Well-Researched, 2+-Page Word Processor Document

This could be any written paper on any subject (unless specified) that requires significant research and that is at least two pages long. The final document must be submitted in Microsoft Word or Google Docs formats only. (No Apple Pages, for example.)

Standard formatting includes a student heading above the title of the paper (which should be centered and size 24 pitch), one-inch margins all around, and 12-pitch font size used consistently for the body of the text unless specified otherwise.  Fonts (typefaces) for the body text cannot be fancy or display fonts. Serif fonts are recommended for clarity.

Grammar and spelling count! Paragraph indentation and line spacing must be consistent throughout the document. Widows and Orphans must be at least two printed lines tall. [If you don't know what this means, ASK!]

Tabular Spreadsheet of at least 3 Columns and 5 Rows

This could be a table or chart or multi-columned list (unless specified) that stands on its own or is embedded in another project (such as a research paper). It must be created using one of the spreadsheet programs used at school: Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.

The format of the spreadsheet must include at least 3 columns and 5 rows (or 5 columns and 3 rows), and the columns (at least) must include labels at the top.

Information placed in a column must be consistent with its label. If a row is also labeled, the information placed in that row must be consistent with its label.

Animated Slide Show presentation

This could be a self-running (kiosk) presentation, or one delivered manually in front of an audience, or one filmed and presented as a video, or a screencast with narration.  The project can be done in either Microsoft PowerPoint OR Google Slides, OR Keynote, unless specified otherwise.

If you're using a narration, your narration has to be synchronized with whatever is being seen on the screen, meaning that timings cannot be sloppy, especially if this is a self-running presentation.

Keep the length of your presentation brief, but cover your information thoroughly. The number of slides you use is up to you and there should be no limit (unless you are told otherwise). Each slide should present one idea clearly. Avoid bullets as a rule, but include them on a slide only when it makes sense to do so. Remember, if you don't need a bullet, don't put one in.

Include visual information on every slide that is not just words on the screen, but make sure it goes along with what the slide is trying to get across to your audience. Remember, slides are a visual medium, so give your audience something valuable to look at that will help them understand what you're trying to get across.  Always consider what a variety of audiences would need to benefit most from your video

No copyrighted images or music is allowed in your presentation unless you can show that you've obtained written permission to do so from the copyright holder.  You should use materials that are labeled for reuse or are known to be in the Public Domain. If you quote material, you must include a footnote each time you do so that properly describes the source of your information.  I will be checking your included material and the attributions you include for each.

Narrated or Captioned Video Presentation

This could be a standard Podcast with static images and continuous narration, or a narrated movie, or a screencast with narration. The final file format of the video must be either a .WMV file or an .MP4 file. These are the two most used file formats at school.

If you're using a narration, your narration has to be synchronized with whatever is being seen on the screen, meaning that timings cannot be sloppy. If you're using captions, they must also be properly synchronized with whatever else is being seen on the screen.

Keep the length of your video brief, but cover your information thoroughly. Always consider what a variety of audiences would need to benefit most from your video. In the case of an audience that knows nothing about your subject, you'd need to include a lot of explanatory information, definitions, basic background information, and so on, that a more advanced would get bored having to go through in detail. You should lean toward informing an audience with little experience with your subject, but include interesting information that would appeal to someone who already does have some knowledge, and that reflects something requiring deeper research or deeper insights. This is not easy to do well, but it is something I'll be looking for in your presentation.

No copyrighted images or music is allowed in your presentation unless you can show that you've obtained written permission to do so from its original creator.  You should use materials that are labeled for reuse or are known to be in the Public Domain. If you quote material, you must include a footnote each time you do so that properly describes the source of your information.  I will be checking your included material and the attributions you include for each.