1. The Ulysses Signature Program
Mrs. Lance Dempsey, Principal
Dr. Suzanne Borenzweig, Coordinator

2. The Ulysses Signature Program is:
A four-year program, admission by application only
A small learning community
A creative, dynamic approach to learning across the academic disciplines

3. The Ulysses Signature Program provides:
An opportunity for students to engage in real-world research
A practicum for authentic presentation skills
A HOME IN YOUR HOME SCHOOL

4. Ulysses Program Expectations
Genuine interest in research and research projects
Commitment to four-year program
Willingness to explore MCPS curriculum with Ulysses approach
Emerging independence
Respectful community member
Active community participant
Recommended for honors or AP: English, History, and Science

5. Ulysses Program Course Sequence
Grades 9 & 10
Grades 11 & 12
Signature Honors English 9 & 10
Signature Honors Physics 9, Biology & Chemistry
Signature Honors US History or AP US History
Signature Honors NSL Government or AP Government
Signature Honors or AP Modern World History
Signature AP Bio
Advanced Research*
Senior Research Project*
Sometimes scheduling intricacies do not allow for all three Signature honors courses—non-Signature honors instead.

6. Ulysses Science Course Sequence
Two Science Pathways
Physics Recommendation Biology Recommendation
Grade 9: Honors Physics Honors Biology; HSA
Grade 10: Honors Chemistry Honors Chemistry
Grade 11: AP Biology; 3 on AP Honors Physics or AP Class
Grade 12: AP Science of choice AP Science of choice

7. Ulysses Biology Fall Semester Spring Semester
Research Paper on invasive species; pill bug project
Inquiry Project on student designed, implemented, and analyzed scientific experiment
Ulysses Biology Night
Tuesday, April 30, 2013

9. Grade 11 Advanced Research Through Technology Research Methods
Annotated Bibliography
Literature Review
Final Project in Research Design
The required semester class is ARTT. It’s a survey of qualitative research methods like case study and ethnography, and it’s where students begin to explore topics of interest using more sophisticated search techniques, such as the database of scholarly journals, JSTOR. They also learn to be fastidious about citing their sources and formatting their papers using the guidelines of the Modern Language Association (MLA). It’s a blast!
The final project for the class is the DESIGN of their senior research project. They write a literature review and plan out the components of their original study to be undertaken in the senior year. The student’s performance in ARTT and the final project design determine whether the student will be invited to continue to Senior Research Project class. MOST STUDENTS ARE INVITED,

10. Grade 12 Senior Research Project Class Project Requirements Mentor
Oral Presentation
Exhibition
Ulysses Fair
Portfolio
The only Ulysses class senior year is Senior Research Project. The students take one period, one semester to compete their independent Ulysses projects.
Projects must have:
Comprehensive literature review
Oral, visual, and written components
Elements of original research
Students choose a mentor, usually a Northwest staff member
The students present their research projects to any class at Northwest, as well as to an evaluation panel comprise of me and several staff members, chosen in conjunction with the students.
The students also keep a record of their research PROCESS and PRODUCTS in a portfolio which they turn in for a grade and can take with them to scholarship interviews!
The seniors also share their research as exhibitions at the Ulysses Fair on January 8 or April 22. We also have an opening night reception for Ulysses seniors and their families and mentors the night before each fair. And we like parents to coordinate this!
Students may also choose an off-site internship as part of their Ulysses experience, but it is not required.

11. Colleges/Universities
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Stanford University
University of Maryland
University of Michigan
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
University of Wisconsin
University of Southern California, School of Architecture
University of Virginia
Yale University
Amherst College
Barnard College
Brown University
Bucknell University
Colgate University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Fashion Institute of Technology
MIT
New York University
Rhode Island School of Design

12. Application Process
Recommended for honors: English, History, and Science
Application form available December 1
Application due February 15, 2013
Essay
2 teacher recommendations

13. Making the GrAde but Missing the POINT+
Making the GrAde but
Missing the POINT
The Flaws in Today’s
American School System
Adjua K. Jones
POINTLESS

14. Interracial Identity
So…What Are You Anyway?
By Kelly Puyear

15. Film Piracy by Sara Wugofski
Research Questions:
What motivates people to commit piracy?
To what extent is piracy wrong?
What are the negative effects of piracy on the film industry?
Effect of internet on the industry
Digitalized distribution, both good and bad

16. A Study of Mobile Applications
Personal APPrentices
A Study of Mobile Applications
By: Jitesh Nadimpalli

17. Ulysses Fairs January 9 -10, 2013 April 24 - 25, 2013 7:30am – 2:00pm
(closed for lunch 11:00 – 11:40)