Dear Parents of 8th
graders:
Monday, 13 Dec 2010
There are 600 points available in this project—100 to be awarded this
quarter (which ends Friday!) for simply sending me a written or emailed
note stating that you have read this letter, and the other 500 to be
awarded next quarter. Like the “States Project”, this “Presidents
Project” will have five parts: a Poster, a Paper, a list of Published
Sources (bibliography), an oral Presentation, and Polite Participation
(each worth 100 points). Your daughter/son can tell you her/his
chosen president.
POSTER: This must be on a piece of standard size poster board--no
larger than 22”x28”, no smaller than 14”x22” (10 pts.). It must
have the president’s name (10) and portrait (15) displayed prominently;
and the student’s full name displayed in the lower right corner
(10). I must show his political party (5), home state (10), and
his vice-president (10). Points will be awarded for neatness (5), use
of color (10), correct spelling and grammar (15). It may also have up
to five pictures (with captions!) for extra credit at one point each.
PAPER: In order to get a grade of D, the paper must contain all
six of the basic paragraphs and be typed in Final Draft Format
(www.gwingenealogy.net/SCHOOLS/draftrules.htm). Higher grades
must meet all the D requirements and contain any of the
additional paragraphs in the following quantities: C = 3; B = 6; A = 9.
Extra credit may be awarded for more paragraphs.
Basic six paragraphs for a D: 1. Introductory (name, state,
party, birth/death dates/places, terms, etc.); 2. Family (parents,
siblings, etc.); 3. Family (wife, children, etc.); 4. two or more
“good” events occurring during his term and why they were good; 5. two
or more “bad” events occurring during his term and why they were bad;
and 6. the one thing for which he is most famous, in your opinion.
Additional paragraphs include: his education; interesting facts
about his childhood; some of his hobbies/pastimes; some of his
likes/dislikes; his vice-president; his first lady; his
occupation/career (before he was president); some quotes for which he
is well known; his cabinet members; his religion; his pets (you
may not use this paragraph if he had no pets); his travels; his wars;
any other paragraph you’d like to write as long as you get my approval
first.
PUBLISHED SOURCES: This part is simply a bibliography. On a
separate sheet of paper with the word “Bibliography” centered at the
top, make a numbered list of all the items—newspaper, magazine, or
internet articles; books; encyclopedias; videos, films or television
shows; etc.; and interviews—that you used in writing your paper. All
the following information must be included for each item listed.
If any of the information is not given, you must say so in your
bibliography: internet items: author, title, date of publication, URL
(address); newspaper or magazine article: title, volume, number, and
date of the newspaper or magazine; author, title, and page number of
the article in it; videos, films, or television shows: title,
writer, producer, and date of production; interviews: name of person
interviewed, date of interview, relevant qualifications of person
interviewed.
PRESENTATION: You will give a short (2-4 minutes) speech about
your president to the class. Up to ten points will be awarded in
each of these categories of your speech: did you speak slowly, loudly,
clearly and smoothly, with good eye contact, smiles, gestures, overall
enthusiasm, and reference to your visual aids; without using uhs or
other fillers; and within the 2-to-4-minute time limits? Student
judges and timers will be used in the following five areas: eyes,
smiles, gestures, uhs, and time; Mr. Gwin will judge in the other five.
POLITE PARTICIPATION: You will receive 100 points for politely
sitting through all the other speeches and for serving as a student
judge. Seven points will be deducted from this score for
distracting or disturbing the speaker, making noises or unnecessary
movements, getting out of your seat, etc. Most students get the
full 100 points for this fifth part.
The first three parts of the project are due Tuesday, 18 Jan 2011 (but
may be turned in early!). Speakers will begin presentations that
day in the order in which the president served (Washington will be
presented first, then Adams, etc., with Obama going last.)
Speakers who are not ready when it is their turn will be deducted 30
percent of their Presentation grade.
Please email me (preferred) at home–jmcdgwin@zianet.com–(with
“President Project Question” in the subject line) if you have
questions. Or call me (522-2171 or 635-1712), but remember I am hearing
impaired and may not understand you well.
Best to you for a delightful and meaningful holiday,
John Gwin