NORTHSHORE SENIOR PROJECT
SENIORS: As a culminating experience to your education in St. Tammany
Parish, you are required to complete an enhanced research project. This
long-term educational endeavor requires your vision, initiative, and
commitment. All seniors are required to complete the four parts of the
project:
I. portfolio
II. interview
III. presentation
IV. visual
Enhancement students will complete all four parts of the project, and may
continue the topic that was initiated in English III. All seniors must work
as individuals.
Students who meet these requirements (ACT 23, Basic on all parts of GEE,
2.5 GPA in core) can elect to pursue Academic Endorsement which has five
parts. These students will do all five components required of
enhancement. In addition, Endorsement students will select and work for 20
hours with a mentor and present their project to a panel.
V. product
Step 1 Topic selection and development
When selecting a topic, you should consider one about which you already
have strong feelings, interest, or curiosity. The topic you selected and
developed junior year is acceptable, but your portfolio and research must
reflect ongoing work and development.
The topic refining procedure will be included in the final portfolio.
Step 2 Commitment to Enhancement or Endorsement and the Topic proposal
There are three (four) forms which must be signed and included in the
portfolio: enhancement/endorsement anticipation, parental acknowledgement,
research proposal, (student/mentor agreement.)
All students will submit a three (five) paragraph Project Proposal. This
proposal must be typed, and should include a MLA heading in the upper left
hand corner.
A centered title should pose a research question.
P # 1 The students will research, searching for a preliminary answer to the
posed question. The answer should include the student’s personal objective
and purpose for this topic. The paragraph should also include some relevant
information which defines or gives some insight to the topic A copy of the
reference should be stapled to the back of the proposal.
P # 2 This paragraph should include who will be involved, how the project
will be accomplished, possible interviewees, estimated time and cost,
projected visuals, but most importantly, why you selected this topic and
what you hope to learn.
P # 3 In your own words, define “plagiarism” as you understand it.
Communicate an understanding of the consequences of plagiarism, and
conclude with a statement affirming that you will not plagiarize or falsify
any Senior Project information.
(P # 4) Anticipate what the final product will be and clearly state the
relationship between the research paper and the product.
(P # 5) Identify the mentor and his or her specific, relevant expertise and
background. Give the proposed schedule for the 2`0plus hours you plan to
meet with the mentor to observe and gain information and guidance.
Step 3 Research
Five credible, reliable sources are required. A copy of each source will be
included in the portfolio. Each hard copy should be annotated and
highlighted to reflect information used in the text of your paper. Most of
your research will be done outside school. Be sure to retrieve all the MLA
bibliographical information when you make a copy of your source.
Make initial contact with the person you wish to interview and schedule a
meeting time. Submit the 10 (or more) questions you want to ask. Conduct
the interview, and record the answers. A transcript of the interview will
also be submitted.
Endorsement students should contact and begin interaction with their
mentor. The mentor must be an adult, non-relative, who has some
significant expertise in the subject you are researching. Finding a mentor
is a requirement of the senior project. Mentoring agreement contracts and
logs are also the responsibility of the student.
Step 4 Reflection Journals
This is an ongoing assignment, and the teacher will determine the format and
number of journal entries. Each entry will reflect your creative process;
successes, frustrations, or insights you’ve had; projections of the future;
and for Endorsement students, responses to your mentor and the mentoring
process. All of these reflection journals will be included in the portfolio.
Step 5 The Outline
The heading for the outline is in the upper left hand corner; it includes
the student name, date, and then teacher name. The entire outline is double
spaced and should use the appropriate MLA format for writing an outline.
This will include the correct number of bullets and tab spacing. Your
outline should begin with the research question centered on the page. Your
first Roman numeral will be the introduction which must include subheadings
that give information on the definition, history and background data of your
topic.
The outline then needs a minimum of three supports, and each should contain
a significant number of bullets.
All outlines must end with a Roman numeral labeled …Discussion/Conclusion.
No bullets are required for this.
Note: You must follow the MLA guidelines for an outline (capitals,
punctuation, etc.), but you may choose whether or not to write complete
sentences. Be aware that the more work you put into your outline, the
easier it will be to write the text of your paper.
Step 6 The Research Paper (MLA Format)
The text of your paper will be a minimum of eight pages from the
introduction to the conclusion. The heading for MLA requires the name,
school and teacher names, class and period, and then date, double spaced and
placed in the upper left-hand corner. The project title will be centered
beneath the heading. The first page will be numbered in the upper right
hand corner with the student surname and the numeral.
A minimum of 8 parenthetical, in-text citations are required. Be sure to
credit information from your source and direct quotes appropriately. The
font must be Arial or Times New Roman; the size should be 12 pt; the entire
paper is double spaced; and the margins are 1 inch with no justification.
Each page, through the Works Cited page, will be numbered in the upper right-
hand corner.
The correct format for parenthetical documentation, and the sources you
cited (minimum 5 and the interview) alphabetically organized reference page,
centered and labeled …Works Cited…., can all be found at www.mla.org
www.citationmachine.net
There are many other websites and templates on line designed to help you
write citations properly. Take advantage of them, but be sure you’re using
the MLA Style format.
Class time will be set aside for students to peer edit rough drafts.
Step 6 The Portfolio
All components will be place in a 1-2 inch binder. The binder cover must
include the title of the project, student name, and teacher, but you are
encouraged to make it as creative as you wish.
The components and order are as follows:
1. Title page for the Senior Project (center and double space the
following info: Title, Northshore High School, Student name, Submission
date, and English teacher name)
2. Table of contents
3. Proposal (graded and submitted)
4. Topic Refinement Sheet (graded and submitted)
5. Consent forms, signed agreements, and contracts
6. Outline (graded and submitted)
7. Research paper (All 8 pages)
8. Copies of all sources in alphabetical order
9. Interview transcript (graded and submitted)
10. Endorsement mentoring logs
11. Additional components (charts, pictures, flyers, etc.)
12. Senior Project Portfolio Rubric
Step 7 Senior Project Visual (Spring Semester)
All Senior Projects will have a visual to aid the seniors in the
presentation of their projects. The visual should be an integral part of
the presentation. This is a part of the senior project that can be
creative, expressive, and personal. You will write a proposal for the
presentation which will include your plan for the visual.
The student is responsible for all technology and securing the appropriate
equipment.
Step 8 Senior Presentation (Spring Semester)
All seniors will present their Senior Projects to an audience which will
consist of students, teachers, visiting classes, and guests. The
presentation will last approximately 5 minutes. Seniors must vocalize his
or her name, topic, reasons for selecting the topic, things that have been
learned during the process, and any other preliminary information that the
student deems important. Most of the presentation time should be spent
presenting your project to the audience. All presenters should be prepared
for audience questions and challenges.
Endorsement students will use this opportunity to practice for their formal
presentation. Students must bring their portfolios and give them to the
teacher at the start of class.
Presentations will be scheduled by the teachers and will be given in either
the library or the auditorium. Audience responsiveness, demeanor, and
behavior will be graded on a daily basis.
Step 9 The Product (Endorsement only) (Spring Semester)
The product is a hands-on experience demonstrating that the student can
apply the information gained in the research to create a product that will
show mastery of the topic.
A proposal of this product must be presented to the teacher prior to the
presentation.
Step 10 Panel Presentation (Endorsement only) (Spring Semester)
Appropriate dress, demeanor, and command of the topic are necessary to
exhibit mastery of your chosen subject. The panel will question, challenge,
and assess.