MYP Personal Project January 2014

How’s it going? At this stage in your project, you should be: Close to the completion of your final product (if not totally finished with it). Completing final reflections in your process journals. Done with your research, which you have tracked in Noodletools or another platform (Easybib, etc.)

Uhhhhh……. What if I didn’t do all of those things? Do not hide. Do not give up. Do not pretend you’re doing something when you’re not. What should I do instead? Meet with your supervisor. Discuss how you will plan to change your project in order to meet the deadline. Get a plan: see Ms. Clarkson if you need help. Get real with yourself regarding what you can do. Start tracking everything you do in your journal.

Timeline for the remaining items January Complete final product. Engage in final research and reflection (in Process Journal) Re-assess yourself on Criterion A and E. Complete initial reflections. Begin writing the rough draft of your project report. February Final product and paper due on February 14th. Score yourself on Criterion G with your supervisor and complete reflection. Both of you must agree on this score.

Reporting the project The organization of the report is driven by the assessment criteria. These are available in your Personal Project Resource packet. Each criterion is scored independently. And they’re all weighted equally. Look at one piece at a time.

Organization of the written report Title Page Student name The title of the project Length of the written report (word count) School name School Year (2013-2014) Table of Contents (listing sections of the report and page numbers) Introduction (Define the Goal) Selection of Sources Application of Information Achievement of the Goal Reflection on Learning Works Cited Apendices (as needed)

Introduction (Define the Goal) Explain why you were initially interested in the project Define what your goal was in undertaking the project Outline your specifications for success in the project Explain in detail how one of the Areas of Interaction helped you to focus your study of a particular topic.

Selection of Sources Narrate your research process by explaining what you learned from the sources you consulted. You must evaluate the validity of these sources (i.e. why they are good, bad, reliable or unreliable). This may be multiple paragraphs and must include cited information from your sources. Citations must be both in-text (parenthetical) and end-of-text (in your Works Cited page)

Application of Sources Narrate how you carried your project to completion by applying the information found in your research. This should be multiple paragraphs and should explain how you carried your project to completion by using information from your research. It should include a preliminary reflection on how you used information from research in order to reach the goal of your project.

Achieve the goal This should be a relatively brief explanation of how you did on achieving your goal and meeting your specifications. Use the guiding questions in your “Criterion E Reflection” to help you write this.

Reflection on Learning Narrate what you learned about your topic as a result of completing this project. Explain in detail what you have learned about your chosen Area of Interaction as a consequence of undertaking this project. Hint: Use the “guiding questions” as “think abouts” for this Explain in detail which Approaches to Learning skills you have developed as a consequence of undertaking the project.

Works Cited Must include all sources of information that are cited in the report. Must use correct, MLA documentation. Please, please, please USE NOODLETOOLS TO DO THIS! Additional sources consulted, but not cited in the report may be included as an appendix.

Appendices These may be necessary depending on the nature of your project. Things that might be included may be: Photographs of your process Transcripts of interviews Plans, illustrations or other documentation that might help the scorers to assess your completion of the project. A list of “works consulted” as distinct from the works cited in your paper.

Nuts and bolts: Criterion G The last of the criteria (Criterion G) assesses your ability to: organize the project report according to the required structure communicate clearly, coherently and concisely, within required limits (1500-3500 words) acknowledge sources according to recognized conventions. (MLA Documentation throughout) This criterion will include judgments about presentation, writing (or speaking) conventions, mechanics, grammar, word choice, voice, audience, for example.

Logistics Rough drafts of reports should be turned in on Turnitin.com by January 30th. Class ID - 7584612 Password – MYPProject Peer Review process will take place from January 31 to February 4. This is mandatory. If you do not turn in a rough draft, you cannot complete a peer review. Arrange a time (immediately) for your final meeting with your supervisor. This should occur after you have completed your process journal, final project and reflection.

What’s next? I will be back next week to talk about final requirements for turning in the project and to answer questions about the report. You will start to get emails from me and notes from Mrs. Anderson in the main office about the Personal Project Fair (March 27th) Do not ignore these! Fill in your project description on the school website. This must be completed by February 10th.

Questions about the Project? Molly_A_Clarkson@mcpsmd.org