For the final project, you will propose a solution (e.g., a program, curriculum, policy, etc.) to address a specific issue related to inequality and diversity in education. You are free to be creative in what you focus your paper on as long as the goal is to improve equity in education. The total project is worth 70 points and includes a proposal for the paper (10 points) as well as the final paper itself (60 points).
One of the most important things you can do in this paper is create sections and subsections. This will help you make sure your paper is clear, organized, and directly addressing the required components of this assignment. The more clear and organized your paper is, the easier it is to give you points. Please do this to make sure you do not submit a paper that is a series of unorganized/unlabeled paragraphs.
Project Requirements
1. Proposal (10 points)
A 2-3 page proposal, written in essay form, to include the following:
- Your name and the title of your project
- An introduction that explains what educational problem you will be addressing and why, this should also include statistics/evidence for what makes this issue a problem.
- Background about what group you will be targetting (this should be related to the educational problem you are addressing, for example race, age, class, gender, sexual orientation).
- A brief explanation of how you would propose to solve the problem.
At least 2 research articles must be used in writing your proposal (these CANNOT be resources from class). Your proposal should be double-spaced with 12-point type. Format your reference page and in-text citations using the American Psychological Association guidelines (Links to an external site.).
Proposal grading
| Criteria and Points | |
| Descriptive title & your name | 0=missing title or name; 1=name AND title present |
| Introduction | 1=no research cited, unclear justification of educational inequity; 2=some research cited, but educational problem is not fully discussed; 3=all elements addressed with good use of research |
| Background | 1=unclear description of target group; 2=thorough description of target group |
| Proposed solution | 1=unclear description and confusing about how it will address problem; 2=good description of proposed solution |
| Formatting & reference page | 0=errors in writing conventions, missing page numbers, errors in citations/references; 1=conventions generally followed, some errors in formatting; 2=proper use of APA formatting, no errors |
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2. Paper (60 points)
. Your entire paper must be formatted following APA guidelines.
1. Title page, with title of project and your name (1 page, but this does not count toward your 10-12 pages)
2. An abstract (this also does not count toward your 10-12 pages)
3. Overview, Background & Justification of Project/Discussion of Related Research (3-4 pages)
- Describe your project
- Describe WHY you chose to propose this project
- Discuss HOW it addresses/relates to inequality and diversity
- SUMMARIZE the research that supports your project and justifies the need for your project
4. Description of targeted group (half-1 page)
- Who are you targeting and why?
- Grades/ages, SES level, racial ethnic background, etc.
5. Goals & Desired Outcomes (1-2 pages)
- What are your intended goals and outcomes? Be sure these relate to the educational problem you are addressing.
- Describe the research that supports why your goals are important and why your project will help reach the goals/outcomes
- Goals and outcomes should be specific, and should clearly relate to equity in education
6. Description of your proposed solution and timeline (3-4 pages)
- Be specific about the elements of your solution, use research articles to justify why you think your proposed solution will work, include a general timeline for implementing your project (e.g., weekly/monthly steps) and reaching your goals
7. Focus Group Feedback (2 pages): You will convene a group of at least 3 people and discuss your project with them. They can be anyone you know who has an interest in educational issues. Have a conversation about the educational problem you’re seeking to improve and what your proposed solution is. Ask them for feedback about your project. Include the following in writing this part up:
- Who was part of your focus group? (Ages, number of people, gender & racial/ethnic background, how you recruited them and how you know them)
- Describe the reactions to your project. What did the respondents think would work or wouldn’t work? Why/why not? What did the participants like? Why? What reactions surprised you?
- What would you change about your project based on the focus group feedback?
- Ask your focus group: How could your project be used in other ways by educators/parents/community members?
8. List all your references, APA style
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