Big Question Project Planning and Rubric
You will produce a synthesis project in which you make an argument to answer an essential question of your choice using evidence and analysis of the texts you’ve read in class, the texts you’ve written, and artifacts that you explore individually.
You will present the project near the end of the quarter; however, we will be prepare both in class and out of class. To help guide you, here is a breakdown of the key terms:
o Synthesis: “a coming together;” to synthesize is to put together little parts. You will be putting the evidence and analysis together into an original argument that answers your EQ.
o Analysis: “a breaking down;” to analyze is to break something into little parts. You must break apart the evidence in order to synthesize an argument that is believable!
o Essential Question: an open-ended, multiple-answer question that relates to the themes and concepts of the texts we read/study.
o Artifacts: any text that you explore individually to answer your EQ. These artifacts could include, but are not limited to: short story, poem, song, photograph, painting, newspaper article, novel, nonfiction text, film, tv show, commercial, memoir, album, or other artwork. Periodically throughout the year we will be finding these artifacts and analyzing how they answer our EQs.
Sample List of Big Questions
How do we use stories to explain the world around us? | What does the story reveal about the storyteller? |
How are oral stories different from written stories? | How does the definition of a hero change? |
How do choices shape identity? | From where does courage come (in times of hardship)? |
How important is it to fit in or stand out? | What makes something valuable? |
How much should you trust your instincts? | What is the role of chance in survival? |
How can we achieve the impossible? | How does one deal with grief and/or heartache? |
How important is telling the truth? | How do role models affect our lives either positively or negatively? |
How much should we let the “old ways” influence the way we live today? | Why is it important to show others that you care? |
What is the price of knowledge? | How does technology affect our lives either positively or negatively? |
How important is popularity? | How can you recover from a tragedy? |
How can ordinary people become heroes? | How can someone be from more than one culture at once? |
How do the definitions of friendship differ from person to person? | How do world conflicts affect us? |
How are the “little things” actually very important? | What is the relationship between real beauty in the world and art as we create it? |
Who are the victims of war? | What can we learn from disaster? |
How important is the news in our society? | What do we owe others? |
Why keep what is no longer useful? | What would make the world safer? |
How much should we weigh the means by which we do something against the ends we are trying to reach? | What would you sacrifice for justice? |
How important is wealth? | What makes a good political candidate? |
What makes a good leader? | What is our place in nature? |
Which memories are the most important? | What do we learn from experience? |
How does nature inspire us? | How can we change society? |
Whose life is it, anyway? | What is cowardice? |
What are the signs of the times? | What should be the role of your conscience in guiding your life? |
What does it take to be a survivor? | How can allies become opponents (or opponents become allies)? |
Big Question of your choice (with teacher approval) | |
Quickwrite #1 - Think/write individually for 10 minutes about what BQ you would like to explore. You need to develop a rationale, or a reason why, you want to explore this BQ. If you are having trouble writing your rationale, chances are this BQ is not the one for you! You will eventually finish with a minimum of 5 entries based on your research and experience.
Now, pick ONE text that we have read as a class this year and consider how it answers your EQ:
Text:__________________________________________________________________
Answering the EQ: How does this text help to answer your EQ? Use specific details (and even quotations if possible!) to back-up your answer. Go beyond the obvious-literal answer; the best analysis will try to answer HOW and WHY using specific details as support.
Now, find another artifact that relates to your EQ. Possible sources: poets.org (poems), lyrics.com (songs), dart.fine-art.com (art or all types database), and online newspapers.
Artifact title:_________________________________________________________________
Quickwrite #2 Write for 10 minutes about what your artifact is, what it is about, and its physical qualities. How does this artifact help to answer your EQ? Use specific details (and even quotations if applicable) to back-up your answer. Go beyond the obvious-literal answer; the best analysis will try to answer HOW and WHY using specific details as support.
