1.  Graduation Project Introduction

2. Graduation Project Overview  The Senior Graduation Project is comprised of 3 components:  The Portfolio (November 14)  The Presentation (November 13)  The Product (November 13)  Each component is worth 4 points, for a total of 12.  All three components are graded by boards.

3. Graduation Project Portfolio  Contains all of the work that you do for GP this semester only.  As we complete benchmarks throughout the semester, you should add those elements to your portfolio as soon as possible.  Graders look for completion as well as accuracy and effort.  The good news: you should ALL receive 4s on your portfolio; this is the easiest part of the GP!

4. Graduation Project Product  The product is a potentially real-life application of your research. Most ideas can be completed, but you want to make sure that it is a high-level extension of your research.  Your product should have an intended audience, which will help you to formulate it:  Who could benefit from your research?  What is the most beneficial way you can help them?  What is the best way to reach this group?

5. Graduation Project Product  There are some products that are usually unacceptable:  Brochures  Scrapbooks  Posters & Tri-folds  Websites  These are frequently viewed as “receptacles” for your papers. Talk to me if you think you want to do any of these.

6. Graduation Project Presentation  7-10 minute speech prepared on the topic of your paper. Your paper is your primary resource for this speech, though you should complete some new research this year.  Your speech will provide information in a simpler form to the board, must include a visual aid, and may introduce your product.  We will have a speech writing workshop this semester and you will have the opportunity to practice for me.

7. Graduation Project Presentation  The first due date for your GPs is the Speech Outline – due Tuesday, Sept. 23  There is an outline available on the website that you should use to guide your writing. Your primary source for the speech should be your paper from last year.  On that day, we will conduct a speech workshop in class, so to be allowed to participate in class, you MUST have your outline.