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WILLIAM ALLEN HIGH SCHOOL

126 N. 17th Street
Allentown PA 18104
1 (484) 765-5000 CANARIES

Graduation Project

Class of 2006 Presentation dates: Tuesday & Wednesday, November 22&23, 2005

CONTENTS

Letter to Parents
Graduation Project Document
Types of Projects
Timeline for Project

 Student Responsibilities
Mentor Responsibilities
Possible Project Topics

Handbook Downloads

Dear Parents/Guardians:

This letter serves as an introduction to the Pennsylvania state-mandated Graduation Project, supported by Pennsylvania's governor and endorsed by the Allentown Board of School Directors and Superintendent of Schools for the Allentown School District. As a requisite for graduation, the project carries a .2 credit toward the cumulative point requirement. The student will receive a final grade for this project at the end of his or her senior year. The final grade will appear on the student's report card and transcript. Students not completing the Graduation Project will not receive a diploma.

While the project is primarily an independent study project, at William Allen High School the student's homeroom teacher has been assigned as an advisor to disseminate and collect information.

In addition to an advisor, your son or daughter may elect to work with a mentor, a guide either from within the school community, the home, or the community-at-large. This individual should be someone knowledgeable in the area of the student's interest. The mentor will provide insight and assistance on a need-to-know basis. A student is required to have a mentor for the Career Research, Community Service, Creative Work, and Documented Research Paper options. 

Please study the accompanying materials with your son or daughter to assist in focusing his/her interests and in selecting one of the several types of projects available. It is the hope of William Allen High School's faculty and staff that each student will find a unique and interesting path toward success while completing the graduation project. 

During the senior year, the project will be reviewed by a panel of faculty members, on dates assigned by the school district. The date is noted on the school district's activities calendar. Faculty panels will ensure that all specific project requirements have been completed. 

Your cooperation by signing and returning this letter as soon as possible is greatly appreciated. We also ask that you help your son or daughter complete the proposal form on the reverse side of this letter. The purpose of the proposal is to explain what the student plans to do for this or her project. The proposal will be reviewed and returned to the student. With you, the entire school community looks forward to the prospect that your child's selection will prove a challenging and rewarding experience, providing a spark for a lifetime of continued interest and personal satisfaction.

Sincerely,

Keith R. Falko
Principal

WILLIAM ALLEN HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATION PROJECT

  1. DESCRIPTION

    In order to graduate from Allen High School, each student shall design and complete an independent study project in one or more areas of concentrated study. The purpose of the graduation project is to assure that the student is able to apply, analyze, synthesize and evaluate information and communicate significant knowledge and understanding. It is the responsibility of each student to fulfill the requirements set forth in this document. The high school faculty will provide guidance and direction in the fulfillment of these responsibilities, if needed. Outside community resource persons may also guide and direct students.

    Projects may be undertaken by individual students or groups, but presentations will be given on an individual basis. Also, all students must complete individual paperwork and materials.

  2. GOALS

    To provide all students with a culminating activity that demonstrates their skills in writing, speaking, research, and organization.

    To provide all students with an opportunity outside the classroom to integrate their various courses of study and interests.

    To provide all students with an opportunity to demonstrate a sense of responsibility and a good work ethic prior to graduation from William Allen High School.

  3. TYPES OF PROJECTS
    1. CAREER RESEARCH
      1. Shadowing
        1. Minimum of six (6) hours of SHADOWING, one (1) more professionals, in blocks of one (1) or more hours.
        2. You must keep a JOURNAL of your personal reaction to each shadowing visit. See page 19 for shadowing log form.
      2. Interviewing
        1. Five (5) INTERVIEWS required; the person(s) being shadowed may be interviewed.
        2. Keep a LOG stating the date, time, place, and signature of people interviewed or shadowed. See Page 20 for form.
        3. Signature and date must correspond with each interview and shadowing experience
        4. Contact, address and phone number must be listed on the log.
        5. A minimum of ten (10) questions must be asked of each person interviewed. Your interview questions must be included with your project paperwork. You may use the same set of questions for each person that you interview. Record each person's answers and include them with your project paperwork.
      3. Visual Media - You must have a visual to accompany your project. Suggestions for the visual include a poster, video, cassette, charts, or photos.
      4. Written Paper
        1. Must be at least five (5) pages of typed text
        2. Current research must include
          1. job qualifications
          2. educational requirements
          3. observations from shadowing experiences and interviews may be incorporated
          4. other pertinent information may be included
      5. Oral presentation - Must be given on a date specified by the school.
        See pages 11-12 for details.
    2. COMMUNITY SERVICE
      1. Minimum forty (40) hours, unpaid (excludes class assignments, 9th grade career project and personal employment)
      2. Community service shall be performed at a non-profit organization operating as a service to the community.
      3. Documentation shall be recorded on the Community Service Log / Journal form. See pages 21-22.
      4. Visual media - You must have a visual to accompany your project. 
        Suggestions for the visual include poster, video, cassette, charts, or photos.
      5. Oral Presentation - see pages 11-12 for details.
      6. Students completing community service hours while on court- ordered probation may not use those hours for their graduation project. If a student wishes to keep volunteering at a community service location where he or she completed court-ordered probation hours, the student must provide proof that the required forty (40) hours were in addition to those hours ordered by the court.
    3. CREATIVE WORK
      1. A creative work must demonstrate a student's ability or talent to develop an original, complex product with personal meaning.
      2. Documentation must be on the required Creative Work Log / Journal form, accompanied by mentor signatures. See page 23.
        The student must complete ten (10) entries.
      3. Oral presentation must be relevant to chosen topic. See pages 11-12.
      4. Visual media must be relevant to project choice.
      5. A final reflective essay must be completed. The reflective essay must be at least two (2) pages in length. Please refer to the form at the back of the book. See page 24 for form.
    4. CULTURAL STUDY
      1. The Cultural Study Project must have a theme that focuses on a topic of personal significance. You may choose any culture on which to base your project. Themes include
        1. education
        2. tradition
        3. history of culture or country
        4. religious practices
        5. music
        6. art
        7. cuisine
        8. clothing/fasion
        9. politics and government
        10. architecture
      2. Interview at least five (5) people about the culture chosen
        1. Record all interviews on the Cultural Study Log/Jourmnal form with signature, address, and phone number. See page 25.
        2. Include all interview questions and answers. You must have at least five (5) questions.
      3. Visual media You must have a visual to accompany your project. Suggestions for the visual include poster, video, cassette, charts, or photos.
      4. Written paper 
        1. Must have at least five (5) pages of typed text.
        2. Document all sources, including those found on the internet.
        3. Format your paper in MLA format, according to the Allentown School District's Style Sheet for Writing the Research Paper.
        4. You may also use information from your Cultural Study Interview Log/Journal forms in your paper.
      5. Oral Presentation See pages 11-12 for details.
    5. CUMULATIVE PROJECT
      1. The Cumulative Project involves submission of superior graded class projects, research papers, essays, oral presentations, creative work, special assignments, etc. from at least six (6) of the following ten (10) areas of study:
        1. communications
        2. mathematics
        3. science or technology
        4. environment and ecology
        5. citizenship
        6. arts and humanities
        7. career education and work
        8. wellness and fitness
        9. home economics
        10. school or community related contributions
      2. Eligible works submitted must have a teacher's signature and the official WAHS sticker. Students must have received a grade of "A" on the project for it to be considered eligible.
      3. Works completed during grades 9 - 12 are eligible for submission
      4. Students will write a reflective essay that explains how the content of their portfolio demonstrates academic growth and responsibility.
        1. The essay must be four (4) pages in length, computer generated,  double-spaced, text no larger than fourteen (14) point font. See page 17 for specific instructions.
        2. Use the Grading Rubric for the Cumulative Project as a guide. See page 18 for the rubric.
      5. Areas of concentration must be articulated on the Graduation Project Proposal form.
      6. The Cumulative Project must be completed by the date of the first school-wide presentation in the fall.
    6. DOCUMENTED RESEARCH PAPER
      1. Must include a thesis statement.
      2. Documentation must include
        1. outline
        2. note cards
        3. bibliography
        4. rough draft, including parenthetical references and works cited page
        5. final copy, which must include parentheitical references and works cited page
      3. Written paper with a minimum of ten (10) pages of typed text
      4. Needs and English teacher's signature as a mentor. It is your responsibility to find and English teacher to be your mentor.
      5. The format of the paper must meet specifications set forth in the William Allen High School Style Sheet for Writing the Research Paper, which is based on the Modern Language Association (MLA) format. The style sheet may be obtained from any English teacher or accessed from the ASD website.
      6. The rough draft must be submitted to the mentor English teacher for review one (1) month prior to the presentation. The mentor must sign and date the rough draft when he or she reviewed the paper.
      7. An oral presentation of the documented research project is required. The oral presentation may include visuals to help illustrate the student's research. See pages 11-12 for details.

    All projects must be original. Projects, other than the Cumulative Project, must not have been submitted for credit in any course at William Allen High School or the Lehigh Career and Technical Institute (LCTI); however, any submitted for a grade may be expanded as a basis for further study.

  4. PROCEDURE/TIMELINE FOR GRADUATION PROJECT
    1. ELEVENTH GRADE
      1. Letter describing the graduation project will be sent home to be signed by parent and student.
      2. Students and parents will be given the description, the procedure, and the assessment guidelines for what is expected.
      3. Homeroom teacher will serve as an contact person to answer questions.
      4. Students will begin exploration of possible projects.
      5. Students will complete a proposal form and submit it to the homeroom teacher.  Students will keep a personal photocopy at home.
      6. Students will provide a detailed outline including a timeline showing the steps to fulfill the project requirements.
      7. The majority of work should be completed prior to the beginning of the senior year. The entire project should be ready for presentation upon the opening of school in September of the student's senior year.
    2. TWELFTH GRADE
      1. The Graduation Project will be presented at times established by the Allentown School District in the fall and spring. Students will be assigned a presentation date by William Allen High School's Graduation Project Committee.
      2. Graduation Projects may be completed early. Some projects may be completed during the junior year.
      3. If students do not show for their presentation appointment time, parents will be notified.
        1. If a student misses his or her presentation appointment due to illness, he or she will need to present a doctor's excuse to the Attendance Office before a make up appointment can be scheduled.
        2. Any student who misses his or her presentation appointment time due to a family trip or vacation must have an approved Temporary Absence Permit (TAPS) form on file with the Attendance Office. This form must be filed prior to the presentation day. The principal will approve or disapprove all TAPS forms. Make up presentations will only be arranged if an approved TAPS form is on file in the Attendance Office.
      4. All presentations must be given in English without the aid of an interpreter.
      5. Progress, or lack thereof, will be noted during the "Senior Update" with counselors.

  5. ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS
    1. ADVISOR / MENTOR
      1. The advisors role - administrative, giving direction, suggestions
      2. The mentor's role - hands-on direction of project implementation
    2. REVIEW PANEL
      1. For projects requiring an oral presentation.
        1. A faculty panel will evaluate all graduation projects.
        2. The Review Panel will be responsible for the final grade on the Graduation Project.
        3. The grades will be Outstanding (O), Satisfactory (S), and Unsatisfactory (U). Unsatisfactory (U) denotes failure. The grade for the student's project shall be recorded on his or her final senior report card and final senior transcript.
      2. The Cumulative Project will be evaluated by the teachers who are members of the Graduation Project Committee.
    3. TWELFTH GRADE/FINAL PRESENTATION
      1. The written presentation will be judged using the Pennsylvania Domain Scoring Guide
        1. Focus - a single controlling point made with an awareness of task about a specific topic.
        2. Content - the presence of ideas developed through facts, examples, anecdotes, details, opinions, statistics, reasons, and/or explanations.
        3. Organization - the order developed and sustained within and across paragaphs using traditional devices and including introduction and conclusion
        4. Style - the choice, use, and arrangements of words and sentence structures that create tone and voice.
        5. Conventions - grammar, mechanics, spelling, usage, and sentence formation.
      2. The oral presentation will be judged on the basis of these categories:
        1. Content, to include
          • 5 minute minimum duration
          • supporting information
          • conclusions
          • importance, value, or impact of the project
          • sources of information
          • vocabulary relevant to the topic
        2. Effective speaking
          • presents one's self with poise
          • maintains consistent eye contact with the review panel
          • enunciates clearly
          • varies tone, volume, and speed to enhance presentation
          • speaks alone without the aid of an interpreter
        3. Organization
          • is appropriate to the study
          • uses an engaging beginning and thoughtful ending
          • supports a central thesis or idea
          • flows smoothly from one idea to the next
        4. Visual Media
          • effective use of graphic design
          • communicates significant information
          • clearly, accurately, and precisely communicates information
          • photos should be mounted on poster board, organized in an album or placed in a computer/slide presentation
        5. Response to questions
          • effectively responses to all question from the panel
          • uses questions from the panel to illuminate topic

    Only personal materials will be returned at the end of the school year.

  6. REMEDIATION

    Students whose written and/or oral presentations are evaluated as Unsatisfactory (U) during the original presentation may have the opportunity to correct and resubmit their work at a time set by the school and the Graduation Project Committee.

  7. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
    1. Keep a file containing all documents pertinent to the Graduation Project, including the Graduation Project Handbook.
    2. Make duplicates of all materials related to the project.
    3. Familiarize yourself with all aspects of the graduation project.
    4. Meet with your advisor at designated times.
    5. Fulfill requirements completely and on time.
    6. Seek the help of a mentor. A mentor may be a parent, relative, friend, teacher, or any person with expertise in your chosen topic.
    7. Do your very best work on the graduation project.
    8. Be prepared for the assessment portion of the graduation project. Practice your presentation before you give it.
  8. MENTOR RESPONSIBILITIES
    1. A mentor, a contact within or outside the school community, may provide knowledge, information, support, and guidance in order to assist the student in attaining a successful completion of the graduation project. The mentor may be a participant in the final evaluation review. 
    2. Suggestions for Successful Mentoring

      A mentor should...

      • be aware that the project is a state-mandated requirement for graduation.
      • receive the complete packet regarding the project and its requirements for successful completion.
      • sign the "proposal" in the packet and date all appropriate places.
      • be aware of the on-going timeline constraints.
      • advise as to appropriateness of student's topic.
      • provide expertise on a need-to-know basis.
    3. A Mentor is required for the following projects.
      1. Career Research (Project A)
      2. Community Service (Project B)
      3. Creative Work (Project C)
      4. Documented Research Paper (Project F)

    POSSIBLE PROJECT TOPICS

  9. TYPES OF PROJECTS
    1. Career Research

      Investigate any career.
      Produce a video chronicling a "day on the job."
      Interviews
      Shadow: A daycare provider, hospital worker, etc.

    2. Community Service (not personal employment)

      Set up catalogs in catalog room of the WAHS Guidance office.
      NJROTC community service projects
      Produce promotional materials for community displays promoting William Allen High School and the Allentown School District
      Boy Scouts / Girl Scouts 
      Student Government Association (SGA) projects
      School Publications

      NHS projects
      Key Club service projects
      Soup kitchen volunteer
      Mayfair
      Fish hatchery
      Animal Shelter
      Recycling center
      Blood mobile
      Casa Guadalupe, Hispanic Cultural Center (homework tutoring)
      Volunteer during community heritage days
      Church
      Homeless shelter
      YMCA, JCC, Boys'Club / Girls' Club
      Elderly
      Hospital
      Library
      Work with the West Park Association on special project.
      Organize a neighborhood clean up program.
      Volunteer at Turning Point
      fundraising for school related organizations or community based organizations
      Habitat for Humanity
    3. Creative work

      Write a play, produce and direct it.
      Produce a film or documentary on a novel expressing its value as a piece of literature.
      Do a writing in a language foreign to you (not English).
      Portfolio of your original art work representing a common theme
      Play a significant role in a school or community production
      Compile a cookbook of family recipes or a theme-related cookbook with at least 25 recipes; prepare at least five (5) with pictures and evaluate those you tried. Explain the significance of the recipes collected.
      Create a learning center for elementary or pre-school children.
      Write a literary magazine
      Poetry - Collections of poetry must include a minimum of ten (10) poems. The significance of each poem must be explained.

    4. Cultural Study

      Personal genealogy - must include in-depth historical research and family tree, not just family album. This is different from a research paper, as it may include personal anecdotal references. 
      Investigate a community or cultural event.
      Investigate an icon, symbol, or something unique within a culture and explain its importance. This icon can include something from music, cuisine, art, fashion, currency, religion, or myths.
      Remember to focus on your theme. This is not an encyclopedia report.