December Extra Post

Happy 2 days After Christmas

Currently, I still need ot contact my mentor about making that phone call. I’m a bit reluctant to do so since I haven’t been in close contact for a 2 month period of time due to conflicting time schedules, but I should get a confirmation of our meetings by the deadline.

RE: Independent Component

Currently, after much advice and reflection upon the part of my teachers, I’ve revised my essental question to the version currently seen on the banner on this page. With its newly revised focus upon individuals participating in the system rather than the people in charge of political systems, I’ve also updated the survey questions which are the basis of myacademic report outlined in the earlier version of my project.

A review of my independent component:

An academic paper designed to determine if there is a correlation between political activity and extracurriculars

A works cited page detailing any and all works

A collecton of graphs detailing my data in a way that’s easily seen

The raw data from the surveys as proof of collection (Uncertain if I should compile results in a google graphs format as that may be a lot of work for little gain.)

An overall project summary

This project is intended to mirror the type of reseach I would be expected to do in a political science major and my title is, “Political Involvement of Youths in the Southern Calirornia Range: A Correlation between Political Skill and Political Involvement”. I’ll Expand on my work in a later post, but below is the expected format of my work. 

Abstract:

Hypothesis:

Procedure:

Data: 

Analysis: 

Conclusion:

Works Cited:

Monthly Extra Post: November

Geez, Cutting it close.

This month

What I did this month

•  Attended City Council Meetings
• Applied to several colleges
• Modified my Working Essential Question
• Started my independent component
• Presentation on my first Lesson

What I will do next month

•  Complete data gathering portion of independent component

EQ

1.   Review this.  Confirm by stating "I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ."

Essential Question 
Once a topic is chosen, the student will develop a working essential question.  The purpose of the working essential question is to help the student build a strong foundation of research which will allow him or her to create an essential question that encourages depth and rigor in the chosen topic.  An essential question must:

• Provide a framework for studies (It calls for breadth and depth of research, Is not a yes/no question)
• Take a stance (It allows you to argue some point, Cannot be a recitation of facts or a list)
•  Format (It is specific, The wording makes sense

 I have reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ

2.  Review the following EQs and

• Tell us if each meets the rule of three.
• Tell why they do or don't.

 a.  What is the most important factor in healthy weight loss?
     This EQ meets the rule of three as it allows for specification of research in regards to the topic of weight loss, allows for argument upon both what constitutes healthy weight loss and the best way to achieve that, and is specific in its topic.
 b.  What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?
     This EQ meets the rule of three as it provides a framework for study (analyzing the process of conviction), argument of the most integral step, and meets the formatting requirement.
 c.  What is most important in creating a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?
This EQ fals to meet the requirement by failing the formatting section as its wording is non specific as it fails to define satisfaction and what that would entail (money, aesthetics, or customer approval).
 
 d.  How can an anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?
This EQ fails to meet the rule of three as it fails to take a stance. An answer to this question can just be a checklist of possible solutions and still answer the question.

3.  Based on your review of the rule of 3 and your experience with assessing four EQs, please write another draft EQ for your senior project.  The senior team will be meeting with students shortly for EQ revision and approval; you are expected to bring your research notebook to that meeting with your EQ draft written inside in pencil.

 My New Working EQ is: What is the Most Effective Way to Encourage Youth Voter Participation in both Local and State level Government Systems?

Lesson 1 Reflection

1,What are you most proud of in your Lesson 1 Presentation and why?
 In my lesson 1 presentation, the sole takeaway of pride that I can honestly state is that I managed to translate the concept of the psychological definition of Political Skill, the best way in which a person can start to get involved in their local politics (Town Meetings), and effective citation of my mentorship as it relates to my topic.

2. Questions to Consider
       a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 1 Presentation (self-assessment)?

       AE       P          AP       CR       NC

       b.     Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 1 component contract.
       This grade is warranted as I met the standard requirements that the lesson 1 component contract mandates of students by accurately citing 7 minutes worth of content from my two interviews, selected information from my research,  and fulfilling of the stipulated conditions of the presentation such as the audience interaction portion.  I do not warrant an AE however, as I failed to go above and beyond by making use of a technological component and by straying slightly in regards to my lesson plan by not stressing the relation between political skill and overall success as adamantly as I should have. In place of that, I focused upon the minutiae of attending city council meetings and attempting to get into contact with civic leaders. This alienated the audience, in combination with my halting speaking style, and diminished the quality of my hook. This in turn alienated my audience and lowered the overall impact of my lesson in spite of my fulfillment of the prompt.

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 1?
   In regards to what worked for lesson 1, I found the audience to be paying the most attentionwhen the content of the lesson was related to relaant issues or tangible actions that they could do. Specificity, in place of generality, proved a more promising way to engage the audience. In addition, structuring the bulk of the lesson around a concept, the psychological definition of political skill, which was used to relate to the overall content seemed successful in practice. The concept still requires refinement, but the lessons learned will be applied in the next lesson. 

4.  (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 1?
Overall, I found that my biggest failing was a combination of a failure to adhere to my lesson plan and an overall lack of "pizzazz". In this regard, I would increase the role of my visuals as a supplement to my lesson rather than a crutch and maintain a more rigorous adherence to my topic by allotting a certain amount of time to each section such that I won't spend to much time on any one section.  

Monthly October Extra Post

What I've Done

•  Prepared for my 1st lesson
• Completed Research Articles up to 24th Entry
• Turned in 1st draft of Working Bibliography
• Went to City Hall Meetings as part of Mentorship
• Conducted Second Interview with Upland 
• Worked on Independent Component

What I Will Do

•  Continue Work on Mentorship
• Continue Independent Component
• Continue attending City hall Meetings
• Refine Independent Component

Summary of this Month: 
Although this month has been exceedingly stressful, the combination of writing college applications and balancing three college classes with regular school work contributing, I feel that this month has been generally good in regards to the senior project. This Month I completed more work related to the senior project, was assigned the impending tasks of the first component, and continued my mentorship. I've been considering revising my first component project by updating it into a more comprehensive academic essay, but I am unsure as to how to do so. This is a question I will be attending to in the future.

Blog 8 - Research and Working EQ

1.  What is your working EQ?

Working EQ: What is the best way to get involved in Local California Politics i.e. City Councils, Mayors, etc?

2.  What is a possible answer to your working EQ? Please write the answer in thesis format. 

• Attend local meetings to get more involved in the political process and establish rapport with politically motivated individuals
• Create a network of contacts to both support and inform you on topics

3.  What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ?

      My most important source of info in regards to this topic without a doubt been The Dynamics of Political Participation as it is one of the most in depth research articles that I have found, utilizes the psychological definition of political skill which is one of the best definitions of the term which I have found in my research (A definition which has influenced my answer as networking is one of the skills included by that definition), and a solidly researched article with multiple citations and academic backing.

4.  Who is your mentor, or where are you doing mentorship, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ? 

 

     Current mentor is El Monte City Councilwoman Victoria Martinez and my mentorship largely consists of attending local city council meetings and talking with people in regards to the issues raised, the political process, and the essentials of politics.  This relates to my topic as the one on one conversations with my mentor are excellent sources of info on local politics given that it is the direct level that I am experiencing and also provides new insight on how to focus my project further.

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

Component Idea: Graphic Organizer of My Multiple Mentor's Musings on Politics

Description: A visual representation of the individual responses my mentors will have to a standard survey (Included Below), this series of flow chart will allow a viewer to easily see the diversity of responses which they have to the survey, and allow a reader to see the actual results of this data. These responses will be further analyzed and interpreted in the context of the psychological definition of political skill, and scrutinized to see if there are further links between responses. If a substantial link is to be found, then a second survey will be published and sent that will expand upon those similarities to further derive commonalities which can have application to normal life e.g. if there are resonant attributes which recur among those who are politically successful. These results will then be further scrutinized and compiled into chart format before being summarized in an academic paper of undetermined length.

For Details on possible flowchart ideas, please refer to September extra post

Survey Questions
1. Why did you decide to enter politics?
2. What are your future ambitions in this field?
3. Which of the following skills would you say are applied most in your profession? Check all that apply?
Networking-
Personal Influence-
Social Astuteness-
Genuine Sincerity-
4. Of these skills, list the one which you make the most use of in your profession. If favored skill is absent, then write it in and list basis for decision.
5. Check any activity which you were involved in during  educational years. If any absent, check other and write in what you participated in.
Debate
AP Classes
Student Government
College Classes
Volunteer Groups
Social Activities
Employment
Other

Justification:

Expected Results: It is my hope that the result of my data collection will reveal multiple commonalities which will make it possible to predict future political potential or be applied to general life.

Content:
(1) 3-5 Page Academic Paper, MLA Format, w/Sources Cited on outcome of surveys I administered
(1) Collection of Survey Results Collected in easily readable flowchart form
(1) Copy of Survey Forms
(1) Collection of Charts of Data Collected

1. Describe in Detail what you plan to do for your 30 Hours
   For the bulk of my 30 hours of work, I intend to spend that time interviewing my mentors in person and online depending upon their availability. The vast majority of my other work will be actually creating graphs of the data, revising charts, revising surveys, emailing my correspondents for updates, and writing the academic paper.

2. Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.
 For my academic paper, I intend to include with my regular updates on my blog the status of my essay including published drafts in order to demonstrate a logical progression and series of edits of it to ensure that it is known that is not a sudden job. As for my interviews, I intend to include snapshots of my e-mails, charts, and survey results to ensure that nothing was fabricated. I will also include photos of me interacting with my mentors in person to show how we met.

3. And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.
    As referred to in my justification, this process should help me to better understand the type of work and ideals which it takes to enter into California Politics, and should provide valid data on what experts in the field believe that entails. Furthermore, the actual process of conducting this survey mirrors actual work in the field of Political Science, a subject I intend to major in and conduct similar research when I go to college, and this should provide actual experience on what data gathering should consist of. Finally, the actual results of seeing what drives these individuals towards their goals should allow me to fulfill a subgoal of this project by allowing me to see if there are any common links these individuals share. By finding these links, potential application can be found by encouraging the development of those attributes in others given the strong correlation between an individual's political skill and their corresponding success in life. This final issue is important to me as it allows me to find a potential way of relating this subject which I care very much about to my audience in the senior presentation as the application may have direct resonance with their lives.

4. Update Your Senior Hours Blog
--Done--