The Senior Project at Sheldon High School is a year-long process during which seniors have the opportunity to apply what they have learned from their formal education to an experience which will challenge their abilities and stretch their limitations. The senior project will be based on two senior courses: year-long, alternating-day English 12 and second-term alternating-day Senior Government or Economics. Successful 25% of the student’s grade in each course. There are four components to the Senior Project: a project, a research paper, a portfolio, and a senior boards presentation. A general description for each of these is outlined below:
1. Project:
The project is the core of the Senior Project experience. The project selected should be one which extends the student’s learning, stretched his or her potential, and challenges his or her abilities. The project is tied specifically to the student’s second-term Government/Economics grade.
2. Paper:
The research paper must be related to the project. It will showcase the student’s thinking an communication skills. The student’s English instructor will monitor progress throughout the writing process with a series of checkpoints along the way. The paper will be ties to the student’s English 12 grade.
3. Portfolio:
The portfolio documents the entire Senior Project process and justifies the student’s stretch and challenge. Senior Board members will preview and grade the portfolio prior to judging a presentation in order to familiarize themselves with the student and the project. The portfolio grade will be tied to the student’s second-term Government/Economics grade.
4. Presentation:
The Senior Project presentation, or Senior Boards, is and eight to ten minute oral presentation to a panel of teachers, community representatives, and mentors that details the student’s efforts and public speaking competence. It is a formal speech on the research paper, project and personal growth during the process. The Senior Boards will be tied to the student’s second-term Government/Economics grade.
