Senior Humanities
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Senior Project Orientation: Hike and Brainstorm

9/15/2017

 
ANIMAS MOUNTAIN HIKE: Schedule and Location
  1. Go to your classes during 1st and 2nd periods (feel free to wear athletic wear!)
  2. Meet at the base on Animas Mountain at 10:45 (carpool, and be careful where you park!)
  3. Make sure to bring the following:
    1. Appropriate footwear (we had a toenail ripped off last year...bloody and gross!)
    2. Appropriate clothing
    3. Sunscreen
    4. Water
    5. Food/snacks
    6. Ideas and creative thinking ability
  4. You will NOT be going to 7th period electives--make sure to communicate with your teacher!

HOMEWORK:
None, unless you are missing work!  Check Infinite Campus, and get me anything that is missing!

Senior Project Orientation: What Makes a Good Project?

9/14/2017

 
ANNOUNCEMENT: Tomorrow's Schedule and Location
  1. Go to your classes during 1st and 2nd periods (feel free to wear athletic wear!)
  2. Meet at the base on Animas Mountain at 10:45 (carpool, and be careful where you park!)
  3. Make sure to bring the following:
    1. Appropriate footwear (we had a toenail ripped off last year...bloody and gross!)
    2. Appropriate clothing
    3. Sunscreen
    4. Water
    5. Food/snacks
    6. Ideas and creative thinking ability
  4. You will NOT be going to 7th period electives--make sure to communicate with your teacher!

10:15-10:40:  What Makes a Good Project?
  1. Get in groups of 4-5
  2. Come up with a list of criteria that a senior project needs to meet to be a “good project.”  Think about our discussions, your brainstorm, the Zen article, and projects you’ve seen in the past.  Aim for 4-8 criteria

10:40-11:00:  Apply Your Criteria
  1. Look at these Senior Project case studies.
  2. Your group should choose two to focus on
  3. Read them and answer for each:
    1. By your criteria, was this a good project?  Why/why not?
    2. Did your criteria line up with your initial gut impulse?  Where did they?  Where didn’t they?
    3. What could this person have done to make this project more quality?  Think about the planning process and the execution.

11:00-11:10 Debrief
  1. Talk about what criteria you came up- trends, what were helpful, what were not, what matters to you, what you think teachers should be thinking about 
  2. What judgements did you make? Differences, similarities
  3. How does this frame how you think about your senior project?  What are you going to have to think about to make yours quality

11:15-12:00  Alumni Panel in Commons: Gabe Garcia, Dylan Katz, Julianne Marqua, Keegan Hickerson
  1. One sentence version of what you did for your senior project.
  2. What was the biggest struggle you faced with this project?
  3. What did you learn?  What skills did you develop?
  4. If you could do over again, what would you do differently?
  5. Were you more thesis driven or project driven?  How did that work, and what were the strengths/difficulties of your approach?
  6. Student Questions

HOMEWORK:
  1. Check your Infinite Campus- if you are missing anything (DP link, writing goals, college essay), get it to me ASAP!

Senior Project Orientation: The Thesis

9/13/2017

 
Starter 8:
Based on what you read last night, how prepared do you think you are as a writer to tackle your senior thesis?  What areas are you confident in?  Where will you need to grow as a writer this semester to find success in the spring with your thesis?

Senior Thesis Examples
Get into a group of 3-4 students.  Have the thesis you read yesterday pulled up in front of you.  Discuss the following:
  1. What stood out to you about the thesis you read?  
  2. How well prepared do you feel for this task right now?  What do we need to focus on this semester to make you feel more prepared?
  3. What did you learn from this example that you would like to apply to your own writing?
  4. What questions do you have about the senior thesis now that you have read an example?  Write these down to ask Lori!

Debrief discussions, Lori answers questions when possible.

Writing Goals
Look at the Three Levels of Writing and my Writing Rubric as a resource (honors folks, see the Honors Rubric).

Develop three specific writing goals for yourself as a writer based on these documents and my feedback.  We're going to be using these goals for the rest of the semester to gauge your growth as a writer, and will use your end of semester writing reflection as a springboard for your senior project paper.  As you feel like you achieve your goals, we'll develop new ones!  Please try to keep the grammar/punctuation goals to only one of your goals.  It’s fine to have one goal of this type, but the others should be broader in scope. This reflection will be worth 30 points, and will go into the "Am I developing as a learner?" category. 

Write 3 Goal Paragraphs:  For each of those three goals, write a paragraph.  That paragraph should include:
  1. What your goal is
  2. An example from your Highly cynical seminar reflection or your college essay that shows the need for that goal
  3. Some ideas about how you can work towards improving this skill for your next piece of writing (if you’re stuck on this piece, try Google or talking to me!)
    1. Example:  Goal 1- Understanding the Text.  I will make sure that I thoroughly understand the text I am using in my writing before I use it as evidence.  In my "Habits of Highly Cynical People" writing, I used a quote that said "..........."  In my essay, I said that this quote meant "....quote from essay....." However, I misunderstood this quote because I didn't put it in the larger context of the argument Solnit was making.  In fact, the quote means (tell real meaning of quote here).  To improve this in future writings, I think I need to summarize the meaning of every paragraph of the reading in my annotations, and I need to ask questions more actively during seminar coaching.  If I'm reading it independently, I need to make sure I completely understand one paragraph before moving on to the next paragraph, rather than just continuing to read on.
    2. Example: Goal 2- Logical Flow.  I will  make sure that all my paragraphs logically flow from one idea to the next.  In my seminar reflection, my first paragraph was about how both the presidential campaigns oversimplify what the other one is saying, and my second paragraph was about how naive cynicism is bad.  I didn't connect these two ideas at all, so it was confusing for the reader to make that jump.  In future writing, I could do a number of things to improve this.  Early in my writing process, I could make sure that I have an outline, so that I've clearly thought through the logical flow of my paper.  I can also use transition sentences to show the reader the links between ideas.  Finally, I can references terms and ideas from the previous paragraph in the one after it to show the reader how the ideas from the preceding paragraph connect to the ideas in the next paragraph.
    3. Example: Goal 3- Semicolon Usage.  I will make sure that I'm using semicolons correctly in my writing.  In my college essay, I had written this sentence:  "....example of sentence from college essay that uses semi-colons incorrectly..."  In her feedback, Lori pointed out that I was using the semi-colon incorrectly here.  I looked up the rules on semi-colon usage, and found that I should only be using them to join two complete sentences- right now, the piece after the semi-colon is not a complete sentence.  In future writing, to make sure that I am doing this correctly, I can go through and circle every semi-colon I use, and then read the sentences before and after it out loud to make sure they can stand on their own as complete sentences.

​
College Essay Display Boards
Create your college essay display boards, and stack them neatly on the desk in the front of the room.

HOMEWORK:
  1. Writing Goals:  Finish writing goals (if you didn't finish in class) and email or share them with Lori before the start of class on Thursday.

Senior Project Orientation- Who Are You?

9/12/2017

 
Week Overview
  1. Tuesday- Overview and project skills (3rd and 4th), afternoon off campus to read thesis example, finish Humanities DP update.  Attend afternoon electives.
  2. Wednesday- Senior thesis and writing goals.  Normal schedule.
  3. Thursday- Project exploration and student panel(3rd and 4th), afternoon off campus to work.  Attend afternoon electives.
  4. Friday- Hike up Animas Mountain and brainstorm.  Attend class 1st and 2nd, meet at bottom of Animas Mountain at 10:45.  Heading back around 2:00.

Senior Project Overview 
  1. Lori gives overview of the process
  2. Student Q&A to Lori, Kyle, and Kurt

Skills Inventory/Brainstorm 
Going to think about you as a student and how that relates to senior project in a variety of different ways. The goal is to get you thinking deeply about you and how you relate to this project in an expansive way. Focus on PROJECT, not thesis.  We’ll be talking about the thesis more specifically in Humanities on Wednesday.  Complete the graphic organizers linked above.

Paseo​ Questions
  1. In 10 years, what’s something you see yourself doing that would make you happy?
  2. What dream do you have that seems unattainable?
  3. What strategies do you have for dealing with anxiety?  Are they effective or not?
  4. What about your senior year is making you anxious?
  5. What’s one behavior or work habit you have that you would like to get rid of?
  6. What’s one behavior or work habit that you have that everyone should cultivate?
  7. What do you want out of your senior year?
  8. What is a skill you would like to have?  Why?
  9. What is your most valued skill?
  10. What kind of problems need to be solved in the world/our community?
  11. What do you consider important work?

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance Discussion Groups
Divide senior class into 3 groups of 15.  Read Zen text for 5-10 minutes.  Find one line that spoke to you.
Spirit Read (each student shares their line, no commentary or discussion necessary).

Seminar Questions:
  1. “The idea that the majority of students attend a university for an education independent of the degree and grades is a little hypocrisy everyone is happier not to expose.”  What does this mean?  Do you agree?  Why/why not?
  2. How much are you subject to the “mule mentality” (paragraph 8)?  What impact does this have on you?  Where does this come from?
  3. “The purpose of abolishing grades and degrees is not to punish mules or to get rid of them but to provide an environment in which that mule can turn into a free man.”  To what extent are you a mule?  To what extent are you a free man?
  4. The transformation described in this piece is predicated on the idea that everyone has an innate “creative intelligence” that has been stifled.  Do you agree with this premise?  Why/why not?
  5. “He’d be a knowledge-motivated person. He would need no external pushing to learn. His push would come from inside.”  When have you felt this?  What contexts/subjects are conducive to this experience?
  6. How motivated are you by grades?  How motivated are you by knowledge?  What implications does this have for your senior project?
  7. Make sure to note that senior project itself is ungraded...how then, can we connect senior project to ideas in this text.  Inspiring?  Terrifying?  Both?
  8. The world outside of school is one that exists without grades.  You succeed or fail based on your track record and reputation as well as a list of your accomplishments, not your GPA.  How can the final senior project provide you with an artifact or story that will propel you forward outside of school?
  9. Last line:  “It would be the real thing.”  What do you need to do to make sure your Senior Project is the “real thing?”

Final Reflection
Take 10 minutes to write.  What are you thinking about senior project right now?  What hopes do you have?  Ideas?  Questions?  Emotions?  Write the whole time!  Now, underline the most interesting line of your reflection, and share it with a partner.

HOMEWORK:
Read one of the example Senior Theses linked on Lori’s blog.
  1. Tucker Leavitt:  Water Arc Explosions (Physics)
  2. Bekah Kuster:  Energy Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gases  (Energy)
  3. Lyle Bryson:  Trends and Youth Culture  (Marketing/Psychology)
  4. Philip Wiley:  What makes good science fiction?  (Literary Analysis)
  5. Allee McKown:  Theories of Global Inequality (International Studies)
  6. Hayden Stills:  Psychopaths and their Coping Strategies (Psychology)
  7. Oli Sakadinsky: Special Interest Groups in US Politics (Political Science)
  8. Isabel Krull:  Culture of Ballet (Sociology)
  9. Claire Larson:  Brain Trauma and EMDR Therapy (Neuroscience)
  10. Anne Chase:  Social Media and Perceptions of Nature (Media Studies)
 
HOMEWORK
  1. DP Update:  Email Lori your DP link when it is completely updated with your College Essay (see Friday's blog post for requirements).  DUE: Wednesday 9/13, start of class.
  2. Read Thesis Example:  Read one of the senior theses linked above, and be ready to discuss it in Humanities tomorrow!

College Essay Boot Camp- Last Day!

9/8/2017

 
IMPORTANT UPDATE!
I have moved your deadline for the college essays to TUESDAY, 9/12 to give you one more day to work!

If you finish your essay in class today, you can create your display board.  If not, we will create your display board next week on Wednesday.

College Essay Work Time
If you need more time to complete your final revisions, now is the time!  You can revise, refine, proofread, conference with me, or do whatever else you need to do to finish up your essay.

WHEN YOU FINISH, do the following...

College Essay Boot Camp Feedback
Complete the Google Form feedback survey on College Essay Bootcamp:  SURVEY IS HERE!
 
Exhibit Your Work:  DONE TODAY OR WEDS 9/13
  1. Create your COLLEGE ESSAY DISPLAY BOARD!  See the document linked here, and the example on my board.
  2. When your display board is put together, stack them neatly on the table in the front of the room. 
 
DP Update​:  DUE WEDNESDAY, 9/13
  1. Write 1 paragraph about your revision in your College Essay.  Talk about one specific way that you grew as a writer between your first and final drafts of your College Essay.  In this paragraph, you should include:
    • How you grew (what skill improved?)
    • What it was like before (give a specific example- you could quote an early draft of your essay here!)
    • What feedback you got that pushed you to revise
    • Evidence of your growth in this area (again, you should quote the final draft of your essay here!)
    • Explanation of what you did to make this growth happen- what was your process?
  2. Create a tab for your college essay.  It can be within your Humanities class tab, or can be separate.  Include the information from your Display Board, the full text of your college essay, and the one paragraph reflection.

HOMEWORK
  1. DP Update:  Email Lori your DP link when it is completely updated with your College Essay (see above for requirements).  DUE: Wednesday 9/13, start of class.
  2. College Essay:  Share final draft with Lori by the start of class on Tuesday, 9/12.  If you had shared earlier drafts, please reshare a version labeled clearly as your final draft.  You must also have a printed copy for your display board.

College Essay Boot Camp- Conferences

9/7/2017

 
IMPORTANT UPDATE!
I have moved your deadline for the college essays to TUESDAY, 9/12 to give you one more day to work!

If you finish your essay in class tomorrow, you can create your display board.  If not, we will create your display board next week.

Review what you need for TUESDAY:
  1. Final Draft College Essay (1 copy printed, 1 emailed or shared to Lori) .  For the printed copy get it onto one page if possible, and do NOT print double-sided!
  2. Page with photo, prompt, and college list

Conferences with Lori
Bring with you the most recent copy of your essay (it can just be pulled up on your computer), and any focusing questions you have for me.  If you conferenced with me yesterday, I may have time to meet with you again, but no guarantees!

Revise, Refine, Write!
When you're not conferencing with me, you should be revising, refining, and making your essay as amazing as possible.  Remember to rely on your peers for help here!  You have lots of eyes--use them.

DONE?
Get a head start , and create your COLLEGE ESSAY DISPLAY BOARD!

HOMEWORK:​
  1. FINAL College Essay:  Due Tuesday, 9/12, at the start of class.  You need to have a copy printed and have it emailed or shared with Lori BEFORE class starts.

College Essay Boot Camp- Conferences

9/6/2017

 
Starter 7
Look at all the sentences pulled from college essays that are on the boards.  
  1. Choose your favorite one, and write it in your starter.  Explain why you think it's a strong sentence.
  2. Now, go through your draft of your college essay.  Pull out one sentence you think is weak.  Write the original version, then write a revised version.  Explain what you did to make the sentence stronger.
  3. List 3 more sentences from your draft that need revision.

Conferences with Lori
Bring with you the most recent copy of your essay (it can just be pulled up on your computer), and any focusing questions you have for me.

Revise, Refine, Write!
When you're not conferencing with me, you should be revising, refining, and making your essay as amazing as possible.  Remember to rely on your peers for help here!  You have lots of eyes--use them.

HOMEWORK:
  1. FINAL College Essay:  Due Friday, 9/8, at the start of class.  You need to have a copy printed and have it emailed or shared with Lori BEFORE class starts.

College Essay Peer Critiques

9/5/2017

 
Peer Critiques
  1. Get into your assigned group (see the front board)
  2. Everyone should have three printed copies of their essay
  3. Complete critiques for each person using the assigned protocol
​
Work Time!
Revise, revise, revise!  And sign up for a writing conference with Lori for sometime in the next two days.

Missed Peer Critique?
Share your essay with a trusted friend or two, and have them give you feedback.  Then revise, and sign up for a writing conference with me.

HOMEWORK
Final Draft College Essay due on FRIDAY, 9/8, start of class.

College Essay Boot Camp- Day 3

9/1/2017

 
Starter 6
Read this New York Times article about a controversial college essay and answer the following prompts:
  • What are your general impressions?
  • Would you advocate for accepting this student, given the rest of his application was worthy? Why or why not?
  • In general, do you think one should aim to "entertain" the admissions officer? Why or why not? 

Support Group Check In  (Be sure to save 5 minutes at the end of class to check back in and share out what you accomplished today)
  • Spend 5-10 minutes in your support group, checking in.  
  • Make sure everyone knows what they need to do for the day
  • Have each person in the group share where they want to be by the end of class today.  

College Essay Work Time
Today, your goal should be to get a complete draft written, and if possible, do some initial refinements.​  Try to run right up against the word limit of your essay! 

Support Group Check-In
In the last 5 minutes of class, regroup with your support group.  Go around, see how well each person did at achieving the goal they set for themselves at the start of class today.

HOMEWORK
Have 3 printed copies of your essay for peer critique Tuesday.  PRINT BEFORE CLASS.  Make sure each copy includes, at the top of the paper:
  1. The prompt you are responding to and word limits
  2. Your current word count for your essay
  3. A focusing question for critique (see College Essay Tuning Questions on the documents page for ideas here)
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  • Course Overview
  • Daily Lessons
  • Resources
  • Senior Project
    • 2019 Award Finalists
    • 2018 Award Finalists >
      • Early Senior Theses and TED Talks
  • Honors