The I-Search Your Senior Project

• The Undiscovered Country:

• Challenge Yourself

• Explore

• Grow

Choosing a topic: You decide!

Meaningful, engaging, fun.

Compelling and personal

Active engagement

Be an expert, a warrior, an artist, a thinker, a learner

Brainstorming

• Dance • Arts and crafts • Drama / Film • Eastern Medicine• Sports Medicine • Religion • Careers • Computers • Photography • Architecture

Requirements

o Maintain a Senior Project Binder and a 2 Column Work and Product Log

o Letter of Intento Proposalo 3 Interviews (one in class )o Visitation o Secondary Researcho I-Search Paper o Product & Product Logo Presentation

LAUNCH• Brainstorm• Sell your

topic/Question• Strategize• Start you Letter of

Intent

Proposal

Persuasive voice

Explain your motivation

Inventory of what you know

A list of resources

2-3 pages.

Why have you chosen this topic?

What do you know to be true about this topic?

What questions do you have about this topic?

What do you hope to discover?

Mentors

Consider a mentor • A coach• A problem-solver • A resource• A proofreader• Over 21 • Professional in the

field

Mentor Meetings First Meeting Second Meeting Third meeting

Review Review work to-date Show 2nd or Requirements 3 rd draft of paper

An Interview Brainstorm about Perhaps give paperThe FOCUS of Paper Resources to mentor ahead of time research

Journals Review outline ofDiscuss Interviews presentations Ideas for product Visitation Ask mentor to attend

Outline of paper presentationPresentation and write letter to Ms.

Sutherland

Mentor Documents

Mentor Requirements

Mentor Editing Sheet

Mentor Agreement

Form Turned In

Mentor Letter included

In Final Portfolio

Interviews

• Interview two people who will help answer your research and challenging questions

• Individual must be integral to Project

• 2 typed pages

• Interview format, no scripts

• On topic writing

• Reflect preparation

Visitation

• Silent Observation

• Reflection

• Fly on the Wall

• Third Person

• Show Not Tell Writing

• Choose well grasshopper

The Paper

• 8-10 Pages + Work Cited Page

• An Integration of your

• Research

• Visitations

• Interview

• Reflection

Paper, Paper, Paper

• Make sure your paper reflects your search

• Discuss and show how you obtained your knowledge

• How the combination of visitation, interviews, research dovetailed to a new understanding

• Weave these elements throughout your paper

Mentor Letter

Your mentor reflects on:

• The process

• Product

• Paper

• You

• Enclosed in Senior Project Portfolio

Product

• Representation of how you have grown from the Senior Project

• Product Log documenting

15 hours

Teaching or Leadership Product

Teach junior high health class about marine archaeology

Teach about knights and armor to a 6th grade class

Coach a little league teamSet up a neighborhood action

committee

Written Product

Book of poems

Newspaper

Novelette

Physical Product

• Stained glass window• Computer program• Outfit• Rebuilt engine • Or • Learn to scuba dive• Run a marathon• Start a fitness program• Go on a wilderness survival trip

Performance Product

• Dance

• Instrumental or singing recital

• Speed Racing

• Magic show

Career-related product

• “Shadow” a police offer• Write or speak about an experience to

others• View and document medical procedures• Volunteer time at a local veterinarian(Note: simple shadowing without an

extension of the experience, such as a presentation or written document is lightweight

Presentation

• One 3x5 card• 3 visual aids• 15 minutes long• Dress

professionally

Most importantly

• Take time to choose

• Passion is not always easily accessible

• Challenge yourself

• Be true to yourself

• Follow your bliss

• Strive for excellence

• Have fun

Points to Ponder

• “We could you know. We can live any way we want…The thing is to stalk your calling in a certain skilled and supple way, to locate the most tender and live spot and to pug into that pulse”. A Dillard

• “How can we know the dancer from the dance?” W.B. Yeats

Life is after all

a search for the secrets of growth

and no one is expected

to have them all

We are judged not by what

we know

But by the honesty of our search

M. Shain