Windham High School
English III
Portfolio Project:
College and Career Research
Name:_________________________Teacher:__________
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Career & College Research Paper
Maine State Learning Results:
 Scan a passage to determine whether a text contains relevant information.
 Distinguish between apparent fact and opinion in nonfiction texts.
 Analyze and synthesize the concepts and details in informational texts.
 Explain how new information from a text changes personal knowledge.
 Develop an appropriate strategy for finding information on a particular topic.
 Use referencing while doing research.
 Identify and use library information services.
 Use search engines and other internet resources to do research.
Introduction: Over the several weeks each student will be completing a research paper. The topic will be
centered on using each student’s college and career choice. Students will complete multiple steps. Each
step is outlined in this packet.
Topic: Careers and College choice: Each student will select a career and begin to research the path that
will lead to a successful placement in this area.
Length: 4-8 typed, 12in font, double spaced pages (not including title page, table of contents, or
annotated bibliography).
Minimum Requirements:
1. Minimum of 7 sources of which,
1 must be a primary source
2 must be a secondary source
2 must be a newspaper or magazine article
2 must be internet sources
2. Paper must include a title page
3. A complete table of contents
4. A properly formatted works cited page
Paper Format: Your paper will be broken into two distinct parts. Part I will focus on your career
aspirations. Part II will focus on college aspirations. Part I should be no more than 4 pages. Part II should
be in the 2-4 page vicinity. MLA documentation is required.
Grading: The research paper rubric will be used to assess the paper. Your teacher will focus on how well
you used the steps of the research paper process to produce an accurate, detailed paper reflecting a large
amount of research. All sources will be checked to insure no plagiarism has occurred. Plagiarism will
result in a zero on the paper. This project counts as 30% of your third quarter grade!
At any time we may request to see any of the sources cited within your list of works. Failure to produce a
source may be considered plagiarism.
Although class time will be dedicated to this project, the majority of work should be done outside of class
time.
See the included list of graded components and their weights to determine the “value” of each part of the
project.
Due Date: Tuesday, March 24th
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Part I: Career Research (2-4 pages)
Section I of your paper should focus on the following areas that are listed below. Please note
that you may vastly expand the scope of this section if you feel it helps clarify this career.
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What does one need to know and be able to do for this career?
What type of post-secondary education is needed?
Are there any additional certifications needed for this career?
What is the expected salary for this career?
What daily/hourly hours would one work?
What type of vacation can one expect?
What type of work does one do in this career? Are you required to work
with your hand in a physical sense or is it more with your mind?
Are there opportunities for advancement in this career?
Step #1: Princeton Review
1. Log on to www.princetonreview.com
2. Click on the “register” link at the top of the page.
3. You need to create a user account before you begin. Fill in the necessary information
in this area.
4. Type in: http://www.princetonreview.com/cte/quiz/careerquiz1.asp
5. 24 questions will appear that you need to answer.
6. Select the statement that appeals to you the most.
7. Once finished, click “get results”.
8. Print the page with the details of this career.
Step #2: NY Career Zone Survey
1. Log on to http:///www.nycareerzone.org
2. Use your arrow to select the “Career Information” link.
3. Select “Flash Site.”
4. Choose the cluster that is most interesting to you.
5. Examine the list of careers in this cluster.
6. Choose the career that is most interesting to you. Click on that career.
7. Print the page with details of his career.
Step #3: Occupational Outlook Handbook
1. Log on to http://www.bls.gov/oco/
2. In the search bar, type the name of one of the careers that was identified on either of
the two previous surveys.
3. On the lower left side of the page is a list of more specific careers. Click on one of
those careers. Preview the page and the links that come up. Print out the overview page.
Keep this link in your notes for further research.
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Step #4: Bridges
1. Go to the BRIDGES website (www.bridges.com) and gather information on interests,
careers, and education. Ms. Caner will discuss specific directions for this site which most
of you have already been introduced to. You will need to find and print out four (4)
results from Bridges:
a. The Bridges Interest Assessment
b. The profile of the college you are looking at
c. The career outlook for your chosen field
d. A listing of schools with 5 characteristics you are looking for in a school. One of
these characteristics MUST be your “major” or a career-related field of study.
Step #5: Graphic Organizer
1. Fill out the career portion of the career & college graphic organizer that is in this
packet.
Step #6: Primary Source
1. You will choose one form of primary source research. This may be:
a. Job shadow an individual in his/her selected career
b. Conduct a personal interview with an individual in a selected career
c. Read a biography or autobiography of an individual in the selected career
d. Craft a compare/contrast essay examining the similarities and differences between
media portrayals of a particular career and the actual accuracy.
Step #7: Other Sources
1. You should begin looking for numerous other sources (magazines, newspaper
articles, journals, etc.) that detail relevant information about your selected career.
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Part II: College Research (2-4 pages)
Section 2 of your paper will examine the important information that you identified while
researching your specific college. Please be sure that this section of your paper at least
addresses the questions listed below.
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What type of college is it?
What is the enrollment?
Is it urban or rural?
What are the admission requirements?
What are the tuition costs?
What type of major might you pursue at this college?
What is a description of this major?
What skills are necessary to be successful in this major?
What high school courses are needed for this major?
What courses does one take at college to fulfill this major?
What is the study/workload like for this major?
What career might one go into with this major?
What are the viewpoints of current students in this major?
What questions would you ask a college admissions counselor?
What other majors relate to this major?
Step #1: Princeton Review- Counselor O’Matic
1. Log on to http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/advsearch/match.asp
2. Answer the questions that you are prompted to do so.
3. Once complete, click “get results.”
4. This should bring you to a page of colleges. It should be broken into three categories:
Good Match Schools, Reach Schools, and Safety Schools.
5. Print this page and save the link.
Step #2: Choose 3 Colleges
1. Each student will choose three colleges from the list of schools presented on the
previous survey. You may want to consider choosing one school from each category
(Reach, Realistic, and Safety). Take into account the extent to which your schools will
help you achieve your desired career.
Step #3: Write a Letter
1. Write a letter to the admissions staff at each of the schools you have chosen; OR send
an email to admissions; OR make a phone call to admissions. Obtain a viewbook and
application for your three schools. Save these documents.
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Step #4: Review Materials
1. Review the materials from your schools. Look carefully at what they say about their
schools. After reviewing all three schools, select the one school that most interests you
and might most help you gain a job in the career of your choice.
Step #5: Graphic Organizer
1. Fill out the college portion of the career & college graphic organizer that is in this
packet.
Step #6: Additional Sources
1. Search for additional sources which discuss the school you have selected. Read
reviews of the school. Try to locate a current student from the school. Interview a
member of the college’s admission staff. Do whatever it takes to gather as much relevant
information as possible for your paper, portfolio, and display.
Part III: Presenting Your Learning
The culminating exhibition of your learning will include:
A. A display that presents information on both your career and your college.
B. Your portfolio which will include all artifacts from the project
C. Your 4 – 8 page research paper
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Graphic Organizers
Fill in the below organizers with the information you gain from your research.
KWL – Know, Wonder, Learn
Know
What I Know
Wonder
What I Wonder
Learn
What I have Learned
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Career Graphic Organizer
Education
Needed:
Salary/Hourly
Wage:
Expected Hours:
Average
Vacation:
Other Job
Qualifications:
Tuition:
Total
Enrollment:
What other important information did you find?
College Graphic Organizer
College Type:
Average GPA,
Rank, SAT
score:
College
Location:
What other important information did you find?
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Outline
The ability to construct an outline for a research paper helps to ensure that your paper is
organized and logical. The outline is a required part of your research paper process and
should be included in your portfolio. You can use the outline below, or you can create your
own outline template if you wish.
1. Start to organize your paper by placing the research you have into the outline.
2. Fill out the entire outline template below. You should exhaust all the research you have.
3. Go back and look for sources that will help you address any areas where you did not have
enough information.
4. Use this outline to write your paper.
Part I: Career Research
I. Introduction
A. General Background Information About _______________
1.
2.
3.
B. Thesis (what concepts and details will you discuss in your work)
1.
2.
3.
II. Body Paragraph (General Theme) ____________________
A.
1.
2.
B.
1.
2.
III.
Body Paragraph (General Theme) ____________________
A.
1.
2.
B.
1.
2.
IV. Body paragraph (General theme) ____________________
A.
1.
2.
B.
1.
2.
V. Conclusion
A. Restate Thesis
1. General Overview o key points
2. Key Data
B. Expand Ideas
1.
2.
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Part II: College Research
I. Introduction
A. General Background Information about _______________
1.
2.
3.
B. Thesis (what concepts and details will you discuss in your work)
1.
2.
3.
II. Body Paragraph (General Theme) ____________________
A.
1.
2.
B.
1.
2.
III.
Body Paragraph (General Theme) ____________________
A.
1.
2.
B.
1.
2.
IV. Body paragraph (General theme) ____________________
A.
1.
2.
B.
1.
2.
V. Conclusion
A. Restate Thesis
1. General Overview o key points
2. Key Data
B. Expand Ideas
1.
2.
Checklist
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Please use following checklist to “check off” items of your project as you complete them. This
checklist MUST be in your final portfolio.
Check
Date
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_____ Get a 3-ring binder to house materials
_____ Complete the K and W sections of the KWL
Graphic Organizer
_____ Take the online survey at the Princeton Review
website and print the results.
_____ Take the online career survey at NY Career Zone
and print results.
_____ Fill out the graphic organizer on the two (2) career
survey sites
_____ Locate your jobs in the Occupational Outlook
Handbook (oco site) and print out results.
_____ Complete the college survey on E-Counselor at the
PR site and print results
_____ Choose one school from each category (RRS) and
record results
_____ Write a letter, email, or call and request, materials
from this college
_____ Identify what form of primary research you will use
_____ Begin to identify other sources that support your
research
_____ Locate a student from your selected college and
interview him/her, or call the admissions staff and
interview one of them.
_____ Fill out the research paper organizing template
(outline)
_____ Begin to create a draft of your research paper
_____ Get your 1st draft edited, signed, and dated by any
English teacher
_____ Obtain an unofficial transcript from Mrs. Marston
_____ Fill out the first four pages of the Common APP
(www.commonapp.com)
_____ Complete your final draft
_____ Complete the L section of the KWL chart
_____ Create a display that presents information on both
your college and your career.
_____ Prepare a 45 – 60 second presentation to give to
anyone who would like to visit your display.
_____ Submit your entire portfolio (minus your display) in
your 3 ring binder in a neat, attractive fashion
_____ Take a deep breath and a sigh of relief.
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Requirement
Grading
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Following is a list of graded components of the project and their weights. Please refer to the
rubric for specific details as to how the research paper will be assessed.
1. Research Paper (50% of total project grade)
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Outline: 5pts.
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Draft edited by another English teacher: 15pts.
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Final Product: 30pts.
2. Portfolio (50% of total project grade)
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KWL Graphic Organizer(s): 5pts
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Printout from the Princeton Review survey: 5pts
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Printout from the NY Career Zone Survey: 5pts
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Printout from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: 5pts
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Printout from Counselor O’Matic: 5pts
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Printouts from Bridges on careers and colleges 5pts
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Career/college Graphic Organizer(s): 5pts
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Evidence of contact with schools and students: 5pts
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Copy of unofficial transcript: 2.5pts
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Completed pages of the Common Application: 5pts
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Cover page and Table of Contents: 2.5pts
**This project counts as 30% of your third quarter grade!**
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