Overview
Each graduating senior completes
a major exit project. This graduation project is a demonstration of each
student's ability to
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apply content knowledge and skills through an extended research project;
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communicate information by writing, speaking, and presenting;
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demonstrate capability and understanding in course work required by the North Carolina State Board of Education.
The project involves three steps. Each student
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Develops 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.
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Spends a minimum of fifteen (15) hours creating a physical product to highlight some component of their research results.
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Makes a presentation to a panel of judges prior to graduation to demonstrate scholarship and learning.
Everything begins with the Essential Question.
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 sequence of activities is as follows:
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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 a 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.
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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.
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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 hours
of work.
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Seniors should plan a ten to twelve 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.
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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.
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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
