THE SENIOR PROJECT AT TIVERTON HIGH SCHOOL

THE PURPOSE OF THE SENIOR PROJECT:

The Senior Project at Tiverton high School (THS) is an opportunity for you to demonstrate what you know and to showcase your achievement. It must be successfully completed to graduate from THS, as mandated by the Rhode Island Department of Education.  It will also count as a percentage of each term grade in your senior English class.  Senior Project has been highly acclaimed and proven successful in many high schools across the country.

The Senior Project is a fitting conclusion to your high school education.  Through the project, you are able to demonstrate accumulated skills in time-management, research, problem-solving, human interaction, organization, and public-speaking. This is appropriate as the culmination of your K-12 education because these are the very skills and abilities which you will be expected to demonstrate as college students and/or employees.

THE FOUR PHASES OF THE SENIOR PROJECT:

·         The first is a research paper. You must research and document information on a subject of your choice -- a subject in which you have an interest, but are not already an expert. Your research must be a learning stretch beyond what you already know.  As part of your research, you must obtain a mentor to assist in advising you throughout the project.  Your mentor cannot be a family member or anyone under 21 years of age. Your mentor must be someone who is knowledgeable or a professional in the area of your interest.  Your mentor will be evaluating your field work. Note: THS faculty will be allowed to mentor only in areas in which they do not teach.  For example, an art teacher may not mentor a student in oil painting.  Faculty may mentor only one student.  If a teacher is your mentor, mentor hours cannot be completed during class time.

·         The second phase requires you to apply the information you have gained from your research to manufacture a "product."  Your product may be an actual physical product, a performance, demonstration, or a service. There must be a clear relationship between your research and your product. Select a product within your financial budget, keeping in mind that you are not expected to spend money in order to complete the Senior Project.  However, if you select a senior project that requires a financial commitment, you will be responsible for those expenses.

·         The third phase of the Project is the portfolio. You must keep good records of your progress and preserve everything in a portfolio that demonstrates your journey throughout the entire Senior Project.  These documents include personal notes, photographs, time logs with your mentor, journal entries, receipts, letters, your research paper, etc.  Although components of the portfolio will be graded throughout the year, your English teacher will grade the entire portfolio for completeness and aesthetics at the end of the school year.  It will count as 20% of the Senior Project grade required for graduation.

·         The final phase of the project will be the oral presentation, which will count as 80% of the Senior Project grade required for graduation. This will be a presentation of between eight to twelve minutes, given before a board of judges. You will be assigned a date and time for your board well in advance.  This presentation will also count as the proficiency part (50%) of your final exam for your English course.