Graduation Project

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Graduation Project
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The Key Components The Four Ps
The Research Paper
The Product
The Presentation
The Portfolio
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Graduation Project

• You will use the Big6 Research Skills process as
  a guide

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The Big6 The Big6 is a step-by-step process to
follow when completing a research project
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Graduation Project

• Sophomore Year
• Step One Essential Question

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Define the Topic

• What are the essential questions I need answered?
• What information will I need?

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What is an Essential Question?

• A question that requires you to develop a plan or
  course of action
• A question that requires you to make a decision
• It is the question you will answer through your
  Graduation Project
• It is not a how to or a yes no question
• It is the focus for your entire project

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Essential Question

• Developing an essential question is often the
  most challenging part of the research process.
• An essential question should be big enough to do
  research on, but small enough to spend time
  researching in-depth to figure out an answer.

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Essential Question

• From Point A to B Avoiding the Simple
  Question.
• Writing a question such as "What is cancer?"
  simply asks you to move information from one
  point (the resource) to another (your paper).
• Instead, ask the essential question "What plan
  could you develop that would reduce your
  likelihood of developing cancer?"

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The Essential Question

• Instead of wording the question as Who was Walt
  Disney?

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The Essential Question

• Rework it to say What impact did Walt Disney
  and his work have on modern day animation?

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The Essential Question

• Instead of What was the D-Day invasion and who
  won this famous World War II battle?
• Consider changing it to Was the D-Day invasion
  really necessary to bring about an end to World
  War II?
• You have changed it from a basic definition to a
  paper that can explore options and probe
  possibilities of the advantages and disadvantages
  of war.

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The Essential Question Examples

• Is it acceptable to clone human beings?
  (decision-making)
• What invention of the 20th Century has had the
  greatest impact? Justify your response
  (decision-making).
• Which credit card is best for me?
  (decision-making)
• What plan could be developed to reduce the impact
  of zebra mussels on the Great Lakes ecosystem?
  Your plan can include three strategies.
  (developing an action plan)

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The Essential Question Examples

• Develop an outline of three strategies to reduce
  the impact of zebra mussels on the Great Lakes
  ecosystem.
• How has the development of the American
  automobile impacted American buying habits?
• What invention of the 20th century has had the
  biggest impact? How?
• What healthy habits are necessary to become an
  elite athlete?

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How Will You Write the Essential Question?

• Read through the steps on the Essential Question
  Form, available in class and on the website
• Brainstorm 3 different areas of interest
• Write a first draft of an essential question for
  each of the 3 areas of interest

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How Will You Write the Essential Question?

• Your English teacher will read your drafts and
  offer suggestions and comments
• Write a second draft of each question
• Turn drafts in to your English teacher
• Brainstorm possible project ideas for each
  question

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How Will You Write the Essential Question?

• Select your favorite question!
• Turn the Essential Question Form in to your
  English teacher.

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The Big6 Skills

• You will have completed step one, definition of
  the essential question.
• During Junior year, you will move onto steps two
  and three, Information Seeking Strategies.
• You will write your paper and begin plans for
  your project.

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• You will have guidance from teachers and a
  mentor throughout the entire process.