CLARKSTON HIGH SENIOR PROJECT

YOUR FUTURE IS NOW

Name __________________________________

STANDARDS:
ELAGSE11-12W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts,
and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of
content.
ELAGSE11-12W4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style
are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in
Standards 13 above.)
ELAGSE11-12W5 Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or
trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.
(Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of Language Standards 13 up to and including
grades 11-12.)
ELAGSE11-12W6 Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or
shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments or information.

ELAGSE11-12W7 Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question
(including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate;
synthesize multiple sources on the

MAJOR COMPONENTS
There will be five major components of your senior project.

1. About You
2. Resume
3. Future Plans
4. Mentor Reflection
5. Research Project

You will place each of these items in your digital portfolio which will be a Google site.

INFORMATION
Use all in-class time wisely.

You will not pass without completing this project.

We will spend about two weeks on this, if you get behind it will be difficult for you to catch up.
ABOUT YOU

Write two to three paragraphs about yourself. What is interesting about you? What is valuable about
you? Where are you from? Where are you going?

RESUME

Your resume should include the following:

Name, address, phone number, email

Objective

Education

Skills

Awards (If you have any)

Community Service (if youve done any)

Work History (If you have one)

Suggestion: Use the Spearmint Template in Google Docs

FUTURE PLANS

Your future plans section should highlight the main things you intend to do in your future. Your
future plans should be goal oriented and focus on the ways you will contribute to society. See SMART
goal worksheet.

1. Create three to five SMART goals for yourself.

a. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant Time Bound
b. At least one goal must relate to a career
2. Create one to two specific ways you will contribute to society.

MENTOR REFLECTION

Over the course of your academic career, there has been at least one person who has had a positive
impact on your life. Write three to five paragraphs about the effect this teacher has had your life.

RESEARCH PROJECT

There will be two tracks for this research project. You will either research a specific career or you will
complete research project focusing on a specific topic within your field. For example, if you wanted to
be a teacher, you might research the impact of early childhood education on high school students.
RESEARCH PAPER

There will be two tracks for this research project. Either you will research a specific career or you will
complete research project focusing on a specific topic within your field. For example, if you wanted to
be a teacher, you might research the impact of early childhood education on high school students.

Option 1 (This option is best if you are planning to go directly into a career)
o Topic: This project will focus on your ideal career.
Option 2 (This option is best if you are planning to go to a two or four year college)
o Topic: This project will focus on one element of your future career field.

Option Career Research Paper Analytical Research Paper

Topic Ideal Career One element of future career field
Sources
Requirement Minimum of two sources Minimum of four sources
s
Source National Career Development OpposingViewpoints.com
Suggestions Association Galileo
http://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/p http://www.galileo.usg.edu/hig
t/sp/resources h-school/dekalb-k12/search/
Required: www.bls.gov
Citations MLA Format MLA Format
Components Literature Review
Completed Research Outline
Claim Based Sentence Outline
MLA Works Cited Page
MLA Works Cited Page
THERE IS NO ESSAY
THERE IS NO ESSAY

GENERAL INFORMATION:

All quotations should be introduced

o According to WhiteHouse.gov, Despite passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which
requires that men and women in the same work place be given equal pay for equal
work, the "gender gap" in pay persists (2015).
o BLS.gov states, In the next ten to fifteen years, there will be an overwhelming need
for workers in the health care industry. (2015).
See Ms. Brazas or Ms. Dixon for approval of your choice and topic.
After the completion of your paper, you will present your findings to the class.

OPTION 1 CAREER RESEARCH

Using your own information, complete the following research based outline. You should have a
minimum of three quotations in the research findings/conclusion of your outline. This section will be 2
3 paragraphs.
For each section of the outline you should have an in-text citation.
OUTLINE
Introduction:

Provide any information, which would get someone interested in the career.
State your thesis at the end (Thesis = explain your view of the career from the research in one sentence.)
Example thesis: Based on the research available, it is a valuable idea to pursue the career of heating,
venting, and cooling; this career requires limited additional education, is great for people who are
active, and has a projected growth of 35% over the next ten years.
Education:

What are the educational requirements needed to get the job?

Research the following:
o Requirements for acceptance
o Time required
o Costs
o Skills necessary to succeed
o Required internships/apprenticeship periods
Specifically research at least one post-secondary school for a more accurate understanding of costs and
requirements.
Duties

Be as specific and detailed as possible.

Thoroughly discuss the following:
o Good points
o Typical Work Day
o Bad Points
o Hazards (if applicable)
Specifically research at least one particular job in this career for a more accurate understanding of the
duties/responsibilities.
Benefits
What are the benefits of this job?
Consider all of the following:
Salary
Pay scale
Overtime
Insurance
Retirement Plan
Unions
Advanced education reimbursement
Researching one or more specific jobs in this career would provide more accurate information.
Advancement
What are the chances of and requirements for any other positions you can obtain by staying with this
career over time?
If your advancement is to open your own business some day, this is where you should discuss the
following:
Costs to open one
Requirements for opening
Laws and regulations to consider
Insurance necessary for your business
Rent of a building or office space
Need for employees
Management/money skills needed
Opportunity
What is the job outlook for this career in GA and/or throughout the United States?
Is this a stable career in terms of available jobs? Why?
Describe what you need to consider if you need to relocate in order to obtain a job in this career.
Research current information about your career demand and about past and future trends.

Research Findings/Conclusion (2 3 Paragraphs)

Discuss your opinions and insights about the career prior to your research and your opinions and insights
about it after all of the research.

These are just some areas to research. There is much more to learn about your potential
career, career decisions in general, and your own life.

OPTION 1 RUBRIC

Career Research Final Draft Rubric

Criteria Excellent Good Minimum Unsatisfactory

100% 85% 70% 60%

Typed Typed Typed Typed

Presentation
1 inch margins 1.5 inch 1.5 inch 1.5 inch
12 pt Times margins margins margins
New Roman Font 12 pt Times 12 pt Times 12 pt Times
MLA Format New Roman Font New Roman Font New Roman Font
At least 3 MLA Format MLA Format MLA Format
pages 2.5 pages 2 pages >2 pages
There is an ample There is a There is research There is no quality
Research
amount of quality sufficient amount of present; however, it research present in
research throughout quality research. is sparse and of poor the essay.
the essay. quality.
The project is The project is The project is The project is
Quality
clear and concise. fairly clear and not clear and neither clear nor
The project concise. concise. concise.
leaves the reader The project The reader is The reader is
with an excellent leaves the reader unsure of what the left with no picture
picture of the with a decent occupation entails. of the occupation.
occupation. picture of the It is not The project
It is obvious occupation. obvious after makes no attempt to
after reading the It is obvious reading the project show if the writer is
project if this is a after reading the if this is a job the interested in the
job the writer is project if this is a writer is interested career.
interested in job the writer is in pursuing.
pursuing. interested in
pursuing.
There is a correct, The works cited The works cited The works cited
MLA
complete works page is present and page is present but page is not present.
cited page. correct but is not correct.
lacking two or less
resources.
No spelling There are There are The paper is
Spelling &
errors errors, but they are errors, which are difficult to read due
Grammar No grammar not a distraction to distracting to the to the number and
errors the reader. reader. severity of the
errors.
OPTION 2 ANALYTICAL RESEARCH OUTLINE

Midway College has an excellent resource for choosing a research topic.

http://www.midway.edu/library/topics
Your topic should relate to your future field of study.
You must formulate a research question to guide you.
For example, if you are interested in business a topic might be: Women still earn only 75 cents for every $1
a man earns. Why is this the case?
Your outline should be written in third person (avoid pronouns like you, I, we, etc.)
Neither your introduction nor your conclusion should contain quotations.
The point of this assignment is to ANALYZE not SUMMARIZE.
The goal of this paper is not to be argumentative. You should not have a preconceived idea prior to
beginning your research.

OUTLINE
I. Introduction
a. Discuss something interesting about the topic.
b. Give general information
c. Include your insightful thesis
II. Claim 1
a. Evidence (What does your research say)
b. Your thoughts
c. Evidence
d. Your thoughts
e. Conclusion
III. Claim 2
a. Evidence
b. Your thoughts
c. Evidence
d. Your thoughts
e. Conclusion
IV. Claim 3
a. Evidence
b. Your thoughts
c. Evidence
d. Your thoughts
e. Conclusion
V. Conclusion
a. Summarize each of the main ideas of your paper
b. There should be no quotations.
c. Avoid introducing totally new ideas
d. Leave the reader with a clear impression of the topic rubric

LITERATURE REVIEW
For each source provide

the source title and author

a summary of the source 3 5 sentences
an analysis of the information and the results
o Is the information valuable?
o Is it presented in a logical way?
o Does it change your perceptions in anyway?
 o What impact does this information have on your research question?

EXAMPLE OUTLINE

RESEARCH QUESTION: WHY DO WOMEN MAKE LESS IN THE USA THAN MEN DO?
I. Introduction
a. Women make substantial and worthwhile contributions to society, yet businesses do not pay them
equally.
b. It is a known fact that women make about 75% of what men do across all fields.
c. This lack of equal pay is known as the gender wage gap.
d. Thesis : Women are paid less in the United States because of a lack of legislation, time missed for
child rearing, and the gendering of women causing them to take fewer risks.

II. Claim 1 There is a lack of legislation which essentially makes the government a supporter of the gender
wage gap.
a. Evidence - Despite passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which requires that men and
women in the same work place be given equal pay for equal work, the "gender gap" in pay
persists. (Whitehouse.gov)
b. Your thoughts There is simple legislation that President Obama has tried to pass over the last
few years called the Paycheck fairness act. The passage of this bill would add actual protections for
women who paid discriminatory wages.
c. Evidence In the United Kingdom, companies with more than 250 employees must publish how
much they pay employees based on their gender. (Franke, Ann. TheTelegraph.com, 2015).
d. Your thoughts Societal and legal changes, like the one in the U.K., would create greater
transparency; this would be a positive step by the government of the United States in creating
equal pay for women.
e. Conclusion The lack of passed legislation is having a negative impact on lessening the gender
wage gap.

V. Conclusion
a. While the United States claims to stand for liberty and justice for all, it seems that does not
include what women are paid.
b. The lack of laws on the books to support equal pay of women gives women little to know recourse
if they are not being paid fairly.
c. Even in 2015, the majority of child rearing responsibilities fall on women. When women take time
off for maternity leave or have to go home early to take care of a sick child, employers notice, and
women suffer.
d. Parents put a great emphasis on being polite in female children from a very young age. Because of
this, women often put less effort into negotiating pay increases for fear of being socially
unacceptable.
e. For the gender wage gap to decrease several things need to occur.
i. First, the government must assist business and women with forced transparency and
avenues that allow women to litigate if necessary for fair pay.
ii. Next, society must take some of the child rearing women responsibilities off the shoulders
of women, more equitable parental leave would create a better work environment for
women with families.
iii. Finally, women must become more confident and disregard social expectations to secure
equal pay.
OPTION 2 - RUBRIC 1

1 Based on the Epping High School Essay Writing Rubric

 T RAI T Advanced
4 3
D e ve lo p me n t Demonstrates a thorough
understanding of the subject of
the essay; contains a clearly
defined thesis; includes relevant
background information and
significant supporting details,
examples, anecdotes, or data;
clear use of transitions
Or ga n iz at i on Clear organization; maintains
consistent focus on the topic, has
a logical organizational pattern
and conveys a sense of
completeness and wholeness,
paragraphed
ML A Each citation is cited correctly
both in-text and in works cited
page.
Wor d c h o ic e Uses language maturely,
exhibiting word choices for
intended audience and purpose.
Writes with the reader in mind.
M ea ni ng a n d Aut h o ri ty Demonstrates a clear sense of
purpose; obvious insight;
demonstrates complex thinking
and interesting connections;
believable
C o n v en t io n s Any errors in standard writing
conventions are barely
noticeable and do not interfere
with understanding
Proficient
Demonstrates an adequate
understanding of the subject of the
essay; contains a thesis statement,
includes relevant background
information and significant
supporting details, examples,
anecdotes, or data; effective use of
transitions, but more functional than
skillful
Maintains sufficient focus on the
topic, has a logical organizational
pattern and conveys a sense of
wholeness and completeness,
although may have some lapses,
paragraphed
While there are some errors in
citation, the intent to cite is clear.
Uses effective language and
appropriate word choices for
intended audience and purpose.
Generally writes with the reader in
mind.
Demonstrates a sense of purpose,
though not as clear as it could be;
some insight into the topic is
expressed; demonstrates higher level
thinking and makes some interesting
connections; believable, though
some slips in believability
Errors in standard writing
conventions are noticeable but do not
significantly interfere with
understanding
Basic
2 1
Demonstrates some, though limited,
awareness of the subject of the
essay; contains a thesis though not
clearly defined, and may or may not
balance background information
with supporting details, examples,
anecdotes, or data; emerging use of
transitions
Demonstrates an inconsistent focus
on the topic, shows an attempt at an
organizational pattern, but may
ramble or be too choppy, not
paragraphed or inappropriately
paragraphed
There are multiple citation errors
both in text and on the works cited
page.
Has a limited and predictable
vocabulary that may not be
appropriate for the intended audience
and purpose. Sometimes writes with
the reader in mind, generally is not
suited for the authors purpose.
Demonstrates a limited sense of
purpose; emerging insight into the
topic; makes few interesting
connections; has occasional lapses in
believability
A variety of errors in standard
writing conventions may
occasionally make reading slow and
may somewhat interfere with
understanding
Below Basic
Mentions the relevant information
about the subject of the essay; thesis
may be missing or unrelated to the
information that follows in the essay,
may or may not include background
information and/or examples,
anecdotes, or data; fails to consistently
provide transitions
Demonstrates little or no focus, has
little evidence of an organizational
pattern or any sense of wholeness and
completeness, not paragraphed or
inappropriately paragraphed
While there is some research present,
there is no works cited page or a lack of
in-text citations.
Has a limited or repetitive vocabulary.
Demonstrates little or no sense of
purpose or insight into the topic; makes
little or no interesting connections;
contains frequent lapses in believability
Persistent errors in standard writing
conventions consistently interfere with
understanding and often result in a
density of errors
Unable to be graded
0
Unconnected ideas do not flow (no
thesis statement); there is no variety
in sentence structure in a minimal
attempt to write
Unrelated list of details or events, no
recognizable organizational pattern,
not paragraphed or inappropriately
paragraphed
There is no clear research present
in the essay.
Words seem chosen at random
resulting in unclear meaning. No
evidence of authors purpose, tone,
or meaning
Demonstrates no sense of purpose;
fails to make any interesting
connections; unbelievable.
Serious errors in standard writing
conventions obscure meaning