Sophomore Exhibition 2006

During second semester you will be completing a sophomore exhibition in Western Studies.  Specific guidelines and instructions for the exhibition presentation and paper will be provided by your social studies and English teachers, but the following should give you a sense of the common expectations your teachers have for the sophomore exhibition project.

What is the sophomore exhibition?

The sophomore exhibition is an opportunity for you to demonstrate the skills of reading, writing and speaking, which you have been working on all year.  The exhibition is a required component of your History and Sophomore English classes.  Failure to complete a presentation will result in not passing second semester of History; likewise, failure to complete a paper will result in not passing second semester of Sophomore English.

Your exhibition will include the following pieces:

1.       A researched essay proving your thesis and providing internal citations with a Works Cited page in MLA style.  The essay will be due in your Sophomore English class.

2.       A presentation based on your research in your History class through lecture, dramatization, guided discussion and/or multi-media.

When is this due?

You will be working in both your History and Sophomore English classes on your exhibition project.  However, certain aspects of your project will count only in History, and certain aspects will count only in your Sophomore English class. Some aspects count in both classes.   To help you keep track, please refer to the following timeline for the project:

Exhibition Activity                              Done/due in which class         ___When done/due

·         Research & selecting topics                         History                                    

·         Research & note-taking on topic                  History                                    

·         Working thesis                                           History                                                                                       

Formal outline and notes check       History, English                                  

(Submit two copies of outline: one to Hist. teacher and one to Eng. teacher)

·        Rough draft of paper                                     English                                   

·        Final draft of paper                                        History, English                                  

·        Presentations                                                 History                                 

What will the exhibition presentation and paper be about?

Your History teacher will provide a guide for selecting topics.  In order to guide your research and your paper, you will be asked to address one of the guiding questions.  Your research will help you to determine which of these questions is most appropriate for your topic.

A.     What influenced or shaped your topic?

B.     What was the impact of your topic when it occurred?

C.     How did your topic alter the course of western civilization?

What materials do I need for this?

Your specific teachers will be giving you more detailed handouts, instructions and grading rubrics for the different parts of the exhibition process.  To help you keep all this information together in one place, you will be supplied with an envelope in which you should put ALL of your exhibition work both for the paper and the presentation.  Expect to bring this envelope to both your History and Sophomore English classes every day.

Use a variety of sources (three minimum), such as print, internet and interview.  Internet sources must be credible and reliable, but  no form of encyclopedias can be cited in your essay.

IMPORTANT:  Plagiarism is presenting another author’s ideas and/or specific words as your own.  Refer to the course expectations for further clarification regarding this serious offense.  Please understand that no amount of plagiarism will be tolerated. 

Questions I have:

Student name:___________________________       Signature:_______________________

Parent name:____________________________      Signature:_______________________

Please return this to your History teacher: it is worth homework credit for getting a parent signature.