Reading & Writing Workshop IV
Graduation Project
Ms. Rehm 2013-2014
Objective – Students will demonstrate proficiency in fiction and non-fiction literature
by completeing an individual project focusing on the areas of theme and theme
development, characterization and character development, author’s purpose, gradelevel appropriate vocabulary, and summarization.
Fiction and Non-Fiction Literature Project Assignment –
 Students will complete, with minimum 70% accuracy, weekly practice exercises
pertaining to literary devices to be analyzed and defended during final project
presentations.

Students will create, using materials from at least 2 novels on the same topic,
a presentation (demonstrating proficiency of literary devices as related to their
novels) for their class and teacher, using PowerPoint, Prezi, Music, Dance or
other method of their choice (pre-approved by teacher).

Topics for novels that can be chosen
o Sports
Love
o Family
Race
o Ambition / Goals
Environment
o Violence
Education
o History
Rags to Riches
o Other Pre Approved by Teacher
Specific Requirements 



Choose a Topic
Locate a Fiction AND a Non-Fiction novel pertaining to the same topic
Decide on Major and Minor Themes that both have in common
o Analyze theme development through both novels – using evidence from
texts to support your statements
Develop a thorough character anaylsis throughout each novel, comparing and
contrasting


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Explore the author’s purpose with regard to text structure, plot events and
setting
Make inferences and conclusions based on the author’s beliefs – using evidence
from texts to support your statements
Accurately use grade appropriate vocabulary
Note: several graphic organizers will be available to students to organize thoughts and
presentations, as needed, throughout this process
Assessment –
Students will be evaluated two ways for Literature Proficiency
 First for the accuracy in theme development, author’s purpose, inferences made,
text use to support statements, use of grade appropriate vocabulary (see
attached rubric)
 Second on their presentation itself using the same rubric as for their Senior
Project Presentation (same rubric will be used)
Students must receive a 70% or higher on these evaluations in order to successfully
complete course requirements.
Objective – Students will demonstrate proficiency in English Composition by
completing TWO (2) formal essays / writing assignments 1 in order to Inform, and 1 in
order to Persuade.
Informative Essay –
 Students will choose a topic from the list
 Students will brainstorm ideas based on their topic
 Students will complete research in class and on their own
 Students will complete an outline graphic organizer for this essay
 Students will write an INFORMATIVE essay based on a chosen topic
o Essay will be at least 8 paragraphs in length
o Essay will include 1 graph, chart, illustration directly relating to the topic
o Essay will include internal citations (same as Senior Project requirements)
o Essay will include a Works Cited page
o Essay will be graded by your Workshop teacher using the Senior Project
Research Paper Rubric
Persuasive Essay –
 Students will choose an argument from the list
 Students will brainstorm ideas based on their argument for BOTH sides
 Students will complete research in class and on their own for BOTH sides of their
argument
 Students will complete an outline graphic organizer for this essay
 Students will write a PERSUASIVE essay based on an argument of their choice
o Essay will be at least 5 paragraphs in length
o Essay will present both sides of the chosen argument
o Essay will include internal citations (same as Senior Project requirements)
o Essay will include a Works Cited Page
o Essay will be graded by your Workshop teacher using the Senior Project
Research Paper Rubric
Timeline of Project Deadlines
Choose Topic for Literature Project September 25, 2013.
Choose Topics for Writing Projects September 27, 2013.
This will be done in Workshop classes.
Informative Essay Due – October 25, 2013
Outline Due - October 11, 2013
Rough Draft for feedback by- October 18, 2013
Persuasive Essay Due - November 27, 2013
Outline Due – November 15, 2013
Rough Draft for feedback by - November 22, 2013
Presentation of Fiction and Non-Fiction Proficiency
Exact Dates will be chosen December 3, 2013
Presentations will begin January 6, 2014
My Exact Presentation Date Is __________________________
Weekly Topic Assignment Timeline
9/9/13 – Theme
9/16/13 – Tone
9/23/13 - Summarization
9/30/13 - Paraphrasing
10/7/13 - Mood
10/14/13 – Vocabulary Usage
10/21/13 – Author’s Purpose
10/28/13 – Characterization and Character Development
11/4/13 – Text Structure
11/11/13 – Locating and Using Supporting Text Evidence
11/18/13 – Locating and Using additional mediums
11/25/13 12/3/13 – Author’s Choice
12/9/13 – Making Inferences
12/16/13
Students must receive a 70& or higher on each of the weekly assignments, Essays, and Final Presentation
in order to qualify for the opportunity to choose an elective at the semester break.
Informative Essay Topics
1. A particular period of architecture
2. Advances in Education
3. All about a favorite radio show
4. Al about your favorite vacation spot (or where you would like to visit)
5. America’s fastest growing cities
6. Ballroom Dancing
7. Basic economic principles
8. Best travel destinations
9. Branches of the military
10. Breeds of dogs
11. Causes and effects of air pollution
12. Causes and effects of water pollution
13. Causes and harmful effects of deforestation
14. Causes of Cancer
15. Causes of Diabetes
16. Causes of Global Warming
17. Censorship in history
18. Cheapest vacation spots
19. Chinese food
20. Civil War generals
21. Competitive horseback riding
22. Computer viruses
23. Crazy laws
24. Cruise vacations
25. Cults
26. Deep sea fish(ing)
27. Crazy laws
28. Democracy: the best form of government
29. Description of life in another country
30. Different types of cancers
31. Disneyland
32. Disney World
33. Dog Shows
34. Dream interpretation
35. Drinking problems
36. Drug problems
37. Dyslexia
38. Effects of environmental degradation
39. Effects of global warming
40. Electric cars
41. Evolution of the English language
42. Evolution of video games
43. Evolution of voting laws
44. Exotic pets
45. Famous advertising campaigns
46. Famous diplomats
47. Famous documents
48. Famous speeches
49. Foreign TV shows
50. Former child stars
51. Fringe known political parties
52. Fundamental rights of an individual
53. Historical events that occurred on your birthday
54. History of a favorite product brand
55. History of tattooing
56. Holiday destinations in France
57. ID theft
58. Impact of media on society
59. Impact of social media on society
60. Impact of social media on relationships
61. Importance of a balanced diet for good health
62. Importance of personal hygiene
63. Importance of recycling on waste materials
64. Interesting cultures
65. Internet dating
66. Key phrases in a foreign language
67. Lesser known presidents
68. Life in the future
69. Local folklore
70. Measures to keep surroundings clean
71. National parks
72. Native American tribes and customs
73. Natural disasters
74. Near death experiences
75. Nursing homes
76. Origins of superstitions
77. Picking a name for your child
78. Places to visit in India
79. Polygamy
80. Professional baseball stadiums
81. Psychological profiling
82. Racial profiling
83. Racism
84. Raising pet snakes
85. Real life vampires
86. Roadside attractions
87. Sales tactics
88. Saving money on your income taxes
89. Schools of painting
90. Serial killers
91. Seven wonders of the world
92. Social evils in underdeveloped countries
93. Spies
94. Sports card collecting
95. Tarot
96. The biography of your favorite actor / actress / comedian
97. The FBI
98. The history of comic books
99. The history of the Bible
100.
History of your hometown
101.
History of your school district
102.
Latest discoveries in astronomy
103.
The Miss America Pageant
104.
The newspaper business
105.
The three branches of US Government
106.
Things to take along while traveling
107.
Treatment for different types of cancers
108.
Trends in the stock market
109.
Types of cheese
110.
Types of poetry
111.
Types of tropical fish
112.
US territories
113.
UFO’s
114.
Voodoo
115.
Ways of preventing air pollution
116.
Ways of preventing water pollution
117.
Why is education essential for children
118.
Witchcraft
119.
Working in the fast food industry
120.
World War II heroes
121.
Young Billionaires
122.
The Titanic
123.
Law Enforcement
124.
Cupcakes
125.
Racial profiling in law enforcement
126.
Changes in video production
127.
History of video recording
128.
Student Learning Styles
129.
History of the iPhone
130.
Blogs
131.
History of Hip-Hop Music
Persuasive Argument Essay Topics
1. Dieting makes people fat
2. Romantic love is a poor basis for marriage
3. The war on terror has contributed ot the growing abuse of human rights.
4. High school graduates should take a year off before entering college
5. All citizens should be require by law to vote
6. All forms of government welfare should be abolished
7. All people receiving public assistance should be drug tested
8. Both parents should assume equal responsibility in raising a child
9. Americans should have more holidays and longer vacations
10. Participating in team sports helps to develop goo character
11. The production and sale of cigarettes should be made illegal
12. People have become overly dependent on technology
13. Censorship is sometimes justified
14. Privacy is not the most important right
15. Drunk drivers should be imprisoned on the first offense
16. The lost art of letter-writing deserves to be revived
17. Government and military personnel should have the right to strike
18. Most study-abroad programs should be renamed “party-abroad” ; they are a
waste of time and money
19. The continuing decline of CD sales along with the rapid growth of music
downloads, signals a new era of innovation in popular music
20. College students should have complete freedom to choose their own courses
21. The solution to the impeding crisis in Social Security in the immediate elimination
of this anachronistic government program
22. The primary mission of colleges and universities should be preparing students for
the workforce
23. Financial incentives should be offered to high school students who perform well
on standardized tests
24. All students in high school and college should be required to take at least two
years of a foreign language
25. College students in the US should be offered financial incentives to graduate in
three years rather than four.
26. College athletes should be exempted from regular class-attendance policies
27. To encourage healthy eating, higher taxes should be imposed on soft drinks and
junk food.
28. Students should not be required to take physical education courses
29. Ton conserve fuel and save lives, the 55 miles-per-hour national speed limit
should be restored.
30. All citizens under 21 should be required to pass a driving education course before
receiving a license to drive.
31. Any student caught cheating on an exam or plagiarizing should be automatically
dismissed from college
32. Freshman should not be required to purchase a meal plan from the college
33. Zoos are internment camps for animals and should be shut down
34. University students should not be penalized for illegally downloading music,
movies, or other protected content
35. Government financial aid for students should be based solely on merit
36. Nontraditional student should be exempted from regular class-attendance
policies. (adult learners)
37. At the end of each term, student evaluations of the faculty should be posted
online
38. A student organization should be formed to rescue and care for the feral cats on
campus.
39. People who contribute to Social Security should have the right to choose how
their money is invested
40. Professional athletes convicted of using performance enhancing drugs should not
be considered for induction into their Hall of Fame
41. Should student be allowed to have and use cell phones in elementary and high
school?
42. Should students have to wear uniforms?
43. The elderly receive free bus rides?
44. Should all American citizens have to complete a year of community service?
45. Should students be required to take Spanish class?
46. Should the voting age be lowered to thirteen?
47. Should the driving age be raised to Twenty-one?
48. Should students be paid for having good grades?
49. Should illegal immigrants be allowed to get drivers licenses?
50. Should not wearing a seatbelt be illegal?
51. Should students’ textbooks be replaced by a tablet or notebook computer?
52. Should students have to pass a basic skills test to graduate high school?
53. Should schools raise money by selling candy and sugary soft drinks to students?
54. Should polygamy be illegal.
55. Should schools serve French-fries and fried potato products to students at lunch?
56. Should students grades in gym affect their grade point average?
57. Should girls be allowed to play on boys sports teams?
58. Should boys and girls be in separate classes?
59. Should teenage girls be allowed to get birth control without the permission of
their parents?
60. Should our country have a universal health care program?
61. Should immigration laws be reformed?
62. Should the federal government recognize civil unions?
63. Should people who download music and movies illegally be punished?
64. Should school athletes have to be on the honor roll to play in games?
65. Should music with cuss words be allowed at school dances?
66. Should students be able to listen to mp3 players on headphones during class or
independent work time?
67. Should schools offer fast food options like McDonalds or Taco Bell?
68. Should smoking be allowed at parks and other outdoor public venues?
69. Should cities offer free public WiFi?
70. Should the 2nd Amendment give citizens the right to own assault weaponry?
71. Should people traveling in airplane have to undergo intensive security
screenings?
72. Should restaurants be allowed to sell genetically modified chickens under the
name “chicken”
73. Should teachers have to pass a basic skills text every ten years to renew their
certifications?
74. Should people be allowed to keep exotic animals like chimpanzees or tigers?
75. Should people be allowed to keep pit-bull dogs?
76. Should the city offer a bike sharing program?
77. Should prostitution be legalized and regulated by the government?
78. Should celebrities who break the law face stricter penalties?
79. Should the government increase spending on the space program?
80. Should larger passengers have to pay for two plane or movie theater tickets?
81. Should children have to use booster seats in cars?
82. Should people have to get a license to become parents?
83. Should there be tougher federal restrictions for content on the internet?
84. Should people be allowed to cuss on daytime television/
85. Should owners be legally accountable to clearing snow from sidewalks on their
property?
86. Should sexual education be taught in public schools?
87. Should students who commit cyber-bullying be suspended from school?
88. Should corporations be allowed to advertise in schools?
89. Should students be allowed to eat during class time?
90. Should more be done to protect and preserve endangered animals?
91. Is it appropriate for students ad teacher to be friends on Facebook or IG?
92. Should students have open campus lunch periods?
93. Should abortions be legal in cases of rape and incest?
94. Should the death penalty be used to punish violent criminals?
95. Should students learn about world religions in public schools?
96. Should high schools start later in the morning?
97. Should Puerto Rico become a state?
98. Should stem cell researchers be able to use the stem cells from ALL babies to
cure diseases?
99. Should high school athletes have to take drug tests?
100.
Should high school students have to complete community service hours to
graduate?
101.
Should teens over 13 be allowed into R rated movies?
102.
Should scientists be allowed to test products intended for human use on
animals?
103.
Should unhealthy fast food products be sold with a warning label?
104.
Should students or teachers receive money for scoring well on
standardized tests?
105.
Should everyone under the age of 17 have a 9:00 PM curfew?
106.
Should schools with low scores on standardized tests be closed?
107.
Should minors be allowed to drink alcoholic beverages in their homes with
their parents?
108.
Should alcohol manufacturers be allowed to advertise on television?
109.
Should students as young as 14 be allowed to hold jobs?
110.
Should American families have a two child max rule to limit population
growth.
111.
Should children younger than 13 be allowed to watch music videos?
112.
Should people who are caught driving drunk lose their licenses for a year?
113.
Should students who fail their classes be retained and have to repeat the
entire grade?
114.
Should female construction workers earn the same wages as males?
115.
Should children in temporary living situations with a 3.0 GPA earn free
college tuition?
116.
Should gambling and sports betting be illegal or should the government
regulate it?
117.
Should teachers have to wear uniforms or have a strict dress code?
118.
Should teachers be allowed to have cell phones in the classroom?
119.
Should the state execute dogs that have bitten someone?
120.
Should talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving
be illegal?
121.
Should Catholic priests be allowed to marry?
122.