Summer Reading Synthesis Project

You are seniors. If you havent already, you will be entering into a larger, global conversation. There are facts, opinions,
viewpoints about issues you may have never considered before. Now is the time to start carefully exploring and
understanding the thoughts and works of others, examining your own ideas, and synthesizing these views into a more
informed position than the one you began with. Lets prepare to enter the conversation and have something meaningful to
say.


Goal: Using Adobe Voice, create and share a synthesis video based on current world issues that conveys a clear
and distinctive informed position in a supported and captivating manner.


Step 1: THINK. Reflect back on Half the Sky and your summer reading novel. What can you take away from
these two sources? What commonalities do they share? What new thought can be explored and supported?
(Hint: Examine your reactions to the books. What caused an emotional response? As in our essay,
this is likely a good starting place.)

Step 2: Make sure the books can support your position. Find quotes.

Step 3: Find at least 2 other sources as support. One of these must be from a current (last year) article, speech, or
essay that is a reliable source. If you have questions about sources, see me. The other needs to be valid and
support your opinion, but you have more options: poetry, anecdote, factual evidence, statistics, testimony, etc.
Here are some choices to get you started: (From The Language of Composition. The Singer Solution to World
Poverty p. 319; Barbie Doll p.403; How Much Wallop Can a Simple Word Pack? p.579; The Future of
Happiness p. 623) I Want a Wife essay see Ms. Waldrup or google search

Step 4: Lay out how you are going to present your position. What you are going to have for the backgrounds,
what the recording will say, etc.

Step 5: Create your video.

Step 6: Email your completed video to one group member for viewing on Monday.


Requirements:
Thoughtful, focused, captivating
3-5 minute video
1 direct quote from each source (If source is a graphic, talk to me.)
Works cited at the end
All group members must talk

Timeline:
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Monday
AOW
Synthesis
Project
Explanation
/Sample Video
Brainstorming
Work with ipads Work with ipads




HW: AOW
Work with ipads Socratic Seminar
#2



HW: Video
Present
videos!!!




HW: Reflection

SYNTHESIS PROJECT RUBRIC

Synthesis 50 points _________
Informed Position (20 points) *MAIN IDEA YOU ARE TRYING TO PROVE* _________
o Was the position synthesized? Did it present a clear and distinct perspective that drew from all sources?
Was it aimed at entering a global conversation about the issue/topic chosen?
Sources (15 points) _________
o Did you use information from Half the Sky, your choice novel, and 2 other sources as explained in the
directions? Were your sources reliable, valid, and current?
Support (15 points) _________
o Did you present supporting evidence and explain it? Were there quotes from each source? Were
listeners able to follow your line of reasoning?


Presentation 40 points _________
3-5 minutes total (5 points) _________
Presentation (10 points) _________
o Did the audience understand your points? (See Audience Reaction Rubric)
Speech (10 points) _________
o Was your speech formal, including diction appropriate for 12
th
grade? Was the audience able to hear
what was being said? Were the transitions between slides smooth? Did all group members talk?
Digital Media (10 points) _________
o Did the video display quality effort? Were the slides visually appealing? Did the background music
compliment the information? Was all information readable?
Entertaining/Enjoyable (5 points) _________
o Was the audience engaged in your presentation?


Group Work 10 points _________
Personal Reflection (5 points) _________
o page typed, single spaced, response to what you learned from doing this project. Any new thoughts
about other viewpoints/projects you saw? Any new thoughts about your viewpoint/project?
Group Member Evaluation (5 points) _________
o Grade your other group members on their participation in the project using a 1-5 scale.



Final Score: ______ / 100
10 9-8 7-6 5-4 3-1
I understand the
points being made
and how the
evidence supports
them so well that I
could present this
I am able to fully
understand the points
being made and how
the evidence supports
them. There is no
confusion regarding
I understand most of
the points being made
and how the evidence
supports them. There
is very little confusion
about parts of the
I am confused as to
what this group is
trying to convey. I
understand some
points, but was
significantly lost at
I am very
confused. The
points and the
evidence do not
match up, and it is
quite hard to
Audience Reaction Rubric
information myself. the presentation. presentation. some point during the
presentation.
follow.