graduation project planner -...

PLEASANT VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania 18322

Graduation Project

Class of 2019

Community Service Project

Student’s Name:

Project Teacher:

Homeroom:

Final Thesis Statement:

Table of Contents

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 1

Community Service Project Requirements ........................................................................................ 2

Project Evaluation Process ................................................................................................................. 3

Non-Compliance Consequences ........................................................................................................ 3

Creating an Annotated Works Cited .................................................................................................. 4

MLA Style Checklist .......................................................................................................................... 5

Turnitin.com Directions for Students ................................................................................................. 6

Written Presentation Evaluation Form (First Draft)........................................................................... 7

Written Presentation Evaluation Form (Final Paper) ......................................................................... 8

Visual Aid Checklist for the Oral Presentation .................................................................................. 9

Slide Presentation Guidelines............................................................................................................. 10

Storyboard for Multimedia Presentation ............................................................................................ 11-16

Oral Presentation Evaluation Form .................................................................................................... 17

Community Service Contract ............................................................................................................. 18

Class of 2019 - 1 - Community Service

Introduction

The graduation project allows students the option to research an issue within a career field or to

complete an approved community service project. Research projects must include a thorough examination of

the career issue(s) and provide possible solution(s). Community service projects must emphasize the impact or

value of the volunteer experience. Each option includes a written presentation and an oral presentation.

Once a graduation research project is selected and approved by the project teacher, the student will need

to develop a thesis statement, select resources, and conduct research in order to develop a successful written

presentation. The culmination of the project, which is conducted under the guidance of high school faculty

members, requires a successful oral presentation.

The project ensures that all students apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information as well as

communicate significant knowledge and understanding of a chosen project. Students will receive .50 credit

after successful completion of all Requirements. The project will be graded on a PASS/FAIL basis. Students

must successfully meet all deadlines respectively in order to pass the Graduation Project. This means

that students must pass each level of the project before moving to the next level of the project. Successful

completion of the Graduation Project is a district requirement for graduation from high school.

The Pleasant Valley High School Graduation Project provides a positive learning experience that serves

all students as they prepare for success in adult life. Both the process and the product become integral parts of

the project. Students are encouraged to use the following resources to assist with the written and oral

presentations:

English Tutoring Lab

Graduation Project Pathfinder at pvbears.libguides.com/GradProject

Library

Library Handbook

http://pvbears.libguides.com/GradProject


Community Service Project Requirements

Students must successfully meet all deadlines and all minimum requirements for each component in order to

pass the Community Service Graduation Project. Students absent on the day of any deadline must provide a

valid written excuse (i.e., doctor’s note or proof of other extenuating circumstances).

Students who do not meet the Community Service deadlines for the pre-approval form, contract, and completed

activity log will automatically be required to complete a research-based graduation project.

1. The Community Service Pre-Approval Form – due Thursday, July 5, 2018 The pre-approval form must be signed by the student, the parent(s) or guardian(s), and the service

organization supervisor. This document lists the volunteer activity site address and a description of the

project. The pre-approval form must be submitted to and approved by the Assistant Principal by the above

date. You must obtain approval prior to the start of your service. Students beginning their senior year at

Pleasant Valley after July 5th will be required to complete a research project.

2. Community Service Contract and Activity Log – due Thursday, September 27, 2018

The contract must be signed by the student, the parent(s) or guardian(s), and the service organization

supervisor. This document confirms the completion of 50 service hours to benefit the community at one

organization. It also includes a brief description of the project and a working thesis statement. The

Community Service Activity Log must be signed by the service organization supervisor. The Activity Log

describes the volunteer activities completed by the student as well as reflections.

3. The Written Presentation (First Draft) – due Thursday, November 15, 2018

The first draft of the written presentation must meet minimum requirements and be submitted to the project

teacher no later than the above date and submitted electronically to Turnitin.com to be considered

successful. These minimum requirements include a paper that is typed in MLA format, at least two (2) full

pages of text in length, with two authoritative sources (at least one being a primary source), an annotated

works-cited page with parenthetical citations for each source, and void of spelling/grammatical errors.

4. The Written Presentation (Final Paper) – due Friday, January 25, 2019 The final paper must meet the requirements in the Written Presentation Evaluation Form. It must also

include all teacher-recommended changes from the first-draft evaluation form. The final paper must be

submitted to the project teacher and submitted electronically to Turnitin.com by the above date in order to

be scheduled for the oral presentation.

5. The Oral Presentation with Digital Media – beginning April 2019 The oral presentation is the culmination of the Graduation Project. Only those students who meet all of the

requirements outlined above will be scheduled for an oral presentation. The criteria for the oral presentation

can be found in the Oral Presentation Evaluation Form. In addition, students who do not report to their

scheduled presentation dates (without a doctor’s note or Administrative approval) will be marked as failing

the Graduation Project course.

Note: Transfer students will be held accountable to a set of dates determined by administration and project

advisor.


Project Evaluation Process

Project evaluation consists of two major components: the written paper and the oral presentation.

Students must successfully meet all deadlines respectively in order to pass the Graduation Research

Project. This means that students must pass each level of the project before moving to the next level of the

project. It is important to note that the project teacher has the responsibility for reporting the student’s final

project evaluation to both the student and the assistant principal. The oral presentation will be evaluated by a

PVHS staff member. A building administrator will resolve any conflicts regarding the evaluation process. By

the conclusion of the senior year, each student will receive a grade of PASS or FAIL. If the student receives a

failing grade, remediation is required in order to graduate.

Note: The names of those students who receive a failing grade for the Graduation Project course will be

submitted to the high school guidance department. Plagiarism will be handled according to school policy

as stated in the student handbook. Plagiarism will result in project failure which requires remediation to

make up the .5 graduation project credit. Students are required to use NoodleTools and Turnitin.com

throughout the research process to ensure that sources are properly cited and annotated.

Non-Compliance Consequences

Failure to successfully meet any requirements (outlined within this booklet) or the deadlines listed above will

result in the student receiving a failing grade for the Graduation Project course. Failure letters will be sent to the

parent(s) or guardian(s) of every student who fails the Graduation Project.

Students who fail any requirement of the project must enroll in a Graduation Project course offered by Pleasant

Valley High School and receive a passing grade to be eligible to graduate.

Note: Contact the Pleasant Valley High School main office for additional information.


Creating an Annotated Works Cited

An annotated list of works cited is a list of sources used in the preparation of a research project.

Each citation is followed by a brief description and critique of the source. An annotated list of

works cited justifies the quality and value of the source to your research. Directions: Use the following questions as prompts for writing your annotation. Items marked with an asterisk * must be included in your annotation. 1. * Author’s credentials—What makes the person qualified to write about the topic? If no author, what makes

this a credible source?

2. Scope and purpose of the work—Is it an overview or a detailed treatment of the topic? Is it persuasive,

informational, scholarly or popular? Is it an editorial?

3. * Comparison of the work with others dealing with the same topic or others on your list—How much

information did you get from this source compared to your other sources? (This part may be written in first

person)

4. Intended audience—Who was it written for? Doctors? Lawyers? Teachers? Scientists? The general public?

5. Brief summary of contents—What is it about?

6. Evaluation of research—Is it logical? Clear? Based on solid evidence?

7. Evaluation of scope—Did the author do a good job of covering all aspects of your topic?

8. Evaluation of author bias—Is it obvious that the author is on one side or the other?

9. * Relative value of the work to the thesis—Describe the value of this source to your research. How did it

help you to better understand your topic? (This part may be written in first person)


MLA Style Checklist

_____ 1. 1‖ margins

_____ 2. 12-point font throughout (Times New Roman)

_____ 3. Double-spaced throughout

_____ 4. ½‖ running header with student’s last name and page (Beginning on the second page)

_____ 5. NO title page

_____ 6. First page heading with:

Student’s Full Name

Project Teacher’s Name

Graduation Project

Date (Day Month Year)

_____ 7. Centered Title (with NO underline, italics, or boldface)

_____ 8. No first-person language or personal pronouns (e.g. I, you, me, us, we, etc.)

_____ 9. All tables, charts, graphs, and pictures are labeled and properly cited. (Only to be used in the oral

presentation)

_____ 10. Quotations four (4) lines or more are set-off one inch from left margin.

_____ 11. Works-Cited title is centered 1‖ from the top of the page with NO underline or boldface.

_____ 12. The list of works cited is NOT numbered. Each entry begins with a hanging indention and ends

with a period.

_____ 13. Works-cited entries are in alphabetical order by the first word in the citation; if no author is

listed, the first word of the title is used.

_____ 14. Each works-cited entry has at least one corresponding parenthetical citation in the text of the

paper.

_____ 15. Each citation is annotated with a brief description and critique of the source.

_____ 16. In print formats, all web hyperlinks are ―turned off‖ with NO underlining or change in font color.

(In digital formats the URLs may be hyperlinked).

_____ 17. All URLs are copied in full with NO protocol (e.g. http:// or https://). Permalinks or DOIs are

used whenever possible.

Note: First-person language should be used for the Community Service project. However all other

MLA conventions must be followed.


Turnitin.com Directions for Students

To Enroll in a Class:

1. Go to: www.turnitin.com

2. Click ―Login‖ in the upper right hand corner with your PV email address and password.

(If you forgot your password, you can click on the ―Retrieve Password‖ link.)

3. Enter Class ID: GET THIS ID FROM YOUR TEACHER

4. Enter Class Enrollment Password: GET THIS PASSWORD FROM YOUR TEACHER

To Create an Account (only if you have NEVER created a Turnitin.com account):

1. Go to: www.turnitin.com

2. Click ―Create a New Account‖ in the upper right hand corner

3. Enter Class ID: GET THIS ID FROM YOUR TEACHER

4. Enter Class Enrollment Password: GET THIS PASSWORD FROM YOUR TEACHER

5. Fill out the rest of the required information and use your PV network password!

(If you ever forget your password, you can click on the ―Retrieve Password‖ link.)

6. Once you have completed the information, click on ―I agree – SUBMIT‖

To Submit a Paper:

1. Log in to your Turnitin.com account.

2. Click on the appropriate course.

3. Select the assignment from the list of assignments.

4. Select ―Submit‖

5. Choose ―Single File Upload‖

6. Title your submission

7. Upload your paper by selecting the file from the appropriate location and clicking ―Upload‖

8. Be sure to examine your Originality Report to ensure that you have properly cited your information and

that your paper is not plagiarized.

http://turnitin.com/static/index.php


Community Service

Written Presentation Evaluation Form

First Draft

S = Successful for final paper submission NYS = Not Yet Successful → Must make corrections

Content S NYS

Defines objectives in thesis statement

Provides specific, accurate, precise information or data and maintains focus

Uses appropriate vocabulary

Reflects insightful consideration of the importance, value, or impact of the service project

Organization S NYS

2-5 full, typed pages of text (MLA format; double spaced; Times New Roman 12-pt font)

Arranges information in a logical manner from the outline

Includes strong introduction and conclusion

Uses transitions between paragraphs

Research S NYS

Incorporates insights and reflections from activity log

Utilizes authoritative, timely source(s)

Conventions of Language S NYS

Uses varied and structurally correct sentences

Uses correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar

Sources/Citations S NYS

Includes an annotated works-cited page of at least 2 sources (one primary source)

Includes at least one proper MLA parenthetical citation for each source in paper text

Paper successfully uploaded to Turnitin.com

S NYS

Grade for First Draft

Student’s Name Date Project Title: Project Teacher’s Name:

Project Teacher’s Signature:


Community Service

Written Presentation Evaluation Form

Final Paper

The project is PASSING only if deadlines are met and all of the items are rated “Pass” for the final paper.

Content P F

Defines objectives in thesis statement

Provides specific, accurate, precise information or data and maintains focus

Uses appropriate vocabulary

Reflects insightful consideration of the importance, value, or impact of the service project

Organization P F

2-5 full, typed pages of text (MLA format; double spaced; Times New Roman 12-pt font)

Arranges information in a logical manner from the outline

Includes strong introduction and conclusion

Uses transitions between paragraphs

Research P F

Incorporates insights and reflections from activity log

Utilizes authoritative, timely source(s)

Conventions of Language P F

Uses varied and structurally correct sentences

Uses correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar

Sources/Citations P F

Includes an annotated works-cited page of at least 2 sources (one primary source)

Includes at least one proper MLA parenthetical citation for each source in paper text

Turnitin.com originality report scores no higher than 30%

PASS FAIL

Grade for Final Paper

Student’s Name Date Project Title: Project Teacher’s Name:

Project Teacher’s Signature:

P = Pass = Scheduled for Oral Presentation F = Fail = Project Failure → Remediation


Visual Aid Checklist

For the Oral Presentation

All presentations must be accompanied by a student-created electronic visual aid such as a slide presentation,

web page, video recording, etc. Note: video clips should not exceed 2 minutes in total length.

Design

_______ Project is balanced, uncluttered, neat and clean.

Graphics/Media

_______ All graphics/media are used effectively to enhance message, support thesis, and convey meaning.

Text

______ Text is presented in a legible font utilizing appropriate style, size, and color.

Mechanics

______ Presentation has no misspellings or grammatical errors.

Completion

______ Project is completely finished and includes an adequate number of slides (10-24).

Quality of Information

______ All information is clear, appropriate, and correct.

Organization/Presentation of Content

______ Visuals are introduced at appropriate times to enhance concepts throughout the presentation.

Originality

______ The product is original, inventive, and does not rehash other people’s ideas (the project follows the

Multimedia Guidelines).

Documentation

______ All text, charts, graphs, pictures, and other media are labeled within the presentation and properly cited

in an MLA list of works cited (last screen of the presentation)


Slide Presentation Guidelines

Presentation Layout: Layout continuity from frame to frame conveys a sense of completeness

Headings, subheadings, and images should show up in the same spot on each slide

Margins, fonts, font size, and colors should be consistent with graphics located in the same general

position on each frame

Lines, boxes, borders, and open space should be consistent throughout

Slide Layout: Limit each slide to one idea

Use bullet points to cover components of each idea

Make no more than six points per slide and use no more than six words per line

Use the same background for each slide

Use the same transitions for each slide

Limit animation – more than one can be distracting

Do not clutter the slide

Design:

Font should be clear (e.g., Arial, Tahoma, Verdana)

Font size should be readable from the back of the room

40 point is a good title size

32 point is a good subtitle or bullet point size

Content text should be no smaller that 24 point

Use small fonts for source citations within the presentation and the final works-cited screen

Do not use all CAPITAL LETTERS

Use italics for book, journal, or magazine titles

Choose a color scheme that is easy on the eyes

White backgrounds can be blinding in a dark room

Dark backgrounds with light colored text works best (reduces glare)

Keep the style of the graphic images consistent throughout the presentation

Illustrations should relate to the message and help make the point

If using video clips, presentation should contain no more than 2 minutes total of video

Presenting: Speak slowly and clearly when presenting so your audience can hear you

Prepare notes to help deliver an effective and dynamic presentation

Rehearse your presentation before delivering it to your audience

Have a classmate proofread and critique your presentation before you present it

Remember,

the media should ENHANCE the presentation,

not BE the presentation!


Storyboard for a Multimedia Presentation

Slide Slide Image and/or Description Slide Text/Source

# _____ Title Slide


# _____ Thesis


# _____


# _____



# _____


# _____


# _____


# _____



# _____


# _____


# _____


# _____

Note: Presentation should be between 10-24 slides. Final slide is for credits (MLA Works Cited).


Oral Presentation Evaluation Form

Outcome: The student must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of their chosen topic. A presentation is PASSING only if all of the categories below are rated “PASS”.

P = Pass = Earned .5 Graduation Project Credit F = Fail = Project Failure Remediation

Communication P F Begins presentation with a clearly defined thesis Supports each major point with information or data Cites major sources to show how experts and studies support thesis Uses appropriate and accurate vocabulary Communicates importance, value, and impact of the project Summarizes with a concluding statement

Effective Speaking P F Speaks clearly, correctly, and efficiently Uses body language to enhance the presentation Maintains consistent eye contact with members of the audience Varies tone, volume, and speed to enhance presentation Presents oneself with poise

Organization P F Uses an engaging beginning and a thoughtful ending Clearly focuses around the thesis Arranges information in a logical manner Flows smoothly from one idea to the next Keeps length of presentation between 8-12 minutes (No more than 2 minutes of total

video)

Visual Aid P F Visual aid is introduced at an appropriate time during the presentation Demonstrates effective use of media/graphic design with attention to layout, color scheme,

and appropriate font style and size

Clearly, accurately, and precisely communicates significant information or data to enhance

presentation

All illustrations, tables, charts, and graphs are labeled within the presentation and properly

cited in an MLA list of works cited (last screen of the presentation)

Visual aid is free of errors with correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar An MLA List of Works Cited is included as the last screen of the presentation

Response to Questions P F Effectively responds to all questions from the audience

PASS FAIL

Grade for Oral Presentation

Student’s Name Date

Project Title: Project Teacher’s Name: Evaluators:


PLEASANT VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Graduation Project

Community Service Contract

Student’s Name (Print)

Grade Homeroom Project Teacher (Print)

Home Address

Home Phone # Cell #

PV Email Guidance Counselor (Print)

Service Organization Site and Address: Brief Description of Project: Working Thesis Statement: I will submit the following by 2:25 PM on the designated due dates:

Requirement Due Date Initials

Contract, Activity Log with Signed Cover Sheet September 27, 2018

First Draft November 15, 2018

Final Paper January 25, 2019

I will be present for my oral presentation on the date and time that I have chosen

Student Signature & Date (I confirm that 50 service hours have been completed.)

Parent / Guardian Signature & Date (I confirm that 50 service hours have been completed.)

CC: Student Project Teacher

Contract due date: Thursday, September 27, 2018, 2:25 PM

graduation project planner -...

Documents