Senior Humanities
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Outline Critiques

1/30/2024

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME- HUMANITIES​​​​​​​
  1. SPAM 2. DUE: Friday 2/9, 3:30 PM. Box in Lori's room.


DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​​​
  1. Thesis Statements. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Wednesday 1/31, by 9:30 AM. Email to Lori or Grayson.
  2. Outline Dissection Parts 1 and 2. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Thursday 2/1, Start of Class. Google Classroom.
  3. Outline Dissection Part 3. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Friday 2/1, Start of Class. Google Classroom.
  4. Outline Dissection Part 4.  LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Tuesday 2/6, Start of Class. Google Classroom
Announcements:
  1. WEDNESDAY- Off Campus Work Day. Meet at the Durango Public Library or Smiley Building by 9:30, plan on working until 12.
  2. Grip Tape Applications Due 1/31! (That’s tomorrow) Get them turned in!
  3. SPAM 2 Forms- Are on the table by the windows. They have guiding questions, a space for your advisor to fill out, and questions YOU need to answer for your reflection. 

Starter 15
An elevator pitch is a 30 second up to one minute description of your idea designed to be complete enough so that when the elevator doors open and the executive that you’ve been scaring flees for safety, they have a complete idea of what you were pitching them, so they can go and present it as their own. 
  1. Write down the elevator pitch for your thesis
    1. Ideally this would be your thesis statement with some context as to why it’s important
    2. That way you cover the intro, background, evidence, and analysis all in one go

Outline Critiques
We are going to be following this protocol, which should seem a bit weird compared to what we’ve done previously for critiques. Instead of relying on your peer’s critiques, you’re going to be reliant on your perceptions. Strange I know, it will make sense once you get started. 
  1. Brace yourself for the onslaught of thinking and speaking
  2. Follow directions on the handout and watch for the timers
  3. Take notes when you notice somewhere you need to improve your outline
  4. Be prepared to make changes when necessary

Outlines are due Tomorrow Night at MIDNIGHT
You have off campus Wednesday tomorrow to get ‘er done
  1. Outline needs to be done before your SPAM 2 meeting
  2. When you are done, SHARE it with your Senior Project Advisor, along with a nice note about how they should read it before your SPAM 2 meeting
  3. Writing starts on Thursday, so having an outline will be advantageous

Outline- Part 4

1/29/2024

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME- HUMANITIES​​​​​​​
  1. SPAM 2. DUE: Friday 2/9, 3:30 PM. Box in Lori's room.
  2. Outline Dissection Part 4.  DUE: Tuesday 1/30, Start of Class. Google Classroom

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​​​
  1. Thesis Statements. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Wednesday 1/31, by 9:30 AM. Email to Lori or Grayson.
  2. Outline Dissection Parts 1 and 2. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Thursday 2/1, Start of Class. Google Classroom.
  3. Outline Dissection Part 3. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Friday 2/1, Start of Class. Google Classroom.
Announcements:
  1. WEDNESDAY- Off Campus Work Day. Meet at the Durango Public Library or Smiley Building by 9:30, plan on working until 10.
  2. Grip Tape Applications Due 1/31! Get them turned in!

Starter 14: 
Think about the best endings you have ever seen, heard, read, played, or any other consumption method. 
  1. What makes an ending satisfying?
  2. How can we ensure all questions are answered?
  3. Think about your own thesis, what will you need to do to answer your question?
    1. Analysis?
    2. More data?
    3. A time machine or secret twin?

Outline Dissection Part 4
Complete this before moving on to your outline. 

Today is the last day in class to work on your outline uninterrupted. Take this time to get it ready to present because tomorrow we’re running a critique protocol, so have something ready by tomorrow, even if the sections are a little rough! 

Outline Rubric and Original Research Outline Rubric
Check this out- none of this should be a surprise, but this is how we will be grading your outlines.

Work Priorities: by Tuesday at start of class I will have done:
  1. Set up a SPAM 2 meeting with my advisor- if they haven't replied, track them down in person!
  2. An outline that is not necessarily perfect but is pretty much done (original research folks, time to bust out!
  3. Completed outline dissection parts 1&2, 3, and 4

Outline- Finish Part 3

1/25/2024

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME- HUMANITIES​​​​​​​
  1. SPAM 2. DUE: Friday 2/9, 3:30 PM. Box in Lori's room.

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​
  1. Action Project Test Week Notes and Goals. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Monday 1/29, Start of Class. 
  2. Action Project Test Week Reflection. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Monday 1/29, Start of Class. ​
  3. Thesis Statements. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Wednesday 1/31, by 9:30 AM. Email to Lori or Grayson.
  4. Outline Dissection Parts 1 and 2. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Thursday 2/1, Start of Class. Google Classroom.
  5. Outline Dissection Part 3. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Friday 2/1, Start of Class. Google Classroom.
Announcements:
  1. WEDNESDAY- Off Campus Work Day. Meet at the Durango Public Library or Smiley Building by 9:30, plan on working until 12.
  2. Grip Tape Applications Due 1/31! Get them turned in!

Starter 13: Keeping Track of Evidence
  1. How do you keep track and organize your evidence, so that when you sit down to write, you can find what you need? 
  2. Think about possible systems- physical, digital, etc.
​
By the start of class on MONDAY:
  1. SPAM 2 meeting scheduled
  2. Outline parts 1-3 complete
  3. Original Research- You should also outline part 4 (methods) to stay on track
  4. If possible, let it sit for a minute- then come back to it towards the end of the weekend.

Outline- Part 3

1/25/2024

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME- HUMANITIES​​​​​​​
  1. Outline Dissection Part 3. DUE: Friday 1/26, Start of Class. Google Classroom.
  2. SPAM 2. DUE: Friday 2/9, 3:30 PM. In based in Lori's room.

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​
  1. Action Project Test Week Notes and Goals. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Monday 1/29, Start of Class. 
  2. Action Project Test Week Reflection. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Monday 1/29, Start of Class. ​
  3. Thesis Statements. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Wednesday 1/31, by 9:30 AM. Email to Lori or Grayson.
  4. Outline Dissection Parts 1 and 2. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Thursday 2/1, Start of Class. Google Classroom.
Announcements:
  1. WEDNESDAY- Off Campus Work Day. Meet at the Durango Public Library or Smiley Building by 9:30, plan on working until 12.
  2. Grip Tape Applications Due 1/31! Get them turned in!
  3. TURN IN OUTLINE DISSECTION PARTS 1-2

FLC Student Intros (start of 2nd only)

SPAM 2 Email
  1. SPAM 2 Email Guidelines (make sure to scroll down to see the best meeting request I’ve ever received)
  2. SPAM 2 Form- These are printed and in my classroom.
  3. Send the email to your advisor RIGHT NOW!

Starter 12: Grayson 
Listen up so I can learn ya something good.
  1. What was the point of the story?
  2. How will you integrate this lesson into your writing?

Data Driven Storytelling
Think way way back to when you were writing a shared document about a specific aspect of poverty. Ancient times I know, but here’s something to bring it all back. 

First write out the answers, then with a partner discuss the following questions:
  1. What does it mean to tell a story?
  2. What do you need to make a story interesting?
  3. How do you integrate data into storytelling?

Some Background Context
  1. Read over the first 2 slides of this powerpoint
  2. Read the types of data driven storytelling on the assignment
    • These should feel eerily familiar to you

The Task for Today
You may have guessed as such based on my wording from the last paragraph, but you have a new assignment today, Outline Dissection Part 3.

By the start of class Friday, I have….
  1. Sent SPAM Email 2 to my senior project advisor
  2. Completed and turned in Outline Dissection Part 3
  3. Completed my own outline for parts 1 and 2 of my thesis
  4. Started the outline for Part 3 of my thesis

Off Campus- Outline Parts 1 and 2

1/24/2024

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME- HUMANITIES​​​​​​​
  1. Thesis Statements. DUE: Wednesday 1/24, by 9:30 AM. Email to Lori or Grayson.
  2. Outline Dissection Parts 1 and 2. DUE: Thursday 1/25, Start of Class. Google Classroom.

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​
  1. Action Project Test Week Notes and Goals. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Monday 1/29, Start of Class. 
  2. Action Project Test Week Reflection. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Monday 1/29, Start of Class. 
Work Time Goals:
  1. Email research question and thesis statement to Lori or Grayson for feedback by 9:30 AM
  2. Complete outline dissection parts 1 and 2 assignment on Google Classroom- turn it in
  3. Outline your senior thesis- Parts 1 and 2 (don’t turn this in, but it should be done by the start of class tomorrow)
  4. Original Research Crew- You have two additional sections to write!  So you should be moving ahead for the rest of this week.  Email Lori or Grayson if you have finished the first two parts, and want to move on to Part 3. ​

Mind Maps + Outline Dissection Part 1

1/23/2024

 
Announcements:
  1. WEDNESDAY- Off Campus Work Day. Meet at the Durango Public Library or Smiley Building by 9:30, plan on working until 12.
  2. Grip Tape Applications Due 1/31! Get them turned in!
  3. FAFSA Night + Scholarship Fair- TONIGHT!
  4. Prom Ideas Survey- Please fill this out to inform the prom committee.

Starter 11: Mapping Knowledge
Get into 6 groups as a class
  1. Group 1 and 2 will draw a map of the whole US
  2. Group 3 and 4 will draw a map of Colorado (more than just a rectangle, add some landmarks)
  3. Group 5 and 6 will draw a map of Durango (again, landmarks)

In those same groups, now you have to find these places:
  1. On the US map, find Denver
  2. On the CO map, find Mancos
  3. On the Durango map, find Animas high school

Rotate so every group has a chance to find each location on each map

Answer in your Starters
  1. Which map was easiest to find your location on? Why do you think that is?
  2. Which map was hardest? Again, why?
  3. What does this have to do with writing?  Connect it to the task of outlining and drafting

Mind map activity
Get a piece of paper and start mappin’
  1. There is no right or wrong way to do this besides apathy
  2. Focus on getting your big ideas out and how they connect to smaller ones
  3. More examples of Mind Maps

Work time priorities
  1. Share / submit your thesis statement with Lori or Grayson (email it to us in an email titled "Name- Thesis Statement". We will email back feedback to you from the Smiley Cafe tomorrow). Yes, this is for points.
  2. Create and polish up your mind map
  3. Start working on Outline Dissection Parts 1&2
  4. Review outline assignment (on Google Classroom), start your outline for Parts 1 and 2 of your thesis

Tomorrow is the triumphant return of off campus Wednesdays, so anything not finished here will bleed into tomorrow. 

Project Week Reflection + Thesis Statement Intro

1/22/2024

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME- HUMANITIES​​​​​​​
  1. Action Project Test Week Notes and Goals. DUE: Monday 1/22, Start of Class. 
  2. Action Project Test Week Reflection. DUE: Monday, 1/22, 10:20 AM or 12:45 PM, depending on pod. 

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​
  1. Annotated Bibliography FINAL. LAST DAY TO TURN IN- Tuesday, 1/23, Start of Class. ​
Write your reflection (30 min)
See the assignment on Google Classroom- you will be turning this in, so please proofread!  But don’t turn it in yet!  You will add to it after your discussion today.

Discussion Structure
  1. Get into your assigned discussion groups (see the board)
  2. Student highlighted in green is the facilitator
    1. Facilitate the conversation using the following agenda
    2. Keep to the time limits!
    3. Keep hooligans from hooliganning 

Discussion Questions (20 min)
  1. First, go around and share the following one at a time (4-6 min):
    1. Your project idea
    2. What you got accomplished this week
    3. Where you need to go next, in our next project week
  2. Discuss what was hardest about this week- where are you each running into difficulties?  What similarities and differences are there in what you are finding difficult? (2-3 min)
  3. Discuss what you learned in the past week about pulling off an ambitious project. (2-3 min)
  4. Discuss any overlapping ideas and ways to help each other (resources, community connections, mentors, other ideas) (2-3 min)
  5. Discuss the big takeaways from this week- what trends do you notice?  What’s hard, what’s easy?  What advice would you give next year’s students going into this week? (5 min)
  6. At the bottom of your reflection, add 3-5 sentences about your group’s big takeaways from this week, and anything else you learned or got from this discussion. (5 min)

TAKE A QUICK BREAK, come back ready to dive into thesis development!

Starter 10: Elements of Senior Thesis (10-15 min)
Read this document carefully.  Jot any questions or clarification you need in the margins.  Then we will review as a class and I will answer your questions. 
  1. What do you notice about how the thesis is organized?
  2. As you read over this, which section are you most confident in your ability to outline and write?  Which section are you least confident about, and why?
  3. What questions do you have about this organizational structure?

Review Calendar/Deadlines (2-3 min)
  1. Thesis outline due NEXT WEDNESDAY at midnight to Lori or Grayson and your Senior Project Advisor
  2. The next 1.5 weeks will be spent picking apart example outlines, and developing your own outline
  3. Now is the time that getting behind starts to really snowball.  Stay with us, and you’ll be fine. 

Thesis Statements
  1. Group Discussion (8-10 min)
    1. What is your usual process for developing a thesis statement?  As a group, write down the steps involved in coming up with a strong thesis statement.
    2. Look at examples- What do you notice about these?  Have one person write it down.  
    3. What makes a GOOD thesis statement?  What makes a BAD thesis statement?
  2. Debrief, get ideas on the board for quality criteria.
  3. Direct attention to Thesis Statement Drafts. Compare their lists to the list of criteria here. Write a draft thesis statement individually. 
  4. Take 10 minutes right now to write your draft thesis statement on the Thesis Statement document on Google Classroom.
    1. Now share it with your group, get their feedback, incorporate at least ONE SUGGESTION for revision into your thesis statement.
    2. We will ADD to this document tomorrow!

Project Test Week 1- Finish the things!  Document!

1/19/2024

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME- HUMANITIES​​​​​​​
  1. Action Project Test Week Notes and Goals. DUE: Monday 1/22, Start of Class. 
  2. Action Project Test Week Reflection. DUE: Monday, 1/22, 10:20 AM or 12:45 PM, depending on pod. 

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​
  1. Annotated Bibliography FINAL. LAST DAY TO TURN IN- Tuesday, 1/23, Start of Class. ​
Announcements
  1. NO OFF CAMPUS WORK until we have your final draft Annotated Bibliography.
  2. GripTape Applications- Do it this week!
  3. FAFSA Night- 1/23.  Be there!
  4. Semester Deadlines are all HERE
  5. Additional Funding Source HERE- Please note that this pot of money only has $1200 total.  You should not apply to this unless you have already ALSO applied to GripTape, or unless your amount needed is under $100.

Starter 9
  1. This is our last work day!  What do you need to keep doing over the next month outside of this class time to keep your project moving forward?
  2. Based on what you’ve accomplished this week, what do you think your major goals will be for our next test week in March?  What will you need to accomplish in that week?

Work Time- Planning
  1. On your Goals and Notes document, make a checklist for today.  Make sure to label it with the date.  Remember, break bigger tasks into smaller pieces!
  2. TWO items that should be on your checklist:
    1. Make sure Goals and Notes document is complete with all documentation done 
    2. Conference with Lori if you didn’t yesterday
  3. Share your tasks for the day with your group- accountability!

Work Time- DOING
  1. Start working through your list!  
  2. Remember to check off and document completed tasks on your goals and notes document.
  3. Conference with Lori as needed.

Project Test Week 1- GET IT DONE!

1/18/2024

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME- HUMANITIES​​​​​​​
  1. Action Project Test Week Notes and Goals. DUE: Monday 1/22, Start of Class. 
  2. Action Project Test Week Reflection. DUE: Monday, 1/22, 10:20 AM or 12:45 PM, depending on pod. 

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​
  1. Annotated Bibliography FINAL. LAST DAY TO TURN IN- Tuesday, 1/23, Start of Class. ​
Announcements
  1. NO OFF CAMPUS WORK until we have your final draft Annotated Bibliography.
  2. GripTape Applications- Do it this week!
  3. FAFSA Night- 1/23.  Be there!
  4. Semester Deadlines are all HERE

Starter 8
  1. What are two realizations you have had about your project or thesis so far during this week?  
  2. What are you doing to respond to those realizations?
  3. How did the implementation of your productivity plans from yesterday’s starter work?  Any changes you need to make to be more productive today?

Work Time- Planning
  1. Sign up for a conference on Thursday or Friday.
  2. On your Goals and Notes document, make a checklist for today.   Remember, break bigger tasks into smaller pieces!
  3. Share your tasks for the day with your group- accountability!

Work Time- DOING
  1. Start working through your list!  
  2. Remember to check off and document completed tasks on your goals and notes document.
  3. Conference with Lori as needed.

Exit Ticket
  1. What did you accomplish today?  
  2. How efficiently did you use your time today, on a scale of 1-4 (4 = very efficiently).

Project Test Week 1- Get Stuff Done!

1/17/2024

 
DUE DATES- ON TIME- HUMANITIES​​​​​​​
  1. Action Project Test Week Notes and Goals. DUE: Monday 1/22, Start of Class. 
  2. Action Project Test Week Reflection. DUE: Monday, 1/22, 10:20 AM or 12:45 PM, depending on pod. 

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)​
  1. Annotated Bibliography FINAL. LAST DAY TO TURN IN- Tuesday, 1/23, Start of Class. ​
Starter 7
  1. What do you need to do (think back to the independent work you did last semester) to use your time productively this week?  What strategies can you use?  Think about physical space, time management, workflow, resources, etc.
  2. How will you know that you have been successful this week?  By Tuesday of next week, what do you need to have done?

Work Time- Planning
  1. On your Goals and Notes document, make a checklist for today.  Make sure to label it with the date.  Remember, break bigger tasks into smaller pieces!
  2. Share your tasks for the day with your group- accountability!

Work Time- DOING
  1. Start working through your list!  
  2. Remember to check off and document completed tasks on your goals and notes document.
  3. Conference with Lori, Grayson, or Kyle as needed.

Exit Ticket
  1. What did you accomplish today?  
  2. How efficiently did you use your time today, on a scale of 1-4 (4 = very efficiently).
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  • 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