’s attention: states the purpose/topic of research2. Body-points organized logically: Ideas presented, supported well. Depth

beyond general knowledge3. Conclusion- effectively ends entire presentation4. Language-appropriate to topic

Comments: _________________________________________________________________________

1. Eye contact2. Voice, Volume, Rate3. Gesture, Body Language-any movements are used to enhance the

presentation77

Visual Presentation 30 25 20 15 10 0

Learning Stretches/Challenges/Self-Discovery 30 25 20 15 10 0

Dress/Appearance 30 25 20 15 10 0

Product 30 25 20 15 10 0

Judges’ Questions 30 25 20 15 10 0

4. Energy, Enthusiasm, and Personalization

Comments: __________________________________________________________________________

1. Neat and Professional2. Enhances key information3. Used effectively-does not rely on the slides for information

Comments: __________________________________________________________________________

1. Effectively explains learning stretch2. Explains challenges that occurred during Senior Project3. Describes an element of self-discovery

Comments: __________________________________________________________________________

Clothing is professionalFemales: dress, skirt, dress slacks, blouse, dress shoesMales: slacks, shirt, tie, dress shoes

Comments: __________________________________________________________________________

1. Product shows a well-planned symbol of knowledge gained through research/job shadowing.

2. Product can be used by student’s community service organization.Comments: __________________________________________________________________________

1. Competent answers2. Answers show depth and understanding of topic/research/product

Comments: __________________________________________________________________________

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