SENIOR PROJECT GUIDELINES
The Senior Project is an opportunity to investigate something of interest to you. The project, which you will complete during fall semester, consists of three parts: a paper that answers a driving question about a chosen topic, a physical project related to the paper, and an oral presentation.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Senior Project Calendar...... 2
Student Checklist...... 3
Work Log...... 4
Physical Project Selection………………...... 5
Letter of Intent…………………………………………………………………………6-7
Proposal…...... 8
Waiver Form...... 9
Commitment Poster...... 10-11
The Paper...... 12-18
The Physical Project...... 19
The Mentor Letter/Agreement Form...... 20-21
Expert/Mentor Critique Form...... 22-23
Mentor Verification Form...... 24-25
Mentor Letter Instructions……………………………………………………………26-27
The Portfolio...... 28
The Presentation...... 29-33
Rubrics…………...... 34
Safety Nets...... 35
This guide belongs to ______Period ____
SENIOR PROJECT CALENDAR Senior Project Deadlines Period 2
Letter of Intent / 15 points / 1-1½ pages / December 1 7
Proposal Rough Draft / 10 points / 3 pages / January 15
Proposal Final Draft / 50 points / 2 pages / January 22
Mentor Letter / 10 points / January 22
1st Interview
Rough Draft / 15 Points / 2 pages / February 1
1st Interview / 25 points / 2 pages / February 8
2nd Interview
Rough Draft / 15 points / 2 pages / February 20
2nd Interview / 25 points / 2 Pages / February 27
Visitation Rough Draft / 10 Points / 3 Pages / March 15
Visitation Final Draft / 40 points / 3 Pages / March 29
Spring Break J / HAVE / FUN!!! / April 1- April 7
Senior Project Paper Peer Edit / 15 points / 10-12 pages with Work Cited Sheet / April 12
Edit Draft / 15 points / 10-12 pages with Work Cited Sheet / April 23
Self-Edit / Include in portfolio / April 30
Final Paper
(with Portfolio) / 300 / 8-10 pages and
Work Cited Sheet / May 2
Product Log and
Product / 100 / Log 15 hours
Minimum / May 2
Presentation / 200 / 15-20 minutes with fielding questions / May 6 to May 24
STUDENT CHECKLIST:
Work Record
Paper Question: ______
Project: ______
Date
_____ Paper Question Selected
_____ Work Log begun
_____ Letter of Intent completed
_____ Proposal completed
_____ Project Waiver signed by all parties and submitted
_____ Commitment Poster completed
_____ Mentor established. Name ______
_____ Qualifications ______
_____ Phone # ______
_____ Mentor Information Letter signed by all parties and submitted
_____ Project begun
_____ Expert / Mentor Critique Form submitted
_____ Reading requirement completed
_____ First complete draft of paper completed
_____ Final draft of paper completed. Paper grade ______
_____ Project complete. Mentor Verification Form submitted.
_____ Portfolio completed
_____ Presentation completed
_____ Physical Product Complete
Grade Record
Paper: ______/300 pts
Presentation: ______/200 pts
Physical Product Completed: _____/150pts
TWO WORK LOGS:
A Running Record of Your Work
One for Senior Paper=15 hours
One for Physical Product=15 hours—
Part of your Senior Project assignment is to keep a running record of your work. Whenever you spend any time on any part of the project, keep track of your thoughts and activities in a log. It may be helpful to think of this as a journal. Date your entries, since the log may also help in terms of documentation of your project. Begin your log on the day that you receive this assignment. Here are some things to include:
1) Periodic reflections on what you are learning
2) Ideas and notes for your paper
3) Reactions to your reading
4) Reactions to your telephoning and organizing
5) Reactions to meetings with mentors and myself
6) Notes on your interviews, along with signatures and telephone numbers of your interviewees (for confirmation purposes); you could also include the business cards of people you contact
7) Reactions to your interviews
8) Reactions on visits associated with your project
9) Questions for your mentor, teacher, or yourself
10) Money spent
11) Time spent and due dates
12) Other
I will review the log as part of the Senior Project portfolio. The log should cover all time spent working on the rubric and show signs of prolonged activity (i.e. it should not look like you did it all the night before the portfolio was due.)
Example
Paper and Physical Project Selection
Answer in complete sentences.
Paper Question: ______
Physical Project: ______
TIPS:
* Your paper must be presented in the form of a question answerable by research and open to reflection.
* Your project topic must begin with a verb.
QUESTION: How does abuse affect the development of a child?
ACADEMIC SUBJECTS INVOLVED: Sociology, Child Development
Paper Selection
Based on these criteria, choose your paper topic:
Paper Question: ______
TIPS:
* your paper must be presented in the form of a question answerable by research.
LETTER OF INTENT:
Approval of Your Plans
Your Letter of Intent is how you will inform me and your family of your Senior Project plans. This letter first goes home for a signature by your parent or guardian, and then is returned to be approved by myself. This letter is then returned and placed in the Senior Project portfolio.
Your letter of intent should follow standard business letter form and include each of the following:
1) At the top of the letter, a direct statement of the question you want to answer and the academic subject(s) involved.
2) An explanation of what, if anything, you already know or have accomplished in the area you have chosen.
3) The way in which the Senior Project will represent a challenge to you
4) The importance of you investigation and connections between your project and academic experiences you have had in high school (topics involving hobbies or recreational project will be particularly scrutinized for academic tie-in)
5) A statement of the question(s) you will answer in your paper included in the body of your letter.
Sample:
Question: How do lasers benefit society?
Project: Repair Laser Apparatus
Academic Subjects Involved: Physics, mathematics
123 Whitney Court
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
December 3, 2009
English Department
Clayton Valley High School
1101 Alberta Way
Concord, CA 94521
Dear Ms. Allan:
After much consideration, I have chosen as my senior project topic: How does the application of lasers in industry and research benefit society? This topic will involve extensive library research and several interviews with scientists.
The project I have chosen is to study and repair a laser. I have always been interested in science and I became particularly interested in physics this year. I have never done work with lasers before and am intrigued by the prospect of doing so now. Mr. Jones, an assistant engineering professor at Diablo Valley College, agreed to be my mentor after I was given his name by my physics teacher, Mr. Schnizeldim. The project will be to repair the carbon dioxide laser at the DVC campus.
This project will be very challenging to me because I have never worked with lasers to any electronic device of this magnitude before. I will use my knowledge of physics and help from Mr. Jones to complete this project. The mentored project should involve about 50 hours of work and will cost about $50.00.
I hope this meets with your approval.
Sincerely,
Amy Smith
Period 2
I approve the academic relevance of this project. Yes___ No___
Teacher Signature ______
Teacher Comments/Suggestions
Parent Signature ______Print Name ______
Proposal
Approval of Your Plans
In approving Proposals, I will look to see that the paper answers a thoughtful question that is neither too broad nor too narrow and that the physical project will offer the student a clear challenge in light of the student’s background.
The proposal and a project waiver form first go home for a signature by your parent or guardian, then are returned to be approved by myself. This proposal is then returned and placed in the Senior Project portfolio. Be sure to keep a copy of the letter to give to your mentor later.
Proposal Format
(1) At the top of the proposal, a direct statement of the question you want to answer and the academic subject(s) involved
(2) Interest and Motivation (1-2 pages)
Consider the following before you write: Why have you chosen this topic. If it relates to a possible career choice, explain why this career interests you. If it relates to a hobby, explain how you became interested in it. If it focuses on an issue or a trend, explain what you want to know about this topic.
Be thoughtful and analytical. The topic is the foundation of the paper. What you choose to investigate is not as important as your caring about the subject. Your job in the proposal is to convince the reader that you care about the subject you have chosen and that it will be possible for you to obtain the necessary information.
(3) Knowledge and Preconceptions (1-2 pages)
These are two separate categories. Identify what you know to be true about this subject already. What have you learned from such sources as the media, friends, family, courses at school, personal experience, etc.? Then, write what you believe to be true (preconceptions), all your opinions and feelings, even if you have no factual information to back them up. After exhausting your supply of information, respond to the following questions: What questions do I have about my topic? What do I hope to discover during my search?
(3) Resources (1 page)
Consider what resources are available to you. You are required to conduct two interviews and a visitation in the process of your search. Do you know anyone who would be a good source of information? Ask other people for ideas about whom might be good to interview. Think big! Then, use the library and the Internet for secondary sources. Must give titles of books and web sites in your proposal.
(4) An explanation of your physical project and its relationship to your paper
Waiver Form
AUTHORIZATION AND RELEASE
TO PARTICIPATE IN SENIOR PROJECT
I am the parent or legal guardian of ______who
(Student’s Name)
has enrolled in the Senior Project at Clayton Valley High School. I understand that the Senior Project is an English Department requirement which requires ______to travel off the Clayton Valley High School
(Student’s Name)
campus to property and places not owned or operated by the Mount Diablo Unified School District. I also understand that the Senior Project requires ______to schedule and travel to
(Student’s Name)
appointments and to work with individuals and entities who are not employed by and are not agents of the Mount Diablo Unified School District. I further understand that when traveling to and/or attending appointments and/or touring property not owned and/or operated by the Mount Diablo Unified School District, ______
(Student’s Name)
will not be under the immediate and direct supervision of an employee or agent of the Mount Diablo Unified School District or Board.
I have read the material distributed by Clayton Valley High School about the Senior Project. In accordance with my understanding, which is outlined in the paragraph above, I authorize ______to participate in the Senior Project on
(Student’s Name)
______,
(State Nature of Project)
and I release and hold harmless the Mount Diablo Unified School District, along with its employees and agents, from any and all liability for personal injury, including physical, emotional, and pain and suffering injuries, and/or property loss and damage which I and/or ______incurs while he/she participates in or
(Student’s Name)
travels to activities not held on property owned and/or operated by the Mount Diablo Unified School District and which are associated with the Senior Project.
______
Signature of Parent / Guardian Date
______
Signature of Student Date
COMMITMENT POSTER:
For All The World To See
Your commitment poster is your chance to “go public” with your choice for a Senior Project. The poster will allow the class to see what you are up to.
Requirements
Size: Exactly twelve by twelve inches on lightweight poster board. Nothing may protrude from the sides of the paper.
Material: Poster board of any color
Contents: The poster should include
- your name
- the question you will investigate in your paper
- a statement of your project that begins with an active verb that defines your involvement in the project
- a visual representation that symbolizes your project, such as a photo, drawing, or collage.
Letter and Design
If possible, invest in transfer type or letter stencil for a more professional look. You may also generate attractive headings from a computer. Do not limit yourself to one-dimensional designs. Confine decorative types to headlines only. Do not, especially, use them in all capitals! This, for example, is quite difficult to read:
SENIOR PROJECT POSTER
Like most of the other requirements for the Senior Project, make this something you will be proud to have others see!
Examples of Senior Project Commitment Posters
THE PAPER:
A Serious Investigation That Interests You
The first component of the Senior Project is to plan and write a paper that records your attempts to answer your thesis question. Throughout the process of writing the paper, use your teachers as guides and resources. Your investigation of the topic should include the following:
1) One clearly stated question you hope to answer
2) At least two print sources. (Students are advised that over-reliance on undocumented or electronic sources may affect the grade.)
3) Interviews of at least two experts face-to-face on your topic
4) At least one visit to a place related to your topic
The paper resulting from your serious investigation should include several qualities:
1) A style of writing that shows enthusiasm for the subject and that engages the reader by using writing techniques such as narration, description, incorporation of reading and research, conversations with experts, and standard English usage.