Senior Topics I Final Project
We have worked on several projects throughout the year in this class, and all of them
have a relevance to math in your world that can be used in life outside of school. If you
recall, we had to learn certain skills and study related topics in order to be able to
successfully complete the end of the unit assessment. At the beginning of the year, the
objectives for this course were given to you and the section that described the course is
given below.
Senior Topics is a math elective to prepare students for real world mathematical
situations. It focuses on making students life long learners so that they can be productive
members of society and have a deep appreciation of math. This class will focus on doing
projects, applications, and analyzing outcomes. Also, we will explore college entrance
exams, SAT questions, and use the computer to develop skills you will need in college.
Our goal will be to make you think mathematically to solve your problems.
The course description can be broken down into 7 basic skills that we worked on
developing. They are applied mathematical problem solving, math skills, computer
skills, being an educated consumer, statistical analysis and probable outcomes, research,
and college prep skills. In a reflective essay, explain how we worked on developing each
skill with at least 2 examples through projects or work done in class. You can use the
chart on the back by marking an X in each row where we used each skill. This will help
you when you write your essay by explaining why you put an X in the box and describe
how we used or developed that skill specifically. After you explain each skill, tell how
developing it helped you as a student preparing for life outside of high school. When you
are finished with your essay, paper clip at least 3 pieces of your work from this year to
support your essay. They may be taken from your portfolio of projects.
Listed below are the things we have covered this year to help you write your essay.
Remember to make sure that your essay is appropriate for class and fits the normal
guidelines for one of our written papers (typed, spell checked, grammar checked, double
spaced, 12 point font.) Listed below are the projects we did this year and the units they
came from as well as some additional topics we did in class.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Dream Car project from the budgeting and educated consumer unit.
SAT unit with example tests
College entrance exams with basic skill coverage.
Famous Mathematician project from the math appreciation unit.
The Cell Phone project from the linear equations unit.
The Grocery Planner and Car Consumer projects done on excel as part of the
Computer-programming unit using excel, word and the Internet.
7. Ultimate Athlete Stats Project
8. So you want to buy a house
9. Unit on Credit Cards, Checks, and find a job
Applied
Mathematical
Problem Solving
Computer Skills
Being an Educated
Consumer
Statistical / Data
Analysis and
Probable Outcomes
Research
College Prep.
Dream Car
Famous
Mathematician
Cell
Phone
SAT Prep and
College entrance
exams
Grocery Planner and
Car Consumer
Ultimate Athlete
Stats Project
So you want to
buy a house –
reading
assignment and
property search
4
3
2
1
Explanation of
how we used the
Applied
Mathematical
problem solving
skill
-Paper thoroughly explained how
the skill was exercised in class
with at least two well-described
references to support its use.
-The Problems that needed to be
solved were explained thoroughly
along with the Mathematical
methods used to solve them.
-Paper explained how the skill
was exercised in class with two
acceptable references to
support its use.
-The Problems that needed to be
solved were explained along with
the Mathematical methods used
to solve them.
-Paper gives only one example of
how skill was exercised in class
or only one reference to support
its use.
-The Explanation may be vague
and doesn't talk about how Math
was used to solve the problems
or a poor explanation was given.
-Paper doesn't
discuss math in the
attempts to solve the
problems or it was
clear that the writer
didn't understand
this part of the
assignment and how it
applied to this skill.
Explanation of
how we used
Computer Skills
-Paper thoroughly explained how
the skill was exercised in class
with at least two well-described
references to support its use.
-The paper also includes the
specific programs used (ex:
Word, Excel,..) and the functions
you used on the program to help
you.
-Paper explained how the skill
was exercised in class with two
references to support its use.
- The paper also includes the
specific programs used but may
not have included the functions
used in the program to complete
the projects.
-Paper gives only one example of
how skill was exercised in class
or only one reference to support
its use.
-The Explanation may be vague
and doesn't talk about what
programs where used on the
computer.
-Paper doesn't
discuss the skill
clearly or it was
evident that the
writer didn't
understand this part
of the assignment
and how it applied to
this skill.
Explanation of
how we became
Educated
Consumers
-Paper thoroughly explained
what it means to be an educated
consumer and how you did that in
two well-described references
from projects we’ve done this
semester.
–It examines how you learned
how to survive without being
taken advantage of in the world.
-Paper explains what it means to
be an educated consumer and
how you did that in two
references from projects we’ve
done this semester.
–It may not have examined how
you learned how to survive
without being taken advantage of
in the world.
-Paper gives only one example of
how skill was exercised in class
or only one reference to support
its use.
-The Explanation may be vague
and doesn't talk about learned
how to survive without being
taken advantage of in the world.
-Paper doesn't
discuss the skill
clearly or it was
evident that the
writer didn't
understand clearly
this part of the
assignment and how it
applied to this skill.
Explanation of
how we used
Statistical
Analysis and
Probable
Outcomes Skills
-Paper thoroughly explained how
the skill was exercised in class
with at least two well-described
references to support its use.
-The paper also includes a great
description of how you have
improved as a student because
of these projects.
-Paper explained how the skill
was exercised in class with two
references to support its use.
-The paper also includes an
acceptable description of how
you have improved as a student
because of these projects.
-Paper gives only one example of
how skill was exercised in class
or only one reference to support
its use.
-The Explanation may be vague
and doesn't talk about how
working with this skill affected
you as a student or a poor
explanation was given.
-Paper doesn't
discuss the skill
clearly or it was
evident that the
writer didn't
understand clearly
this part of the
assignment and how it
applied to this skill.
Explanation of
how we used
Research Skills
-Paper thoroughly explained how
the skill was exercised in class
with at least two well-described
references to support its use.
-The places and methods used to
do your research were included
in the description.
-Paper explained how the skill
was exercised in class with at
least two references to support
its use.
-The places and methods used to
do your research were included
in the description.
-Paper gives only one example of
how skill was exercised in class
or only one reference to support
its use.
-The Explanation may be vague
and doesn't talk about the places
and methods used to do your
research.
-Paper doesn't
discuss the skill
clearly or it was
evident that the
writer didn't
understand clearly
this part of the
assignment and how it
applied to this skill.
Explanation of
what we did for
a College-Prep or
life after school
-Paper thoroughly explained how
the skill was exercised in class
with at least two well-described
references to support its use.
-The paper also includes a great
description of how you have
improved as a student to meet
the challenges of the real-world.
-Paper explained how the skill
was exercised in class with at
least two references to support
its use.
-The paper also includes a
description of how you have
improved as a student to meet
the challenges of the real-world.
-Paper gives only one example of
how skill was exercised in class
or only one reference to support
its use.
-The Explanation may be vague
and doesn't talk about how you
have improved as a student to
meet the challenges of the realworld.
-Paper doesn't
discuss the skill
clearly or it was
evident that the
writer didn't
understand clearly
this part of the
assignment and how it
applied to this skill.