Læreplanmål: Eleven skal
utforske og presentere minst ett selvvalgt emne knyttet til språk, kultur, samfunn eller vitenskap ved kritisk bruk av engelskspråklige tekster og andre kilder
Starting the project
Discuss the time frame of the project with your teacher and decide together how extensive it should be. You may also want to agree on a certain number of pages of source material to read, as well as the number of pages you are expected to write.
Also discuss with your teacher what kind of presentation you are going to make. Will you give a traditional oral presentation, make an audio-recording, or make a film?
Also talk to your teacher about how the project will be assessed. This should be clear before you start, as it will give you a goal to work towards. When assessing in-depth projects, the following points are usually emphasised:
a clear thesis statement that is discussed throughout the presentation
a good understanding of the topic
strong language skills (relevant and varied vocabulary, clear sentence structure, clear pronunciation, etc.)
a logical and well-structured presentation of the material
correct use of relevant sources and the inclusion of a source list
Choosing a topic
Many choose the path of least resistance when choosing a topic for the in-depth project, and choose something they have done before or a topic they already know well. While this is permissible, you should remember that you are expected to offer much more than your own opinion in an in-depth project. You are expected to use sources and provide a critical analysis of these sources. For example, if you choose to talk about how much you love football or what you think about this year's spring fashions, the project is likely to fall flat unless you can tie it to a thesis that allows for more in-depth research and discussion.
Don't be afraid of moving out of your comfort zone to learn something new when working on an in-depth study project. Make sure it is easy to make a thesis statement for your topic, so that you have a good starting point for a thorough discussion. Also make sure you have a topic where you can use several different sources rather than personal experience or opinions.
Why have a thesis statement?
A thesis statement helps you to focus your presentation, and this will make it easier for you to find relevant sources. A clear thesis statement also helps you find a direction for the discussion.
Suggested topics:
If you think it's difficult to find your own topic, you may use one of these. Remember that going back and forth between different topics wastes time, so, try to choose one quickly and stick to it. This will give you more time for research and for making the presentation.
From novel to film:
Compare a novel with one or more film adaptations. What are the main differences? Why have the changes been made? Is the story told in the same order? Does the adaptation capture the essence of the novel?Ideology and rhetoric in social media:
Today social media is used to spread different ideologies. Find examples of one of more ideologies being spread on social media. Analyse the language and images that are used, and explain how the language and images contribute to spreading the ideology. Consider whether social media is making it easier to spread ideologies.The influence of advertising: study how advertising influences our lives and our purchasing choices. Analyse examples of advertising and discuss what impact the advertising is likely to have.
A contemporary author:
Study an author who you believe is typical for our time – someone who has captured the zeitgeist. Give an introduction to their work, and explain the relevance you believe this work has for the time we live in.Football as identity and culture:
Study the importance of football in the United Kingdom and/or the United States. Discuss how football influences society, builds identity, and is ingrained in the national culture.How to master subject-verb agreement:
Study subject-verb agreement and discuss what learning methods are most effective to gain an understanding of the topic.
What is a good source?
Wikipedia can be a good starting point, but don't base your presentation on encyclopaedias; try to find material that offers a more in-depth understanding of a topic. Ask the school librarian for help to find articles or books that are not readily available on the internet. You may also try using Google Scholar. Link to Google Scholar.
Look for:
articles
interviews
master's theses
books
When you find a source, consider who the author is and why it has been written. Look for confirmation from other sources. Be critical of the information you find.
Example of being fooled by sources:
Catherine was giving a presentation about Scotland. She went on the internet to find the name of the last king to rule the country. A number of sources told her the last king of Scotland was the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. So, Catherine included the information in her presentation.
What Catherine did not realise was that The Last King of Scotland is the name of a film about the Ugandan dictator. The title is based on Amin's penchant for giving himself nicknames like ' the conqueror of the British Empire' and 'the last king of Scotland'. To be clear: Idi Amin was never king of Scotland.
This example shows us that even when several sources claim the same thing, the information may still be wrong. That is why it is important to think critically about the information, consider whether it makes sense, and then do further research.
You can learn more about using sources from the NDLA article that you will find below, in Relatert innhold.
Avoid plagiarism
Plagiarism is copying someone else's work, their writing, ideas, theories, etc. It can be tempting to find an article online and transform it by dividing it up and reinventing it as a presentation, but when you use someone else's work in this way, without doing any thinking for yourself or adding anything of your own, it is plagiarism – even when you put the article on a source list. For Norwegian students it can be tempting to find an article in Norwegian, translate it, and present that as your own work. This is also plagiarism.
If you use material from texts you have written earlier, without giving references or putting the texts on your source list, that is also considered to be plagiarism.
Always start from your own understanding of the topic and find sources that support or contradict what you are thinking. That is the best way to avoid plagiarism.
Plagiarism has serious consequences in higher education and in the workplace: you may lose your place at the learning institution, lose your reputation, or your job. In high school, plagiarism means a poorer grade because the teacher can only assess what is your own work, or the parts of your work where sources have been used according to academic standards.
Manage your time
When you are given ample time for a project, it is tempting to procrastinate. Try instead to get started as quickly as possible. Make a timeline that describes what you plan to accomplish by what time. How much time do you have for the project at school, and how much time will you allow for homework? Write down goals for the different time slots.
Below, you find an example of a plan for the first week of an in-depth study project. You don't have to do it this way the important thing is to choose a planning strategy that helps you focus on your work.
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 |
|---|---|---|
Lesson 1: Pick a topic. | ||
Lesson 2: Plan the research and start looking for relevant sources. | ||
Lesson 3: Start researching. | ||
Lesson 4: Consider what I have found out so far and make a thesis statement. Continue with research. | ||
Lesson 5: Further research. What have I found out so far? How does it relate to my thesis statement? | ||
Homework: Based on what I remember from my research, start writing about the topic. Organise what I know so far. Make a plan for the work next week. What do I need to research? Which other sources do I need? |
If you feel overwhelmed, break down your work into smaller pieces. You can for example set a timer for 15 minutes, work as hard as you can for that time slot, then give yourself a rest for five minutes. Make sure you do not only read, but also reflect on what you have read.
Making the presentation:
No matter what format you have chosen for the presentation, you should always include a title, an introduction, a conclusion, and a source list.
Show that you care about what you are going to tell the audience. If you do not care, the audience will not care either.
Focus on the facts that are relevant for your thesis statement. Don't waste time on superfluous background information. Be direct and to the point.
Show that you have studied the topic thoroughly, and that you know what you are talking about. One way to accomplish this is to speak freely from bullet points. This is better than having a prepared manuscript that you have memorised, and much better than reading from a script. It will also add to the presentation if you open up for questions from the audience.
Use analytical terms or other field-specific vocabulary in your presentation.
In Relatert Innhold below, you will find the article 'How to Make a Good Presentation': study it carefully.
