graduation project 2013/2014 activism!! “a call to action”
TRANSCRIPT
Graduation Project 2013/2014
Activism!!“A Call to Action”
Components
• Research Paper– Honors courses required to write thesis-based,
argumentative research paper in MLA format– Honors courses need to write 8-10 page research
papers using at least 8 sources.– Papers previously could be on any topic the
students selected– This year, students will write their research papers
on a social issue.
Components
• Product– Students are required to complete a product that
takes a minimum of 10 hours to complete– The product must be tied to the student’s
research topic.– Previous products could be anything the students
decided on, with approval of the GP coordinator– Students required to have a mentor to sign off on
hours and grade the finished product
Components: product cont.’
• New Product– Students will tie their research to their product by
completing some sort of public service• Community service, fundraising, raising awareness,
informing, teaching, creating events, ect.• Students can still create a tangible product, if desired,
but that product must be used by an organization.– IE: Last year a student created a compost for our school. This
tangible product would still meet the GP requirements– IE: If a student wants to create a video, it needs to be used by
an organization for a specific purpose
Components
• Portfolio– Students will create a portfolio, as in years past. – Portfolios will still contain all research requirements– Portfolios will demonstrate the service provided by
students with pictures and captions, documentation of funds raised, ect.
– Portfolio requirements that are in place today will remain in place for students this year.• In the future, students may have a research portfolio
and a service portfolio
Components
• Presentation– Sophomore students this year will create
authentic presentations to give to their peers about their research topics and their products
– They may do an additional public presentation next year
– There is a chance that students may be asked to present their GP to central services, GP coordinator meetings, or the school board
So What’s Different?
• GP is still a Craven County Graduation Requirement
• We are attempting to make the projects more relevant to students in requiring them to be service based.
• In the future, the project may be broken into different classes, other than English classes
Paper and Service Product Connections: New Bern
New Bern Service Locations• Wild Life Rehab New Bern• Creekside Recreational
Therapy Services• Little Red Book Mobile• Costal Women’s Forum• Bridgeton EMS• Rachel Lynn Smith
Foundations• http://www.new-bern.nc.us/
Volunteers/
Paper Topics that Tie In• Animal Extinction, Poaching,
Tracking, ECT• Family Issues, Rec Therapy,
Negative Peer Pressure, Bullying, Teen Suicide
• Literacy, Tutoring, Before/After School Programs
• Women’s Issues• Emergency Services• Stem Cell Research
Paper and Service Product Connections: Havelock
Service Organizations• American Cancer Society• NC Big Sweep• Reach out and Read• Disabled American Veterans• http://
www.charity-charities.org/charities/NC/Havelock.html
Paper Topics• Papers about cancer
programs, Relay for Life, service organizations
• Environmental papers, Climate Change, Recycling
• Literacy, mentoring, before/after school programs, Head Start
• PTSD, war, effect on families, ect