Buncombe County Schools Graduation Project Early Start Application Packet

BUNCOMBE COUNTY SCHOOLS GRADUATION PROJECT EARLY START APPLICATION PACKET

Congratulations on taking the first step toward completion of your Graduation Project. Contained in this packet are directions which you must follow exactly.
Your approval depends on your ability to follow directions the first time.

Here is what you will do.

Read the entire packet and pay special attention to the directions.
Read very carefully the Guidelines for Paper Topics and Projects (page 3 of this packet).
Read through the Mentor Manual and Parent Manual online. Print only what you need.
Draft your application using the questions in this packet—the application must be typed. Use lots of detail to explain what you are planning. See the example on the school website if you need a model. It’s fine to go over one page.
Make an appointment with a librarian or a trusted, knowledgeable teacher to discuss your plan, if necessary.
Edit your letter using the Application Checklist.
Proofread your application for spelling and grammar.
Make sure your parent or guardian signs the application.
Staple your Application and the forms together in this exact order (from top to bottom).
Proposal Application (signed by you and your parent)
Mentor Consent Form (signed)
Parent Consent Form (signed)
Signed Parent Permission for Costly Project (if necessary--cost is >$75)
Signed Parent Assumption of Risk for Dangerous Project (if necessary)
Turn your proposal letter and the attached forms into a librarian.

A few final notes.

●You will propose a general research paper topic, but will not actually begin research until you begin English III or IV.

●Your paper topic must be persuasive or argumentative, not purely informational. The goal of your paper is to convince your audience that your hypothesis is true based on the sources you have found. A persuasive hypothesis (thesis) is a statement that has the potential for debate.

●Check Points of View on NC Wiseowl for ideas. This database is linked on the ACRHS Home Page. Ask a librarian for the password if you plan on researching off campus.

●An example:

×Yoga is healthy and beneficial. (purely informational; no issue here)

✔Yoga is more effective than traditional methods of sports rehabilitation after an injury. (controversial; some people might disagree with that statement)

●You must have a Mentor supervise you for a minimum of ten hours.

oThe Mentor must be at least 25 years old and cannot be a parent or guardian.

oYou must keep a log of all your hours. In addition, you must keep some sort of photographic evidence of your progress. See the example in this packet.

oYou must have your Mentor fill out the verification form at the end of the Mentor Manual.

oYou are responsible for keeping up with all forms, etc. until you reach English IV.

Good luck. Please see a librarian if you have any questions.

Guidelines for Paper Topics:

Paper topics must be argumentative.
Paper topic must have significant, balanced pro and con support.
Student must choose a side and pursue it to a conclusion.
Paper topics must be significant enough to produce at least five differentsources.
Paper topics must be conducive to a community interview which will be included as a source.
Check Points of View in NC Wiseowl High School Zone for ideas.

Guidelines for Projects and Practical Experiences:

Practical Experiences and paper topics must be connected in some way.
Practical Experiences must be supervised by the Mentor for at least 10 hours.
Mentors must have verifiable experience in their area of expertise.
Mentors must be at least 25 years of age and cannot be a parent or guardian.
Mentors will be randomly contacted by teacherse to verify student progress.
Access Mentor Manual at:
Practical Experiences must entail at least 10 hours of hands-on learning.
Job Shadowing will not be considered a Practical Experience.
Volunteering will only be considered a Practical Experience if a student can design a volunteer situation to meet a specific need.
Example general office work at the Red Cross will not be approved.
Volunteering to put together disaster packets or assisting with a blood drive would be approved.
Jobs, court-mandated community service, and ACRHS internships/courses will not be considered Practical Experiences.
Attending a class will be considered a Practical Experience as long as a significant need is proven, a goal is met, and demonstration of progress is evident.
Certification
Significant growth in subject area
Note: AB-Tech instructors will not be asked to serve as Mentors. You must find a “surrogate” Mentor to follow your progress and evaluate your performance. You will receive a certificate of completion at the end of your course to prove your attendance.
Creation of a film, a documentary, or a web page will not be considered a Practical Experience. These are visual aids.
Fitness programs will not be considered Practical Experiences unless they are supervised by trained professionals and a significant health need is proven.
Training for a sport or the military will NOT be considered.
Weight loss/fitness/healthy lifestyle experiences will be considered if need is proven.
Under no circumstances will a student be allowed to take any supplement (nutritional or otherwise) as part of a Practical Experience.
Surveys and empirical studies will not be considered Practical Experiences.
Handling or constructing a firearm is strictly prohibited during the completion of a Practical Experience.
Creation of clubs at ACRHS will not be considered Practical Experiences unless administrative approval is granted and significant measures are taken to make sure the club continues beyond the scope of the student’s Graduation Project.
Projects with live animals must be under the care and supervision of the Mentor.
Projects involving children and the elderly will require special provisions to ensure privacy.

Papers and Projects from the Past

Overall Topic

Paper Topic

Project/Experience

Child Care / Certified child care is better than home care / Plan, rehearse, and execute a Parent’s Night at a day care
Folk Music / Music Censorship vilates the First Amendment / Take dulcimer lessons and perform a song
Nursing / With few exceptions, students who attend public school should be vaccinated / Attend CPR classes and receive certification
Farming / Growth hormones are harmful to people and animals alike / Build a large animal feeder and implement its use at an organic farm
Sports / Youths involved in sports perform better in school / Coach a youth soccer team and track academic progress of team members
Art / Frida Kahlo was an ideal feminist / Paint in the style of Kahloand coordinate an art exhibit
Computers / Net Neutrality should not be influenced by corporations / Take and pass a computer course to receive certification
Horticulture / Genetic engineering improves food sources / Build a greenhouse and create a new hybrid or raise flowers or veggies
Fitness / High Schools should not be allowed to sell sugary foods / Work with area farmers and create a natural foods co-op at school

Graduation Project Early Start Proposal for: Type your Name

Current First Period Teacher: Type Teacher’s Name

Answer the following questions in complete sentences with lots of detail.

What is the thesis of your proposed research paper?
**Make a copy of this form and type your responses on your copy.**
Support for your thesis: People who support your thesis believe that...
Opposition to your thesis: Critics of your thesis argue that...
Identify your mentor and provide his/her qualifications.
Describe the details of project/practical experience. What? When? Where?
List the long-term benefit to you upon completion of this proposed project.

❏I have little or no prior experience with this topic.

❏I am aware that plagiarism and forgery during this project process will result in grade and disciplinary consequences.

❏I have discussed with my parent/guardian the responsibilities associated with the
Graduation Project. My parents/guardians are aware that this may require work outside the school setting. Also, they are aware that I will be working on a research paper, a project, a portfolio, and a presentation.

______

Parent/Guardian Signature and DateStudent Signature and Date

Proposal Application Checklist

(use this to double-check your application for level of completion)

What is the thesis of your proposed research paper?
oI have created a thesis statement that is clear and argumentative
oExample: “High school students should be allowed to eat lunch off campus due to the nature and content of school nutrition offered in the school cafeterias.”
Support for your thesis: People who support your thesis believe that...
oI explain the side of the controversy I will support.
oI cite specific research (at least one credible source).
Opposition to your thesis: Critics of your thesis argue that...
oI explain the oppositional side of the thesis I am proposing.
oI cite specific research (at least one credible source).
Identify your mentor and provide his/her qualifications:
oI identify my mentor by name.
oI detail his/her qualifications to teach me the desired skill or help me with the desired project.
Describe the details of project/practical experience. What? When? Where?
oI clearly describe the process I will go through to complete my 10 hours.
oI address WHAT I will do, WHEN I will do it, and WHERE it will take place.
List the long-term benefit to you upon completion of this proposed project.
oI explain in detail how this project relates to my future goals or how the project will benefit me in the near future.
oI explain any prior experience I have with the proposed project.

I have attached the following forms as appropriate for my project proposal (with signatures):

oMentor Consent Form

oParent Consent Form

oRecognition of Risks Form

oRecognition of Excessive Costs Form for any project with estimated cost exceeding $7500

oBlank Proposal Application Evaluation Form

oMy parent or guardian has signed the Proposal Application.

oI have placed the forms in the appropriate order and remembered to put my name and my teacher’s name on the application.

Graduation Project Journal

You MUST keep a journal telling the story of what happens as you work on your project. This is the format you should use (copy the blank one and paste it into your document). Remember to share not only the steps or activities you completed during each session but also the feelings and thoughts you experienced as you worked.
Insert at least one picture. If you are journaling a large block of time, you will need to include enough pictures to clearly illustrate what you did during those hours.
If you need a photography waiver--taking pics of kids, etc.--there is one on the school website.
Do one journal entry for each time you meet with your mentor.

Date: / 2 October 2015
Activity: / Purchasing and working with the Batiste fabric for the petticoat
Details: / We went back to Jennifer’s and laid out the Batiste and petticoat pattern, and I was surprised at how little we accomplished for the time we spent--we were only able to lay out the pattern pieces and cut them out to of the fabric today, and that process took all three hours. First, I cut out all of the paper pieces, and then my mentor showed me how to mark the proper lines on the patter to fit my size. Then we ironed the pattern to remove the creases from it being folded. Next, I pinned the pattern pieces to fabric. My mentor showed me how to place the pieces so that the pieces I cut out would all follow the same grain in the fabric. Finally, I had to carefully cut the fabric following the paper pattern pieces. I felt stressed at this point because I was afraid I’d make a mistake and then have to purchase more fabric. I made some very slight mistakes, but my mentor assured me that they would not be visible in the finished garment because they were well within the seam allowances. I also felt a little frustrated at first because I worked so slowly, but my mentor told me that learning new skills take time and that it is better to be patient than to make mistakes. He also said that the patterns we’ll be completing are pretty complex.
Time spent: / 3 hours
Picture: / *Thanks to Sally Lee, Class of 2004

Graduation Project Journal Template

(**copy and paste this one to use as your format**)

Date:
Activity:
Details:
Time spent:
Picture:

Proposal Application Evaluation for Committee

Student Name: Teacher Name:

Reader 1 Reader 2 Reader 3

What is the thesis of your proposed research paper?
oStudent created a thesis statement that is clear and argumentative.
oComments:
Support for your thesis: People who support your thesis believe that...
oStudent explained the side of the controversy he/she will support.
oStudent cited specific research (at least one credible source).
oComments:
Opposition to your thesis: Critics of your thesis argue that...
oStudent explained the oppositional side of the thesis she/he is proposing.
oStudent cited specific research (at least one credible source).
oComments:
Identify your mentor and provide his/her qualifications:
oStudent identifies his/her mentor by name.
oStudent detailed her/his qualifications to teach the desired skill or help with the desired project.
oComments:
Briefly describe the details of project/practical experience. What? When? Where?
oStudent clearly describes the process he/she will go through to complete 10 hours.
oStudent addresses WHAT, WHEN, and WHERE it will take place.
oComments:
List the long-term benefit to you upon completion of this proposed project.
oStudent explains in detail how this project relates to future goals or how the project will benefit her/him in the near future. Student includes information about prior experience.
oComments:

Student has attached the following forms as appropriate for the project proposal (with signatures):

oMentor Consent Form

oParent Consent Form (or authentic parent signature on proposal)

oRecognition of Risks Form (if necessary)

oRecognition of Excessive Costs Form (if necessary)

This application / ❏is accepted as written. Student may proceed as documented in the proposal.
❏requires research paper topic revisions and can then be approved by the English IV teacher.
❏Thesis statement is not persuasive.
❏Research sources submitted are not authoritative.
❏No sources were cited.
❏Other
❏requires project revisions to reflect the following and needs to be resubmitted to the Graduation Project Committee
(please include your first submission with the revised submission).
❏Mentor qualifications were not appropriate or not listed.
❏Information about project hours was not clear or detailed enough.
❏Project entails more than 3 hours of inactive observation or job shadowing time.
❏Application was missing required, authentic signatures.
❏Other

Notes to student:

Buncombe County Schools Graduation Project Mentor Consent Form

I am willing to serve as a Mentor for ______while he or she completes his/her Graduation Project. I have been given a copy of the letter outlining the duties and responsibilities of a Mentor. I realize that this student will need to meet with me regularly throughout the semester while completing the Practical Experience portion of the project. I understand that my responsibilities as a Mentor include verification of the time the student actually spends in hands-on work with the Project or Practical Experience. I also understand that I will be contacted periodically in order to give an honest assessment of the student’s progress on his/her project.

Mentor Information:

Name
Place of Business
Job Title
Phone Number
Email Address
How do you know this student?

Are you at least twenty-five years old?

Are you related to the student?

______Signature

______Date

Attach a business card here if available: