How to Explanatory  Process Essay/Poster Presentation

Dr. Gingrich

Point total (150)

Essays should be between 1000 and 1500 words, typed, double-paced. (100 points)

Rough Draft:  Due Monday, April 11th

2^nd Draft:       Due Monday, April 18^th

Research Question Development Sheet Part F: Due Thursday, March 24^th (10 points)

Web Inquiry into Exemplar in the Field:  Due Thursday, March 24^th (10 Points)

Research Plan:  Two methods   Monday, March 28^th  (5 points)

Topic: Write an essay in which you explain one of the following three things.  The essay should be a step by step descriptive paper about the process of creating this activity.  You should use three direct sources about the topic; these should be articles written by experts in the field in which they explain the topics background or how to be successful at the particular area.  You should also do two of the following (Interviews, observations, documents, surveys).

How something is made

• How to make a wedding cake
• How to make a Porsche
• How a snow board is created
• How to make a sculpture

How to do something

• How to shoot a free throw
• How to play the guitar
• How to get a high score in Call of Duty 4
• How to write a poem
• How to scuba dive

How something works

• An airplane engine
• The solar system
• A penguin’s birthing process
• Open heart surgery

Demonstraton: (50 points ) Create a poster (presentations will be the week of April 12^th):The poster should be on a three fold poster board.

On the left side you should include direct quotes about the activity.  You must have three sources.  These three sources should be cited in your paper with a works cited page.  Each source should have at least two quotes.  The center of the poster board should have step by step directions explaining how to make something, how to do something, or how something works.  The right hand side of the board should have at least three visual images about the topic (drawings, print outs, graphs, etc.)

You should give a three to five minute demonstration speech in which you explain the background of your topic and how the process functions.

Research:

Component A: You should use two secondary sources on your topic.  These would be newspaper articles, books, magazines, etc.

Component B:  You should use two types of the following research methods involving experts in your field—they can be the same expert.

1. Observations
2. Interviews
3. Document analysis (primary sources)
4. Surveys

The outline of the paper should be as follows  (See Below)

Part I:  Expository Reflection and Research (1-2 Pages)

Part II.  Demonstration (“How To”)  (1-3 pages)

Part III.  Implications   (1-3 pages)

9H Research Proposal

Dr. Gingrich

Spring 2011

I.   Presentation and format of paper (15 points)                                 _________/15

• Sufficient length (4 ½ - 6 pages)
• Typed
• MLA header  (title of paper, your name, course, teacher’s name, date)
• MLA page number format  (bottom center)
• Double-spaced
• Indented paragraphs
• Clean copy is presented
• Elements presented in an organized fashion
• Annotated bibliography submitted with proposal
• Revisions included
• Typed transcripts of interviews, surveys, document analysis, or observation notes (two)  included with copy

II.   Part I:  Expository Paper Reflection & Research   _________/35

• Writer provides thoughtful reflection on expository paper learnings
• Writer thoroughly analyzes how expository paper influenced knowledge or interest in field
• Identify two  research questions and/or how they have been revised since expository paper
• Writer offers reasons/explanation for choice and significance of research questions to understanding of field
• Writer summarizes each expert interview, observation, document collection, or survey including name and role of person (group) they have interviewed, observed, surveyed, or documented the person’s (group’s) insights about his/her work, and main learnings from the interview

III.   Part II:  Demonstration/”How To”                                                            _________/35

• Writer explains step-by-step how to do or teach a concept or process
• “How to” topic closely and clearly relates to central topic of research
• Section cites at least one new source that is a “how to” written or demonstrated by an expert in the field
• New source is added to annotated bibliography
• Parenthetical citations contain author’s name (or title of item) and page number (or other info)
• “How to” section is written in an engaging manner relevant to audience
• Section has a logical progression or pattern
• Section is organized and clearly written
• Effective transitions are used between steps

IV.  Part III:  Taking Your Research to the Next Level!  (this is preparation for your 10^th grade year)                        _________/35

• Writer clearly defines a central analytical question that addresses where he/she will take this interest next
• Writer identifies additional sources he/she will use to continue research
• Writer adds additional sources to annotated bibliography
• Mixes new information with general/pre-existing knowledge of topic
• Section shows a progression of thought and a future direction
• Writer identifies further hands-on research steps
• Writer identifies high school coursework or extracurricular activities that will help further interest
• Writer addresses how the topic or interest may impact college plans
• Writer ultimately draws conclusions about why he or she wishes to pursue the field or interest further.

V. Organization                                                                                           _________/15

• Organization of paper helps reader to make sense of the ideas
• Intro statement in each section (or general intro) outlines major ideas
• Paper has a logical flow of ideas and effective transitions
• Paragraphs are balanced
• Writer shows how each idea connects to others and to the “big picture”

VI. Style and Mechanics                                                                            _________/20

• Writer is engaged with the topic and outlines it effectively to reader
• Professional, enthusiastic voice, well-suited to audience/purpose
• Writing is clear and concise
• Good sentence structure and variety; no awkward sentences
• Writer makes clear, specific word choices- writer chooses words and phrases that will help a reader make sense of and remember key concepts
• Writer avoids repetitive and redundant phrasing
• Technical or little-known words are clarified or defined
• Wording is obviously the writer’s

• Writer has edited paper thoroughly
• Grammar rules are consistently followed throughout paper
• Correct use of punctuation
• Proper spelling

This is your preparation for your paper and research for next year.

Total score:     _________/150   =   ______%

This is a project that you will have the opportunity to continue on

Research Question Development

Lesson 5 Resource 1

A.   Topic—describe the general discipline topic that you are interested in researching.

2. Write down all of the important information, knowledge, facts, descriptions that you already have about your topic.  What experiences do you have with the topic?  Are you new to the topic or do you consider yourself somewhat of an expert already in the area?  Do you know anyone who is an expert or very experienced in the topic?

C.  What do you not know about the topic that you would want to learn?  Why do you think that this is interesting or important?

4. Write a large/general question that you think is important?  (For instance what is science?  Why do birds fly?  What makes Shakespeare a great writer?  Why study history?)

5. Write down subsidiary questions related to your larger topic.  You may write as many of these as you want.  Do not worry about how many you have.  Try to write at least 10 questions for this section.

6. Select one of the questions from E that you think is the most interesting to you for the project.   Answer yes or no to the following questions.

• Is it open-ended?  Have too many people researched it? Does it seem original?
• Is it focused?  Is it too broad (will there be too much information on it)?
• Is it a question that I am interested in?  Does it connect to long term interests that I might have (college major, profession, hobby)?
• Does it have value? Is it important to an academic discipline, to my peers, to the school, the community, the world?
• Is answering the question something that is doable?  What resources and time will it take to answer this question?