The Senior Project is the culminating activity for I-Poly seniors where they demonstrate their skill in achieving state content standards in multiple subject areas and the I-Poly ESLRs. It is designed to allow the student maximal responsibility in determining the direction of their own education, turning over initiative for learning, as well as control of a majority of the content, to the student.
I’m thinking about doing my senior project on journalism. I know thats a broad topic, I’m not exactly sure how to narrow it down. I thought it’d be cool to interview some reporters and get some insight as to what goes on, maybe even get some cool ideas for the yearbook.
I agree journalism is a broad topic. Some questions:
(1) What media interest you the most? TV? Newspaper? Internet?
(2) What style? Celebrity? Sports? Investigative? Convergence? Video? Advocacy?
(3) What role? Reporter, News Analyst, Editor, Photographer? Columnist?
You mentioned that you have family in the business. You could also contact:
http://www.thepolypost.com/contact/
The yearbook may be a different angle, but I am sure we could work something in, if it connects. You may also want to take a writing course or an introductory journalism course at Mt. Sac or Cal Poly.
I am going to do my senior project on Hotel Management and Administration.
That is something I want to have a career in.
It has always interested me, especially after “Master of the Market” project in junior year.
I am pretty set on that topic, but I was thinking of maybe doing Business Management also, since I am planning on getting a dual major in both of them.
Yeah…but so far, Hotel Management and Administration it is=]
Alex,
Cal Poly has a Hotel Management program on campus. Matter of fact, they also have a hotel. You should contact them and find out if you could volunteer.
http://www.csupomona.edu/~cshm/collins_school/contact.shtml
In addition to this, I suggest you take courses at Mt. Sac, Citrus, or Cal Poly related (business courses).
Well I have been very confused on what topic to choose my senior project on but I think that finally I made a decision to do it on Business management. My plan is to help my dad in his restaurante and manage it to see if that is a career I would like to get involved in the future! If I don’t do my first choice then I will do my second choice which is to edit either music videos or regular videos.
Dalia
I’m thinking of doing my senior project on the history and effects of warfare. I always was interested in the development of weapons and tactics used by armed forces from as early as the Greeks and Persians all the way to modern day. I figure this gives me a broad field to work off of and plenty of opportunity for interesting presentations during trade shows and whatever else.
I was thinking of doing graphic design for my senior project. My focus would mainly be print design, mostly magazine design/layout. I’m not good with web design. The only problem I have would probably be finding how to do my community service for it. I am the design editor for yearbook this year so I’m going to putting in a lot of after hours. Could that possibly fill that requirement? And I already have a class list for Mt. Sac in graphic design or maybe even just a plain art class to better my free hand drawing skills. I often sketch out my designs before applying them, so that could help.
Ill probably do my senior project on black and white photography. both landscapes and portraits. I plan on pursuing a career in photography and I have a couple of people who I could talk to about it.
I am thinking of doing my senior project on electrical engineering because i wanted to take engineering in college but i want to make sure thats what i really want to do in life. Or maybe business like Alex, because i also want to do business in life and open up my own engineering firm.
Well i have a few ideas on what i would like to do my senior project on: polynesian dancing, zoology, or wildlife biology. Each of these has components to which i enjoy and would like to learn more about. i have been doing Polynesian dancing for the last four years and still have alot to learn. Zoology is a posible major for college, and researching it now would be a fantastic indicator for a future career as well as wildlife biology.
Dalia,
We have talked already. But, I think the Business Management topic is a good idea, because you could work with your father.
Some suggestions:
(1) Take a business course at a local university (Cal Poly, Mt. Sac, or Citrus). There is even adult school and community based courses that would help you. See your local community center courses.
(2) If you focus on restaurant management, be sure to also contact Cal Poly Pomona
http://www.csupomona.edu/~cshm/collins_school/index.shtml
(3) Find other restaurant owners/managers you can talk to
(4) Find books on teamwork, human resources, and managing others
Eric,
History of something in itself is only one small part of a senior project. Weapons and technology in warfare sounds like an interesting project, but I would need to hear more about the topic before offering some ideas.
What angle interest you?
(1) Joining the military
(2) Working at a museum
(3) Working with different technologies
(4) Other?
Purther
DeNaye,
Graphic design is a good choice for a senior project.
a. Yearbook: Your work here would fulfill one independent task
b. College Course: This would be your other independent task.
For the service learning requirement, we need to find an expert in the field for you to work with during the year.
Here are some possible starting points for you to call:
http://www.csupomona.edu/~art/art3Clubs.html
http://www.class.csupomona.edu/downtowncenter/
Here is a search engine where you may find more places (type in graphic design):
http://www.at-la.com/
Rebecca,
We talked already. Past students have taken courses, worked with Paul (in the counseling office) and worked with experts (which you already have contacts).
2 Independent Tasks
(1) Course
(2) Portfolio of your work
Service Learning
35 hours of working with an expert
Gabby,
If you choose to go the route of electrical engineering, taking a course would be a good idea. For the other independent task and your service learning, I recommend volunteering with an expert in a field (30 hours for the independent task and 35 more hours for the service learning requirement).
Do you already know someone in the field? If not:
http://www.csupomona.edu/~ieee/
http://www.at-la.com (type in electrical engineering)
With regard to the business topic, if your goal is still to open your own engineering firm, I would still suggest the info. above.
Taylor,
(1) Polynesian Dancing
I heard another student also mention an interest in this topic. If this is true, then you would both need different focuses.
For this project, you would need to take classes during the year and work with an expert in the field. Some students in the past have helped out their dance instructor while they teach younger or inexperienced dancers.
(2) Zoology/Wildlife Biology
I think finding the service learning would be the first step. We have had seniors in the past go this direction, so it is possible. Here are some links to start with:
http://www.csupomona.edu/~library/websites/zoology.html
http://departments.oxy.edu/mlz/
http://www.csupomona.edu/~biology/
I recommend calling and seeing what the different professors think regarding what direction you should go, or where you could volunteer.
And/or you could call the zoo:
http://www.lazoo.org/volunteer/
If you go this route, I would suggest starting now, because you would need to complete a 2 week training course at the zoo before they would let you start.
I have come to the conclusion that I am going to do my senior project on nurse practitioners, to be more specific OB/GYN. I chose this because it is what I have decided to do with my life. But the thing is I want to learn more about it before I enter college and find to be that it is not my calling. I figure I can go to my local hospital and ask if I can possibly interview an OB and maybe he/she can explain what exactly that had to do to get where they are now, what courses they took in college, what there work requires of them, and basically get all the insight I can obtain from him/her.
Madalyn,
You will need to volunteer for at least 35 hours in a hospital for this project (to complete your service learning hours). You also have to complete two independent tasks. You could volunteer an additional 60 hours to complete these tasks or you could do something else, such as take two college courses.
Have you contacted a local hospital? If you haven’t, I recommend you do right away and find out when there orientation is. I don’t know what city you live in, so I don’t know what to suggest.
Pomona Valley Hospital (http://www.pvhmc.org/volunteers/index.asp)
Baldwin Park Kaiser (Medical Center, 1st floor
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(626) 851-6444
Call us to learn how you can become a volunteer.)
UCLA
(http://www.uclahealth.org/body.cfm?id=11)
I was actually thinking of doing my Senior Project on automobile maintenance, to repair, and do some modifications, because that’s what a Auto mechanic does? but i am now leaning more towards the sport of basketball. I think i have found the right class to take in order for me to get my 30 hrs? The class is up in mt.sac but i have to get that approved 1st by Mr. Purther, im waiting on his response?
Choosing a senior topic has proven rather difficult for me. It was a struggle between psychology, drama, or sign language. I’m going to go with sign language. i am certain interpreting for the deaf is a career path in my future and hope to find how much we take our words for granted.
I’m pretty sure I wanna do my senior project on domestic violence or something around that same subject. This is something that I’m very interested in. My plan is to major in psychology, and then after getting my doctrine my mother and I plan to open our own office and work together.
In reply to the questions you posed earlier:
(1) What media interest you the most? TV? Newspaper? Internet?
(2) What style? Celebrity? Sports? Investigative? Convergence? Video? Advocacy?
(3) What role? Reporter, News Analyst, Editor, Photographer? Columnist?
Okay, so I’m mainly interested in written journalism. Since I’m copy editor, I would love to incorporate that into my project. I love to interview people and that’s one of the main things I’m going to try and get into the yearbook a little more this year. Perhaps I could use that as an angle? So probably the answer to the second question would have to be investigative… I think.
To number three, I think either Reporter or Editor would be just fine. Thanks for the tip about asking the Poly Post. Good thinking! Hah.
The relatives that work in the field work for some Filipino newspaper. My uncle like, owns it or something, I’m not too sure, I’ll probably have to look more into that as well.
Edwin,
If the Ganesha High School coach idea does not work (try both girls and guys), then go to your local middle school.
Independent Task 1: Conditioning/Working out
Independent Task 2: Playing basketball
Service Learning: Volunteering with a coach
Gregorio,
A few suggestions:
(1) Find a course to take where you are learning sign language
(2) Find an interpreter you can volunteer with (Rebekah Hernandez from last year worked with an interpreter all year-if you want her email, email me)
(3) Contact CSU Northridge (http://www.csun.edu/coe/dfst/index.html)
Mikaela,
Here are a few contacts:
(1) http://www.projectsister.org/
(2) Los Angeles Contacts
Domestic Violence Project
261 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles – (213) 624-3665
About-Face Domestic Violence
– http://www.aboutfacela.com
3407 W 6th St # 700, Los Angeles – (213) 384-7084
(3) Another site with more contacts:
http://www.at-la.com/scripts/wwcgi.dll?@la-srch
If for some reason, this site does not work, then go to http://www.at-la.com and type in domestic violence.
Domestic Violence Hotline
Los Angeles – (800) 978-3600
At first I wasn’t sure what topic I was going to do I was in between basketball,rap,and electrician. I have chosen electricians for my topic because it is in my future career plans. I will interview and work with my friends dad who is a successful electrician.
Nathan,
Suggestions:
(1) Work with your friend’s father for at least 100 hours. You need 35 hours for your service learning requirement. The rest would count as your independent tasks.
or
(2) Work for 35 hours with your friend’s father and take two courses on the subject.
or
(3) Work 65 hours with your friend’s father and take one course.
or
(4) Other (ask your friend’s father what significant things you could do)
I’ve been really confused on what subject I want to get more in depth with, but I belive I want to study Architectural Engineering, I’ve always been interested in this subject. I know people that are architecs and and one that is a structual engineer, but i don’t know if that will count as service learing if i work with them?
Yes it would count. You would need to work with a structural engineer for 35 hours (service learning requirement). You should also take a course or two at Cal Poly or a community college related to this topic.
There are a few kids in the 08 & 09 class that have taken an introduction to engineering course at Cal Poly (talk to Ulysses Limon).
Potential Contacts:
(1) Cal Poly (http://www.ceu.csupomona.edu/courses/architecture/default.aspx)
(2) Talk to Martinez and ask her for the contact information of the firm that is helping I-Poly with the new building.
I was thinking about doing my senior project on Exotic cars but I dont know what I should focus on. I was thinking maybe what aspects make a car exotic. but I wouldnt know where to start.
Hmmm i think i want to do something doing with psychology and how our brian retains memories…. go more in depth in short and long term memory…. im still trying to decide ;]
well … not unlike most of ’09, i’ve had a hard time picking a topic. so far, my topic ideas have been really big. i just don’t want a really broad topic – jumping into something i have no resources or ideas for. i’d like my project to flow. i don’t really have a career path at the moment, but something doctorly in a medical field would be a start. possible topics have been: general doctor, plastic surgeon, or something in the forensics field [just considered that today...]. i just really don’t want to be lost or scrambling for anything – esp. when it comes to interviews and such.
Kenny,
I think we need to find someone who works on exotic cars. I remember you saying you have a local contact, have you contacted them and talk to them about possible projects and 35 hours of volunteering.
Purther
Mandie,
We talked. I recommend reading Howard Gardner and seeing if his writing interest you. This may lead you to working with younger students learning to read or something else depending what you take from the reading.
Amira
(1) Medical Field
Have you contacted a local hospital about volunteering (Kaiser in Baldwin Park and Fontana are still accepting volunteers)? This would be crucial to any project in this field. In the past, students with medical topics volunteer over 100 hours during the year (this covers the service learning and both independent tasks).
(2) Forensics
Are we talking about the crime lab, the detective, or the lawyer? It will be more difficult to find a crime lab for you to work in, but it is possible. The LA County Coroner’s office does have intern’s, I just don’t know if you have to be 18.
Are you interested in volunteering in a sheriff or police explorer program?
How about at a law firm?
I would like to do my project on Molecular Gastronomy, the chemistry of food.
I have always been interested in Culinary Arts and plan on
going into this field. I have already done a lot of research on it
and I know people in the food industry that will be willing to help me.
im still not sure what my career path is but im planning on doing my project on things i am interested in. Some things like culinary arts and advertisement, or maybe photography but not sure yet. I know people that can help me with culinary arts that have experience. With the other two i also know a couple people in that field that may be able to help me out.
I think if you are going to do molecular gastronomy, you will need to get in contact (and if possible work with) a culinary school.
Cal Poly worked with the freshman in the past when there was a restaurant project. Here is a link to the Cal Poly school:
http://www.csupomona.edu/~cshm/collins_school/index.shtml
Service Learning: 35 hours of working with an expert (e.g. at a culinary school)
Independent Task 1: 30 hours of cooking
Independent Task 2: 30 more hours of cooking or take a chemistry course
I think if you are going to do molecular gastronomy, you will need to get in contact (and if possible work with) a culinary school.
Cal Poly worked with the freshman in the past when there was a restaurant project. Here is a link to the Cal Poly school:
http://www.csupomona.edu/~cshm/collins_school/index.shtml
Service Learning: 35 hours of working with an expert (e.g. at a culinary school)
Independent Task 1: 30 hours of cooking
Independent Task 2: 30 more hours of cooking or take a chemistry course
Who do you know? Are we talking about a specific type of food?
Febby
(1) Photography
Do you have access to the equipment? If you do, it will be a matter of you taking a few courses (there should be one offered at I-Poly 4th block, a ROP course) and working with a professional for 35 hours. Before I can suggest a professional, you would need to have a focus.
Talk to Arpa from last year about his photography project. Here is his facebook profile (he told me to give students this):
http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=573919771&ref=nf
(2) Culinary Arts (See prior post-Cal Poly connection)
(3) Advertising
The difficult part would be to find a place to volunteer. Go to http://www.at-la.com/ and type in advertising and see if any firms are close to you or interest you.
For your independent tasks, if you choose this project, you could take business courses.
During my summer i have been up and down about what i want to do for my senior project. And what really interests me is Teaching. I’ve been around teachers my whole life. My mom was for aout 5-7 years, but she was more of an exercise teacher. My aunt is a High School teacher, and has been “teacher of the year” for i believe 2 years.
But then again exercise is interesting to me too. My family is all about exercise. So i guess i’m still contimplating…
Either one i think i would know where to do my service hours.
Bree,
(1) Teaching
The first order of business is to decide what grade level do you want to teach (and potentially subject, depending on what grade level)? I am not sure how many hours you are willing to complete as service learning, but like the medical field, I am going to suggest as many possible.
35 (for the service learning requirement) 30 (for Independent Task 1) and 30 (for Independent Task 2) = minimum 95 hours.
I think this is key to improving as an instructor. I will also ask you to go to at least 3 different classrooms.
(2) Exercise
Is there a certain type of exercise you prefer to focus on?
Service Learning: Working with a professional (at a gym)
Independent Task 1: 30 hours of the exercise
Independent Task 2: 30 more hours of the exercise
Senior year is quickly approaching and its almost time for us to begin our senior projects…! When deciding what i was going to do my senior project on,i thought about topics i was passionate about..nd let me tell you i came up with hundreds of different ideas but there is one topic that just wouldnt leave my mind and its event coordinators..i have an aunt who is an event coordinator and she is very succesful at her job.she’s been doing it for years now and she has her own company and the best part of her job is she enjoys what she does and she makes good money..i have actually already worked with her numerous times and i just think this will be a good topic for me..
I was thinking about doing my senior project on guitars. Unlike some people I know last year who did there project on guitars, how they did it on the guitar wood. Instead of doing it on the wood of the guitar I am planning on doing it on the pick-ups on the guitar. Sense I already know quit a bit about wood in general I would rather not build on things I already know, so instead I would pick the pick-ups on the guitar sense I have no idea how they work, and how people put them together. I’ve always loved music and playing guitar so the guitar is something that I wouldn’t get bored with, also I’ve always wanted to know how people get certain tones out of there guitars. Studying the pick-ups will help me understand all of that better, another thing with the pick-up it will help me with my career choice in the future.
Well since Senior project time is quickly approaching, I am slightly unsure of what to do. For my particualr Senior project, I thing I would like to do it on Law, particularly corperate or business law or maywbe the feild of Intellectual proprety law, because I know that I’m highly interested in those feilds of law.
Kailani,
There is at least one other student (Claudia) who have mentioned they want to do event planning. Two students can do the same topic, but the focuses need to be different.
I suggest that you and Claudia talk first about what interests both of you.
Service learning is key to this topic. I see you doing at least 100 hours of service learning to make it work (100 hours will cover the service learning requirement and both independent tasks).
Tim,
I think you should talk to the Shore family (Justin 04 graduate, Josh 05 graduate, and Ryan 08 graduate) for some assistance and contacts with this project idea.
With regard to the wood, Ryan and Josh both built a guitar for one component of their senior project (the product).
Here is Ryan’s email:
ryan.shore@ca.rr.com
If Ryan does not respond, tell me, and I will call him and ask him what email or phone number to give you.
Jonathan,
Have you found a law firm where you could volunteer? I see you doing one of the following:
(1) Volunteering at a law firm for 100 hours (covering your service learning requirement and both independent tasks)
or
(2) Volunteering at a law firm for 65 hours and taking one college class law related at Mt Sac or Citrus
Go to this site
http://www.at-la.com/
and type in corporate law or law and take a look at different firms near you
For my Senior Year Project I have two ideas in mind.
My first choice is what I am most passionate about and that is Wedding Planning. I have always wanted to be a wedding planner since i can remember and I think it would be a great and interesting subject to do for my senior project, I would learn more and about the career and see if it is what I want to do with the rest of my life.
My other choice was doing my senior Project on the American Red Cross. My project would include the history of ARC and about how imporant it really is to help save lives.
Janet,
(1) Wedding Planner
Kailani, Claudia, and you have shown an interest in this topic. I think the three of you will need to talk about what specifically interests you.
(2) Red Cross
We did have a student in the past do a senior project on giving blood. The history of the topic is important, but we expect you to cover this in the first two weeks of the senior year. Take a look at this site:
http://www.westred.org/GroupProjects.htm
You will services or projects that could be done.
I am planning to to do my senior project on the California State Prison System. Specifally I want to do it from the poin tof view of correctional officers as well as inmates. I want to show the life behind prison bars from a male inmates perspective as well as a female inmates perspective, and vice versa for the female correctional officers in a all men prison as well as a male correctional officer in an all female prison. I have a particular interest working as a Correctional Peace officer. Personally i just want to see for myself what i might be facing and see what might it take for one to be a truly effective Correctional Officer.
Christian,
Last year, we had a project on religion in prison. The student’s mother is warden of the women’s facility in Chino. If you come in during lunch this week and remind me I will email her to see if she is willing to help you.
Do you know any correctional officers or contacts in the field?
Thank you I know her she is warden Davison of Chino Womens Facility my father is a correctional officer at that prison
i am having a hard time choosing my senior project..i have talked to my advisor and she didnt really give me ne good advice…i am thinking something in fashion, phycology, or cosmotology. i have had a lot of ideas but none of them sound good. i want to do something in fashion the most but ne of them will do, ne advice??
this is what i want to do for my senior project
1. take varies pictures of three babies from my church. ex. eating sleeping and laughing
2 take the photos that i have taken and edit them. i would like to take some of them and have the backgrounds in black and white but i would have the baby itsself in color. \
3. i will design the photo album that im putting together. i would make three different but similar ones for the mothers. i will have the pictures that have the babies in black in white on color ( lime green, yellow, pink) paper to show the contrast of color and black and white..
i jus dont know wat to do my research paper on