Senior Project Introduction
Mr. Brown
Mr. Clawson
Dr. Moschetta
Mrs. Silverman
Woodland Hills High School
English Teacher vs. Adviser
English Teacher’s Role
Teach Senior Project
process in English class
Provide SOME in-class
work time
Sign Proposal/Contract
Collect work on deadline
days
Keep a record of Senior
Project progress & grades
Coordinate presentations in
English class
Adviser’s Role
Grade Senior Project work for
2-3 students
Return graded work to
English teachers
Conference with advisees (if
necessary)

You should introduce yourself
to your adviser – next few
weeks
Attend advisees’ presentations
(if schedule allows)
Portfolio Requirement
Turn in all work in your Senior Project folder

Try to take care of it so it doesn’t fall apart
There is a specific order that your work will be
organized in your folder
Don’t throw anything away!

Lost Senior Project materials must be recreated,
reprinted, or replaced
IMPORTANT! Don’t use your Senior Project
folder for anything other than Senior Project!
Bring your folder to class on Senior Project work
days
Topics
Choose a career field of interest
Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center database
 Bridges

Research some controversial topics within
that career field

Issues and Controversies database

WHSD Homepage, schools, high school, library,
Facts on File Databases, Issues and Controversies
Topic Selection
Determine a controversial topic for your
Senior Project.
A controversy has two sides: opposing and
supporting. A topic without two sides will
not be accepted.
You will research:
Background on the topic
 Arguments in favor of the issue
 Arguments opposed to the issue

Determine your stance on the issue and
explain it.
Topic Selection
Open to page 3
When you think you have a good topic,
check it against these questions.
Senior Project Handbook
All information you will need for each step in the
Senior Project process.
Table of Contents (p1)
Activities
Explanations of requirements
Rubrics
Paper and Works Cited format
Documenting sources – parenthetical citations
MLA format (p26)
Senior Project Process &
Deadlines
Proposal – September 19 (5% of project grade)


Draft on pages 10-11 of Senior Project Handbook
Final copy – separate (yellow)
Research and Notes part I BACKGROUND and
HISTORY-November 7-(10%)
All parts (except proposal) of Sr. Project should have a
cover page. Mr. Brown will provide them.
Senior Project Process &
Deadlines
MIDTERM GRADE: Your average of the
first three steps of senior project will
comprise your midterm grade.
Senior Project Process &
Deadlines
Research and Notes part II –Dec 12 (15%)

Focus upon opposing and supporting
arguments.

Six sources (1 source due approx. 2 weeks early for
English teachers to check before Advisers grade the rest of
the notes)
Three different kinds of sources
At least one firsthand source



Firsthand vs. secondary sources – Proposal (page 10)
Senior Project Process &
Deadlines
First Draft – February 13 (20%)

Draft of research paper
Final Paper – March 13 (30%)
Presentations – April/May (20%)
Senior Project Process &
Deadlines
FINAL EXAM: combination of all steps in
the Senior Project process.
Deadlines
Deadlines are not negotiable
Lose 10% per day late, regardless of absence or
excuse
If you are not in school



Turn in work early
Have a responsible friend turn in work TO ME! (not
my mailbox)
As a last resort, email work to me before your class
period & turn in Senior Project folder the next day
Deadlines
Final paper deadline

If not completed on March 13 AND meeting minimum
requirements, you are not eligible to participate in the
graduation ceremony
Presentation



You must present on the day you are scheduled
You must be on time to class on your presentation date
Conflicts must be resolved before the calendar is
finalized
Grading/In Class Work Time
Each step is graded on rubric – copies in Senior
Project handbook
Allow for 2 weeks for advisers to grade & return to
English teacher; English teacher to record grades
When work is returned work, we will discuss the
next step and have a few days in class to work
Much of the work will need to be completed out of
class
You will have ample time to complete work before
the next deadline
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is cheating
Plagiarism = Forging a parent’s signature
on proposal, not paraphrasing or quoting,
not citing.
Plagiarism is three or more words, in a row,
that are not attributed to an author or put in
quotations and cited.
Plagiarism is very, very serious!
Plagiarism penalties
Plagiarize once = 0 for that step, must still
complete that step for no credit
Plagiarize twice = fail Senior Project
Plagiarize final paper = fail Senior Project,
do not graduate
Minimum Requirements
5-7 page research paper

Minimum 5 full pages!
6 sources, 3 different kinds, at least one
firsthand source
10 minute minimum presentation
Complete all steps in Senior Project process
Pass final paper & presentation on time. If
you do not turn it in on time you will not
walk at graduation!!!!!
Questions?
Notes:
Room 133 with Mr. McGuire, to learn how to
research, on Friday and Monday.
 Your handbooks are important, all answers can
be found inside. Do not lose!!!
 This presentation available on my website.
 Come to English lab, get help from a
professional!

Advice
Do not procrastinate.
Seek help in a timely manner.
Breathe.
Calm Down.
You basically did this project last year in a
shorter amount of time (Jr. Research Project)
Ask for help.