Independent studies/action project
The Independent Studies/Action Project is your chance to take what you have learned this year and apply that knowledge to an issue your personally care about. It is an opportunity for you to create a project that exemplifies your passions and interests, and demonstrates academic curiosity, physical ability, and creative problem-solving. Because this is a personal journey, the Independent Studies/Action project is an individual undertaking. No group work will be accepted. This approach gives you the opportunity to plan your own course of study, with some guidance, and allows you to:
There are many pathways you can take to fulfill the requirements of this unit. Find the area that interests you the most and build a program around that. Some pathways you might explore include:
- to study a subject in more depth, at a more advanced level;
- to pursue a unique project that requires specialized study;
- to draw together several knowledge areas or interests into a specialized study;
- to test your independent learning capabilities and skills; and
- to use special learning resources in the community.
There are many pathways you can take to fulfill the requirements of this unit. Find the area that interests you the most and build a program around that. Some pathways you might explore include:
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Once you have selected a pathway that you want to explore, you must complete the following:
Your proposal is due no later than two weeks from the start of this unit. The remainder of your work is due before the the last week of the unit. Whatever you cannot complete in class needs to be done as homework. Do not wait to turn work in. As you finish a task give it to me for feedback and grading.
- Submit a short proposal that includes your research question, describes the issue you want to study and the final project you plan to do resulting from your studies. You and I will work together to refine this proposal, the tasks necessary to complete the work, and the timing of the proposal to ensure that you have time to complete the work.
- Conduct detailed research on your topic using primary and secondary sources. Your research should come from printed (books, journals, newspapers) and digital (the internet) sources. Your research must include narrative, graphic (maps, pictures), and statistical (table and charts) data.
- Present what you have learned in a project thesis paper, using MLA formatting, of at least three pages.
- A culminating action project that applies what you have learned to a real world situation.
- A final written reflection on the work you have done that is presented to the 8th grade community.
Your proposal is due no later than two weeks from the start of this unit. The remainder of your work is due before the the last week of the unit. Whatever you cannot complete in class needs to be done as homework. Do not wait to turn work in. As you finish a task give it to me for feedback and grading.