A BRIEF OVERVIEW
The Senior Capstone Experience/Senior Project is a student-selected exploration of a topic which results in a research paper, a project or a product, and a presentation. The Senior Capstone Experience moves students away from departmentalized learning toward a more interdisciplinary approach. This approach is one which allows students to use a variety of skills in the areas of writing, speaking, research, and documentation. Upon completion of the Senior Capstone Experience, students have learned more about their topics, their community, and, most importantly, about themselves.

---

 

THE PROJECT/PRODUCT
The projects/products direct the students toward individualized learning. The projects/products require students to apply the knowledge gained during the research phase. The projects/products must be completed on the students’ own time, must be challenging, and must require from fifteen to forty hours or more of work. Mentors work with students during this phase of the Senior Capstone Experience.

THE PORTFOLIO
At the close of the Senior Capstone Experience, students assemble their portfolios. The portfolios are binders which consist of letters to the judges and to the students’ English teachers. Student work such as the research paper, the mentor log, and the work log are also included. Judges read the portfolios before presentations begin to formulate questions which they will ask students during the presentation.