from time to time, German students at Merrillville High School do a research project on Germans who have made a difference in world history. Here are some of the guidelines that are followed.

Students will use the Internet, as well as other resources from the Media Center, to search for pertinent information, and photos of a well-known German, preferably one who has made an unquestionably profitable contribution to society.

Students will clarify the contribution that the person they are writing on made to society.

If an infamous person is chosen to report on, such as a member of the National Socialist Party, care must be taken to show somewhat of the harm that the individual's deeds brought upon society, and not in any way to justify the crimes or atrocities that were committed by the person. There is absolutely no justification for the perpetration of human suffering and misery.

1) Each student will select,or be assigned, a famous German contributor to society.The student must discuss and agree on the topic that he or she will be doing with Mr. Stoner the first week of the second grading period.

2) Each student will be responsible for doing research on his or her own assigned topic.

3) Each student will write a two-page double-spaced paper over his or her assigned topic in his or her own words. Copying and pasting text from the Internet is not permitted! It is strongly recommended that you formulate your thoughts from bullet-type statements or textual material (that you clearly understand) found in websites and in other sources regarding your subject matter. Translating paragraphs of German text into English with an electronic translator will only get you into trouble! You are permitted to get ideas from various websites and other resources, but on the paper you hand in, your thoughts must be your own!

4) Each student will produce either a poster featuring the main points of their topic. The poster must be done neatly so that it is suitable for displaying on the wall of the classroom.

5) Students may, instead of the poster, give a PowerPoint presentation of their subject matter. Students must confer with Mr. Stoner several times throughout the time of preparation. You will be expected to give clear evidence that you are putting the presentation together yourself, and are not using someone else's material.

6) When given class time to work on project, you will be expected to use the time wisely and profitably, keeping a log of specific progress that is made each day. This is not a time for daydreaming or visiting with fellow students. It is a time for working on your projects!

7) This project will become due, with all work completed, during the week before semester one finals.

Evaluation for Project on famous Germans will be made with the following points in mind. Originality! Originality! Originality!

1) All work handed in must be neat in appearance: only typing paper will be accepted for written work. No looseleaf or spiral notebook paper will be accepted. Maps and charts must also be neat in appearance.

2) Information on written assignment must be accurate, with footnotes and documentation for all source material.

3) Information must be accurate in its representation of the German person reported on by students.

4) Students must proofread their materials, before handing them in, to eliminate spelling and grammatical errors.

5) Total worth of this project towards students' grades will be the equivalent of a 100 point test. (50 possible points for written text, and 50 possible points for poster or PowerPoint presentation.)

6) Points will be taken off for such things as lack of originality, lack of organisation of thought, lack of neatness, and incorrect data.

7) Where there is evidence of using someone else's materials as one's own, a zero will be given for the assignment.

1) Complete all project work by the week before the end of the third grading period.

2) Carefully review all materials for spelling, grammatical, or informational errors before handing them in to Mr. Stoner.

3) Make sure text and pictures are suitable in appearance for mounting on classroom wall.

4) Seek to have a sense of satisfaction in the work that you are handing in.

5) Hand in work to Mr. Stoner when all of the above items have been carefully considered and done. Work that is carelessly or hastily done will not be accepted! Take your time and do a good job!

The following standards must be followed in doing your projects.

1) Each student must do his or her own work.

2) Students must show an outline and rough draft of their work to Herr Stoner for his approval before completing the final draft of their paper.

3) Copying, or even using portions of, the work of fellow students is strictly prohibited.

4) Copying, and pasting, text from the Internet or from other sources, is strictly prohibited.

5) Short, one-sentence quotes, that are well expressed, or that say a lot in a few words, may be copied and pasted, as long as what is quoted is in quotation marks, and a specific footnoted reference is given: source name, date, and page number.

6) Each student must demonstrate by his or her work that sufficient thought was employed by him- or herself in both the planning, preparation, and completion of this project in order to receive full credit.

7) Work that is carelessly, hastily, or sloppily put together will be returned to student to be redone or further completed.

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