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Filer High School Senior Project
2011-2012
Student/Parent/Teacher Manual
Informational Booklet–Forms, Handouts, Etc.
*Can be found online at www.filer.k12.id.us under FHS
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Table of Contents
Parent/Guardian Letter and Info ..........................................3
Breakdown of Senior Project Components ..........................6
Due Dates .............................................................................9
Letter of Intent ...................................................................11
Mentor Evaluation and Information Forms .......................14
Poster of Commitment .......................................................23
Project Journal. ..................................................................24
Interview Forms .................................................................28
Paper Requirements ...........................................................30
Self Evaluation ...................................................................32
Portfolio and Presentation ..................................................35
Scoring Rubrics ..................................................................39
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Filer High School 3915 NORTH WILDCAT WAY
FILER, IDAHO 83328 208-326-5944
September 2011
Dear Parents/Guardians of Class of 2012:
As your student may have indicated to you, seniors are required to complete a Senior Project. The Project has
three components: a project (product), a research paper, and a presentation/portfolio. The Project will call upon
your son/daughter to use the skills he/she has acquired and practiced throughout twelve years of formal
education.
The first component of this Project is the actual ―hands-on‖ experience or product. The student will need a
mentor who will provide some expertise on the project and verify that the student has done the work. The
project is to be worked on and completed outside the regular classroom and school hours during the first
semester. For the project component of Senior Project, my son/daughter has decided to do the following:
I understand that at least 15 hours must be logged during the fall semester. Any project where my student
collects money or items, my student must provide a paper trail of items or money received and where said items
or money went. In order to complete the activity described below, my student will need access to the following
resources and assistance:
The second component of this Project is the research paper. The paper will require the student to use specific
skills such as research, organization, and time management to produce a fairly lengthy document which has
been typed or word processed. Some class time in senior English during the second semester will be devoted to
completion of this component.
The last component is an oral presentation given by the student. During this presentation, the student will
explain the learning that occurred in completing the research and project. In addition to the presentation,
students will compile a portfolio that documents the entire process—research and project.
One of the objectives of the Senior Project is to teach students to prioritize their time in order to meet deadlines.
Due dates for the components are given many weeks in advance, and students are expected to meet them. Not
being in school on the day of a deadline does not excuse a student from the responsibility of turning the
item in on the required date. The student is expected to arrange to have the item delivered to school
either by a friend or a parent, or electronically.
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A successful Senior Project involves student initiative and self-discipline as well as parent and teacher support.
We hope you will become involved with your son/daughter in the Project. If we all work together, this will be
one of the most rewarding experiences the students will have in high school. If you have any questions, please
contact the Senior Project Coordinator or your student’s Paw Track advisor at 326-5944.
As a parent/guardian of a student at Filer High School, I am aware that my son/daughter must pass all three
phases of the endeavor: Project, Research Paper, and Presentation/Portfolio, in order to graduate.
I fully understand that the Senior Project selection decision is made independently of the staff and
administration of the high school but is subject to school approval. It is assumed that costs of related activities
will be minimal; however, the decision concerning expenditures is up to the student and his/her parent/guardian.
I, therefore, assume all responsibility for costs which might be inherent in the Project. It is assumed that the
Project will meet two of three established criteria and will not involve unusual risk. If the Senior Project
Coordinators feel that there is unwarranted risk, parents will be notified before approval is given and may be
asked to assume liability.
I understand that if my student does not satisfactorily complete any portion of the Senior Project (Project, Paper,
Presentation, Portfolio), he/she will not participate in graduation ceremonies until completion. If students
cannot make these deadlines due to extenuating circumstances, he/she may appeal the deadlines to the Senior
Project Coordinator prior to the due dates. The diploma will be held until successful completion of the Senior
Project.
I have read the Senior Project manual and understand the requirements that our son/daughter must meet in order
to receive a diploma from Filer High School.
Finally, both my daughter/son and I understand that falsifying or plagiarizing any aspect of the Research Paper
or Project will result in failure of the Senior Research Project.
Parent/Guardian Signature___________________________________________
Parent’s e-mail address or phone number______________________________________________
Student Signature_____________________________________
Student’s e-mail address ____________________________________________
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Senior Project
Objective: Seniors will be able to demonstrate ability to read, research, write, listen, speak, problem solve,
analyze and apply knowledge, and use skills of time management and organization.
Major Components:
Physical Project
Research Paper (MLA Style)
Portfolio
Presentation
Other Requirements (these will go in portfolio):
Letters of Intent
Project Journal
Self-Evaluation
Resume
Mentor Evaluation Forms
Letters of Recommendation (2 minimum)
* One may be from a FHS faculty member/one must be from an outside source that is not a
relative.
Interview Forms
Project visuals taken throughout your project to document work
General Project Areas:
Careers
Environmental Sciences
Academic Studies
Biographical Studies
Products
Cultural Issues: Religion, Philosophy, Politics
Business and Finance
Community Service
Local, State, National, or World Problems
Technical Arts
Performing Arts
Fine Arts
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The Three Main Components of the Senior Project—An Overview
The Project
~~The project must address two out of three components.~~
1. ACADEMIC RESEARCH – The project involves formal guidance from a professional in the student’s
field of interest and attempts to answer a scientific question.
2. CAREER EXPLORATION -- The project involves potential future employment.
3. COMMUNITY SERVICE -- The project provides a verifiable service to the community.
~~Projects being done in a class will not be counted as senior projects without prior approval.
~~No joint projects of any kind will be permitted without committee approval.
The Paper
A research paper that supports a specific thesis — MLA style, 8-10 pages in length, 6-10 sources for
your research. Works Cited needs to be included, and an electronic copy of your paper will be required.
The Portfolio/Presentation
A portfolio will be compiled that includes all paperwork completed along the way.
A formal 7-10 minute presentation will be given to a board of judges, teachers, and members of the
junior class—Senior Project Boards.
Use of School Facilities
IF YOUR PROJECT REQUIRED FUNDRAISING OR IN ANY WAY INVOLVES THE HIGH
SCHOOL OR ANY OTHER BUILDING IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT (either using school facilities
or equipment or affiliated with a school group), YOU MUST FILL OUT A FACILITIES USE FORM
AND HAVE IT APPROVED BY MRS. GARTNER. This form is available at the high school office. It
is your responsibility to get the form signed by Mrs. Gartner, and it must be included with your letter of
intent in order for your topic to be approved. Any student planning to use school facilities or to sell food
at school must ALSO see Mrs. Gartner for the appropriate district forms. It is the student’s responsibility
to submit and follow up on these forms, which can take as long as a few weeks to process. Application
for facilities is not a guarantee of availability—students must check the progress of their requests.
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Filer High School Senior Project Due Dates Due Beginning of Paw Tracks or 50% off
Project Letter of Intent September 15, 2011
Portfolio Binder/Sheet Protectors September 15, 2011
Parent/Student Form September 22, 2011
Mentor Forms October 13, 2011
Commitment Poster October 13, 2011
Project Journal Checks Midpoint Check (10 hours) November 17, 2011
Final Check (15+ hours and project done) January 12, 2012
Letters
First letter of recommendation October 20, 2011
Mentor appreciation letter (2 copies) January 19, 2012
Second letter of recommendation February 9, 2012
Research Paper Letter of Intent January 26, 2012
Rough Draft #1 and electronic copy to English teacher February 23, 2012
Rough Draft #2 (& Draft #1) due to Paw Tracks Advisor March 1, 2012
Final Paper due March 16, 2012
Interview March 8, 2012
Portfolio Due to advisor for first check (including rough drafts) April 12, 2012
Fixed and returned to Paw Tracks Advisors April 26, 2012
Faculty grading of portfolios May 4-10, 2012
Final portfolio due May 18, 2012
Senior Project Boards May 23, 2012
*All late assignments will only receive half credit. Any extensions on the above dates must be turned in to
Ms. Gihring one week before the due date. Extensions are only for 10-hr and 15-hr checks. No extension will
be permitted for a due date afterwards. Even if you get an extension, you are still responsible for turning in
everything except for the final verification on time.
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Project Letter of Intent Example
Date
QS
Your Advisor
Filer High School
3915 N. Wildcat Way
Filer, ID 83328
Dear Mr./Mrs. Advisor’s Last Name: (Use a colon after the salutation)
The project that I have chosen for my Senior Project is a Red Cross Blood Drive. The reason
why I chose this project is because I think that donating blood can be a wonderful way to become
actively involved in contributing to the lives of others. For every pint of blood donated, three
lives can be saved. When I was young, I wanted to become a nurse and now, I have the
opportunity to organize a Red Cross Blood Drive and actively participate in saving lives in my
own way.
I will be working with (Mentor’s Name/Organization of Affiliation). They can be reached at
(Phone Number of Mentor). (Mentor’s Name) will be volunteering their time and expertise
to assist me in the development of my Senior Project. I will be spending a minimum of
fifteen hours on my project, and my mentor will be signing off on my Project Journal
throughout my Senior Project experience.
I realize that I cannot be related to my mentor and that my mentor is considered an expert
in his/her field. I understand that it is my responsibility to act as a professional when
working with a professional. Due dates and mentor reports are my responsibility, and I
will clearly communicate these details to my mentor.
Sincerely, (QS after Sincerely for your signature)
(Your signature here)
Your Typed Name
Address
City, ID ZipCode
* The parts in bold are written verbatim; however, do not keep them in bold in your letter.
Please do not type anything in red on your actual draft.
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Research Paper Letter of Intent Format
Date
QS
Mrs. Kohntopp/Mr. Hawker (Whichever you have for English)
Filer High School
3915 N. Wildcat Way
Filer, ID 83328
Dear Mrs. Kohntopp/Mr. Hawker: (Use a colon after the salutation)
The topic that I have chosen for my research paper is community parks. The reason why I
chose this topic is because I think parks are a wonderful resource for every community, and I
am interested in making sure they are preserved. When I was young, we lived next to a park. My
friends and I would spend hours there playing games, whether it was unofficial play or city
league baseball. My research question is what is the relationship between parks and community
recreation, activities and involvement? Furthermore, what kind of activities take place in
community parks, and who uses them and why?
The outline of the paper will consist of the following: definition of community parks, historical
development, funding, who uses them and why, rules, regulations, maintenance, role in healthy
communities, and future outlook.
One paragraph explaining your understanding of plagiarism and its repercussions.
Sincerely, (QS after Sincerely for your signature)
(Your signature here)
Your typed name
Address
City, ID ZipCode
* The parts in bold are written verbatim; however, do not keep them in bold in your letter.
Please do not type anything in red on your actual draft.
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THE MENTOR
Mentors are the experts in the community who have offered or are willing to help you with your Project and
Paper. Use them. Much of the value of the Senior Project comes via contacts with these experts.
You need to consider that the mentor often has a busy schedule, and while the mentor wants to be helpful and
accommodate your needs, it is difficult to do so when contacts are left to the last minute. It is best if you keep
in contact with your mentor and let her/him know relatively often how you are doing. Please remember these
are community folks, and we would like them to offer again to help.
We suggest that you consider some phone manners when you make the initial and later contacts with your
mentor. These may seem obvious, but hmm. . . So we suggest the following:
Always begin your phone conversations telling the Mentor who you are. For example:
―Hello Mrs. Jones (Mentor name), this is _____________, the person whose Senior Project you
have agreed to mentor.‖ Mentors are busy people who have lots of contacts—they may not
remember you, at least at first. It is probably important that your Mentor have your name,
address, and phone number.
Then, it is important to determine when during the day or week your Mentor finds it best to talk
with you. Try to make contact only at that time.
Try to remember to always thank your Mentor for his/her time after each contact or conversation.
Then too, early on, please be sure you go over the expectations you and we have for the Mentors.
It is important to keep in touch with your mentor through the year because you will need to get signatures and
approvals from your mentor. If you have not actively worked with your mentor, the mentor may indicate that in
his end of project letter and that, in turn, will affect your grade.
Please understand you and your mentor should work together on all aspects of your Senior Project: Paper,
Project, and Presentation. The mentor is the person who should know exactly what you are doing. And
remember, mentors take vacations and otherwise travel. Be sure your mentor knows when you need signatures,
and be sure you know when your mentor will be away. As a rule of thumb, you will see your mentor for
signatures three times; you should plan to meet an additional five times (at least). Inability to contact your
mentor will not excuse any due date. Choose your mentor with care and make sure he or she is available to you.
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Some more suggestions: when you make mentor contact, please use good phone manners. Treat these folks
like the specialists they are. Additionally, be considerate of your mentor; try not to be late to or miss mentor
appointments. And at the end of your work with your mentor, please send a thank you note to your mentor.
The general idea here is to be as kind and considerate to your mentor as possible; we, and we suspect you,
appreciate his/her time and willingness to participate.
A mentor for the Senior Project should be chosen with great care. The choice should be directly influenced by
the selection criteria for the project. An ideal mentor, for example, would be an instructor in the academic area
of choice, a coordinator for community service, or a business supervisor for a career apprenticeship. Help in
locating a mentor will be given if requested. The mentor provides two essential services for the student.
1. guides the student through the project phase
2. signs the mentor consent form, midpoint check, and final verification form
THE MENTOR is a person who has expertise in your chosen field of interest and will serve as a resource and
guide. Your mentor will also be verifying your completion of the required 15 hours. As part of the learning
stretch, a student must use someone other than a family member for this project. The mentor must be at least 21
years old and cannot work for Filer High School. On the mentor form you will include a description of your
activity, a description of your mentor's qualifications, and a description of how he/she will be helping you.
Mentors can only mentor one student per year unless approval is granted by the Senior Project Committee. Any
student or mentor found knowingly violating any of the above mentor requirements will cause the student to
have to redo his or her senior project.
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Filer High School 3915 NORTH WILDCAT WAY
FILER, IDAHO 83328 208-326-5944
September 2011
Dear Senior Project Mentor:
Thank you for volunteering your time and expertise for one of the seniors in the class of 2012. Your efforts will
allow this student to demonstrate all the skills required for graduation in this culminating project. Each student
will plan and execute a project and make a presentation about the whole process of completing the senior
project to a panel of judges.
The students have chosen projects that they are interested in and understand that it is their responsibility to
perform the work and create the results. You are in no way obligated to do required work for them or
provide materials for them. You may donate materials if you choose to however. We ask you to check on
their progress periodically during the project (by filling out evaluation forms and signing the student’s project
journal) to encourage the student and to ensure that they complete it on time. Enclosed in this packet you will
find forms for you to complete throughout the project phase and their associated due dates. It is the
responsibility of the student to get these forms from you and turn them in on the due dates. Please help
complete the information sheet attached to this letter for our records.
Liability for injury and/or death during this project has been assumed by the student’s parents/guardian, as they
have approved the student’s choice of project.
You are an essential part of this effort and we look forward to meeting with you and sharing ideas and
comments about Senior Projects. Thank you for your interest in our students. If you have any questions you can
contact any of the senior advisors at Filer High School (326-5944).
Sincerely,
Senior Project Committee
Filer High School
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MENTOR FORM
Student: __________________________________ Student Phone # ___________________________
Mentor Name: _____________________________ Title/Job Description ________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________________________
Work Phone #: ___________________________ Alternate Phone #: __________________________
Mentor Email: _______________________________________________________________
Student Activity Description: (to be completed by student)
General Description of Mentor’s Area of Expertise: (to be completed by student)
General Description of How Mentor is Going to Assist Student: (to be completed by student)
By signing below you are certifying that you are willing to help this student and that you are in no way related
to this student either by family or marital ties.
Mentor Signature: ___________________________________________ Date
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Filer High School
Senior Project Midpoint 10-hr check Mentor Report
(To be shown to Advisory teacher by November 17, 2011)
Student Name_____________________________________ Phone Number
Mentor__________________________________________ Phone Number
Thank you very much for the time and effort you are contributing to our student and his/her Senior Project. We
very much appreciate your time and energy. Please fill out all sections below.
Have you seen the student’s Project Log Yes_____ No_____
Please respond to the following:
Has the student spent a minimum of 10 hours on their project? Yes_____ No______
The student has conferred with me about his/her project Yes_____ No_____
How many times have you met with your student thus far? ___________________
In what ways have you worked with the student?
The student is making satisfactory progress at this point and should be able to successfully complete the Project
phase by January 12, 2012. (The Final Project Verification form is due January 12, 2012).
Yes _____ No _____
Comments or Suggestions:
Please give a brief explanation of any concerns or questions you may have about the student’s progress toward
completion of his/her project. If you have no concerns or questions, please write N/A.
Mentor Signature____________________________________ Date____________________
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Filer High School
Senior Project Final Mentor Verification
(To be completed by January 12, 2012)
Student Name_____________________________________ Phone Number
Project Description
As a mentor, we are asking you to verify this student’s efforts on his/her Senior Project. Since most of the time
spent on the project phase has been out-of-school, verification of the student’s effort is necessary. Please
answer the following questions to help us evaluate your student’s project. Keep in mind that the student’s
research paper has already been evaluated. This form refers only to the physical project. Please fill out the
form completely.
Have you seen this student’s Project Journal? Yes _____ No _____
Has the student completed at least 15 hours on the project? Yes _____ No _____
Can you verify that he/she has completed the Project? If you cannot, please DO NOT sign this form
until you are assured the project is complete.
Yes _____ No _____
Have you seen this project at different stages of completion, not just the final phase?
Yes _____No _____
Your student should have been keeping contact with you with respect to the project. Comment on how
he/she did in this aspect.
Please evaluate how this student has seemingly extended his/her learning beyond previous experience and
knowledge by way of doing this project.
(over please)
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What problems did the student encounter and overcome in doing the project?
What successes have you seen this student achieve as a result of the project?
Would you mentor a Senior Project again? Yes _____ No _____
NOTE: If you have any questions about your student’s work, please contact the Senior Project Coordinator
at 326-5944. Thank you yet again for your time and commitment. We really appreciate your efforts.
Mentor’s Signature__________________________________________
Phone____________________________________________________
Date_____________________________________________________
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How to do a Mentor Thank You Letter
Date
Mentor Name
Mentor Address
Mentor City, ID Zip Code
Dear Mentor Last Name:
The first paragraph should explain exactly how your mentor helped you. Be very specific as this
person went out of his or her way to help you graduate and expects that you learned something and
that you will apply this knowledge in the future.
The second paragraph should thank him or her profusely for all of the hard work they did.
Sincerely,
Your Name Typed
Print two copies (one for your portfolio and one to be mailed from school)
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Poster of Commitment to Project
Once your project has been approved, you must design a poster that represents commitment to your project.
The posters will be displayed until you complete your project.
Information needed (and other requirements) on standard Poster Board:
Project title
Graphics
Your name
Project information
Your commitment poster must be completed by October 13, 2011
Posters will be rejected for the following reasons:
Any handwritten material
Spelling/grammar
No name
Not enough information about the project
If your poster is rejected, you will have to redo it until it meets minimum standards.
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Good Sample Poster
Border, nice layout, balanced, no errors, project information is adequate without too much detail, pictures are
clear and large, name is evident, no handwritten information, effort is evident
Bad Sample Poster
No border, no captions, pictures do not have any background to set them off, graphics are not balanced, no
name, no indication of what the project is about, very little effort evident
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The Physical Project Journal
All students will be expected to keep a project journal (which will be included in the Senior Project Portfolio).
They should have a journal entry for EACH time they work on the project. This journal should begin with the
date and end with the actual time (hours, minutes) spent on the project on that occasion. As well as describing
what he/she did, the student should include in journal entries successes and failures, frustrations and victories.
In other words, the journal should record not just time and work done, but also feelings, emotions, and
reactions (it explains the learning that took place) as well. A journal entry could cover as little as a short
phone call to arrange an interview, or as much as a day spent skiing at Sun Valley. The journal is very
important when the teacher evaluates the project.
You can choose the format of your journal—it could be done in chart form or just word-processed. You can
write it or type it—if you write it, you need to make sure it is legible. You can even keep your journal in a
notebook—make sure it is accessible as you work on your project.
The Portfolio Journal **The final copy in your portfolio must be typed and error-free
(The highlighted information must be on the first page of your journal.)
Project Journal Name: Your name Project Topic: The value of community parks Mentor: Name: William Tulast Job/Position: Head of Twin Falls City Parks Telephone: 456-9876 Date: December 7
Start Time: 10:00 A.M.
End Time: 10:45 A.M.
Entry: I met with my mentor and we discussed my project. He gave me a list of some projects that city has wanted to do with its parks, but hasn’t found the time or money yet. We narrowed down this list to a couple of manageable projects that I could do. We decided that I would work on refurbishing several dozen park benches. 45 minutes
At the end of your journal should be a total of the hours you have spent on the project.
Total Time: 34 hours 30 minutes
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Interview Forms
Interview: You need to interview someone who is an ―expert‖ in your topic (not your mentor). The
person you interview may not be related to you or work for Filer High School and must be at least 21
years of age or older. Because you will be representing the high school when you conduct the interview,
you need to be sure to look professional. Set up a time to interview your ―expert,‖ and be sure you are
prompt, prepared, and dressed professionally.
You will need to come up with a list of at least ten questions to take to your interview. This is a great
opportunity to find out more about the career field you are interested in from someone who has experience
in the field. Avoid mundane questions like, ―How long have you been a nurse?‖ Instead, focus on information
that might be useful to you if you choose to go into that career like, ―What was the hardest
part about becoming a veterinarian,‖ or, ―In which engineering fields are the most jobs available?‖
You may want to record the interview to help with note taking, but you need to be sure to ask permission.
The interview must be typed up in transcript form and then will be placed in your portfolio.
***We expect you to conduct the interview in person. If you are going to conduct the interview over
the phone or through email, you will need to get prior approval from your advisor or the head of the
Senior Project Committee.***
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SENIOR PROJECT INTERVIEW FORM
NOTE: Important: This format must be completed prior to interviewing someone for your project. You may
need to complete more than one if you are planning on interviewing more than one person.
(Put all of this information at the top of the typed transcript)
Person to be interviewed:
Interviewee phone #:
Place of interview (specific address):
Date and Time of the interview:
Estimated length of interview:
Briefly state nature and purpose of interview.
List objectives you hope to accomplish during interview.
List what you have accomplished in preparation for the interview.
List all the questions you intend to ask during the interview. Be thorough. Write AT LEAST ten
questions. Once you have interviewed your person, you will type this up with the answers for your
portfolio.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Senior Project
Research Paper Requirements
Students will conduct in-depth research from a variety of sources—print and non-print—and must include at
least six sources. The paper must be eight to ten pages in length and adhere to MLA format and the rules
outlined in the Filer High School Writing Manual
The paper must do the following:
Identify a thesis
Defend or support the thesis using appropriate, documented research—parenthetical citation
is a must
Should detail what you learned during the research and project process (if applicable)
Must include a Works Cited page
Must include a Title Page with the following listed on the front:
o Title
o Your Name
o Your English Teacher’s Name
o The Due Date
You must turn in an electronic copy to your Comp/Lit IV instructor.
THE PAPER MUST BE TURNED IN BY THE DUE DATE FOR YOU TO GET A
GRADE IN YOUR COMP/LIT CLASS – NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE ALLOWED!!!
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Senior Project Product Self-Evaluation Outline—This form should help you formulate your three-
page, double-spaced, 12 font, self-evaluation paper. The self-evaluation paper will go into your
portfolio. It should be written, edited, and rewritten and then a clean, final copy should be placed in your
portfolio. This form is to help you write the paper; please do not put your self-evaluation into this
format.
Describe your project IN DETAIL:
How many total hours did you spend on your project? __________________
What date did you start? _______________
What date did you finish? ___________________
What materials did you use?
What are three things you learned from working on this project?
a.
b.
c.
What are three things you learned from your research paper?
a. b. c.
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How do you feel that your project will compare with others? What problems did you encounter? How did you overcome these problems? Did your project turn out the way you planned? If not, why? What would you do differently if you could start all over? What did you learn about yourself?
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Senior Project Portfolio Requirements
The following is the order of contents for your Senior Project Portfolio. It would be best to use dividers
of some sort to ensure organization of your portfolio. These are all required, and your final portfolio
will not be accepted without all of these elements, in this exact order. This portfolio must be kept in a
one-inch black clearview plastic binder.
Table of Contents—this might not have page numbers, but should explain the
organization of the portfolio
Student Section
Resume’
Letters of Recommendation (2 minimum)
Project Section
Letter of Intent (Project)
Midpoint Check and Final Verification
Mentor Appreciation Letter
Project Journal
Project Interview Transcripts and Form
Research Paper Section
Letter of Intent (Paper)
Paper (title page, body, works cited -- all perfect condition)
Self-Evaluation and Visuals Self Evaluation Paper
Photos, Illustrations (Visual verification of your product phase as well as any expenses which should
be typed up and listed. If you received donations or plan on donating, document
all of the money. If any of your photos contain images of children under 18 years
of age, you must have parental permission to use the photos.)
Your Portfolio is due to your Paw Tracks advisor by April 12, 2012
**Exceptions will not be made!! Any portfolio not turned in by this date will receive
a zero for half of the portfolio grade making it impossible to pass the portfolio. It
will also make it extremely difficult to pass your senior project as the portfolio is
roughly 33% of your senior project grade.
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Senior Project Presentation Requirements
For the presentation portion of the project, you will be giving a seven to ten minute presentation to a
community panel of judges.
Length: No less than seven and no more than ten minutes.
Purpose: To present what you have learned through this whole process, some things you might want to
consider covering in your presentation: (These are things to cover in your presentation; do not use this
as a template for what the title of each slide should be.)
What was your project? (be specific)
What was your research? (mention at least two-three things)
What did you learn? (be specific and not negative)
What obstacles did you encounter—how did you overcome them?
Did your project work? (again, avoid negativity and focus on the positives)
What might you change if you did it again?
What went well?
Memorable moments!
What to include: Visual presentation of your learning
The physical project
Photographs of you actually doing your project
Video of you completing your project (especially if you do not have a physical
project to show)
Display (could be done through PowerPoint)
Thanks to those who helped you.
*You must speak for 70% of your presentation. In other words, you can’t just show a video of your
project the whole time. This is an assessment of your speaking abilities.
*You must dress appropriately for a professional presentation. If you show up to present in jeans,
sneakers, shirts with no collar, shorts, flip-flops, etc., you will not be allowed to present.
*If you show up late for your presentation, you will not be allowed to present, so be on time or early.
*Since our primary concern is judging your senior project, no family, friends, or other visitors will be
allowed to watch or video the presentations to guarantee that you have the least stressful environment
possible.
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Portfolio Grading Rubric Student: ________________________ Project Title:______________________________
Possible Points
Item/Requirement (Portfolio should begin with table of contents)
Point Breakdown Points Awarded
15 Letter of Recommendations (2) & Resume Are they neat, clean, and professional? There should be no errors on the resume. Are there two letters of recommendation?
*Excellent=15pts. *Above Avg.=14-13pts. *Acceptable=12-11pts. *Unacceptable=5-10 *Not Evident=0
ot Evident=0-10pts
15 Letter of Intent (Project) Is the letter free of errors? Is the letter signed in blue/black pen by the student? Does the letter fit with the project?
*Excellent=15pts. *Above Avg.=14-13pts. *Acceptable=12-11pts. *Unacceptable=5-10 *Not Evident=0
15
Mentor Forms (Midpoint Check and Final Verification) Are the forms complete? Are they all signed by the mentor? Are they in a presentable form—clean?
Yes= 15pts. No= 0 pts.
15 Mentor Appreciation Letter Is the letter done in a professional manner and free of errors? Is the letter signed in blue/black pen? Is the letter two paragraphs?
*Excellent=15pts. *Above Avg.=14-13pts. *Acceptable=12-11pts. *Unacceptable=5-10 *Not Evident=0
15 Project Journal Are the entries interesting and detailed? Is the submission typed? Does the journal include dates, times, activity/event? Are the total hours displayed?
*Excellent=15pts. *Above Avg.=14-13pts. *Acceptable=12-11pts. *Unacceptable=5-10 *Not Evident=0
15 Project Interview Does it have Interviewee information (Name, phone #, place, date, time)? Does it have the purpose and objective? Are there 10 questions and 10 answers?
Yes= 15pts. No= 0 pts.
15 Letter of Intent (Paper) Is the letter free of errors? Is the letter signed in blue/black pen by the student? Does the letter fit with the paper?
*Excellent=15pts. *Above Avg.=14-13pts. *Acceptable=12-11pts. *Unacceptable=5-10 *Not Evident=0
40
15 Research Paper Is it a clean and presentable copy? Is there a works cited page? Is it 8-10 pages typed? Are there parenthetical citations?
*Excellent=15pts. *Above Avg.=14-13pts. *Acceptable=12-11pts. *Unacceptable=5-10 *Not Evident=0
15 Self-Evaluation Paper Is it double spaced, 12 font, 3 pages in length? Does it give the reader a real sense of what this student accomplished? Is it submitted in a professional manner (free of errors—spelling and mechanics)?
*Excellent=15pts. *Above Avg.=14-13pts. *Acceptable=12-11pts. *Unacceptable=5-10 *Not Evident=0
15 Photos/Illustrations Is the project phase documented through photos, or are there other visual aids included that help the reader understand the scope of the project?
*Excellent=15pts. *Above Avg.=14-13pts. *Acceptable=12-11pts. *Unacceptable=5-10 *Not Evident=0
15 Overall Opinion of Portfolio/Appearance Are the portfolio and its submissions clean, neat, and well organized? Does the portfolio show pride of accomplishment?
*Excellent=15pts. *Above Avg.=14-13pts. *Acceptable=12-11pts. *Unacceptable=5-10 *Not Evident=0
15 Portfolio Requirements (see example) Does the portfolio have all the required components? Please note: if you gave a 0 to any part, then it does not meet the requirements.
Yes= 15pts. No= 0 pts.
YOUR POINT TOTAL=_____________= ________%
GRADE BREAKDOWN= 70% MINIMUM TO PASS
162-180=A (Achievement with Excellence)
144-161=B (Notable Achievement)
126-143=C (Acceptable Achievement)
Less than 125 or 70% =F (Unacceptable Achievement)
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Student Name: _______________________________
Project Title:_________________________________ CONTENT:
Evidence of
new
knowledge
from
Presentation:
Achievement
with
Excellence
Notable
Achievement
Average
Achievement
Minimal
Achievement
Fail Totals
1. Project 10 9 8 7 0
2. Paper 10 9 8 7 0
3. Overall
Self
Reflection
10 9 8 7 0
DELIVERY:
Achievement
with
Excellence
Notable
Achievement
Average
Achievement
Minimal
Achievement
Fail Totals
4. Poise/Posture 10 9 8 7 0
5. Professional
Appearance 10 9 8 7 0
6. Vocal
Clarity/Volume
/Varied
Inflection
10 9 8 7 0
PRODUCTION:
Achievement
with
Excellence
Notable
Achievement
Average
Achievement
Minimal
Achievement
Fail Totals
7. Evidence of
thought and
energy
10 9 8 7 0
8. Quality of
audio/visual
component
10 9 8 7 0
9. How well
were the two
academic,
career, or
community
service links
established
10 9 8 7 0
10. Overall
Presentation 10 9 8 7 0
Presentation Total __________________