This project is an opportunity for you to choose a topic that connects to your future, research it, write about it, and present your findings to an audience. You should write about something that deeply interests you and connects to your post-high-school life. You will (continue to) learn how to synthesize ideas from yourself and others and communicate said ideas to your audience in a coherent, organized fashion. Follow these steps: Think about a career path, field of study, or extracurricular activity that you plan to explore further after graduating from high school. Think of some problem that exists within that subject area that you have identified. Here are some potential areas that you could explore (you don’t have to choose any of these): Diversity within the field Impact on natural ecosystems Impact on certain subgroups of society (based on sex, race, socioeconomic status, geographical area, etc.) Lack of access for certain populations Salary Working Conditions Effects on mental health Amount of education required to maximize job opportunities Research the issue and identify the following: More details about the problem area in your chosen subject area, including potential causes for said problem. A potential solution/solutions for said problem. At least 3 sources containing information that could support your argument for a solution. Write an outline (due date below) that contains the following: Your thesis statement, which identifies both the problem and solution of your chosen issue. The assertion for each of your body paragraphs (at least three in total) The sources that you will use in your paper Write and submit a rough draft of your essay (due date below) that contains the following: Your thesis statement At least two fully-fleshed-out body paragraphs After receiving feedback on your rough draft, write and submit a final draft of your essay (due date below) that contains the following: An introductory paragraph that contains an introduction to your subject and an arguable thesis At least 1 paragraph that establishes the problem that you are highlighting (backed by research) At least 1 paragraph that proposes a solution to your problem (backed by research) At least 1 counterargument paragraph A conclusion paragraph A Works Cited page that contains all of your sources in MLA format The following stylistic guidelines Arial 11 pt. font or Times New Roman 12 pt. font Double spaced MLA format Heading Page numbers Parenthetical citations with corresponding Works Cited Page in MLA format Deadlines: Full outline with at least 3 sources → 10 points A Days: Thursday, March 10th B Days: Friday, March 11th Rough draft (thesis statement + at least two body paragraphs) → 25 points A Days: Wednesday, March 16th B Days: Thursday, March 17th Final essay submitted to Schoology → 75 points A Days: Thursday, March 24th B Days: Friday, March 25th Frequently Asked Questions: I have no idea what I’m doing after high school. How am I supposed to write the paper? This essay is an exercise in writing, not a declaration of a career path. Think about something that you might want to pursue, even if it seems unrealistic at this point in your life. Your essay doesn’t even have to be about a career. As long as the essay explores something that might appear in your life after high school graduation, you’re good to go. Can I use first person in this essay? The only part of your essay that could/should contain first person is your introductory paragraph. One way to begin this essay would be to use some anecdote that draws the reader in to the essay. That anecdote could contain first person. However, there is no reason for you to use first person in the body paragraphs. You are presenting research, not writing an editorial piece. How many pages should the essay be? Focus on the depth of writing, not the page count. Just make sure that your paragraphs fully support your argument while incorporating research. I started writing an essay in a previous year and/or wrote an entire research paper on a topic that would fit this assignment. Can I reuse part/all of that paper for this assignment? No. Doing so would be considered self-plagiarism. Sample Outline Thesis statement: Because low teacher salaries decrease the quality of life and education for many parties involved, schools in the United States should increase pay for teachers by using funds raised through investments in eco-friendly infrastructure. Body Paragraph 1: Underpaying teachers in the United States is rooted in deep-rooted sexism against women. Body Paragraph 2: Due to their low wages, teachers experience a quality of life that is far less equitable than professionals with the same level of education. Body Paragraph 3: Low wages for teachers increases teacher turnover, thereby damaging students’ educational experience and school stability. Body Paragraph 4: Schools should expand or rework their budgets by investing in eco-friendly infrastructure, thereby diverting newfound funds to teacher salaries. Counterargument: Some would argue that teachers are fairly compensated because most schools are not in session during the summer. Many teachers are not teaching in June, July, or August. Therefore, if they are only working nine months out of the year, they should be paid less. However, these critics fail to understand that teachers work throughout the summer to craft curriculum, take professional development courses, and work with students in various capacities in summer school settings. Sources (this is just a sample – you need at least three sources) Carver-Thomas, Desiree, and Linda Darling-Hammond. “Teacher Turnover: Why It Matters and What We Can Do About It.” Learning Policy Institute, 16 Aug. 2017, learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/teacher-turnover-report. Post-Grad Research Paper Rubric (75 points total) Unattempted Emerging Developing Proficient Mastery Introduction (5 points) Writing does not include introduction paragraph. Underdeveloped introduction (missing hook, TAG, and/or overview). Weak introduction that attempts to include necessary elements (hook, TAG, overview). Clear and appropriate introduction, which incorporates all necessary elements. Clear, appropriate, and sophisticated introduction, which incorporates all necessary elements. Thesis (10 points) Writing does not include a thesis statement. Underdeveloped thesis statement that does not establish a clear problem and solution. Weak thesis statement that attempts to establish a problem and solution. Clear and appropriate thesis that addresses establishes a problem and solution, but the syntax may be unclear or confusing to the reader. Clear, appropriate, and sophisticated thesis statement that establishes a clear problem and solution. Assertions (10 points) Assertion is irrelevant or disconnected from the main ideas of the essay. Assertions do not reinforce the thesis or do not follow the conventions of an organized, logical argument. Assertions attempt to reinforce the thesis, but do not follow the conventions of an organized, logical argument. Assertions sufficiently reinforce the thesis and follow the conventions of an organized, logical argument. Assertions purposefully reinforce and build upon the thesis and follow the conventions of a sophisticated, organized, and logical argument. Evidence Integration (5 points) Writing does not include evidence. Evidence is not integrated into writing. Evidence appears integrated, but context is weak or inefficient to support quoted material. Evidence is couched with sufficient context or integration. Evidence demonstrates sophisticated control through embedding evidence in a variety of styles. Evidence Quality (15 points) Quoted evidence not included. Evidence is irrelevant to the assertion. Evidence proves a relevant point only, and does not analytically reinforce assertion. Evidence relates back to assertions, but lacks complete understanding of text or diversity of sources. Compelling evidence that is rooted in both quantitative and qualitative data fully supports assertions. Commentary (10 points) Writing does not include commentary. Commentary does not establish a connection between the assertion and the evidence. Commentary provides only a vague connection between the assertion and the evidence. Commentary explicitly connects the assertion to the evidence, but may lack depth of insight. Commentary provides sophisticated analysis of the connection between the assertion and the evidence. Conclusion (5 points) Writing does not include conclusion paragraph.
