Grade 8 | Spring Projects

The Final Project

Task: You will devote yourself to an in-depth research project in an area of your own choosing. Your choice should reflect your passion for an interest, something you would like to develop further and are willing to work on intensely. 

Objective: You will experience your own capacity to work, learning how to plan, organize and sustain a project over a period of three months.  

Requirements

Written Proposal (150 points) Due March 20th!

-       Outlines project objectives, plan, and anticipated results (See sample)

-       Identifies your mentor

Journal (50 points)

-       Includes at least thirty documented hours of independent, experimental learning

-       Demonstrates self-reflection throughout project

Research (100 points)

-       Provide 5 documents from text or visual media

-       Includes annotation of how research applied to project in MLA format
Annotated Bibliography
How to Cite Your Sources

Final Portfolio, Artifact, and Presentation (200 points)

-       The portfolio includes journal + documents of research (See Sample)

-       Artifacts will vary but may be a report, slideshow, video, or object

-       Presentation provides an overview of project scope, reflection on learning process, and evaluation of results

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Total: 500 points
Due Date: May 20^th

(Set High) Expectations

Choose wisely.

Be realistic.

Maintain momentum.

Ask for support.

Be resilient.

Finish what you’ve started.

Sample Topics and Ideas

finding solutions to an environmental problem; building a camera obscura, soapbox car, sailboat, or computer; designing and sewing an entire outfit from recycled materials; writing a vegetarian cookbook; drafting legislation; inventing an app; painting and curating an art show; curating an exhibit; building an art installation; creating and maintaining a themed blog; writing a chapbook of poetry and short stories; illustrating and writing a graphic novel; studying health science, acupuncture, or falconry; producing a music album; hosting a podcast; training a parakeet; manufacturing goods for sale; writing a television series; creating a fitness plan; building a non-profit organization.

[Sample Proposal]

Brielle Babiar

Ms. Babiar

ELA 8

20 March 2018

Spring Project Proposal

Project Name: Photojournalism

Mentor: Alessandra Babiar

I.                   Project Relevance

1.      What is the reason, or motivation, behind your endeavor?

2.      Outline why you are well-suited to undertake the proposed project (e.g. credibility, relevant skills, interest).

3.      Demonstrate your need to complete the project.

4.      Describe why it is important to carry out this work.

I’m interested in the ways that text has become, in many cases, subordinate to the image. In the news and within social media, pictures—still and moving—have become vital to communication. Because I identify as a writer, the turn of attention from text to picture fascinates and scares me. I’m pursuing a project in photojournalism because I would like to hone my photography skills and fuse them with my writing. Stories are important to me, and if the future of storytelling is intertwined with photography, then it is vital I endeavor to create photographic stories.

II.                Project Description

1.      How is this project best described, in one or two sentences?

2.      Provide the objectives of the project.

3.      What key activities will you undertake in this project? Provide the locations of the activites.

4.      What research will you undertake?

5.      Indicate the name of the mentor you will work with during the project and why.

This project is a blog-based photo journal. My main objective is to have at least 15 posts by May 20^th that are significant to me. I will take pictures on a weekly basis and write short excerpts—non-fiction and fiction—to accompany them. I would like to delve into portraiture and use a variety of photographic mediums: digital, disposable, polaroid. I’d even like to experiment with a short film. The location of this project will vary as I travel throughout the Northeastern USA, as well as Europe. I will research various photographers and photojournalists, as well as photographic practices. My mentor will be Alessandra Babiar, who has a degree in Photography from the Fashion Institute of Technology.

III.             Expected Outcomes

1.      What are the expected results of this project?

2.      Describe how the results of your project will have implications and benefits.

By May 20^th, I expect to have a fully functioning blog devoted to writing and photography. There is an inherent power in an image that can tell a story or add an element to text that cannot be expressed through words. The process alone will improve my story-telling skills and understanding of the move to image. Furthermore, I can use the content as a portfolio for future endeavors in the visual presentation and writing. I will be able to present the blog on the due date.

IV.              Anticipated Difficulties

I need to fix my Nikon DSLR or find another digital camera to borrow. With my teaching, moderating, tutoring, and school schedule, I may find it hard to keep up with weekly blog posts. Also, inspiration doesn’t grow on trees—so keeping creativity levels high may be a struggle.