Stage 4 - Turning a Draft into a Final Paper

Peer-Editing

Rough draft research summaries were due on Monday, but many students received an extension due to testing constraints.  ALL students should have a completed rough draft shared with me as of today.  As such, today we will be spending some time peer editing our rough drafts.  Here's what you should be doing today:

1. Find a partner.  
2. Either swap computers or share your rough draft with your partner so that you can read each other's draft research summaries
3. Carefully read each others' summaries, and complete the Peer Editing Form.
4. Use the completed peer editing form to make your own draft better. 
5. Turn in peer editing form to Ms. Killeen. 

A Note About Due Dates

The due dates for this project have shifted a few times due to changes in the testing and administrative schedule.  Thank you for being patient as we try to finalize deadlines for final project.  The finalized deadlines for the project can be found below.  Please see or email me with any questions.

Wednesday 13 - Write rough drafts
Thursday 14 - Finish drafts and peer-edit
Friday 15 - Turn in final drafts and give informal presentations (you do not need to bring anything to be prepared for this).  Senior grades are due this day so ALL final projects must be turned in. 

Monday 18 - Juniors Only - present paper (I will talk with you about how this will work).
Tuesday 19-21 - Workshopping final projects
Friday 22 - End of Year Celebration (Seniors are welcome to attend)

Stage 3 - Turning Research into Writing

 Today you will complete you rough draft of your final essay for this project.  At this point about 1/2 of the groups have completed their background research, meaning only about 1/2 of you are up to speed with what you should have done.  While I haven't seen much of you over the last few days it is still the expectation that you are finding a way to complete your research from outside the classroom. 

Below is the **OFFICIAL** template for your google document (your document MUST be in this same format).

START A NEW DOCUMENT TITLED "LastName(s)-Title - ROUGH DRAFT"

**To start a new document you will need to navigate back to google drive, select create, select document.  This new document will be saved in the same place as your background research.

Prompt: Write a 2 page essay describing the space danger you chose, the physics involved in it, and your recommended solution to avoid the danger.  

Your group's essay should answer the questions in the prompt and meet the highest expectations as outlined on the Project Rubric found here.  

Resources

Include ALL resources you use throughout this project (and I mean ALL of them).  So, if you are researching what the molecular composition of "Little Tree Air Fresheners" and you find some information that may be useful to your project, copy the url and paste it into this section (this section should be at the very end of your document); also write a brief description of the source and what information was useful on the page.

  
For example:

1.  http://www.little-trees.com/us/

• Little Trees Air Freshener official company website
• Information about products they sell
• Company background information

2.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_oil

• Composition of Pine Oil
• Pine oil used to make pine scented air fresheners and cleaning supplies
• etc

About the Authors

1. Picture of you and your ... (don't forget this!)

2. Write a short bio about yourself in third person:

ex. Joe Schmoe is a senior at Holly Springs High School. He enjoys learning about how chemistry plays a role in daily life and will attend Montana State University next year explore his interests in science.  He is on the Honor Roll, Dean's List and has lettered in Band, Football and Rocket Science and is a 3 time AA State Champion Foosball Player.

Stage 2 - Separation - "Okay, I have my topic, now what should I be researching?"

In this project you will be writing about and presenting on your particular space danger.  Your final essay will need to do the following:

Prompt: Write a 2 page essay describing the space danger you chose, the physics involved in it, and your recommended solution to avoid the danger.  

To learn about you danger you will be relying primarily on internet research.  Your research should cover the following questions:

_____________________________________

1. What is the danger? 
2. Describe the physics/science behind the danger.  Why do people not experience this particular threat on Earth?  (ex. zero gravity in space is not an issue on Earth because..., cosmic rays do not harm humans on Earth because...)
3. What are the possible solutions that scientists and engineers have developed to deal with this danger? 
4. Which solution do you think is most useful (or develop your own!)?  Support this be describing your understanding of the science involved.  

_____________________________________

These questions are just a start, they do not cover the entire extent of the project.  You may find that you need to spend quite a bit of time figuring out exactly what the danger is!  (ex. why is low air pressure a danger in space?).

Record all of your notes (without copying and pasting exact phrases from the internet) and your sources (URLs) into your shared group google document.  

HINT: Divide and conquer!  Don't spend you time with everyone in your group studying the same thing, break up the work so each person is researching a different aspect of the project.  

Secure Your Topic

After watching NOVA Science Now - Can We Make It To Mars check out the links below to help you choose a particular topic for your final project.  The links describe some of the same and other dangers that astronauts are likely to face in space and during space travel:

http://www.space.com/10694-human-spaceflight-dangers-infographic.html

http://edquestscience.com/pdf/ES-SE-4notes.pdf

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Suited_for_Spacewalking_Educator_Guide.html#.VUgwd9NVikp

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/spacesuits/eduactivities/index.html#.VUgwv9NVikq

When you and your group have chose your topic click this link here to claim your topic by filling in the first three columns in one of the rows that have not already been taken by other students.  If another group has already chosen your topic then you have to choose something different!

WOW - Couldn't Help Myself

Check out these awesome patterns in gravity and time!  Each bowling ball hangs from a different length of string with the shortest string near the group of kids.  At the base of the bowling balls' swing there are a series of chimes that sound at the bottom of each pass.

Keep watching the whole video for the best parts...could you build something like this in space?

Stage 1 - Launch

Welcome to the Final Frontier!

In this project you will be seeking to understand some of the dangers that life and travel in outer space present to human beings.  This is of critical important because sometime within your generation scientists and explorers will attempt to go beyond the moon to other planets.  You research will help make future astronauts more safe as they do their important work, and - maybe - it will inspire you to look for a career in extraterrestrial exploration!

 

Step 1: Starting your research

1. You will be creating an online document to store your research.  This will allow you to continue your research from anywhere in the school, or from home.   
2.  Go to www.google.com.  In the top right hand corner hit the "Sign In" button.  If you have a google account you can sign in using your username and password, if you do not have a google account you will need to create an account.  (All you need is your name, and birthdate).   
3.  Once you have logged in to your google account find the small grid icon in the top right hand corner of the page.  Select it and find the icon that says "Drive".  Select this icon.   
4.  Google Drive allows you to create, share, and publish documents online.  Select the "Create" icon on the left hand side on the screen and select "Document" from the drop down menu.  This will open up a new window where you will type and save your document.  
5.  Title your document by changing the title at the top of the page from "Untitled Document" to  "Your Name_Background Research - The Science of ...".  As you type your project from what you research online it will automatically save!!!! NEAT!   
6.  Select share at the top right hand corner of the screen.  In the box that says "Invite People" copy and paste my email address:  hkilleen@hssd.k12.ms.us  This will allow me to see how your work is going and to help you out no matter where you are working from.  Make sure you do this step otherwise you will not receive a grade.