Senior Project Introduction

1. Senior Project Introduction Mr. Brown Mr. Clawson Dr. Moschetta Mrs. Silverman Woodland Hills High School

2. English Teacher vs. Adviser English Teacher’s Role Adviser’s Role Grade Senior Project work for 2-3 students Return graded work to English teachers Conference with advisees (if necessary) You should introduce yourself to your adviser – next few weeks Attend advisees’ presentations (if schedule allows) • Teach Senior Project process in English class • Provide SOME in-class work time • Sign Proposal/Contract • Collect work on deadline days • Keep a record of Senior Project progress & grades • Coordinate presentations in English class

3. Portfolio Requirement • Turn in all work in your Senior Project folder • Try to take care of it so it doesn’t fall apart • There is a specific order that your work will be organized in your folder • Don’t throw anything away! • Lost Senior Project materials must be recreated, reprinted, or replaced • IMPORTANT! Don’t use your Senior Project folder for anything other than Senior Project! • Bring your folder to class on Senior Project work days

4. Topics • Choose a career field of interest • Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center database • Bridges • Research some controversial topics within that career field • Issues and Controversies database • WHSD Homepage, schools, high school, library, Facts on File Databases, Issues and Controversies

5. Topic Selection • Determine a controversial topic for your Senior Project. • A controversy has two sides: opposing and supporting. A topic without two sides will not be accepted. • You will research: • Background on the topic • Arguments in favor of the issue • Arguments opposed to the issue • Determine your stance on the issue and explain it.

6. Topic Selection • Open to page 3 • When you think you have a good topic, check it against these questions.

7. Senior Project Handbook • All information you will need for each step in the Senior Project process. • Table of Contents (p1) • Activities • Explanations of requirements • Rubrics • Paper and Works Cited format • Documenting sources – parenthetical citations • MLA format (p26)

8. Senior Project Process & Deadlines • Proposal – September 19 (5% of project grade) • Draft on pages 10-11 of Senior Project Handbook • Final copy – separate (yellow) • Research and Notes part IBACKGROUND and HISTORY-November 7-(10%) • All parts (except proposal) of Sr. Project should have a cover page. Mr. Brown will provide them.

9. Senior Project Process & Deadlines • MIDTERM GRADE: Your average of the first three steps of senior project will comprise your midterm grade.

10. Senior Project Process & Deadlines • Research and Notes part II –Dec 12 (15%) • Focus upon opposing and supporting arguments. • Six sources (1 source due approx. 2 weeks early for English teachers to check before Advisers grade the rest of the notes) • Three different kinds of sources • At least one firsthand source • Firsthand vs. secondary sources – Proposal (page 10)

11. Senior Project Process & Deadlines • First Draft – February 13 (20%) • Draft of research paper • Final Paper – March 13 (30%) • Presentations – April/May (20%)

12. Senior Project Process & Deadlines • FINAL EXAM: combination of all steps in the Senior Project process.

13. Deadlines • Deadlines are not negotiable • Lose 10% per day late, regardless of absence or excuse • If you are not in school • Turn in work early • Have a responsible friend turn in work TO ME! (not my mailbox) • As a last resort, email work to me before your class period & turn in Senior Project folder the next day

14. Deadlines • Final paper deadline • If not completed on March 13 AND meeting minimum requirements, you are not eligible to participate in the graduation ceremony • Presentation • You must present on the day you are scheduled • You must be on time to class on your presentation date • Conflicts must be resolved before the calendar is finalized

15. Grading/In Class Work Time • Each step is graded on rubric – copies in Senior Project handbook • Allow for 2 weeks for advisers to grade & return to English teacher; English teacher to record grades • When work is returned work, we will discuss the next step and have a few days in class to work • Much of the work will need to be completed out of class • You will have ample time to complete work before the next deadline

16. Plagiarism • Plagiarism is cheating • Plagiarism = Forging a parent’s signature on proposal, not paraphrasing or quoting, not citing. • Plagiarism is three or more words, in a row, that are not attributed to an author or put in quotations and cited. • Plagiarism is very, very serious!

17. Plagiarism penalties • Plagiarize once = 0 for that step, must still complete that step for no credit • Plagiarize twice = fail Senior Project • Plagiarize final paper = fail Senior Project, do not graduate

18. Minimum Requirements • 5-7 page research paper • Minimum 5 full pages! • 6 sources, 3 different kinds, at least one firsthand source • 10 minute minimum presentation • Complete all steps in Senior Project process • Pass final paper & presentation on time. If you do not turn it in on time you will not walk at graduation!!!!!

19. Questions? • Notes: • Room 133 with Mr. McGuire, to learn how to research, on Friday and Monday. • Your handbooks are important, all answers can be found inside. Do not lose!!! • This presentation available on my website. • Come to English lab, get help from a professional!

20. Advice • Do not procrastinate. • Seek help in a timely manner. • Breathe. • Calm Down. • You basically did this project last year in a shorter amount of time (Jr. Research Project) • Ask for help.