Synthesis Project
Voting Day: November 6th
Engage: Voting
The current Senior English 4 assignment is to write a 2000-2500 word synthesis essay. You can do this essay or what I am proposing below. You could also combine it.
Driving Question:
How can we get students to understand the importance of actively engaging in the voting process?
Most of you are going to be able to vote in the Mid Term elections this year. As this is something that you are going to be doing for the rest of your life, I thought it might be appropriate to explore and synthesize information from this election cycle. We are going to collectively attempt to make a website called Lindbergh Votes. Let's brainstorm some questions we have about voting in general or this particular election cycle.
Important Due Dates:
- Reading Visual Representations DUE on 10/24
- Reading & Presentation Website Summaries DUE on 10/29
- Presentation Pamphlets DUE on 11/1
Explore: Research
You need to take some time to explore the information out there related to the voting process. There are websites already linked here that will take you to the general voting info for this election cycle.
Question: What is important for other students to understand about voting on November 6th?
In groups (2 or 4), I want you to choose some aspect of this process to explain or argue. Do you want to persuade people that they need to vote? Do you want to help people understand the ballot? Are there important issues that will be voted on that you think people should be made aware of? Are there political offices or elected officials you want to explore? I want to have as many aspects of this process covered, so students/groups will NOT be allowed to double up on topics!
https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/calendar/2018cal
Explain: Proposal
Just like the last project, you/your partners will create a PROPOSAL where you explain what you plan to do for the reading, writing, and presentation for this project. Each group will be expected to add a page to the Lindbergh Votes website.
Your page will be expected to have all of the following:
Number 1: Website Information (check your email for the Lindbergh Votes website)
- Title and Author citation for each contribution
- A driving question for your research
- A short paragraph that explains your hypothesis for what you were hoping to find out or learn from your research
- Content: summaries and evidence of all sides of the issue including (citations). See Number 2 for at least one of your pieces.
- A Works Cited
- About the Authors pics and information
- Impressive design
Number 2: Graph, Tables, Charts Analysis (Reading Skills)
For the "reading" portion of this unit, I want you to find a graph, table, or chart that you can analyze. Each of your group members will choose one graph, table, or chart that you summarize and interpret. You will choose ONE of those to include on your website page.
How to analyze Visual Representations
Schroll Example of Reading Visual Representations
Number 3: Pamphlet Presentation
We are going to create pamphlets to pass out to the other seniors to encourage them to vote and explaining the different issues and choices they will have on Election Day. Every pamphlet should include links to the website.
Apply: Start Researching
Assessment 1: Reading
Due on 10/24: Reading Visual Representations--Each of you will need to analyze a graph, table or chart. Then, you will choose at least one to add to the website. See my sample in Number 2 above.
DUE on 10/29: Summaries on Webpage--Using your proposal to guide you, begin researching your topic and collecting evidence. You want to have a balanced page, even if you are trying to persuade people to vote for a particular issue or candidate. So you will need to examine the issue or person from all sides (which might be more than just two). Remember, create your Works Cited page as you go and add any evidence you find to the website. For each source you are going to use on the website, you will need to create a short summary of the piece, embed the piece onto the page, and use appropriate citation and Works Cited entries.
Assessment 2: Presentation
Website page (Due on 10/29) and pamphlets (DUE on 11/1) . Your website page and pamphlets need to be ERROR FREE! Revise, revise, revise!
Reflect
Assessment 3: Writing
There will be an in-class writing prompt after the vote to examine your ability to synthesize the information you have found.