Senior Humanities
  • Daily Lessons
  • Course Overview
  • Resources
  • Senior Project Exemplars
    • 2025 Award Finalists
    • 2024 Award Finalists
    • 2023 Award Finalists
    • 2019 Award Finalists
    • 2018 Award Finalists
    • Early Senior Theses and TED Talks

Day 5- Revision + Slides

11/7/2025

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME​​​​​​​​​​​
  1. Research Brief Revision Assignment. DUE: 11:59 pm, Friday 11/6. Google Classroom.
  2. FINAL DRAFT Research Brief. DUE: 11:59 pm, Friday 11/7. Google Classroom.
  3. Slides That Don't Suck. DUE: 11:59 pm, Sunday 11/9. Google Classroom.​
  4. Thesis Defense Slides. DUE: 11:59 pm, Monday 11/10. Share with your Humanities Teacher.
  5. Expert Interview Notes. DUE: Start of Class, Wednesday 11/12. Google Classroom.
​​
DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​​​​
  1. Deep Reading and Data. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: 3:30 pm, Friday 11/7. Google Classroom.
  2. Thesis Defense Guidelines Analysis. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: 11:59 pm, Monday 11/10. Google Classroom.
Announcements:
  1. Professional Dress for Thesis Defenses: You must wear this when you are presenting, but it is not required for paneling. Gentlemen, this means pants that are NOT jeans or sweatpants, shoes that are NOT sneakers, and a button down shirt or nice sweater. Ladies, the same rules apply to you, with the additional caveats to not wear heels so high you can’t walk in them, and don’t dress like you’re going to a club or a dance. Generally shoulders are covered, skirts are knee length for business professionals.
  2. Check the schedule and write down your time and BOTH of your paneling slots. Failing to show and participate in your panels will result in not passing your own. 

Work Priorities
  • Finish Rough Draft Research Brief. This means that you have 5 paragraphs written, plus a Works Cited with full MLA citations. You will need these done at the start of class tomorrow for critiques. 
  • Research Brief Revision Assignment. Complete this assignment in Google Classroom that is designed to guide you into revisions of your Research Brief. Due midnight Thursday. 
  • Slides that Don’t Suck. Complete this assignment (posted in Google Classroom) to help you design and brainstorm your slide images.  Remember that TITLES are good to keep us oriented- bullet points of text are NOT. Due midnight Sunday.
  • Create your Thesis Defense Slides. Complete a draft of your slides for your POL presentation. NO BULLET POINTS OF TEXT OR THE WRATH OF LORI WILL DESCEND UPON YOU.
  • SHARE your slides with your Humanities teacher. 
  • Make NOTECARDS for your presentation

Day 4- Revision + Schedule + Slides

11/6/2025

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME​​​​​​​​​​​
  1. Research Brief Revision Assignment. DUE: 11:59 pm, Thursday 11/6. Google Classroom.
  2. Slides That Don't Suck. DUE: 11:59 pm, Sunday 11/9. Google Classroom.
  3. FINAL DRAFT Research Brief. DUE: 11:59 pm, Friday 11/7. Google Classroom.​
  4. Thesis Defense Slides. DUE: 11:59 pm, Monday 11/10. Share with your Humanities Teacher.
  5. Expert Interview Notes. DUE: Start of Class, Wednesday 11/12. Google Classroom.
​​
DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​​​​
  1. Deep Reading and Data. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: 3:30 pm, Friday 11/7. Google Classroom.
  2. Thesis Defense Guidelines Analysis. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: 11:59 pm, Monday 11/10. Google Classroom.
Erin CR In Classes
  1. 3rd- Jessica’s
  2. 5th- Lori’s

Review Presentation Schedule
Make sure you know when you are paneling, and when you are presenting. 

Work Priorities: Between now and FRIDAY
  • Finish Rough Draft Research Brief. This means that you have 5 paragraphs written, plus a Works Cited with full MLA citations. You will need these done at the start of class tomorrow for critiques. 
  • Research Brief Revision Assignment. Complete this assignment in Google Classroom that is designed to guide you into revisions of your Research Brief. Due midnight Thursday. 
  • Slides that Don’t Suck. Complete this assignment (posted in Google Classroom) to help you design and brainstorm your slide images.  Remember that TITLES are good to keep us oriented- bullet points of text are NOT. Due midnight Sunday.
  • Create your Thesis Defense Slides. Complete a draft of your slides for your POL presentation. NO BULLET POINTS OF TEXT OR THE WRATH OF LORI WILL DESCEND UPON YOU.
  • SHARE your slides with your Humanities teacher. 
  • Make NOTECARDS for your presentation

Day 3- Off Campus- Revision and Slides

11/5/2025

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME​​​​​​​​​​​
  1. Research Brief Revision Assignment. DUE: 11:59 pm, Thursday 11/6. Google Classroom.
  2. Slides That Don't Suck. DUE: 11:59 pm, Sunday 11/9. Google Classroom.
  3. FINAL DRAFT Research Brief. DUE: 11:59 pm, Friday 11/7. Google Classroom.​
  4. Thesis Defense Slides. DUE: 11:59 pm, Monday 11/10. Share with your Humanities Teacher.
  5. Expert Interview Notes. DUE: Start of Class, Wednesday 11/12. Google Classroom.
​​
DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​​​​
  1. Deep Reading and Data. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: 3:30 pm, Friday 11/7. Google Classroom.
  2. Thesis Defense Guidelines Analysis. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: 11:59 pm, Monday 11/10. Google Classroom.
Work Priorities: Between now and FRIDAY
  • Finish Rough Draft Research Brief. This means that you have 5 paragraphs written, plus a Works Cited with full MLA citations. You will need these done at the start of class tomorrow for critiques. 
  • Research Brief Revision Assignment. Complete this assignment in Google Classroom that is designed to guide you into revisions of your Research Brief. Due midnight Thursday. 
  • Slides that Don’t Suck. Complete this assignment (posted in Google Classroom) to help you design and brainstorm your slide images.  Remember that TITLES are good to keep us oriented- bullet points of text are NOT. Due midnight Sunday.
  • Create your Thesis Defense Slides. Complete a draft of your slides for your POL presentation. NO BULLET POINTS OF TEXT OR THE WRATH OF LORI WILL DESCEND UPON YOU.
  • SHARE your slides with your Humanities teacher. 

Day 2- Research Brief Paragraphs 2 & 3

11/4/2025

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME​​​​​​​​​​
  1. Thesis Defense Guidelines Analysis. DUE: 11:59 pm, Monday 11/3. Google Classroom.
  2. Research Questions + Action Project Ideas. DUE: 2:35 pm, Monday 11/3. Google Classroom.
  3. Research Brief. DUE: 11:59 pm, Friday 11/7. Google Classroom.​
  4. Expert Interview Notes. DUE: Start of Class, Wednesday 11/12. Google Classroom.
​​
DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​​​​
  1. Deep Reading and Data. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: 3:30 pm, Friday 11/7. Google Classroom.
Announcements
  1. Wednesday off campus work time! Durango Public Library, or Smiley Cafe  Be there by 9:30 AM, check in with a teacher for attendance.
  2. ONE WEEK Extension on Expert Interviews. Please make sure that you are following up, reaching out to more people if you haven't heard yet, and documenting your efforts. If you haven't heard back from anyone yet, please check in with me today or tomorrow. 

Starter #whatever
  1. Copy your research question into your starter.
  2. As of right now, what’s your 1-2 sentence answer to this question?  Think about what you can state with a fairly high degree of certainty. This is essentially your working thesis statement, and should be the topic sentence of paragraph 3 in your Research Brief.
  3. Where do you think your research needs to go in the next chunk of research after Thanksgiving Break? What kinds of sources and data do you need to more fully answer this research question?

Paragraphs 3 and 4: Organization and Brainstorming
Do ONE of the following strategies to prepare for Paragraphs 3 and 4:
  1. Mind Map (visual organization)
  2. Conversation + Notes (verbal organization)
  3. Outline (linear organization)

HINT HINT…your intertextuality paragraphs, if done well, could be a good resource to pull from for these as well!

Work Time
  1. Outline paragraphs 3 and 4. These should be evidence rich and have in-text citations. Remember that you can paraphrase (put in your own words), but need to cite still or it is plagiarism!  See the POL handout for specifics.
  2. If time, start drafting paragraphs 3 and 4.

Day 1- Thesis Defense Prep Intro

11/3/2025

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME​​​​​​​​​​
  1. Thesis Defense Guidelines Analysis. DUE: 11:59 pm, Monday 11/3. Google Classroom.
  2. Research Questions + Action Project Ideas. DUE: 2:35 pm, Monday 11/3. Google Classroom.
  3. Expert Interview Notes. DUE: Start of Class, Wednesday 11/5. Google Classroom.
  4. Research Brief. DUE: 11:59 pm, Friday 11/7. Google Classroom.
​​
DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​​​​
  1. Deep Reading and Data. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: 3:30 pm, Friday 11/7. Google Classroom.
Announcements- 
  1. Wednesday off campus work time! Durango Public Library or Smiley Cafe  Be there by 9:30 AM, check in with a teacher for attendance.  TELL US TODAY IF YOU WILL NEED A RIDE!
  2. Deep Reading Missing?  Get it turned in ASAP.

Starter 
  1. What is a positive experience you have had with public presentations in the past?  What made it positive?
  2. What is a negative experience you have had with or public presentations in the past? What made it negative?

Goals Today
  1. Understand the purpose of the thesis defense
  2. Begin outlining and figuring out what you need in the first paragraph of your issue brief, draft that paragraph

 Presentation Guidelines Analysis (20-30 min)
  1. Complete the assignment linked on Google Classroom to familiarize yourself with the presentation structure and process.
  2. Guidelines for Senior Presentation

Essential Background Information (15 min)
  1. Freewrite for 5 minutes, on paper- What do people need to understand/know to be able to understand your research?  Think about terms, concepts, history, etc.
  2. Take your paper and writing utensil and stand up. Find a new person to talk to.
  3. Each person spends 1 minute giving a quick overview of their general topic/background knowledge
    1. After the first person talks, the partner has 1 minute to ask questions or identify areas of uncertainty
    2. Repeat
  4. Pause. Turn what you said into 3-5 bullet points, note places you need to flesh out
  5. Find a new person. Talk for 1 minute giving a quick overview of your general topic/background knowledge
    1. After the first person talks, the partner has 1 minute to ask questions or identify areas of uncertainty
    2. Repeat
  6. Pause- revise bullet points
  7. Go back to your original seat- add to your freewrite
    1. What do you absolutely need to include in your general overview?  Reference your notes from your conversation, the assignment, etc.

Article Sorting
For this, you are going to go back through ALL the research you have done. You will need to open the following documents:
  1. Idea Fishing
  2. Foundational Research
  3. Annotated Bibliography
  4. Deep Reading

To complete this, create a document with THREE columns (insert table). 
  1. Column 1- Articles that will DEFINITELY be useful to answer your research question
  2. Column 2- Articles that may be useful, but in a limited way.
  3. Column 3- Articles that you read, but will not be useful

Research Question/Project Idea: Revise and Share 
  1. Now that you have done more research, does your question need revision?
  2. Please insert your current Research Question and Action Project Description in this shared document.

Work Time- 
  1. Finish article sorting
  2. Paragraphs 1 and 2 of your Issue Brief
  3. Done with these? Start mind mapping, brainstorming, or outlining Paragraphs 3-4 of your Issue Brief (more to come on this tomorrow)

9- Deep Reading Checklist + Turn In

10/31/2025

 
Self Assessment of Intertextuality
Use the following Chat GPT prompt to give you suggestions for revision to your intertextuality paragraphs. Do this one paragraph at a time, or it will get confused. Then, use these suggestions to revise your work.

I’m working on revising my “Making Claims” paragraphs for the Intertextuality assignment. Here is my current draft (I will paste it below). 

Your task is to help me reflect on and improve my writing — but do not rewrite or reword anything for me. 

Please do the following: Identify two specific areas where I could strengthen my intertextual connections or synthesis. For each area, give me guiding questions to help me think through how to revise — not sample sentences. Comment on whether my claims clearly connect multiple sources, and whether I’ve made my own meaning from those sources (instead of just summarizing them). Point out any places where my reasoning or evidence could be more balanced, complex, or uncertain (for example, where I could note what’s still unknown or contested). End with three reflection questions to help me consider what I’m learning about the research topic through these intertextual connections. 

Again: Please do not rewrite my work — only give feedback, suggestions, and guiding questions to support deeper revision.

Then paste your first intertextuality paragraph here. 


Proofread, Label, Turn In
  1. Set up document with CLEARLY LABELED tabs
    1. Tab 1- Notes OR Annotations (if you did notes by hand, make sure they are CLEARLY LABELED, and insert notes for ONE text in this document)
    2. Tab 2- Lexicon List
    3. Tab 3- Data That Matters
    4. Tab 4- Intertextuality Paragraphs
    5. Tab 5- Bibliography
  2. Proofread, using the Deep Reading Proofreading Checklist
  3. MAKE A COPY of this document to turn in to Kyle BEFORE turning it in to me on Google Classroom

8- Data That Matters Self Assessment

10/30/2025

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME​​​​​​​​​​
  1. Deep Reading and Data. DUE: 3:30 pm, Friday 10/31. Google Classroom.
  2. Expert Interview Notes. DUE: Start of Class, Wednesday 11/5. Google Classroom.
​​
DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​​​​
  1. Nothing!
Rapid Self-Assessment: Data That Matters
Once you have completed a draft of ONE of your Data That Matters pieces (paragraphs 1, 2, and 4), you need to complete this self-assessment. It will help you identify specific things to revise and improve before you turn in the final draft on Friday.
​
Work Priorities: By the start of class on Friday, I have completed:
  1. Self Assessment for one of my Data That Matters
  2. Intertextuality Paragraphs- RD of both of them
  3. Revisions for Data That Matters

7- Off Campus Work Day!

10/29/2025

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME​​​​​​​​​​
  1. Deep Reading and Data. DUE: 3:30 pm, Friday 10/31. Google Classroom.
  2. Expert Interview Notes. DUE: Start of Class, Wednesday 11/5. Google Classroom.
​​
DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​​​​
  1. Nothing!
​Hi seniors!

Welcome to your first off-campus work day, and the sweet taste of freedom, fleeting though it is  Please go to the location where you feel you will be most productive...know thyself! Lori and Jessica will be at the Smiley Cafe, and Kyle will be at the Durango Public Library if you need help parsing that pesky data. 

No-one reported they need a ride, so you are on your own to get to your location! Please check in with a teacher when you arrive for attendance. You are expected to stay at your location until 12:00.

Here are your work priorities for today. If you are behind, please complete the tasks below in the order they are listed. Trust me...we did it this way for a reason. :)  Remember to reference the Deep Reading and Data assignment, and read the dang directions. Like, more than once. Carefully.

Off Campus Work Goals:
By the time you come to class tomorrow, you should have completed ALL of the following:
  • Read and annotated/taken notes for THREE new academic sources
  • Completed Lexicon List (word, definition, sentence)
  • Completed RD of Data That Matters #1
  • Completed RD of Data That Matters #2
  • Completed RD of Intertextuality Paragraphs

6- Intertextuality Model + RD

10/28/2025

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME​​​​​​​​​​
  1. Deep Reading and Data. DUE: 3:30 pm, Friday 10/31. Google Classroom.
  2. Expert Interview Notes. DUE: Start of Class, Wednesday 11/5. Google Classroom.
​​
DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​​​​
  1. Annotated Bibliography- Part 1. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Start of Class, Tuesday 10/28. Google Classroom.
Starter- Intertextuality Paragraph Model Analysis
  1. Read the directions
  2. Do what it tells you

Tuesday’s Work Goals
  1. Intertextuality paragraph model analysis
  2. Finish Data That Matters #2, paragraph 1, 2, 4
  3. Draft of intertextuality paragraph #1

5- Data That Matters RD

10/27/2025

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME​​​​​​​​​​
  1. Deep Reading and Data. DUE: 3:30 pm, Friday 10/31. Google Classroom.
  2. Expert Interview Notes. DUE: Start of Class, Wednesday 11/5. Google Classroom.
​​
DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​​​​
  1. Annotated Bibliography- Part 1. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Start of Class, Tuesday 10/28. Google Classroom.
Announcements:
  1. Reminder: Wednesday is OFF CAMPUS.  Meet us at the Durango Public Library or Smiley Cafe no later than 9:30. Check in with a senior teacher for attendance. You are expected to be there until 12:00. Lori will email all of you Wednesday morning with work priorities for our time. 
  2. Interviews- Make sure you are following up and getting at least one interview scheduled!

Starter:
  1. Pull up your Data That Matters draft on your computer.
  2. Trade computers with the person next to you.
  3. Read their draft, and leave:
    1. One comment that describes and highlights something they did effectively: I liked it when you (insert specific thing they did here) because (describe why it’s effective/good).
    2. One comment that offers a revision suggestion: You should revise (insert specific thing to be revised) by (insert specific revision suggestion here).

Monday’s Work Goals:
  1. Finish draft of paragraphs, 1, 3, and 4 of Data That Matters #1.
  2. Start draft of Data That Matters #2.
<<Previous

    Lori's Blog

    Lesson plans posted daily. Come here to see what you missed, find instructions, etc.

    Archives

    November 2025
    October 2025
    September 2025
    August 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Daily Lessons
  • Course Overview
  • Resources
  • Senior Project Exemplars
    • 2025 Award Finalists
    • 2024 Award Finalists
    • 2023 Award Finalists
    • 2019 Award Finalists
    • 2018 Award Finalists
    • Early Senior Theses and TED Talks