ENGLISH 10 RESEARCH PROJECT

The purpose of this research paper is to investigate a career field. It is hoped that you will choose something that is of interest to you or that is your possible future.

Be sure to document everything while researching. Always take notes from your sources in your own words or phrases. Do not copy entire paragraphs verbatim. You need to include the following criteria in your paper:

  • Introduction
  • The paper should be 3 full pages long (no longer than 5)
  • Typed (double-spaced with one inch margins)
  • 12 font - Times New Roman
  • Four sources (at least one book)
  • DO NOT use “I” or “you” within paper
  • Due date – TBA
  • Evaluation: This paper will count as two test grades. If you are not in class on May 25th your paper must be here.
  • MLA format
  • Heading
  • Numbering of pages
  • Title of paper should not be underlined or quoted
  • Follow format for Works Cited page

You will be given four days to do research in the school’s library; most of your work should be done outside of class. Use your time wisely while in the library and the classroom.

Reminders:

  • Make sure that your paper has transitions
  • Avoid choppiness; read your paper out loud
  • Avoid run-on sentences
  • Avoid overuse of and, but, so
  • No sentence should begin with but or so
  • Avoid overuse of commas
  • No subheadings
  • Review mechanics — punctuation and capitalization

Career Research Project Outline

English 10

  1. Introduction: Your opening paragraph should gain your reader’s interest and introduce the career field that you have chosen. Do not give details of the career in this paragraph. To get your reader’s attention, use one or more of the following methods:
  1. ask one or more questions about the topic
  2. provide an interesting story about the subject
  3. present a significant fact or statistic
  4. quote an expert on the subject
  5. give a definition of the career choice in general terms
  1. History: Give some historical background for your subject. For example, if your career is electrician, your history section may go back to when electricity was discovered and note how over time it has become so important to the world that we now have a group of workers who specialize in electrical careers. If your career is a lawyer, then when did mankind start using trained advocates or lawyers to plead cases? This section needs to be only 1 - 2 paragraphs.
  1. Job Description/Workplace Skills: Describe the typical tasks involved in this job and explain the skills necessary to carry out those tasks.
  1. Training/Education Specify the kind and levels of education or training necessary for your chosen career. Give details of the kinds of schools or training programs available. You may include information on the approximate costs involved as well.
  1. Career Advancement: Indicate any possible ways in which a person could advance in this career field, i.e. to go from construction worker to construction manager to contractor. Include in this what additional educational requirements, training, experience or expense might be involved in an advanced position.
  1. Salary Ranges/Area: Discuss the range of salary or wages possible in this career field. Include information on the state of Virginia specifically, as well as a national average or scale. Also consider the wages for different types ofjobs within the career field, i.e. registered nurses, practical nurses, nursing assistants, nursing supervisors, etc.
  1. Job Outlook/Conclusion:Job Outlook means the forecast or prediction for the number of positions available in this career field in the future. If enough information on local, state and/or national employment trends is available, this could be a separate paragraph. If not, the concluding paragraph may be combined with the job outlook.

The conclusion sums up or recaps in general what has been said in the paper and presents a final statement about the career. Do not include new facts or information. Have a strong concluding sentence.

ENGLISH 10 CAREER PROJECT

ORAL PRESENTATION

The oral presentation section of the Career Project is a simple extension from the factual information gathered in your research. Using the information from your research, you will create a PowerPoint presentation that informs your classmates about the career you studied.

Your presentation is worth one test grade and is due TBA. You will be docked one full letter grade for each day it is late – no excuses.

REQUIREMENTS:

You must have a minimum of 7 slides. (The title slide does not count.)

You willgive a 3-5 minute presentation as you share your information with the class.

Be prepared to elaborate on your slides – DO NOT SIMPLY READ FROM THE POWERPOINT SLIDES.

  • Slides are only intended to highlight certain points as you add more details or discuss the bulleted points on the slides.

Use index cards or your power point print out with notes if necessary during your presentation to help you recall information.

SLIDE LIST*:

  1. **Title slide (does not count as one of your required 7) – Should have the name of your topic and your name
  2. History – Highlight some of the most interesting history you learned about your career
  3. Job Description – What does the job involve? What are some of the typical tasks one would complete? What job skills are needed?
  4. Education / Training Needed
  5. SalaryRanges– Salary possibilities by state or nationally and/or by hourly and/or yearly totals
  6. Career Advancement Possibilities – Can you move up in this career? How? Do you have to start at the bottom and work your way up?
  7. Benefits – What are the benefits (besides salary) to work in this field? What might draw a person to this career?
  8. Job Outlook – What is the future of this career? Where are there a great number of openings? What kind of conditions might one find to work in?
  9. Other – Suggest another subject to bring up about your topic
  10. **Works Cited (does not count as one of your required 7)

*You do not have to cover all of these topics (you may have one topic that is covered on more than one slide), however, I should still see a variety of topics covered.

**These slides must be included in addition to any other slides your presentation contains.

Tips for Effective PowerPoint Presentations

Fonts

Avoid fonts smaller than size 24 point.

Clearly label each screen. Use a larger font (35-45 points) for the title.

Use a single font for most of the presentation. Use different colors, sizes and styles (bold, underline) for impact.

Avoid italicized and script fonts as they are difficult to read.

Remember, the fewer words to a line, the better (but it still needs to make sense!)

Use dark text on light background or light text on dark background. However, dark backgrounds sometimes make it difficult for some people to read the text.

Do not use all caps except for titles.

To test the font, stand back six feet from the monitor and see if you can read the slide.

Graphics and Design

Keep the background consistent and subtle.

Keep the design clean and uncluttered. Leave empty space around the text and graphics

Use quality clipart/photos and use it sparingly. The graphic should relate to and enhance the topic of the slide.

Try to use the same style graphics throughout the presentation (e.g. cartoon, photographs)

Limit the number of graphics on each slide.

Avoid flashy graphics and noisy animation effects unless they relate directly to the slide.

Limit the number of transitions used. It is often better to use only one so the audience knows what to expect.

Color/Sound

Limit the number of colors on a single screen.

Pick one series of colors to use throughout the presentation.

Remember, some vibrant colors are difficult to read when projected.

Limit the sound used in the presentation. Choose specific, important places to use it.

If sound effects are used, wait until the sound has finished before speaking.

General Presentation

Check the spelling and grammar.

Do not read the presentation. Practice the presentation so you can speak from bullet points. The text should be a cue for the presenter rather than a message for the viewer.

Give a brief overview at the start. Then present the information. Finally review important points.

It is often more effective to have bulleted points appear one at a time so the audience listens to the presenter rather than reading the screen.

Do not turn your back on the audience. Try to position the monitor so you can speak from it.

Important resources that you can use!!!!!!

Career Research Organizer

History
Job Description/Workplace Skills
Training/Education
Career Advancement
Salary Ranges/Area
Job Outlook