Newman Catholic High School

Senior Capstone 2017-2018

DESCRIPTION

Senior Project is a self-directed learning experience. With guidance from a faculty advisor and a

mentor, you will develop a significant research project or senior thesis in a subject area of your

choice. It is expected that the project/thesis will be considerably more extensive than the content

already covered in any particular course. The Senior Project is worth one-half of one credit, and

the grade for the entire project will appear on your report card and transcript at the end of the

first semester of your senior year, at which time it will also be figured into your GPA. Students

are expected to spend 45-60 hours working on this project. All seniors are required to take this

course, and failure to complete the requirements will result in an “F” on your final

transcripts.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Senior Project is to provide students with the opportunity to use skills and

information they have learned to create an impressive, culminating activity for the conclusion of

their high school career. Benefits of the project include the following:

1. Students are directing their own learning.

2. The project provides an experience similar to one that many students will be required to

complete in college.

3. The project helps students to explore areas for careers or avocations that may be of

interest.

4. Students develop skills in critical thinking, independent research, organization,

communication, writing, and speaking.

5. The project can be an impressive element of a resume for college acceptance and

scholarships.

OPTIONS

You have three options to choose from: a Science-based research project, a creative or

experiential research project, or a senior thesis. Detailed descriptions and requirements follow,

but these options include the following elements:

1. Science-based Research Project (May be eligible for Szmanda Scholarship)

a. Research Paper (8 page minimum)

b. Project

c. Oral Presentation

d. Process Log

2. Creative or Experiential Research Project ***SEE Dr. Staggenborg***

a. Research Paper (8 page minimum)

b. Project

c. Oral Presentation

d. Process Log

3. Senior Thesis

a. Thesis (15 page minimum)

b. Oral Presentation

c. Process Log

OPTION I: Science-based Research Project

Overview

The Science-based Research Project option allows you to choose a topic of interest to you in any

science-related field. This option combines academic research with the hands-on application of a

project. This option includes four separate but interrelated elements: a research paper, a project,

an oral presentation, and a process log.

If you elect to do a science-based research project you must use scientific methods to test a

hypothesis and you must secure an advisor from the science department. Additionally, some of

the science projects are chosen each year to compete for the Szmanda Scholarship. Interested

students should consult a science advisor as soon as possible for details.

Science-based Research Paper After selecting a topic of interest, and conducting some preliminary research, you will narrow the

subject to a specific issue or question that you will research. The research paper presents the

findings of that research. Please note that the paper is not a description of the project, nor is it

simply a collection of information. It begins with a focus or thesis statement that is then

supported by the body of the paper. The following guidelines apply to the research paper:

1. The research paper must indeed be research related to your chosen topic.

The process and results of your project may be a minor part of the research

paper. The paper is not a description of your project.

2. A minimum of four resources must be used and cited. This minimum must

include one mentor interview. Only academically sound resources are

acceptable. Encyclopedias and “wikis” (either hard copy or

computer/Internet based) are not appropriate resources at this level. You are

strongly advised to consult with your advisor early in the process to ensure

that resources are acceptable.

Internet Sources Peer-reviewed academic journal articles that are accessed online will satisfy

this requirement if they are full-text. Abstracts or summaries will not count.

Make sure you clear use with your advisor just to be sure!

3. Research must be documented through the use of an Annotated

Bibliography (minimum of 20 annotations).

4. You must meet with your advisors at least once before October 4 to review

your progress. Your advisors will review your progress log and Annotated

Bibliography that are completed by this point. Regular consultation with

your advisor throughout the semester is highly recommended.

5. Before you actually begin to write your paper, you are required to develop a

working outline. You must meet with your advisor to review/discuss your

outline before beginning to actually write the research paper. Bring both

your outline and your annotated bibliography to this meeting. The deadline

for this meeting is October 31.

6. The minimum length is eight (8) pages, double-spaced, one-inch margins,

and using Times New Roman 12 point font, in MLA style. Graphs, charts,

tables, illustrations, etc. are not included in the minimum length (and must

be included as appendices if used).

7. A transcript of at least one mentor interview must be used as a source,

properly cited, and included as an appendix to the research paper. Your

transcript should demonstrate that you conducted a substantial interview

(minimum 10 questions). Include the questions asked and the mentor’s

responses. Also include information regarding the academic qualifications

of your mentor.

8. A title page, outline, works-cited page, and annotated bibliography are

required, but are not included in the page minimum. The sample title page

and outline on page 300 of Writers Inc should be used as a guide.

9. You are highly encouraged to consult regularly with your advisor regarding

the progress of your paper. Your advisor is there to assist you, but will not

be tracking you down. This is a student directed learning experience;

therefore you will need to take the initiative to schedule consultations with

your advisor. You are responsible for meeting all deadlines; your advisor

will not be reminding you!

.

10. The paper is due to your adviser on November 21, and it will count as

approximately 1/3 of the total grade. Ten percent will be deducted for each

day the paper is late.

Science-based Research Project The project is the hands-on portion of your paper—what you do. A wide range of project

possibilities exists, depending on your chosen topic area. The project and the research paper are

related but separate elements of the research project option. They are related in one of two ways:

a. The project may be an application of the information you learned from your

research. Here you learn something new from the research and put that

knowledge to practical use. The project follows from the research paper.

--- or ---

b. The project may be part of your research. Initial research will help you develop

a project that will further research or test your hypothesis. The project leads to the

research paper. This is typically the case in science projects. Where your project is

part of your research, it will likely play a larger role in your paper, but remember that

the paper is a research paper not a description of your project.

The project must be academic in nature. Hobby-like projects will not be approved by the Senior

Project Review Committee. You are strongly advised to consult your advisor as you develop

your project. The following guidelines apply to the project:

1. Projects must be done after the proposal is approved and may not be

part of another course.

2. Your proposal will include a detailed and specific description of your

proposed project. Your proposal will also specify exactly what physical

evidence you will turn in to your advisor on November 21 to document what

you did to complete this project. This is separate from your research

paper. Evidence depends on the nature of the project, but could include the

“final product,” logs, photos, videotape, etc. If evidence of a project is not

turned in, you will be dropped from the Senior Project presentation schedule

and an “F” will be recorded on your transcript.

3. The evidence of your completed project is also due to your adviser on

November 21, and it will count as approximately 1/3 of your grade.

Ten percent will be deducted per day if your evidence is late.

Oral Presentation You will present what you did and what you learned to an audience of underclassmen and

faculty, and parents.

1. Your presentation is required to last 12 to 15 minutes. You should provide

a clear explanation of your project and your research. Evaluation criteria

include the degree to which you demonstrate understanding of the

material, completeness, and whether the presentation reflects a semester of

work.

2. Your presentation will be followed by 5 minutes of questions from the

evaluators and the audience. Your ability to answer these questions will

be included in the grade.

3. Use of visual aids will also be part of the presentation grade. Visual aids

will be evaluated based on quality, clarity, appearance, usefulness and the

degree to which they enhance your presentation. A power point

presentation is recommended but not required.

4. Presentations will be given on Friday, December 15.

5. The presentation will count as approximately 1/3 of your total grade.

6. If you will use a power point presentation you must turn it in

to the technical coordinator for your presentation room by December 11.

***You are strongly encouraged to practice your presentations ahead of time, refining your

speaking skills and assuring that your presentation fits within the time limit. You are also

encouraged to dress professionally.

***While you are working on your project and your research, think in terms of your oral

presentation: How will I explain this to an audience? Do I need to videotape or photograph any

of the process? What visual and/or physical data will I need to show?

Process Log

1. As you work on your senior project, you will be required to keep a log of

your work. Each time you sit down to work on senior project you are to

enter the date, time spent, and a description of your activity.

Example:

8/2/14 9:00 AM to noon

Worked at the UWMC library researching Indian Treaty rights,

Read and took notes from:

Indian Treaty Rights & Environmental Protection Statutes (Natural

Resources Journal 1991)

Construction of Indian Treaties (American Indian Law Review 1977)

2. You may keep this log on a computer and print out the pages or you may

keep it written in a spiral notebook.

3. When you meet with your advisor in October, your advisor will check over

your log to see what progress you have made by that date.

4. You will turn in your log along with your research paper and project

evidence on November 21. Failure to keep and turn in a process log will

result in a one step reduction in your grade (e.g. from an A to an A-).

Evaluation Your research paper and presentation will be evaluated by a committee of three faculty members

including your advisor. Your science-based project will be evaluated by your advisor alone.

Criteria for evaluating the project vary depending on the nature of the project and must be

established by you and advisor. Your advisor will also assess up to 10 points to reflect your

responsibility, attitude, interaction with your mentor, and contact with your advisor.

OPTION II: Creative or Experiential Research Project ***SEE Dr. Staggenborg***

OPTION III: Senior Thesis Option

Overview The Senior Thesis option is available for those who wish to conduct extensive research on a topic

that does not lend itself to an actual science or hands-on project. Students choosing to write a

senior thesis will still be responsible for the oral presentation and process log as described above,

but instead of the project will write a more substantial thesis paper. The depth of research is

expected to be considerably more scholarly and more extensive than that expected for the

traditional senior project.

Thesis Paper

After selecting a topic of interest, and conducting some preliminary research, you will narrow the

subject to a specific issue or question that you will research. You must formulate a thesis: a

proposition or hypothesis which your paper then argues. A thesis needs to be specific and

“arguable.” For example, your thesis might be: “Western movies and TV shows rose to

prominence in the United States during the 1950s as allegories for the Cold War.” The paper

should not resemble an encyclopedia entry for the topic! “This paper outlines the basic beliefs

and practices of Islam,” would, for example, NOT be a feasible thesis statement for a senior

thesis. A thesis paper is not simply an informative report or a survey of existing information

regarding the topic. It is an argument. You are strongly encouraged to work with your mentor

and advisor to formulate your thesis statement. (Note: it is likely that this proposition will be

refined as the research progresses.) Please note that your paper needs to blend information

gathered with your own analysis.

The following guidelines apply to the thesis paper:

1. A minimum of eight resources must be used and cited. This minimum must

include one mentor interview. Only academically sound resources are

acceptable. Encyclopedias and “wikis” (either hard copy or computer/Internet

based) are not appropriate resources at this level. You are strongly advised to

consult with your advisor early in the process to ensure that resources are

acceptable. Care should be taken that sources present a variety of

perspectives on the subject.

Internet Sources: Peer-reviewed academic journal articles that are accessed online will satisfy

this requirement if they are full-text. Abstracts or summaries will not count.

Make sure you clear use with your advisor just to be sure!

2. At least two of the resources must be primary sources. Your advisor can

waive this requirement if the specific subject matter of your thesis makes the

use of primary sources impossible.

3. Research must be documented through the use of an Annotated Bibliography

(minimum 20 annotations).

4. Students choosing the senior thesis option must meet with their advisors at

least once before October 4. Your process log and annotated bibliography

demonstrating completion of substantial research by that date must be shown

to the advisor at this meeting. Regular consultation with advisors throughout

the semester is highly recommended.

5. Before you actually begin to write your paper, you are required to develop a

working outline. You must meet with your advisor to review/discuss your

outline before beginning to actually write the research paper! Bring both

your outline and your annotated bibliography to this meeting. The deadline

for this meeting is October 31.

6. The minimum length of this paper is fifteen (15) pages, double-spaced, one-

inch margins, and using Times New Roman 12 point font, in MLA style.

Graphs, charts, tables, illustrations, etc. are not included in the minimum

length (and are generally best included as appendices). For details on layout

and documentation see; Purdue OWL.

7. A transcript of at least one mentor interview must be used as a source,

properly cited, and included as an appendix to your paper. Your transcript

should demonstrate that you conducted a substantial interview (minimum 10

questions). Also include information regarding the academic qualifications of

your mentor.

8. A title page, outline, works-cited page, and annotated bibliography are

required, but are not included in the page minimum.

9. You are highly encouraged to consult regularly with your advisor regarding

the progress of your thesis. Your advisor is there to assist you, but will not be

tracking you down. This is a student directed learning experience; therefore

you will need to take the initiative to schedule consultations with your

advisor. You are responsible for meeting all deadlines; your advisor will not

be reminding you!

10. The paper is due to your adviser on November 21, and it will count as

approximately 2/3 of the total grade. Ten percent will be deducted from your

score for each day the paper is late.

Oral Presentation

You will present your thesis proposition and argument to an audience of underclassmen and

teachers. But do not plan to simply read your thesis! Creatively present what you learned.

1. Your presentation is required to last 12 to 15 minutes. You should provide a

clear explanation of your thesis statement and your research. Evaluation

criteria include the degree to which you demonstrate understanding of the

material, completeness, and whether the presentation reflects a semester of

work.

2. Your presentation will be followed by 5 minutes of questions from the

evaluators and the audience. Your ability to answer these questions will be

included in the grade.

3. Use of visual aids will also be part of the presentation grade. Visual

aids will be evaluated based on quality, clarity, appearance,

usefulness and the degree to which they enhance your presentation.

A power point presentation is recommended.

4. Presentations will be given on Friday, December 15.

5. The presentation will count as approximately 1/3 of your total grade.

6. If you will use a power point presentation you must turn it in

to the technical coordinator for your presentation room by Monday,

December 11.

***You are strongly encouraged to practice your presentations ahead of time, refining your

speaking skills and assuring that your presentation fits within the time limit. You are also

encouraged to dress professionally.

***While you are working on your project and your research, think in terms of your oral

presentation: How will I explain this to an audience? Do I need to videotape or photograph any

of the process? What visual and/or physical data will I need to show?

Process Log

1. As you work on your senior project, you will be required to keep a log of

your work. Each time you sit down to work on senior project you are to

enter the date, time spent, and a description of your activity.

Example:

8/2/14 9:00 AM to noon

Worked at the UWMC library researching Indian Treaty rights,

Read and took notes from:

Indian Treaty Rights & Environmental Protection Statutes (Natural

Resources Journal 1991)

Construction of Indian Treaties (American Indian Law Review 1977)

2. You may keep this log on a computer and print out the pages or you may

keep it written in a spiral notebook.

3. When you meet with your advisor in October, your advisor will check over

your log to see what progress you have made by that date.

4. You will turn in your log along with your research paper and project

evidence on November 21. Failure to keep and turn in a process log will

result in a one-step reduction in your grade (e.g. from an A to an A-).

Evaluation Your thesis paper and presentation will be evaluated by a committee of three faculty members

including your advisor. Your advisor will also assess up to 10 points to reflect your

responsibility, attitude, interaction with your mentor, and contact with your advisor.

ADVISORS

You will work with a faculty advisor. The advisor does not need to be a subject matter expert in

the area you have chosen to research UNLESS you are completing the Science-based Research

Project. The role of the advisor is to help guide you through the senior project process and

provide advice regarding research and writing. It is not the advisor’s responsibility to check up

on you or cajole you to meet deadlines, etc. Senior Project, as a culminating high school

experience is specifically designed to be a student directed learning experience. Frequent contact

with your advisor is recommended, but you must initiate it. In all cases, it is your responsibility

to contact your adviser regularly and to meet all deadlines. Faculty members may elect to limit

the number of students they advise in order to fairly and evenly divide the workload, so it would

be wise to make early contact with your preferred advisor.

MENTORS

A valuable aspect of the Senior Project is working with an outside mentor. Your mentor is a

professional in the field outside of the Newman faculty, with whom you will consult on the

subject matter of your project/thesis. Your mentor may not be your relative. The consultations

may range from telephone or e-mail conversations to extensive individual work sessions, or job-

shadowing. Many members of the community, universities, businesses, and corporations are

willing to assist students with research.

You should work with your advisor to identify possible mentors as early in the process as

possible. You should be consulting your mentor as you are doing your research, not after the

fact!

You are required to conduct at least one interview with your mentor. You are required to create

a transcript of that interview and include it as an appendix to your paper. You must include at

least one citation to this interview in your paper. (As a rule of thumb, at least ten questions

related to the subject matter of your research would be expected in a substantial interview.) If

you interview your mentor personally, you can construct a transcript from your interview notes

or from a recording of the interview. Make sure your mentor consents to being recorded if you

go that route. You can conduct an interview by email, in which case you can use the emails of

your questions and the mentor’s responses.

Potential mentors must be identified on the project proposal form. You must have made initial

contact with your mentor and that person must have agreed to work with you before you

complete the Mentor Contact Form, which is due to your advisor by May 9. You will lose one

point per day for every day that this form is late, so don’t put off finding a mentor until it is too

late!!!

TIMELINE

February 9 Senior Project materials passed out to Juniors.

Juniors begin preliminary research to identify topics of interest,

identify potential advisor and secure his/her agreement to serve as

your advisor, complete the Senior Project Idea Form, make an

appointment and meet with advisor to review your idea.

February 28 Deadline for initial meeting with advisor. This is an actual

meeting not just a casual request to be your advisor. Schedule a

meeting with a faculty member and be prepared to discuss your

project/thesis ideas at that meeting. Make sure you bring your

completed SP Idea Form.

March Juniors continue preliminary research and draft proposal. You will

need to complete enough preliminary research to determine that

your proposal is feasible and to be able to cite actual sources on

your proposal form. You are not really researching your project at

this point, but time and effort put in now will save you headaches

later! Once your proposal is approved, you will not be allowed

to change projects for any reason, so make sure you do enough

research NOW to make sure your proposal will work out!

Meet with your advisor to present your working thesis/proposal

idea/statement of purpose and a bibliography of sources indicating

that material on the topic is indeed available. Discuss your project

thoroughly with your advisor and, if possible, your mentor. You

and your adviser (with review by a Senior Project Review

Committee) will determine the evidence upon which project

portion grade will be based.

March 17 Deadline for meeting with your advisor to review your

proposal. Bring your completed, typed proposal to this meeting. If

it is acceptable, the advisor will sign it and turn the proposal in to

the Senior Project Coordinator. If not, your advisor will make

recommendations for revisions and you will redraft the proposal,

and meet again with your advisor.

April 11 Deadline for submitting signed proposals to your advisor.

Late proposals will start losing one point each day

until the signed proposal is submitted to your advisor. The Senior

Project Review Committee will review proposals. If the

committee does not approve your proposal it will be returned to

your advisor who will meet with you to help revise the proposal as

necessary.

May 9 Mentor Information Sheets are due to the Senior Project

Coordinator. You will lose one point per day every day this

form is late!

May 16 Any junior who does not have a signed proposal turned in to their

advisor will receive an “F” for Senior Project. Proposals turned in

after this date will not be considered!

Summer Although not a course requirement, students are encouraged to use

part of the summer to work on senior project. This is a good time

to get things that require large blocks of time done. Summer may

also be an easier time to meet with mentors. Remember that fall of

senior year is busy! Most NCHS students participate in fall sports.

Seniors will be spending a lot of time and effort completing

college applications. Getting a substantial start on senior project

will be very helpful!

October 4 Deadline for all students to meet with your advisor to review your

progress. Project students should share their process logs with

advisors and discuss what they have accomplished thus far and

what still needs to be accomplished. Thesis students should

provide actual physical evidence (i.e. notecards) demonstrating

that you have completed substantial research.

October 31 Deadline for all seniors to meet with your advisor to review

your paper outline prior to writing the paper. Make sure you

bring your notecards to this meeting along with your proposed

outline. (Yes your research needs to be done by this point and you

need to be ready to start the writing process!)

November 21 Complete Senior Project/Thesis DUE to advisors including

Process Logs and evidence of research. Ten percent will be

deducted for each day that any part of this is late.

December 11 Power point presentations must be turned in to the technical

director for your presentation room by this date.

December 15 Presentation Day

Student ______________________________ Advisor _______________________________

SENIOR CAPSTONE RUBRIC (2017 – 2018)

RESEARCH PAPER (160 points) (Evaluated by adviser and two additional teachers)

1. Content: meaningful, sound, logical, clear, supported, reflects the depth ____/90

of research/thought expected for a semester course

2. Organization: flow & format: Intro Summary, Hypothesis, Background,

Experimental Procedure, Analysis & Results, Conclusion, Appendix, ___/15

Safety Plan (includes title page & outline)

3. Mechanics: spelling, punctuation, grammar, sentence structure, ___/15 usage, 8-page minimum

(background only, not including graphs, charts, etc.)

4. Resources: minimum of four (one interview, one may be internet, ____/30

two or more non-internet), works cited page & bibliography,

annotated bibliography, transcript included as appendix, legitimate

academic sources (including no encyclopedias, print or electronic)

Process log ___/10

(evaluated by advisor only)

TOTAL ____/160

ORAL PRESENTATION ( 150 points)

(Evaluated by advisor plus two additional teachers)

1. Content: info presented provided clear explanation of the project ___/90

and research, demonstrated understanding of the material,

complete, depth reflects a semester of work, ability to respond to questions

(specific requirements dependent on the type of project – consult advisor)

2. Visual aids: quality, clarity, appearance, usefulness, enhancement ___/30

3. Speaking skills: volume, inflection, pace, clarity, eye contact, body ___/30

language, delivery, timing (12 to 15 minutes)

TOTAL _____/150

PROJECT (150 points)

(Evaluated by advisor only)

1. Meets pre-established criteria (determined by advisor and student) ___/90

2. Project is meaningful and/or legitimate and related to research ___/30

3. Project is creative and/or original ___/10

4. Evidence of completion (independent of the research paper) ___/20

TOTAL

____/150

Advisors have the option of adding up to 10 points to indicate level of student responsibility,

timeliness, receipt of mentor information, attitude, project proposal completeness, and regular

contact with advisor. One Point per day must be deducted if the student submitted the

proposal after April 5 or submitted the mentor contact form after May 10. (to a maximum

of 50 point deduction; yes you may end up entering a negative number here)

___/10

TOTAL ________ GRADE _______

*If the research paper and/or evidence of project are turned in after November 21,

this total must be reduced by 10% each day.

A 431-470 C- 327-336

A- 421-430 D+ 318-326

B+ 412-420 D 290-317

B 382-411 D- 280-290

B- 375-381 F 0 - 279

C+ 365-374

C 337-364

Process Log: Was a completed process log turned in? _____ yes ____ no If the process log was not turned in, the grade is reduced one step. (E.g. from B to a B-)