Lovinggood Middle School ALP Curriculum Fair Project, Spring, 2018
Curriculum Fair Project
2018
“Making a Positive Difference”
Project Coordinator: Roy Johnson
3825 Luther Ward Road
Powder Springs, GA 30127
678-331-3015
Requirements for the Curriculum Fair Project
The Research Paper will require a seven sources minimum. (Only 3 can be on-line sources. Other sources should be print material or primary sources). These sources will become a part of your working bibliography, and all sources may or may not end up being used in your final paper. However, part of the research process standards is identifying appropriate reference materials. A minimum of 4 sources should be used in the final paper (with at least 2 ofthem being other than on-line sources). The paper should be written in MLA Format and should be between 5to 7pages typed, double spaced in 12 point Times New Roman or Arial font with one inch margins on all sides. Specifics about MLA format can be found at the following web site,
This sounds like a long paper, but we will devote weeks in class to research and students should have ample notes to complete a paper of this length. The research paper is the primary part of the standard for language arts. A Works Cited page will also be required in MLA format. Instruction in how to complete the proper Works Cited page will be given in class.
Your research paper should be a mixture of both your own words as well as include quotes, and paraphrases (parenthetical citations are required for quotes and paraphrases). A paraphrase is equivalent to 4 or more words from the source in your work. Be sure that when you take notes you document your source for use in your citations. The paper should be free of plagiarism (Plagiarism is cheating and results in an automatic zero on the paper. It also prohibits your continuation with the other components of the project). When in doubt, use a citation.
The Product should be related to your research and completed by you. Your parent(s) may assist you, but the principal participant is the student (think 80%/20% ratio student to parent). The product should be something that you are comfortable with sharing with others, as it will be a part of your presentation. You can have something like a performance, a work of art, photography, an experiment, a model construction, an original composition, etc. The product can either be presented live, or hyper linked into your power point presentation, which ever works best to enhance your research topic and presentation style.
The Visual Aide (power point or similar program) will be created in part during class, and will be used as a part of your presentation. The purpose of the power point is to enhance your presentation – you will not “read” the slides to the audience. The power point will be used either in conjunction to sharing your product or before you share your product. The visual aide is not your product.
You will keep a portfolio as you progress through the research process. This portfolio will serve as a type of log book for the process. The specifics of the portfolio are outlined in detail in the pages that follow, but it will include a cover page, title page, table of contents, letter of introduction, survey activities, proposal form, deadline form(s), documented phases of the research process including final draft of research paper, documented phases of product development (including procedural information on final product), self - evaluation form, and teacher/peer commentary.
If an experiment is completed for the product, student should include a log of the experiment, and should get additional handout outlining scientific procedure.
You will also be presenting your research findings in a 5 to 8 minute presentation. The presentation will be scoredusing the rubric included in this handbook. You will present your project once in class where you will receive feedback from teacher and peers. You will be asked to dress in appropriate business attire (as always). You will share your power point and product as a part of your presentation.
Pacing Guide
January – March, 2018
Dates / Events - Check off as completedcheck-off / Student/Teacher
Comments&
Evaluation
1/4/18 / Distribute Curriculum Fair handbook & discuss
1/10/18 / Proposal of Topic due for approval
1/11/18 / Letter of Intent Due
1/11/18 / Signed Parent Consent Form Due
1/12/18 / Working Thesis Due
Working Bibliography Due (minimum 5 sources)
Final Thesis Due
Working Outline Due
Notecards Due (minimum 100 required)*
Final Outline Due (typed in MLA Format)+
Rough Draft Due (typed in MLA Format)
Rough Works Cited Page Due (typed in MLA Format)
Peer Editing Completed – comments returned
Final Draft- inc final Works Cited Pg. Due (typed in MLA Format)
Visual Aide Due (Power Point – Prezi)
Product Due – Presentations Beginthrough February 26, 2018
Portfolio Due
Post Presentation Reflection & Feedback
*While only 100 cards are required – generally most students find that they need more than this. Extra credit points will be awarded for up to 125 cards.
+Final outline should be typed in MLA format. You may choose to complete a sentence outline or a topic outline.
Consequences of Failure to Meet Deadlines
One of the most important skills that the Curriculum Fair Project teaches is time-management. By breaking up the components into required deadlines, students will learn how to take a quarter long project and tackle it in manageable segments. This is a vital skill both for high school, college, and for the workplace. The timeline provided on the previous page should help serve as a reminder of due dates. Additional reminders will be placed in Mr. Johnson’s classroom and on his blog. Students are also encouraged to include these due dates in their agendas.
Students must also learn to meet deadlines. If a deadline is not met, consequences will follow as outlined below. Students must do each of the steps of the research process in the order in which it is assigned. Since each component of the Curriculum Fair project must be completed before the next component is begun, it is vital that students complete assignments on time. Deadlines for due dates have been set. Failure to meet a deadline will result in a penalty of 10 points (or 10%) for each day late up to 3 days. That means that for days one, two and three, 10% a day (up to 30%) will be deducted. After the third late day, the final grade on that component will be a zero. Please note, all material for the component must be submittedeven if the work is more than three days late (grade = 0) in order to continue with the remainder of theCurriculum Fair project. Since this project is going to be done primarily in class, the students, if on task, should have no problem completing each phase on time. A daily grade will be given throughout the process of either 0 (not on task –not working on assignment phase, playing or otherwise wasting time), 10 (partially on task, but required consistent redirection), or 20 (on task, required little redirection required – productive). These daily grades, along with grades for each intermittent step will be recorded to comprise 30% of the grade for quarter three. ______
REMEMBER: Failure to complete one or more components of the Curriculum Fair project will result in a zero on that component and all components that follow until the missing component is turned in to the teacher, regardless of credit. There is no late policy which applies to the final draft, product, visual aide or presentation. These components are due on the due date. ______
I. RESEARCH PAPER – 35% of quarter grade.______
Mr. Johnson must approve both your research paper and your product, which must above all be a worthwhile challenge. The ELA teacher will break the research paper into required components, including a claim/thesis statement, an outline, note-cards, a rough draft, and a final draft. Be sure you are aware of all the deadlines and that you meet them.
II. PRODUCT - 20% of quarter grade. ______
Students whose proposal has been approved may begin working on their product even though their research paper has not been completed. This is to allow students to have as much time as possible to complete the required product. (Remember, students who fail to complete their research paper cannot get credit for the product). Ifstudents need to use resources at school to complete their product, they should make certain to allow enough timeto come in early/stay late to accommodate this need. Arrangements should be made with an ALP teacher for supervision (unless staying in the media center on Thursday afternoon – until 6:00 pm).
Students who do not complete a research paper or who are caught cheating or plagiarizing on any component of their research paper are ineligible to do the remaining components of the Curriculum Fair and will have a zero as 70% of their English grade. ______
If for some reason once you‛ve started your research, you decide that you need to change your product, you should submit the request to the teacher in a timely manner. No more than 10 school days should pass after research is begun before changes are requested. Any changes made after this time may result in the change being denied or a loss of points. In addition to the product, students will produce a visual aide (power point, prezi or some other software program) to help guide them through the presentation.
III. PORTFOLIO of quarter’s work - 10% of quarter grade ______
Students will keep a portfolio of their quarter‛s work, which will ultimately be graded for completeness by Mr. Johnson. Students must have completed their research paper, and Mr.Johnsonmust have received the Self -Evaluation Form in order for the student to be eligible for a portfolio grade. The portfolio must be neat, and all pages must be in sheet protectors and placed in a three-ring binder. Specific guidelines about the portfolio are given later in the handbook.
IV. PRESENTATION - 25% of quarter grade (Projects will be presented in the Language Arts class beginning February 26, 2018).
REMAINDER OF QUARTER GRADE – 30% will come from the research process itself. Grades will be given along the way for each step of the process (thesis, gathering sources, outline, note cards, rough draft, editing process, revision process, etc.). Additionally, students will earn daily grades, as outlined above, each day of the research process.
Students who have successfully completed all three previous components by the deadlines established are eligible to give a presentation on the evening of the Curriculum Fair.
I understand the above information and agree to accept the consequences for failing to comply with the requirements.
Signature of Student: ______Date: ______
I understand the responsibilities of my son/daughter in submitting materials by the deadlines established and in maintaining academic honesty and integrity.
Signature of Parent: ______Date: ______
Name ______Date ______
Curriculum Fair Project Proposal
Broad Research Topic (Big Idea/Question): ______
Specific Research Topic (question asked):
______
______
Brief description of how I plan to investigate this project (will I need to set up an experiment, gather data, etc).
______
______
______
______
______
What type of product do you think you might be able to produce in connection to this topic?
______
______
I have reviewed the checklist requirements and deadlines for this project and will use my time wisely. I understand that all parts of this assignment are to be turned in on time as indicated by the timeline provided. I further understand that meeting deadlines is crucial to success.
Student Signature ______
Parent Signature ______
Approved______Date______
Not Approved______Why______
Resubmit with these changes: ______or See Me.
This form should be placed in your portfolio before your Letter of Intent, as documentation of approval of your research topic and product.
Parent Consentfor Selected Curriculum Fair Project
As the parent or guardian of ______, who is an 8thgrade Language Arts student at Lovinggood Middle School, I am aware that the Curriculum Fair Project,completed as part of my son/daughter's Language Arts class, will consist of the extent of lessons covered duringthe third nine week grading period.
For the research paper, my son/daughter has decided upon the following topic:
______
______
For the product related to this research, my son/daughter is planning to do the following:
______
______
______
I fully understand that the selection of the product component is a decision made by my child with my full support and approval. All consequences of the product choice, production, or experience--unless otherwise stated--rest solely with me and my son/daughter. ______has my permission to complete this product. We estimate the cost of the product will be ______, and I am able to assist with the cost for this product.
Finally, both I and my son/daughter understand that plagiarism is using another author's words or ideas without giving credit. I am aware that if my son/daughter plagiarizes ANY part of the research paper,he/she will receive a zero on the entire paper and will not be allowed to continue with the remaining partsof the Curriculum Fair Project. This will result in a zero for 70% of his/her language arts grade.
Additionally, I am aware that my student will need approximately 75 3” X 5” index cards as part of the research process for organization.
Parent/Guardian signature ______Date ______
Home telephone number: ______Work telephone number: ______
Email Address: ______(please print clearly)
Student signature ______Date ______
Topic Selection Guidelines
The most important step in preparing a research paper is choosing a good topic. Select a topic that is interesting to you, but that also fits our “Making a Positive Difference” theme.
1. Avoid topics that are limited. You want to make sure that there is enough information out there to write a meaningful paper.
Example: How many states are in the United States?
A student cannot write a paper on a topic that can be explained in a few words or a sentence.
Better topic: What valuable resources are found in the Southern states?
2. Avoid topics that are too broad. Conversely, you don‛t have time to write a complete book or anthology of books on your chosen topic, so you need to narrow it down to a manageable size.
Example: What happened during the Vietnam War?
Topics that are too big make it impossible to condense all the information to cover the topic adequately.
Better topic: How did America become involved in the Vietnam War?
3. Some topics have no available information. Do a preliminary internet search, and if you have trouble finding information, then this might not be a good topic in which to devote your time.
Example: Why did Henry Hudson get into trouble with the crew of his ship?
We often do not know exactly why people did what they did in the past.
4. Avoid topics that are confusing because we cannot tell what information is requested. The wording of your topic should be specific and avoid cliché or broad generalizations.
Example: What do people of Japan like?
We know that the people of Japan may differ in their likes and dislikes.
Better topic: What are the favorite sports of the people of Japan?
5. Avoid topics on which people throughout the world cannot agree. You are not preparing for a debate, so don‛t pick a topic on which people will want to immediately take sides. If you choose a controversial topic, be sure to state facts with regards to your topic. Do not share your opinions or ask opinions of your audience.
Example: What is the most powerful country in the world?
Your topic should be supported with facts. You should use these facts to form your own opinions.
Better topic: Why is Japan considered the strongest economic power in the world?
Consider topics for which you could conduct a personal interview or visit an expert as a primary source reference.
Be sure if you do so that you prepare for the interview and that you take good notes and get citation information.
Remember that you must also create a product of some type that relates to your research. This may help to guide you as you formulate your broad topic and begin to narrow your focus to a specific question or questions. Your product should not require a large financial commitment on your part. You should not need to invest a great deal of money into the completion of the product, but neither should the product be something that is thrown together inhomeroom the day it‛s due so take pride in the product that you create, make it your own – something that you are proud to share with others. If you choose to do a performance or visit somewhere, you can use video footage as your product. Be sure to have approval for your product before you begin work on it. You do not have to have completed your research before you begin work on the product.
Topic Ideas for Brainstorming
Following are some ideas of content related topics that you may wish to study. You do not have to pick a topic on this list, however, your topic must come from a content related subject, science, social science, or math.