We are researching and writing on ancient Greek culture and reading The Odyssey, an epic poem about a man's extraordinary adventures in trying to return home. "The Gods Must be Crazy" is the title of this project that focuses on how to incorporate research information into a persuasive expository paper, similar in 6-trait writing expectations to the WASL test students will have next year and similar in format to the senior research paper required for graduation.

The research project will in some ways simulate business world expectations. Professional attitudes, quality work, accuracy, teamwork, and adherence to deadline times and dates will be required. We will be teaching how to paraphrase and cite sources. Copying or paraphrasing anything off the Internet, from a book or peer, without proper accreditation is plagiarism and those papers cannot be accepted. Students will need to carefully keep track of all research with correct bibliographic references. Students who have plagiarized (automatically receiving a zero) in any form will be given an opportunity to re-learn how to correctly cite sources and redo their paper for reduced credit.

This is a collaboration with Technology and we are simulating a real work environment. If a student is sick and cannot make it to school on a due date, a parent, guardian or friend can drop off the student's disk or printed work at the school office. If all work is on the student's file on a school computer, the student should email or call Dr. Questad with the password so that the work can be printed out on the respective due date. Those on vacation will have to complete work ahead of schedule.

This project will require homework for all students. Those with no Internet access at home will be required to arrange for after-school hours to work on this project.

Each student will receive a folder for organization that will be required for submission of all drafts.

Parent participation through discussion, editing and general cheerleading is encouraged. All information is posted. Only the approved websites on our attached lists are acceptable for research.

PARENT/GUARDIAN/MENTOR AND STUDENT CONFIRMATION FORM
- Due _______________________
The signatures below of a parent/guardian and student confirm receipt and understanding of this project.
A duplicate of this letter has been printed in this packet for your records.