Each of the
three major parts (note cards, papers, and presentations) will count as two
major grades, one in science (regardless of topics) and one in language arts.
Each has a different due date listed on the first page to insure students keep
up with the project.
Be
An Expert Note Card Requirements
[100 points] A minimum of [NUMBER VARIES BY STUDENT] note
cards with one fact on
the front and its citation (book,
newspaper, magazine, website, or person that the fact came from) on the back.
Note cards will be provided. Extra credit will be given to students correctly
using more note cards. See below for
correct citation punctuation.
1. [40 points] A paper with
a minimum of [NUMBER VARIES BY STUDENT]
pages handwritten OR [NUMBER VARIES BY STUDENT] words typed.
Paragraphs must be used to organize information logically. You should have an
introduction paragraph (first paragraph) that explains your topic and why you
chose it.
2. [15 points] At least [NUMBER VARIES BY STUDENT]
different sources. Sources are books, magazines, newspapers,
websites, expert people, or other reliable places where you learn about your
topic. Extra credit will be given to students using more sources.
3. [15 points] Correct in-text citations are used throughout the paper. This was the number one reason
students lost points last year on their projects. See below for correct in-text citation grammar.
4. [15 points] Correct quoting grammar. When you are writing
something in your paper exactly as it appears in a source, you must put the
information in “quotes” to show that it belongs to someone else. See below for correct quoting grammar.
5. [15 points] Alphabetized
works cited page. You will list all of your sources in alphabetical order
on a separate paper attached to the end of your report. See below for a short example.
Be
An Expert Presentation Requirements
[100 points] Presentation. Be creative. Students in my class have
already done many presentations—book responses, reading to CPS, habitats, machines
and energy, weather, plays, and more. You will be sharing your Be An Expert
project with our class and (hopefully) your third grade class. Your
presentation should take 2-8 minutes. Think about the best ways to share what
you have learned using what is available to you at home. I can get poster board
for anyone if you ask several days before you need it, though poster board is
just one possible way to help you share your topic.
Grading
Completing the requirements well
will earn you a ‘B’ or an ‘A,’ but there are many ways to excel beyond the
basic requirements and earn an advanced ‘A.’
Project grades will be
earned with proper research, a paper that closely follows the rubric, and a
well-conceived presentation. A general idea of each grade is listed here:
U Project
requirements were not met. Likely, materials were turned in late, hastily done,
and showed little to no research, understanding, and effort. Presentation was
not presentable to another class.
D Few
requirements were met. Likely, materials were turned in late, hastily done, and
showed minimal research, understanding, and effort. Project was not presentable
to another class.
C Many
requirements were met or most were met, but turned in late. Much research was
done, but not enough to become an expert or fully understand the topic. Effort
was given, but not to the student’s potential. This is an okay grade, but could
be improved upon. Project was adequate for presenting to another class.
B Most
requirements were met, perhaps with minor errors in in-text citations, quoting
grammar, or the works cited page. Research was adequate to make the student
well-informed about the topic. Much effort was given; this is a grade to be
proud to earn! Other classes benefited from this presentation. Very good!
A
All requirements were met with no more than a few minor errors. Research has
made the student an expert on the topic. Great effort was given; this is a
grade to be very proud to earn! The presentation makes others believe you are
an expert. Great!
A+ or A++ Requirements
were exceeded in several areas with careful attention to grammar and
punctuation with quotes and citations in particular. A very high level of
research was undertaken—you have truly become an expert on your topic.
Tremendous effort is apparent. Your presentation may have inspired others to
learn more about your topic. Excellent!
A+++ or A++++ All requirements were exceeded with a delicate attention to your
quotations and citations. Clearly you have read and understood many facets of
your topic. You have impressed your teacher with your well-organized and
detail-laden paper and inspired your peers with your entertaining presentation.
Wow!
While
each of these issues will be covered in class, here is a short guide to serve
as a reminder to students and helping family members:
1. Do a citation for the
back of EACH note card and for your works cited page. (For elementary students,
I use an abbreviated form of the MLA style citations they will most often use
in middle and high school as well as college. We do not do publisher,
publication city, copyright date, volume, etc.):
Book with an author:
MacQuitty, Miranda. Sharks. pg 14.
Book with no author listed:
3-D Insect. pg. 26.
Expert person interviewed:
Dylan, Bob. Singer and song writer.
Internet site with an
author:
Coxon, Steve. Mr. Coxon’s Class Website. http://coxon.cesclass.info.
Internet site with no author
listed:
Monarch Watch. http://www.monarchwatch.org.
Magazine or newspaper article:
Hardy, Guy. “
2. In-text citations are
used after every fact or idea you got from any where other than your own brain.
In-text citations use the author’s last name OR the title if no author name is
listed. This is followed by the page number for a book, newspaper, or magazine,
but nothing for a web page:
Fact in my own words from a
book:
Not
all sharks have torpedo-shaped bodies. The hammerhead shark has small head
projections that make it look like a hammer (MacQuitty
42).
Fact taken directly from a
website:
Butterfly
eggs are small, but not completely helpless. In fact, “each butterfly egg is
surrounded by a hard outer shell, called the chorion,
to protect the developing larva” (Monarch Watch).
3.
Correct quoting grammar is needed when you use the exact same words as another
writer or speaker. All facts from others need to be cited as above, but only
exactly the same words need to have quotes around them. Only about one out of
three facts should be quoted. The rest should be in your own words. Here is an
example of a quote:
Butterfly
eggs are small, but not completely helpless. In fact, “each butterfly egg is
surrounded by a hard outer shell, called the chorion,
to protect the developing larva” (Monarch Watch).
4. The works cited page
should be an alphabetized list of all
your sources on a separate sheet of paper attached to the back of your paper.
3-D
Insect. pg. 26.
Coxon, Steve. Mr. Coxon’s
Class Website. http://coxon.cesclass.info.
Hardy, Guy. “
MacQuitty, Miranda. Sharks. pg 14.
And finally… for parents, guardians,
and other helpful people:
Helping keep a watchful eye
on deadlines is important.
Keep up with the note cards.
Taking your student to the
public library is probably the best thing you can do. Internet access at home
is certainly a nice thing (it’s also free at the library), but the Internet
still fails to provide as detailed and organized material as books in most
cases.
Ask your student specific
questions about her/his project. Try “How much did a knight’s armor weight?”
instead of “Did you learn anything about knights today?”
Recheck citation
and quoting grammar requirements with your student before, during, and after
the paper is written.
Family members are
encouraged to help their student write to a degree. Typing the paper with your
student and helping them make corrections is great, but typing it for them and
making corrections while they are elsewhere is inappropriate.
Have fun! This is a chance
for your student to excel on a topic of his/her choice!