Mrs. Searight
(Adapted from Mrs. Scholtz & Coach Gunn)
English III
Research Project
College* & Career
* College can be defined as any post-secondary education and/or training needed for career development. This can include, but is not limited to certificate programs, vocational training, 2 and 4 year degree programs, military training, and internships.
Student’s Name: ______
Project Career & College Research Overview
Objectives
· Scan a passage to determine whether a text contains relevant information.
· Distinguish between apparent fact and opinion in nonfiction texts.
· Analyze and synthesize the concepts and details in informational texts.
· Explain how new information from a text changes personal knowledge.
· Develop an appropriate strategy for finding information on a particular topic.
· Use referencing while doing research.
· Identify and use library information services.
· Use search engines and other internet resources to do research.
· locate, summarize, and synthesize information from primary and secondary sources
Essential Question
· What is the American dream and is the attainment of it possible for every member of society?
Introduction
Over the several weeks you will be completing a research project. The topic will be centered on your college and career choice(s). You will complete multiple steps as outlined in this packet.
Topic: Careers and College Choice
You will select a career and begin to research the path that will lead to a successful placement in this area.
Research Project Requirements (MLA Standardized Format)
· 15-30 PowerPoint slides including appropriate documentation and a works consulted page.
Minimum Content Requirements for Research Project:
1. Minimum of 5 sources, which may include but are not limited to the following:
þ Primary source from college, university, career
þ Information from Bureau of Labor and Statistics
þ Internet source(s)
þ Interview (can be done in person, by phone, or e-mail)
þ Print/newspaper
2. Slides must include parenthetical citation and a works consulted page.
3. You must PRINT copies of your PowerPoint presentation. (Six slides per page.)
NOTE: You will be learning where to find these sources and how to create each required section throughout the process.
Grading - **This project will count as 3 test grades and multiple daily grades. One test grade will be for following requirements/presenting information, one will be for works consulted page and parenthetical documentation, and one will be for the presentation.
Due to the nature of a research project, you must be vigilant when citing sources. All sources will be checked to insure no plagiarism has occurred. At any time we may request to see any of the sources cited within your list of works. Failure to produce a source may be considered plagiarism.
Plagiarism will result in a zero on the project.
http://nsulibraries.blogspot.com/2006_09_01_archive.html
Career Research - Your research will produce answers to the following questions:
· What does one need to know and be able to do for this career?
· What type of post-secondary education is needed?
· Are there any additional certifications needed for this career?
· What is the expected salary for this career?
· What daily/hourly hours would one work?
· What type of vacation can one expect?
· What type of work does one do in this career? Are you required to work with your hands in a physical sense or is it more with your mind?
· Are there opportunities for advancement in this career?
Please note: You may vastly expand the scope of this section in order to clarify this career.
Step 1: Career Cruising
Day one will be largely related to checking out the “career cruising” website. You will be looking for ideas/thoughts to start you on your search.
Other helpful resources:
1. Occupational Outlook Handbook: http://www.bls.gov/oco/
2. CollegeBoard.com
3. http://www.yourfreecareertest.com/ (This is a career aptitude test which may give you ideas of your interests and careers that you may find intriguing)
Step 2: Graphic Organizer
Fill out the career portion of the career & college graphic organizer that is in this packet.
Step 3: Primary Source
You will choose two forms of primary source research. This may be:
a. A journal or magazine article written about your career.
b. Conduct a personal interview with an individual in a selected career
c. Read a biography or autobiography of an individual in the selected career
Part II: College Research
Your paper will examine the important information that you identified while researching your specific college; it will include the answers to the questions below:
· What type of college is it?
· What is the enrollment?
· Is it urban or rural?
· What are the admission requirements?
· What are the tuition costs?
· What type of major might you pursue at this college?
· What is a description of this major?
· What skills are necessary to be successful in this major?
· What high school courses are needed for this major?
· What courses does one take at college to fulfill this major?
· What is the study/workload like for this major?
· What career might one go into with this major?
· What are the viewpoints of current students in this major?
· What questions would you ask a college admissions counselor?
· What other majors relate to this major?
Step 1: Refer back to websites to find colleges that match your criteria. Print your results.
Step 2: Choose 3 Colleges
Each student will choose three colleges from the list of schools presented on the previous survey. Take into account the extent to which your schools will help you achieve your desired career.
Step 3: College Contact
Write a letter to the admissions staff at each of the schools you have chosen; OR send an email to admissions; OR make a phone call to admissions. Obtain a viewbook and application for your three schools. Save these documents.
Step 4: Review Materials
Review the materials from your schools. Look carefully at what they say about their schools. After reviewing all three schools, select the one school that most interests you and might most help you gain a job in the career of your choice.
Step 5: Graphic Organizer
Fill out the college portion of the career & college graphic organizer that is in this packet.
Step 6: Additional Sources
Search for additional sources which discuss the school you have selected. Read reviews of the school. Try to locate a current student from the school. Interview a member of the college’s admission staff. Do whatever it takes to gather as much relevant information as possible for your paper, portfolio, and display.
Part III: Presenting Your Learning
All projects will be showcased in a final exhibition during the designated final exam time.
Visual – Your visual must clearly present information on both your career and your college.
Outline /PowerPoint Rough Draft
The ability to construct an outline for a research paper helps to ensure that your paper is organized and logical. The outline is a required part of your research paper process and should be included in your portfolio (teacher discretion). You can use the outline below, or you can create your own outline template if you wish.
- Start to organize your paper by placing the research you have into the outline.
- Fill out the entire outline template below. You should exhaust all the research you have.
- Go back and look for sources that will help you address any areas where you did not have enough information.
- Use this outline to construct your PowerPoint. Add slides as needed.
Part I: Career Research
I. Introduction (1-2 slides)
A. General Background Information: Career and College
1. ______
2. ______
3. ______
B. Thesis (one slide: what will your presentation discuss)
1. ______
2. ______
3. ______
II. Career (5-10 slides) ______
A. Education needed for career: ______
1. Supporting Detail: ______
2. Supporting Detail: ______
B. Expected Salary/Benefits: ______
1. Supporting Detail: ______
2. Supporting Detail: ______
C. Opportunity for Advancement
1. Supporting Detail:______
2. Supporting Detail:______
**Each slide MUST include a parenthetical citation showing where you got the information**
III. Post-Secondary Education (5-10 Slides) ______
A. Courses Related to Career Choice: ______
1. Supporting Detail: ______
2. Supporting Detail: ______
B. Costs of attending: ______
1. Supporting Detail: ______
2. Supporting Detail: ______
C. Miscellaneous Interesting Information about the College
V. Conclusion (2 slides)
A. Restate Thesis
1. General Overview o key points: ______
2. Key Data: ______
______
B. Works Consulted Page
1. ______
2. ______
Graphic Organizers
Fill in the attached organizers with the information you gain from your research.
KWL – Know, Wonder, Learned about my college* & career
What I Know / What I WonderCareer Graphic Organizer
Education Needed / Salary/Hourly Wage / Expected Hours / Average Vacation / Other QualificationsWhat other important information did you find?
College* Graphic Organizer
College* Type / GPA – Rank – SAT / College* Location / Tuition / Total EnrollmentWhat other important information did you find?
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Date / Class Location / Objective(s) / Assignment(s) DueMarch 23/24 / Library Computer Lab / -Introduce Project
-Fill in KW
-Mr. Phillips speak about Career Cruising / -KWL (with K and W filled in)
March 25/26 / 4th: Lab 501
8th: Lab 504 / -Ms. Robbins speak about documentation and scholarly research
-Continue career research
-Determine 2 sources / -Day 2 Assignment (2 sources in MLA format)
March 27/30 / Lab 219 / -Continue scholarly career and college research and documentation
March 31/April 1 / Classroom / -Begin working on academic résumé
April 2/6 / Classroom / -Begin presentation outline
April 7/8 / Classroom / -Complete presentation outline / -Presentation outline
April 9/10 / Library Computer Lab / -Complete and type academic résumé / -Typed academic résumé
April 13/14 / Library Computer Lab / -Begin Power Point presentation
April 15/16 / Library Computer Lab / -Finish/polish Power Point presentation / -Completed Research Project (printed 6 slides per page)
April 17/20 / Classroom / -Begin presentations / - Project Presentation
GRADING
All “assignment due” are due at the end of the class period and will be a daily grade.
TEST GRADE ONE: SLIDE PRESENTATION. ALL SLIDES MUST HAVE PARENTHETICAL DOCUMENTATION AT THE BASE TO COUNT! YOU MUST PRINT SLIDES 6 per page!
Background info 10 points
Career information 40 points
Training
Salary
Opportunities for advancement, etc.
College information 40 points
Recap 10 points
TEST GRADE TWO: DOCUMENTATION
Minimum five sources used (20 points per source)
Must be parenthetical documentation on EACH slide (-2 points for each minor error, -5 points for each major error)
Must have MLA formatted works consulted page PRINTED. 75 points. -2 points per minor error, -5 points per major error (ex. Not alphabetizing, not reverse indenting)
TEST GRADE THREE: PRESENTATION (Rubric to be presented at a later date.)
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