Tony Then

Introduction:

In Walton High School only 34% of students graduate after four years.  What happens to the remaining 66% of the students?  Why do they leave school?  Why do you think the person sitting next to you may not graduate?  Are you graduating?

Ms. Friedman would like to improve the graduating rate in Walton High School.  Your class was chosen to research and report on this problem.  Your future and the future of your classmates depend on it.

Task:

You will write a 4-5 pages research paper detailing and explaining why so many students drop out of Walton High School.

From your subsequent research, you will create a policy on to remedy the problem of the high number of Walton students drop out of high school.

Your research paper should include the following components:

1. A historical view of why students drop out of school.
2. Provide statistical information on the number of students drops out.
3. Reasons why so many drop out of school.
4. Remedies that have been taken to solve the problem.
5. Your analysis why so many students drop out of school and what can be done to solve the problem.

Process:

A.        Use the Internet to do the research using the PPA worksheets of the Tips program and handout prepared by the teacher.

I.          Identify the problem

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet1.html

II.         Gathering evidence

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet2.html

III.        Identify causes of the problem

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet3.html

IV. Evaluate the policy

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet4.html

V.        Develop a solution to the problem

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet5.html

VI.       Selecting the best solution

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet6.html

Resources:

http://www.nycenet.edu/daa/SchoolReports/02asr/272430.pdf

http://www.saxakali.com/edwatch/racism_in_schools.htm

http://www.nycenet.edu/daa/SchoolReports/02asr/272430.pdf

http://www.esperanza.us/cap-regneeds.php

http://www.homesforthehomeless.com/pdf%20files/CommonSense.pdf

http://www.advocatesforchildren.org/resource/nycfactsheet.php3

http://www.edpriorities.org/Info/info_StateFun.html

http://www.saxakali.com/CommunityLinkups/NYCBdEd.htm

Conclusion:

From this WebQuest you should have learned develop a policy on how to remedy the high number of students dropping our Walton High School.

Standards:

The web quest focuses on the following New York Standards:

· E2a- Produce a report of information

· E1c- Read and comprehend informational materials

· E2a- Produce a report of information

· E4a- Demonstrate an understanding of the rules of the English language in written and oral work

· A1b- Improve a system

· A3a- Gather information to assist in completing project work

· A3b- Use information technology to assist in gathering, organizing, and presenting information

· A4b- Keep records of work activities in orderly manner

· A5a- Work with others to complete task

Evaluation

	65%	70-79%	80-95%	100%
Web Sites Research	-too few links relevant to the proposed policy	-enough links but few support the proposed policy	-many links that support the proposed policy	-excellent use of a variety of links in which all support the proposed policy
Written Report	-incomplete but follows the 6 step PPA format -does not use the conventions of standard written             English	-complete with too few analyses of the PPA format for this topic -exhibits a weak usage of the conventions of standard written English	-complete with sufficient analyses of the PPA format for this topic -exhibits an acceptable usage of    the conventions of standard written English	-complete with a superior understanding of the PPA format for this topic -exhibits a strong use of the conventions of standard written English