4.6 PROJECT: Personal Passion Project

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:  What is your personal passion?

Task:

For this project, you will share, discuss, create, propose and/or analyze solutions for an issue you are passionate about.  How can writing change people’s worldview? How can it influence public opinion? How can it lead to meaningful action? Persuasive writing is more than just an academic exercise — it is very much alive in the real world. 

You will be creating your project for the future generation.  (Those born roughly around 2010).  This generation has been told that the world is on fire; create a fire within them to do better, expect better and be better. Consider how you would communicate your passion through a lens that would be enigmatic and relevant to this younger generation.

A few points to consider as you prepare your Passion Project:

  • Be clear when providing background information.  Assume that they know nothing about your topic and help to show them why this topic is of the utmost importance and worth the focus. 
  • Use formal vocabulary and structure so that your communication leads these children to fight for your cause!

Finding the right topic is essential. You should pick something that a) you genuinely care about; b) other people would want to be informed about; c) an argument can be made about it d) and evidence can be found to support your claim.  You could use your Assignment 4.4 "Pitch For Change" topic and build on it, if you'd like.

Consider these questions:

  • What would you like to change if you could? What problems or policies do you think should be addressed — whether something global, like climate change, or something closer to home, like a later start time for your high school classes? Make as long a list as you can.
  • What issues, topics and fields are you passionate about? Make a list. Your list might include fields as broad as “music” or as specific as “the early days of hip-hop.” What questions or controversies in these fields do experts or fans often argue? Where do you stand?
  • What do you do outside of school? What are some things you’re an expert on? What aspects of those hobbies or interests do you find yourself having to explain to others? Why?
  • What issues or ideas do you often find yourself discussing or arguing about with friends, your family or online?
  • What issues or controversies have you followed recently in current events? What are your opinions about them? What might you need more information about?

Step 1:  Find a topic.

Here are some links to topics to consider:

200-prompts-for-argumentative-writing

Student opinion prompts-explore and read further to develop a topic

Step Two: Gather ideas and facts:  Keep track of your bibliographic information for the final Works Cited list.

Step Three: Create an Outline

Step Four: Create Your Draft

Step Five: Proofread and Edit based on this Checklist

All students will be required to:

  • Use the skills that you have developed in this course

  • Research the given topic so that you become an expert on it

  • Keep an MLA-style works cited list that will be turned in with your final product

  • Develop a persuasive product that informs its reader of the topic.

Course Specific Projects:

Below you will see handouts outlining the project specific to each of the five different focus areas in ELA11.  Please download the handout that corresponds to your enrolled course.  You must only complete the project that corresponds to your course.  

Assignment details:

Assessment:  Below you will find the exemplary criteria used to assess the assignment.   

Learning Target(s): Exemplary (6/6): Final project demonstrates a creative, critical, and reflective understanding of the chosen topic. This understanding results from thorough research and close analysis of texts and author’s intent as well as a clear personal connection to the topic. Research is formatted accurately according to MLA formatting. Final product demonstrates a rich understanding of persuasive writing strategies to create meaningful and personal connections to self, text, and the world, exploring idea within, between, and beyond texts.

Ideas/Content: Exemplary (6/6): Exemplary comprehension of project expectations. Final product represents all elements of the task. Exemplary development and presentation of ideas.  Content is clear, concise and true.  Ideas are communicated clearly and respectfully, acknowledging the sensitivity of the topic, in order to communicate understanding.  Accomplishes the purpose with originality, individuality, maturity, and sophistication.

Reflection and Insight: Exemplary (6/6): Complex connections and original ideas are included in a thoughtful response that includes specific examples of the student’s learning process and growth, which has been the result of informed, fact-based, data-driven research.  Student demonstrates a strong, convincing point of view with in depth thought and creative solutions.

Conventions/Sentence Fluency: Exemplary (6/6): Sentence structure and vocabulary are varied, skillfully written (or spoken), and carefully chosen. Composition shows maturity in vocabulary, structure, and organization. Reflection on the quality of writing is evident, resulting in few or no errors.

Estimated Allotted Time: 2-3 hours

Submission:

This is where you will upload your assignment to your teacher for marking.

You will upload the file (.docx, .pdf, .png, .ppt, etc..) containing your assignment.  

Name the file with your name and the title.  eg. First name Last name Passion Project

    • Click Add submission.
    • Upload the file containing your assignment under File submission.
    • Click Save changes.

OR provide the shareable link from your google drive in the online text box.