SENIOR PROJECT

1
SENIOR PROJECT

• WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY HOW
• E.E. SMITH HIGH SCHOOL
• GUIDELINES TO A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT

2
Parents Memo

• Senior Project is career-oriented
• Entails seniors writing in-depth research papers,
  developing physical projects, creating
  portfolios, and delivering oral presentations.
• Project is threefold (1) Sharpens students
  knowledge of chosen topic, (2) Foster confidence,
  (3) Discover how to bring life to the printed
  page through a physical project
• Senior Project is mandatory!!!!
• Dont forget to sign the parental consent
  form!!

3
Steps for a successful senior project

• Select a career
• find a mentor
• spend 15 hours with mentor
• compile assigned tasks and necessary
  documentation for portfolio
• write a research paper in the MLA format
• create a physical product/project
• prepare a 8-10 minute oral speech presenting your
  research paper and your product
• present project during oral presentation

4
CHOOSING YOUR PROJECT

• Research Paper Topic
• Career should be students your choice
• Paper can focus on be specific area of the career
• Must be a connection between research paper and
  physical project

• Physical Project
• Oriented around the study of a profession
• Oriented around the creation of some product
• Oriented around a performance skill

5
PROJECT TOPIC APPROVAL PROCESS

• Select a career of interest
• Career must be reputable profession
• mentor cannot be a family member
• Research paper should be linked to physical
  project
• Topic must be approved
• Students must register mentor with English
  teacher
• Must find sufficient information on topic for
  research paper

• Students interested in barbering or cosmetology
  will need to submit a business plan before their
  topic is approved
• Students interested in teaching must submit a
  2-page essay explaining why they want to become a
  teacher and why they think they would make a good
  teacher before topic is approved

6
GUIDELINES

• Research paper
• Must be MLA format, 8-10 pages, 5 sources, 2
  copies should be printed, will be graded by
  English teacher
• Physical Project
• Must be a product made, illustrated, or
  constructed by senior. Also, must be tangible and
  show connection to research paper
• Portfolio
• 2 or 3 inch binder, neat organized, include all
  contents, creative cover sheet

• Oral Presentation
• Poster board announcing name, topic, graphic,
  10-minute time limit, cannot use parents or
  presenting seniors for demonstration, must leave
  immediately
• Teacher Advisors
• Will be assigned to all students, will monitor
  student progress, assist students on a limited
  basis, check portfolio, and make contact with
  mentor

7
CHOOSING YOUR MENTOR

• Must be EXPERT IN HIS OR HER FIELD WITH PROPER
  CREDENTIALS
• Must be ATLEAST 25 YEARS OF AGE
• Must be SOMEONE AVAILABLE TO BE CONTACTED
• Must be SOMEONE OTHER THAN A FAMILY MEMBER
• EACH STUDENT MUST HAVE A MENTOR
• NO FORM OF PLAGIARISM WILL BE TOLERATED
• FALSIFYING ANY INFORMATION WILL RESULT IN FAILING
  THE SENIOR PROJECT AND SEVERE PENAL ACTION

8
MENTOR GUIDELINES

• Function of mentor is to serve as a guide
• Mentors should not do work
• Mentors should be committed to helping student
  overcome difficulties
• Students may NOT mentor other students
• Mentors may not mentor their children but may
  mentor other students

• Mentor should be available to be contacted by
  students teacher advisor
• Mentor should approve topic project
• Mentors should keep in contact with student
• Mentors should write a Letter of Agreement
  co-sign the Mentor Information Sheet
• Its not the mentors job to do the project

9
PRESENTATION ROOM CHECKLIST

• Students should complete a checklist in order to
  help Senior Project Committee prepare rooms for
  individual presentations.

• Students should indicate if they will need the
  following materials/equipment for presentations
• ____ Overhead projector
• ____ Computer
• ____ Chalk Chalkboard
• ____ TV/VCR
• ____ Other

10
Responsibilities For Orals

• Student
• 1. Set up
• 2. Introduce yourself
• 3. Begin presentation
• 4. Answer questions afterwards
• 5. Thank panel members
• Board Members
• 1. Listen to presentations
• 2. Question presenting seniors
• 3. Participate in panel discussion
• 4. Complete evaluation

• Teacher/Host
• 1. Welcome panel members and introduce them to
  each other
• 2. Keep panel and time keepers on task
• 3. Assist panel in anyway necessary
• 4. Collect evaluations place in portfolios
• 5. Separate final tally sheets

11
Portfolio Contents

• The judges will read portfolios during your oral
  presentation. Students should make the best
  impression by having a neatly typed, attractively
  bound notebook (3-ring binder only) that has the
  name of the project and the students name typed
  on the front cover.
• Contents (in this order)
• 1. Letter to the Judges
• 2. Letter of Intent
• 3. Parental Consent Form
• 4. Senior Project Overview

• 5. Research paper
• 6. Mentor Letter of Agreement
• 7. Mentor Log Sheet
• 8. Physical Project Overview
• 9. Project Self-Evaluation Form
• 10. 3 sample journals
• 11. Photographs
• 12. Sample of the project if written (play,
  poetry)
• 13. Additional materials
• 14. Resume Cover Letter
• Note Items marked with an asterisk () are not
  mandatory

12
DUES DATES

• Parental Consent Form
• Integrity Contract
• Letter of Intent
• Letter to the Judges
• Mentor Letter of Agreement
• Mentor Information Sheet
• Research Paper Overview
• Physical Project Overview
• Project Self-Evaluation
• Research Paper/Rough Draft
• Resume/Cover Letter
• Mentor Log Sheet
• Physical Project Log Sheet
• Presentation Room Checklist
• Research Paper/Final
• Final Portfolio
• ORALS

• January 25, 2005
• January 25, 2005
• February 1, 2005
• February 15, 2005
• March 1, 2005
• March 1, 2005
• March 8, 2005
• March 15, 2005
• March 22, 2005
• April 5, 2005
• April 7, 2005
• April 12, 2005
• April 19, 2005
• April 19, 2005
• April 21, 2005
• April 21, 2005
• May 3 4, 2005

13
FINAL ENGLISH GRADE

• Each senior must complete the Senior Project
  prior to graduating from E.E. Smith High School
• Senior Project research paper, physical project,
  and the orals will constitute 30 of the
  students English IV grade
• Senior project is a requirement for graduation