Research Manual

Research Requirement for High School English Classes

In each high school English class, from 9th-12th grade, students will be required to complete at least one research project, which meets the guidelines listed below*. The project is a course requirement, and failure to meet the requirement will result in an "incomplete" in the class until such time as that requirement is fulfilled, regardless of whether the other assessments indicate a passing grade. This "incomplete," if earned, will revert to failure for the class after a period of time, as per school policy. 

Depending on the year and the level of the course, the length and scope of this requirement may vary, and in each class, the definition of the requirement will be determined by the teacher and identified clearly for the students verbally and in writing. Similarly, the product that satisfies completion of the project may take a variety of forms at the discretion of the teacher. These may include, but are not limited to, a paper, a presentation, a podcast, an oration, or a bibliography. Finally, it is solely at the discretion of the teacher whether a different research assignment may substitute for the identified requirement. 

The following guidelines will apply at all levels: 

1. The student will develop a topic independently, albeit under the direction and support of the teacher as needed. 

2. The student will consult a number of sources he or she finds independently, albeit under the direction and support of the teacher as needed. (The number of sources will be determined by the teacher.) 

3. The student will incorporate those sources into the final product, which will be a synthesis of the student's own thinking and writing and material from the sources. 

4. The student will document the use of the sources through correct formatting, using an approved, widely-used formatting technique, as selected by the teacher. (MLA, University of Chicago, APA, etc.) 

*In selective courses, which are semester-long courses on the 11th and 12th grade level, the requirement only applies to one of the half-year classes. This doesn't mean the student will not be required  to complete research in both halves of the year, only that the completion of one of the research projects satisfies the passing requirement, provided that all assessments also indicate a passing grade in both classes.