Overview 2005-2006

Southeast Raleigh High School requires each graduating senior to complete a major exit project to receive a diploma.  This graduation project enables students to apply content knowledge and skills through an extended research project; to communicate information by writing, speaking, and presenting; and to demonstrate capability and understanding in course work required by the North Carolina State Board of Education. 

The project involves three steps.  First, students develop an essential question on a topic, research the topic for the purpose of answering the question, and write a paper detailing the results of their research.  Second, students spend a minimum of fifteen (15) hours creating a physical product to highlight some component of their research results.  Finally, students make a presentation to a panel of judges prior to their graduation to demonstrate their learning. 

• Seniors taking English 12 during first term will present before the winter break on Monday, November 14, 2005 
• Seniors taking English 12 during the second term will present before final exams on Monday, April 24, 2006.
• Seniors taking English 12 on the yearlong schedule will present in the schedule as follows:  AP students (Ms. Freeman´s second period) will present on November 14th and Honors students (Ms. Anderson´s second period) will present on April 24th. 

The Process

All students will receive assistance with the project requirements through their English 11 and 12 grade English classes, their Academic Coach, and the Graduation Project Coordinator.  The time line of activities is as follows:

1. Seniors will  select a topic, devise an essential question, and choose a mentor in the first few weeks of senior English. (Some of this work will occur in junior English as well, especially the formation and approval of the essential question.)
   
   Students will submit a cover letter to the principal and the Mentor Verification Form to their senior English teacher, following the timelines set by the senior English teacher.  The senior English teacher will forward those materials to the proper individuals for approval and recording. Incomplete or missing forms will result in costly delays for the student. 
    
2. Seniors must then research the topic.  They will write and submit to their English 12 teacher a research paper that answers the essential question.  The paper must include a minimum of five sources, and it must follow MLA guidelines.  The student should also reference a variety of sources including, but not limited to, books, websites, articles from scholarly journals, interviews, and primary sources. The English teacher will assist seniors in this process and assign due dates for the paper.
    
3. With the assistance of the mentor, the Academic Coach, and the English teacher, seniors will develop a product based on their research.  The product must show evidence of at least fifteen (15) hours of work.
    
4. Seniors should plan a ten to twelve (10-12) minute presentation.  English teachers and the Graduation Project Coordinator will help with presentation skills.  All presentations must employ the use of technology in some fashion.
    
5. Seniors will present their graduation projects to a panel of judges.  Students will be assigned a presentation time on the designated day and will be notified in their English 12 class of their appointment time and location. 
    
6. All aspects of the project are judged using a rubric scoring system.  The rubrics will be provided to students through their English teacher. Based on the rubric ratings completed by the English teacher (for the research paper) and the panel (for the product and presentation), the principal will determine whether seniors have successfully met the requirements of the graduation project.  Students will be notified in writing the day after their presentation of their scores.
    

More on the Four P´s of the Graduation Project

Portfolio Begin Here!
The Mentor Form, information and resources on creating an excellent Essential Question, and essential guidance on choosing a mentor

Paper
Everything you ever wanted to know about research, notetaking, MLA documentation, outlining, quotation usage, plagiarism, drafting, revising, and proofreading

Product
Guidance on creating a product that enhance your presentation and highlight your research

Presentation
Essential tips from past pros and GP judges on how to deliver an expertly crafted presentation