AWED: The Sophomore Project “Continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights.” –Pauline Kezer

What does AWED stand for? Another Way to Educate and Demonstrate

Why change the name and project? New block scheduling required changes to the old project. No longer 80 school days to work with! New national standards called “The Common Core” are being instituted in English. We have to change our focus, especially in writing. We want to infuse more technology into the project.

What are the requirements of this project? Complete a research paper on a chosen topic. Complete a multi-genre product with 6 parts. Give a presentation to your peers. Come to school at night on Dec. 1st to showcase your work!

Research Paper Requirements: An MLA formatted research paper on a topic of your choice. Completely immerse yourself in a topic for this project, satisfying your curiosity! Topic Finalized by September 12th. Seminar: 5-7 pages First draft of paper due October 27th (counts as mid-term exam) Final draft of paper due November 28th Both drafts of the paper must be uploaded into Turnitin.com

Multi-Genre Product Requirements You will choose multiple avenues to communicate what you have learned about your topic and complete them in different stages, with due dates along the way. Your teacher will give you a list of genres (different categories or types of activities) from which you can choose what most appeals to you. For example: dialogs, poems, short stories, photographs, maps, song lyrics, newscasts, brochures, fables, photo essays, cartoons, videos, paintings/artworks, physical models, fashion designs, performances, etc. Seminar will choose 6 items from the list. You do not have to keep track of any hours for your project. Just turn in quality work!

Multi-Genre Product Requirements: You will have checks along the way to turn in your different pieces in stages: 1st Genre Check: September 30th 2nd Genre Check: October 14th 3rd Genre Check: November 4th 4th Genre Check (Visual): Your presentation day (November 14th-16th)

Presentation Requirements: You will give a formal presentation to your class on your topic and the work you have done. You will display all the work you have done, including your visual genre for the project, in a coherent manner, linking all of your work together for your audience. Examples will be given as we approach the presentation. Presentations will be 8-10 minutes in length. Presentation time slots will be randomly drawn on November 10th so students will know which day they are to present the next week. Presentations will be given from November 14th -16th in class.

Sophomore Showcase Requirements: On the night of December 1st, you are required to come to school from 6:30-8:30 for the showcase of all of your work. There will be a program in the auditorium for the top projects to be featured for the crowd and the students. Every student will set up a booth at a table displaying their work during the project so that visitors can learn about their topic when they leave the auditorium and rotate through the school. Basic requirements will be communicated as we approach the Sophomore Showcase. Students will be encouraged to decorate their booths and impress the guests, going above and beyond the basic requirements. Examples of how students can go above and beyond will be communicated as we approach the Sophomore Showcase.

Fall 2011 Due Dates for AWED: Finalize Topic for Project September 12th Genre Check 1 September 30th Genre Check 2 October 14th First Draft of Research Paper October 27th Genre Check 3 November 4th Presentation Drawing for Date/Time November 10th Final Genre Due/Project Presentations November 14-16th Final Draft of Research Paper November 28th Sophomore Showcase from 6:30-8:30 PM December 1st

More Project Details: Students must upload their research paper into turnitin.com or their paper will not be graded. If it is uploaded late, five points will be taken off each day up to 20 points off. After five school days, if the paper is not uploaded, it will not be graded. For the research paper, students must turn it in during their class period on the day it is due. If it is turned in later on during the day, it is ten points off. It can only be turned in one day late and the penalty for turning the paper in one day late is 25 points off. Cheating and plagiarism are violations of the honor code and students will fail and will be turned in to the administration if they violate the honor code.

More Project Details: Students cannot change their topic after September 12th. Presentations are between November 14-16th and may not be given late, unless a student has a doctor’s note or there is an emergency. If a student does not complete the research paper and project requirements and does not give a presentation, he or she cannot attend the Sophomore Showcase as a participating student since he or she will have nothing to present. This will result in a zero for that grade. Students must attend the Sophomore Showcase on December 1st from 6:00-8:30 PM and must arrange their own transportation or let their teacher know ahead of time if they have issues with transportation.

What do I do first? Sign the contract. Take the contract home and get it signed by your parents/guardians. Yes, it is a grade, so bring it back! Determine your topic and turn in your idea on September 9th for teacher approval.