The Senior Project

1
The Senior Project
2
The Senior Project

• Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject
• ourselves, or we know where we can find
• information on it. Samuel Johnson, quoted in
  Boswell's Life of JohnsonEnglish author, critic,
  lexicographer (1709 - 1784)
• Observe Everything. Communicate Well.

3
The Project

• The Research Paper
• The Product
• The Presentation
• 4. The Portfolio

4
1.The Research Paper

• Length minimum 8 pages 10 pages
• MLA format
• Topic your choice
• Thesis Driven
• Mode Descriptive, Narrative, Expository,
  Persuasive
• 6 -10 Resources Mandatory ( 1 book, 1
  periodical) Optional (internet, interviews,
  tapes, television, surveys, independent research)

5
1.The Research Paper

• Stages of the Paper Writing Process
• A. Topic Proposal
• B. Provide evidence of extensive research ie.
  Notes cards, notes, any evidence of your
  investigative process.
• C. Thesis Statement
• D. Evidence of Progress
• E. Rough Draft
• F. Final Copy

6
1.The Research Paper

• Timeline for the Paper Writing Process
• a. Topic Proposal (1st wk)
• b. Provide evidence of extensive research i.e.
  Notes cards, notes, any evidence of your
  investigative process. (3rd wk)
• c. Thesis Statement/ Outline (4th wk)
• d. Evidence of Progress (5th wk)
• e. Rough Draft (8th wk)
• f. Final Copy (10th wk)

7
1.The Research Paper

• A. Topic Proposal
• Any subject you wish to write about that is of
  interest to you or that you wish to learn about.
• Once you have your topic provide a direction or
  directions your paper could take.
• Proposal and explanation of project paper is
  approximately one page in length MLA format.
• Counts for a daily grade.

8
1.The Research Paper

• A. Topic Proposal
• In a one page response answer the following
  questions
• What is your topic? What is your comment about
  the topic or in other words what is your
  tenative thesis?
• Who is the audience ? Your teacher? Your
  classmates? Both?
• How and where do you prospose to get your
  information for your project?
• What is your schedule for completion beyond the
  prescribed schedule?

9
1.The Research Paper

• B. Provide evidence of extensive research Notes
  cards
• notes
• interviews, books, articles
• any evidence of your investigative process
• Counts as daily grade
• Evidence must be valid and aid in your essay

10
1.The Research Paper

• C. Thesis Statement
• What is your topic and what is your comment?
• What are you proving?
• Thesis is located at the end of your
  introduction.
• Counts as a daily grade

11
1.The Research Paper

• D. Evidence of Progress
• First four pages of research paper
• Counts as ½ test grade

12
1.The Research Paper

• E. Rough Draft
• Treat as if it were your final polished copy
• It will be graded and returned to you for final
  polishing
• Counts as a full test grade
• Submitted at the 8 week mark
• Plagiarism will result in a zero for two test
  grades as well as school disciplinary action no
  rewrites ?

13
1.The Research Paper

• F. Final Copy
• Final polished submission. All errors and edits
  have been corrected.
• Submit two weeks after return of rough draft
• Counts as one full test grade

14
Next
15
2. The Product

• The Product stems from the research and is in
  some way connected to the thesis. It should
  reflect at least 10 hours worth of work. It can
  be in any format. Some senior project products
  from years past include
• Building an entertainment center, building a
  humidor, creating a a design for home
  architecture, a video on sky diving, a cd of
  original recorded music
• use any technology available to you.

16
2. The Product

• The Product requires maintaining a product
  project log sheet. This log sheet will be
  submitted within The Portfolio.

17
Next
18
3. The Presentation

• 10-15 minutes in length
• Thesis driven
• Includes visual aids
• Oral presentation is memorized or on cue cards
• Oral presentation is rehearsed and the logistics
  of the presentation are planned out and presented
  smoothly and professionally.

19
Next
20
4.The Portfolio.

• The following items are requirements for the
  portfolio which should be typed and professional
  and creative in appearance

21
4.The Portfolio.

• The log of your hours including dates, times,
  description of activity
• Three ½ page journal entries about your
  experience. Include dates. You should note
  obstacles you encounter, challenges meaningful
  revelations, deeper understanding of life and its
  processes.

22
4.The Portfolio.

• Include photographs of your experience
• Include a few examples of notes, and information
  you collected during your research
• Include a clean copy of your research paper
• Include a final one to two page reflection piece