AHS Senior Project

1. AHS Senior Project Class of 2015

2. What is it? • The Senior Project is a graduation requirement that all students in Appoquinimink School District must complete.

3. The Senior Project • It is a final learning experience, to provide one last opportunity to grow and provide a final “learning stretch” before graduating.

4. 3 Components • Product • Presentation • Portfolio

5. Product • You have a choice of what type of product you are going to complete: • Service learning • Creative product • Research paper

6. What do I have to do? • By the time you are done your senior project, you will have completed: • A parent letter • A Topic Approval form • An Introduction • A background research paper • A results and reflection paper • A resume • An experience log • A product • A presentation • This written • component • goes in the • portfolio

7. Topic Approval form • The topic approval form lets your reader know what you are planning to research and hope to do for a product. • Topic approval form and parent notification letters are due during the next advisory.

8. Intro and Background Research • In October you will turn in your ½ page introduction and 4-5 page background research paper on your topic. • Your report should be 4-5 pages with 1 inch margins and in 12 pt font. • You should have 5 quality sources cited in your background research, listed using APA format on a works cited page. • A rough draft will be due in October with the final draft due in December. • Exact Dates will be posted on the website under the Senior Project tab.

9. Written component • Your written component is several written pieces that are due at different times and then added to your portfolio. • Always turn in 2 copies. One will be reviewed, stamped and returned to you. The other will go in your folder . • When you receive the stamped copy back, place it straight in your portfolio so it does not get lost.

10. The written component several parts: • Introduction (1/2 to 1 page) • Background research (4-5 pages) • Works cited (1 page) • Reflection and Results(3-5 pages) • Resume • Experience Log/ Documentation/Photos

11. Product • You have a choice of what type of product you are going to complete: • Service learning • Creative product • Research paper

12. Service Learning • Complete 50 volunteer service hours with an approved organization. • You will need to have your hours completed before your scheduled presentation date. • You will need someone at the organization to be willing to sign off on your hours on a log sheet or give you a certificate of completion for your hours. • For example, you might do volunteer hours at the Gibby Center in Middletown.

13. Some Local Opportunities: DID YOU KNOW?

14. Need more help? • Volunteerdelaware.org allows you to search with filters including your availability, distance and interests!

15. Creative product • You can create a product related to your topic • For example: if you did a green energy topic, you might create a biodegradable cooler • OR, if you choose to study a type of cancer as your topic, you might be the captain of a Relay for Life team • Science Fair Projects are different from class projects. You may create a project that you can then also use in the district Science Fair.

16. Research paper • 9-12 page formal research paper about your topic; this will be separate from or in addition to the research in your written component • For example, the background research could be about fuel types. Then for your research paper you pick a thesis of how bio fuel is more economically and ecologically sound and will benefit the entire world. • 9 quality sources, cited in the paper and on works cited page in APA format

17. Ask Questions • Start asking questions right away. • Use the summer to complete your volunteer hours and background research. • It will be more stressful if you wait until school starts. • Each piece of the Senior Project is due at different times to prevent you from waiting until the last minute and being overwhelmed.

18. Ask Questions • Use the summer wisely and get as much done as you can. Ask questions along the way!

19. Presentation • In March, you will present your senior project to a panel of faculty members. • Your presentation will include: • An introduction including your 4-year journey through high school • Information about your topic • Information about your product, how it was made and how it relates to your topic

20. Portfolio • The portfolio will contain all of the documentation you have collected for your project: • Table of contents • Topic approval form and Parent letter • Introduction • Background research (rough and final drafts) • Reflection and Results • Resume • Documentation of service learning hours or product completion, photos, experience log

21. Senior Project Grades • In eschool/HAC you will receive a grade for your senior project. • This will help you and your parents know that we have received your work and have it marked in our records. • In order to be eligible for the WOW scholarship award, all components must be turned in by the due dates. • Check the www.appohigh.org website to be sure of the dates at the beginning of the school year – under the senior project tab.

22. Experience Log - Service or Creative • If your product is service or event oriented, as you work on your project, update your experience log. • Include photos, notes and signatures from interviews, service hours as appropriate, or to document the progress of your creative product.

23. Experience Log - Service • Not all products need an experience log, but you do need to document your experience. Some service organiztions will print you an official volunteer log. Some don’t an you need to document your activities with pictures and descriptions.

24. Experience Log - Creative • Some creative products like an event are easiest to prove and show completion for if you document the steps. • When raising funds for an event for example, use an experience log to document your steps and what you did to complete your project.

25. You can make your own or download a copy from the senior project website to fill in.

26. There is an example log on the website, with examples of entries.

28. Down-load Forms Each step has info

29. Who will see it? • Everything you turn in will be turned in to your advisor – 2 copies always. • A reader will review your written component. • You will be presenting your project to a panel of faculty members.

30. Who will see it? • Senior Project Coordinators approve and review your topic. • If you do well, you may be presenting to a panel of scholarship judges.

31. What it is – again… • It is a final learning experience, to provide one last opportunity to grow and provide a final “learning stretch” before graduating.

32. What it is – again… • If you choose something worth while and meaningful to you it can be an amazing experience that you will remember for a lifetime.

33. This year Seniors… • Raised a total of $42, 805 to donate to non-profit organizations.

34. This year Seniors… • Wrote a total of 783 pages worth of research to address a thesis.

35. This year Seniors… • Collected 19 bags of shoes, 987 toys, 300 lbs of food,…

36. This year Seniors… • 40 pairs of soccer cleats, 150 dresses, 60 pairs of glasses, 448 pairs of shoes,…

37. This year Seniors… • and over 100 items of medical supplies

38. This year Seniors… • Created several science projects worthy of high recognition at the District Science Fair.

39. This year Seniors… • Volunteered at local non-profit organizations for a total of 3,237 hours.

40. What is the first step?? • Selecting a topic and a one of the 3 product types

41. Think about topics you want to research. • Think about the 3 product types you can choose from. • Ask questions so you pick something that will be interesting to you, that you can complete, and that will be worth your time.

42. Learning Stretch - Impact • Your project should be something you can learn from. • Your project should be something you can be proud of. • Your project should be something that impacts you and/or your community.

43. After my topic is approved • Start or continue working on… • your creative project. • your community service hours. • your specific research paper. (not the same as the background research)

44. Topic Approval • After you submit 2 copies of both your topic approval form and your parent notification letter, they will be reviewed, stamped, and returned.

45. Topic Approval • If you are approved, begin working on your project this summer. • If you are not approved, ask questions and meet with a senior project coordinator to see what you need to do ASAP.

46. Conditional Approval • If you would like to create/host an event or conduct a survey, CONDITIONAL approval can be given if the topic and general idea is appropriate.

47. Conditional Approval • We will have a deadline set for you to bring us the Building Use/Site Confirmation Verification. If this is turned in before the deadline you are officially approved.

48. Conditional Approval • If you are not able to secure a confirmation for the site then you will need to select a new product for your topic. • See the website for directions for this or contact a coordinator.

49. Important Dates • Topic Approval From Due: • May 28th, 2014 • Parent Notification Letter Due: • May 28th, 2014 This is the next advisory.