As part of the graduation requirements at Environmental Charter High School, senior students are made to research and write a Senior Thesis.  The Senior Thesis allows educators at ECHS to assess the academic skills of graduating seniors and determine if these students have gained the skills necessary to prepare a competent, articulate academic work.

Within specific guidelines, students will research a topic of their own choosing.  The topics must be;

• Relevant to the local community;
• Consider research findings that can be shared with the community in a beneficial manner;
• Incorporate at least six of ECHS’ Expected Student Learning Results (ESLR).  

Students must also include three types of research in their Senior Thesis:

• Traditional Resource/Text Research – students will seek out topic relevant information in published texts including information found in books, magazines, journals, newspapers and the like.

• Action Research – students will actively create and conduct topic-specific research in the local environment/community in the attempt to better understand the community and eventually be able to present findings that positively benefit the community.  This research includes interviews of local community members, focus groups with local community members, surveys, internships, community service, service learning projects and the like.

• Service Learning - students will complete a minimum of 10 hours community service that is directly related to their senior thesis topic.  They will take the information that they learned from their community service experience and include it into their paper and their oral presentation.

The Senior Thesis is made-up of two parts: 

• Written Essay of Findings
• Oral Presentation of Findings

Written Essay of Findings

The written component of the Senior Thesis is a 7-10 page well-written essay (see attached writing rubrics for guidance) that presents the topic, the thesis, and the findings of the student’s research.  The essay must be double-spaced, use size 12 lettering, and use Times New Roman or Arial font.  The essay must have a cover page that includes title, student name, class name, date due, and teacher name.  All resources used must be cited using footnotes and be included in a bibliography at the end of the essay.  The bibliography must be formatted in a basic Modern Language Association (MLA) format i.e. author, title, and publication information:

Gorski, Paul C. Multicultural Education and the Internet. New York: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2005.

The written essay will be graded using the attached Senior Thesis Rubric.  The essay will be assessed using a 6-point scale that considers meaning, development, organization, language and conventions.

Oral Presentation of Findings

The oral component of the Senior Thesis is a 15-30 minute presentation of findings that allows the student to present the written essay’s research in front of a panel of observers.  The panel will be made-up of an ECHS educator, a parent, a peer, and a community member that is related to the topic in some way.  The panel will observe, question and critique the presentation.  The presentation must have a visual component (PowerPoint, charts, etc.); and it must show competence, clarity, articulation, creativity, and professionalism.  Students must dress professionally and present a well-rehearsed presentation of findings.

The oral presentation will be graded by the Senior Seminar teacher who will consider the assessment of the panel members in the final grading mark.  Like the written essay, the oral presentation will be assessed using a 6-point scale that considers meaning, development, organization, language and conventions.

General Outline of Semester as it relates to the Senior Thesis

Choosing Topic
Choosing ESLRs
Development of topic specific questions
Traditional Research
Action Research
Rough Draft of Written Essay
Rough Oral Presentation
Strengthening Written Essay and Oral Presentation
Second Rough Draft of Written Essay
Rehearsal of Oral Presentation
Presentation of Oral Presentation in front of panel
Final Written Essay
Meeting with Senior Seminar teacher regarding final Senior Thesis grade

Dates relating to the above outline topics will be given in class.

Overall Grade

60%  Written Essay of Findings
30%  Oral Presentation of Findings
10%  Participation in the Senior Thesis process

Students must receive a 70% on the overall grade in order to pass the Senior Thesis.