SHS senior projects tackles various topics
(Photo courtesy KENDALL STRATTON) Taylor Hill, a Sandpoint High School senior, presented “Sustainable Agriculture vs. Conventional Agriculture” during the Dec. 21 senior project presentations. Hill wants to study agriculture in college.
(Photo courtesy KENDALL STRATTON) Elizabeth Kempton, a Sandpoint High School senior, presented "Contemporary Literature in Schools" during senior project presentations on Dec. 21. Kempton aims to be an English teacher.
(Photo courtesy KENDALL STRATTON) John O’Hara, a Sandpoint High School senior, presented on solar energy during senior project presentations on Dec. 21.
SANDPOINT — Sandpoint High School seniors presented their two-month long research projects to their peers, teachers, and parents on Thursday, Dec. 21.
Beginning in October, senior English classes were asked to write a research paper, choosing a topic that had two sides. The chosen topics were recommended to be within the realm of the senior’s future career choice. Although the main goal was to highlight their own stance on their chosen topic, they were also instructed to make a point of the opposing view.
Sarah Miles, English teacher at SHS and one of the organizers of these senior projects, said, “One of the most beneficial aspects of this argumentative assignment is that students learn how to research both sides of an argument. They gain the ability to write about the topic, intelligently presenting both sides while still being able to articulate their own personal beliefs on the issue.”
Miles said this project allows students to gain the skill of writing this type of paper for college and also gain the ability to be open-minded about topics that could affect them in the future if it has not already.
Rachel Meyer, senior at SHS, spent the last two months pouring her energy in deliberating why dental insurance should be a part of medical insurance. Rachel’s desire is to find a career in the dental field, pursuing either being a dentist or dental hygienist. When asked what her biggest obstacle in the whole process was, research was her answer.
“Finding credible sources was by far the hardest part of this assignment,” Rachel said, but she quickly learned how to effectively manage that.
Although there were hurdles, she also mentioned that the most beneficial part of the process was “becoming more aware of the field and aspects that may affect [her] in the future”.
The students presented a wide array of topics. Subjects included thoughts on beauty pageants, extra doe tags for Idaho hunters, sustainable agriculture versus conventional agriculture, and contemporary literature in schools.
Giving a five-minute presentation in their Connections class, the students demonstrated their knowledge of their topics while demonstrating their knowledge of the opposing side. As their teachers, parents, and peers attentively listened to the presentations, the seniors set the stage for the following classes to see what they had to work up to in their senior year.
As the school year continues, the class of 2018 is one step closer to their June graduation.