Senior Project, The Holiday

Content:

1.  It is important to consistently work on your senior project, whether it is break or we are in school.  What did you over the break with your senior project?
Over break, I actually visited my mentor at the shelter and we put together packages for people throughout California who are hosting an event called The Barks and Books Reading Enrichment Program. They are hosted in public libraries, which means that anyone is welcomed (if they're actually interested). It was pretty neat learning something new. 

 

2.  What was the most important thing you learned from what you did and why?  What was the source of what you learned?
The most important thing that I learned from putting together these packages for the kids was that there are actually a bunch of curious minds. There are kids who were like me at that age, wondering why animals are put in such places. It's inspiring, really. And very heartwarming. But also, what strikes out to me is that there is a much friendlier way of presenting the reality of shelter animals without being too harsh. As long as the message gets out, that's all that matters.

3.  If you were going to do a 10 question interview on questions related to answers of your EQ, who would you talk to and why?
If I were to do a 10 question interview relating to my essential question, I would definitely turn to my mentor. Although she's not an animal control officer herself, she definitely has a wide knowledge about the shelter and working with both the people and animals. Just like the officers rescue these animals, she too does so by hosting and providing programs for children and teaching them ways they could help prevent an abundance amount of shelter animals.

EQ

Content

1.   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)
• Takes a stance (Allows you to argue some point, Cannot be a recitation of facts or a list)
•  Format (It is specific, The wording makes sense)

2.  Review the following EQs and

• Tell us if it meets the rule of 3 criteria.
• Tell why it does or why it doesn't

 a.  What is the most important factor in healthy weight loss?
This does meet the rule of three criteria. It allows for curiosity and further research on maybe why one "weight loss" method is better than another. Which also leads into how there are many different ways to lose weight. The question isn't in any way confusing or difficult to consume.
 
 b.  What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?
Ooh, interesting. I'm very engaged and want to do further research myself. The question itself isvery specific and makes me want to break it down into pieces and figure out what exactly it means. That might be a downfall in the format of it. Therefor, it doesn't cut if for the rule of three criteria.
 
 c.  What is most important in creating a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?
Eh. Vague. This seems like more of an opiniated question. It leans more onto whatever the costumer wants. There goes a point for the taking a stance criteria. However, further depth of research seems like it would be an issue. This doesn't meet the rule of three criteria. 
 
 d.  How can an Anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?
This question also seems very specific and hard to research. Although there may be more than one answer, it seems like more of an opinionated 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.
How can you get people to be better pet owners and more informed on the reality of shelter animals?

Research and Working EQ

Content:

(1)  What is your working EQ?
My working essential question is:
How do you get people to be responsible pet owners?

(2)  What is a possible answer to your working EQ?

•  Making them and potential pet owners aware of the number of animals that are brought to the shelter (stats), and laying out all the possible reasoning of why that happens
• Teach them the basics of what makes a responsible pet owner
• Also make them aware of puppy mills and why not to buy "pure" breed dogs

(3)  What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ? 
The most important source I've used that has helped me come up with an answer to my working essential question most definitely has to be my volunteer work at the shelter. Some of the stories and backgrounds I've heard of the animals and how they ended up there are really something. My first interview was also very essential, because that's where the question was created. Officer Murphy is an HLE Officer himself, so hearing first hand stories was helpful.

(4)  Who is your mentor, or where are you volunteering, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?
My mentor is Elana Blum, who is the humane educator and pet therapy coordinator at the Pasadena Humane Society. This relates to my working EQ because, as I said, I get to hear and interact with some animals that really have a story to tell. Also because I've been volunteering at the shelter, I'm able to ask question s and talk to different staff members, which all share the same passion for help these animals out.

Blog 5 Project Reflection and Working EQ

The Pentagon:

(1) Positive Statement: What positive thing happen as a result of what you have completed so far?
A posititve thing that has happened as a result of what I've completed so far is that I have a much greater knowledge about what goes on in an animal shelter. Also, I did my interview, and that opened my eyes and ind to the reality of what the daily life in this career is like.
 
(2) EQ Content:  Pick a piece of research or your interview.  How has it helped you improve your understanding of your topic?
As I mentioned above, I have already done my interview. After talking to Murphy, I realized what a risk and what an adventure this career takes. There are days where the HLE officers could be saving a kitten. However, on other days, they might be dealing with rattle snakes.
 
(3) What has worked for you so far in the senior project?
What has worked for me in the senior project so far is actually all the research I've been doing and reading up different articles that involve these animal cops. It better prepares me for what I may have to deal with in the future, if I continue to go down this path.

(4) What hasn't worked so far? 
 I don't thinking there's anything that hasn't worked. I've been stress-free.

(5) Finding Value: 

•  What is a potential question you would like to study this year?  (working EQ)
  A potential question I would like to study this year might be what Greg Murphy (interviewee) had told me: "How do you get people to be responsible pet owners?
•  What do you plan to do for mentorship?  If you haven't found a mentor yet, then discuss where you are currently looking and who you are talking to to find it.   I can't go on ride-alongs just yet. However, once I turn 18 (this year), I definitely plan to do so. For now, I'll continue going to the shelter and doing what I can there.

2013 2-Hour Presentation Reflections

1. Presentations I saw:

• Woodworking // Sebastian
• Interior Design // Natalie
• Criminal Investigation // Gawen
• Child Life Specialist // Alicia
• Clinical Social Work Therapy // Brittany
• Healthy Mexican Food // Manuel
• Video Game Journalism // Cristopher
• Running A Skateshop // Eric
• Political Campaigns // Angel
• Animal Control // Cherokee
• Physical Fitness // Jocelyn

2. What questions do I have that haven't been answered about the senior project?  

• For Animal Control, I noticed that she ad only two answers to her EQ. Is that okay? All the other students seemed to have 3.

3. What has the most important part of the senior project based on what I'm seeing in the 2-hour presentations?

• What seems to be the most important aspect of the entire project is the EQ. Everything the students presented was based off of that, including their 3 answers, and the activities that tie into that.

4. What topic am I considering doing and why?

• The topic I'm considering is actually very alike to Cherokee's [animal control]. However, mine is what you call an HLE [Humane Law Enforcement] Officer. The reason why I'm doing it is because I myself am a huge animal lover. I wouldn't even hurt a fly. There's a show on Animal Planet called Animal Cops, and that's what has driven and inspired me to pursue this. Whether a happy or sad ending, I cry watching the show. I'm very passionate about it. I volunteered at a local animal shelter, so I already have a feel for what's to be expected. I'm pretty stoked to do my mentorship requirements.