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Projects

Coventry High School
21st Century Learning Expectations
Communication
Communication: “Communicate effectively in multiple contexts and for varied purposes using a variety of tools/media.”
I wrote a research paper called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Mental Illness Veiled By Societal Misconceptions in the "Marginalized Mentally Ill and Menacing Media" unit for AP/ECE English Language and Composition during my senior year. In this unit, we analyzed how the media effects how the mentally ill are perceived by reading. For this research paper, our task was to select a mental illness to research; I chose to research Obsessive Compulsive Disorder because I can relate to some of the symptoms of someone with mild OCD. We then had to analyze how media intensifies stigma from multiple lenses and how we can eliminate the stigma of mental illness.
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This research paper reflects the Communication 21st Century Learning Expectation because it demonstrates strong communication skills, a variety of tools in its composure, and multiple contexts in analyzing different lenses from how the media intensifies the stigma of OCD. I take and develop a clear, thoughtful position with a specific purpose and keen awareness of my audience, which includes my teacher, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, as well the BrainDance Awards panel, which is a scholarship opportunity that I submitted by research to. This is demonstrated through by thesis statement, where I assert, "While the excessive use of calling someone 'obsessive' or 'compulsive' in everyday society is based on the stereotypes depicted by the media, it ultimately provokes a false implication of what those diagnosed with OCD encounter in their daily life, thus minimizing the severity of the true effects of obsessive compulsive disorder, as they are prevented from performing their daily routine because of intrusive thoughts that force them to perform certain compulsions in order to temporarily alleviate extreme anxiety. It is therefore crucial to dismiss the common misconceptions associated with OCD and other mental illnesses by educating society at a young age, such as in health classes in school systems, and by eliminating erroneous content published in the media." I also consistently support this position as I use a myriad of sources that provide evidence and information to support, extend and inform my position. Throughout my entire research paper, I consistently sustain a progression of ideas logically connected to a main idea, while also using concise and assertive word choice to convey the imperative need for the education of OCD and its implications to be implemented into society to combat the resulting alienation of those affected with OCD.
Problem Solving
Problem Solving: “Use essential knowledge and skills to demonstrate critical, creative, and adaptive thinking to solve problems with real­world applications.”
I wrote an extensive research proposal called Metrication: Method to Modernization and Advancement in an Increasingly Globalized World in the "Poignant Perspectives and Paramount Proposals" unit for AP/ECE English Language and Composition during my senior year. Our purpose of this proposal was to synthesize qualitative and quantitative research to provoke reform, initiate a new policy, or expose an injustice with a realistic and viable resolution. The topic I chose was to fully implement the metric system into the United States, for I believe this is a critical problem in the current world, since almost the entire rest of the world uses the standardized metric system while the U.S. continues to use the outdated and obsolete imperial system of measurements. I am extremely proud to say that I was chosen as one of the top four proposals in my class, so I presented my proposal and marketing plan to administration as well as my classmates on March 27, 2018. The proposal below consists of a table of contents, an abstract, a scope of the problem, a mission statement, goals and objectives, as well as thoroughly developed information evaluating resources, implementing the plan, gaining support, a final call to action, and also a works cited, an annotated bibliography and five appendices, including a personal survey, a personal interview, an email to Customer Service on Bureau of Economic Analysis, an email to Evelyn Brown, Public Affairs Specialist of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and also a chart that I made to help with my implementation of the plan.
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My proposal reflects the Problem Solving 21st Century Learning Expectation because I demonstrate essential knowledge and skills with critical, creative and adaptive thinking, problem-solving skills and a real-world application. I consistently
interpret and evaluate accredited sources as well as a personal survey and interview to develop a comprehensive analysis and synthesis of expertise to form my innovative solution to fully implementing the metric system into American society, specifically focusing on education. This therefore applies to the real world, so after my plan to metricate the U.S. is fulfilled, future generations of students and citizens will know how to use the metric system, and the metrication process can thus be initiated in all other aspects of society, including the manufacturing industry and machinery, building and construction, consumer goods and transportation. My most valuable reasons to ultimately metricate the entire U.S. are: "As the medicine and STEM industry act as the driving forces to implementing a complete metrication of the U.S. by reforming the education system to accommodate the global use of the metric system, it is vital to eradicate the usage of imperial measures, as they not only lead to confusion and potential disasters, but their failure to apply precision to international trade, medicine and STEM would ultimately prohibit America from advancing in the global arena."
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Collaboration
Collaboration: “Engage productively in self-­directed learning, independently, and/or collaboratively.”
In Chemistry during my junior year, we had lab partners, and then every lab, my partner and I would take turns on who wrote the lab report; I wrote this lab report, Lab B.12: Relative Reactivites of Metals. In the actual lab, we took solids of the elements copper, magnesium, zinc and silver and combined them separately with nitrate solutions of these same elements. We then analyzed each reaction and determined the reactivity of the each metal we were examining. The more the element reacts to others, the higher chemical reactivity it has. We therefore concluded that in order from the most reactive to the least reactive metal, the elements are: magnesium, zinc, copper, and silver.
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This lab report reflects the Collaboration 21st Century Learning Expectation because it demonstrates collaboration among one of my peers, my lab partner, Julia Rutkowski. During the process of performing the lab, Julia and I consistently shared and exchanged insightful ideas on how to carry out the correct procedure. I also consistently initiated an active approach and effectively fulfilled my role as a lab partner, performing half of the duties during the lab in class, and then writing the entire lab report, as it was my turn to do so. Throughout the procedure, we consistently demonstrated time management and adjusted our pace accordingly to ensure we would finish the lab in the amounted time. 
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Create/Respond
Create/Respond: “Create or respond effectively to artistic works or technical products.”
As the last component of my extensive research proposal that I wrote during my senior year for AP/ECE English Language and Composition, I created a short video for my marketing plan to promote my proposal and emphasize the urgency for implementing the metric system into education so that it can thus be implemented into all other aspects of the nation overtime, therefore keeping up with modern and standardized technological tools as well as reducing the number of disasters resulting from conversion errors, as they lead to tremendous money loss as well as death.
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My marketing plan reflects the Create/Respond 21st Century Learning Expectation because I demonstrate the creation of an artistic work, also in the form of a professional product. Using a few critical facts from my research as well as results from a survey I conducted within school, I formatted the video with technical expertise and precise execution by. I also demonstrated a complete understanding of my desired outcome of the marketing plan by specifically explaining why the United States needs to fully convert to the metric system. In addition, I completed this video with maximum effort, as I carefully edited different types of music to create various moods throughout the video, and I also formatted how pictures, video clips, data and voice-overs would be perceived by the audience.
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Civic
Civic: “Demonstrate civic, social, and personal awareness and responsibility.”
I have been a part of the Coventry High School band all throughout high school, and although I am more proud of my band concerts at the beginning of high school, when Mr. Ned Smith was the conductor, I could not find a recording of one of our concerts. Nevertheless, I am still proud to be in the band, and this video is a CHS band and chorus concert from June 1, 2017. The band plays from 4:00 - 15:50 and 46:40 - 1:02:00.
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My band concert reflects the Civic 21st Century Learning Expectation because I demonstrate civil, social and personal awareness as well as civic, social and personal responsibility. I consistently adhere to the rules outlined in the concert band student handbook to be respectful, to always be prepared, to never give up and to do my best. I also demonstrate commendable understanding of the responsibilities of a band member, including practicing on my own to ensure that I am as prepared as possible for rehearsals and performances, and I consistently meet what is expected of me as part of the band. I consistently demonstrate knowledge of my personal needs, strengths, and weaknesses, which is demonstrated to me during rehearsals, as it allows me to know the parts of music I need to practice more. At the end of each quarter, we all set band-related goals for ourselves, and after concerts, we reflect on our performance; I therefore consistently set and evaluate personal and academic goals, including what I improved on, what I need to improve on, as well as how I will improve in the future. Finally, I also consistently demonstrate leadership in service to the school as well as the community because I volunteer at music-related events that take place at the school, such as handing out programs or helping out backstage to set up the stage and direct performers where they need to go. On the day before winter break during my senior year, my band class traveled to Coventry Grammar School, where we performed holiday music for the teachers and K-2 students. I have also played holiday music with the band at the annual Coventry Tree Lighting and at the PTO Craft Fair that takes place at our school as a way to give back to the community through music, which is something I love.
Respect
Respect: “Respect people as individuals within our school and global communities.”
I wrote my College Essay in the beginning of my senior year for AP/ECE English Language and Composition, and I chose the prompt, "Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others." I chose to write about how I initially dealt with my brother's diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and how I was able to change my viewpoint to become more receptive to those around me, no matter their situation. As labels do not define people, I came to the conclusion, "I must never sacrifice my pride for the ill treatment of others, even if it means confronting people and challenging my fear of judgment."
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My College Essay reflects the Respect 21st Century Learning Expectation because it demonstrates respect for individuals within the school as well as global communities of people who might have a disability, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, like my brother. By using the rhetorical question, "Why succumb to prejudice by allowing a label to define someone if all individuals are unique?", I advocate against prejudicial attitudes. I then establish respect and empathy with those affected by the complexities and dangers of stereotyping, racism, and prejudice when I proclaim, "Diversity is a fact of life, and the sooner everyone accepts it, just as I have, the sooner the concept of “equality” will be within our reach." Just as I have accepted everyone for who they truly are, I hope that other people can come to this realization as well so that the world will be a better place free of prejudice.
Health and Well-Being
Health and Well-Being: "Apply skills for a lifetime of health and well-being."
In my Chemistry class during my junior year, a partner and I collaborated to make a presentation about prescription medication, called No World Can Function Without Prescription Drugs. We were assigned this presentation during the unit on petroleum, in which we learned that there is a global petroleum shortage. Our task was to make a presentation to emphasize the importance of prescription medications on society and persuade the rest of the class that our product needs to be kept in production, even though it uses petroleum. We then had to come up with a plan for how we would use less petroleum with our product; we decided to make the prescription bottle containers out of bioplastics instead of petroleum, so the bottles would therefore be made out of organic materials where carbon is derived from a renewable resource via biological processes. After all the groups in the class presented their product, everyone voted on the top three presentations that were the most persuasive. My partner and I were selected as presenting the second most important product.
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This presentation about prescription drugs reflects the Health and Well-Being 21st Century Learning Expectation because I demonstrate knowledge for health and well-being. In our research, we found that if penicillin had not been invented, approximately 200 million people would be dead. In general, we found that prescription drugs reduce pain, provide essential vitamins, help treat illnesses, regulate allergies and also maintain homeostasis, or an equilibrium, of the body, such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, hormone levels and sleep patterns. Through this assignment, we learned that prescription medications are critical to the health and well-being of people, in general, as long as they are used when prescribed by a doctor and are only taken when necessary.
Coventry High School
21st Century Learning Expectations
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