Lee Vining High School
Senior Thesis
Teacher: Ms. Sarah Taylor
Brief Description of Course:
Senior Thesis is a one semester, interdisciplinary course that focuses students
on planning for their futures and prepares students for college level research
assignments. There are three central components to the Senior Thesis class: 1)
A formal, in-depth, 15-page research paper on a topic relating to the studentŐs
career interest, 2) Career research, mentor interview, and shadow day, 3) A
sophisticated, 20 minute multimedia presentation given to the public that
provides information from the research paper and the career research.
Textbooks and other sources:
MLA Handbook, Write for College: A
Student Handbook
Other Materials Required:
3 ring binder and 200+ notecards
Grading Procedures
Formal Research Paper 50%
Multimedia Presentation 40%
Career Assignments 10%
*percentages are approximate
UNR Library Trip
In order to give students access to a full spectrum of quality sources
and to give them the opportunity to write a college level research paper, we
will visit the library at UNR on Monday September 12th. Students
will research on UNRŐs online catalog ahead of time,
and then spend an intensive day researching at the library so that they can
each check out several quality books for their papers. This will be a mandatory
trip. This will be a full-day trip from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (we usually go
out for dinner afterwards).
Special Reports/Projects
UNR Library Trip
Formal research paper
Mentor Interview and/or shadow
day
Multimedia Presentation
Standards
This
course is required for graduation and meets many of the California Language
Arts, Social Studies, and Technology Standards regarding research, writing, and
listening, and speaking. Please see me if you would like more information
regarding standards.
Homework Practices
If students use their time
efficiently in class, they should only have a serious homework load while
writing their research papers and for the week before major deadlines. For
example, students should be able to do the majority of their research, reading,
and note-taking during class time.
Late Work
Although students will always be
given extra time to make up work after excused absences, all work that is
handed in late will be docked 10% per day.