Mr. W's Blog

9th graders should be ready to move on to Step 5 – Synthesize (that rhymes). This is the stage where you will begin putting together all that you have researched. I suggest following this protocol to help you put your project together.

1. Create a storyboard – use the Video Storyboard graphic organizer (use the HR Minimum Slide Format and HR Rubric to guide you.)
2. Put pictures and some text on your slides in Windows Live Movie Maker or http://voicethread.com/.

3. Create a script and submit it on Moodle for approval. You can also use the HR Narration Script graphic organizer.
4. Record your narration.
5. Add music and transitions.

As we start to create our movies, it’s important to remember what our end goal is. Use these resources to help guide your vision.

You can find student examples from last year’s students here: http://www.misterdoubleyou.com/English_Class/Movies.html

You will be using this template to create the script for your movie/slideshow HR Narration Script

This is the rubric I will be using to grade your final product HR Rubric

Also, if you need an outline of what I am looking for, you can refer to the HR Minimum Slide Format

If you have any other questions or concerns, let me know!

The second step in our inquiry process is to use information seeking strategies. We’ll largely be using the internet. A Google search can actually be very useful, especially if you narrow down your search with specific keywords. One of the best places to start is Wikipedia. Wikipedia offers an overview of just about any topic. It is constantly being updated so new information can be found all the time. Sometimes the new information can be inaccurate, so it is best to use information that is cited in the “References” section. These references can also help you do more in depth research. Many entries also have a Bibliography section and an External Links section. These are great places to get more information and find some valuable sources.

DON’T FORGET TO RECORD ALL THE SOURCES YOU USE!!! If you download photos, record where you got these from as well.I recommend EasyBib! Don’t forget, “Google Image Search” is NOT a source.

You must turn in the HR Research Summary for credit.

The third step, of course, is to find information from these sources.

I recommend the following websites to get some information for your project

http://www.channelone.com/ – some great information in a familiar format (This site has some great information on North Korea as well.)

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http://www.hrw.org – one of the most well known sources for information on Human Rights abuses

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http://www.amnesty.org – another well known source with more of an emphasis on advocacy

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http://www.state.gov/g/drl/hr/index.htm – the United States’ official site for Human Rights

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http://www.youthforhumanrights.org/index.htm – the site much of our classroom materials come from

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http://www.humanrights.com/#/home – the mother organization of Youth For Human Rights

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http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/index.aspx – another Human Rights organization

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http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Pages/WelcomePage.aspx – the UN’s site for HR

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http://www.antislavery.org/english/default.aspx – anti-slavery organization

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http://www.omct.org – anti-torture organization

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http://www.article19.org – freedom of expression organization

9th graders are starting an inquiry project focusing on Human Rights. Students will choose one human right on which to focus and research the upholding and the abuse of that right in our own country and abroad. We will be using the following six steps of research:

1. Task Definition
2. Information Seeking
3. Location and Access
4. Use of Information
5. Synthesis
6. Evaluation

Task Definition

We will be creating “digital stories” about a human right for the final product of this research. Your first step is to learn about the Declaration of Human Rights and select one right that you would like to focus on. You should also pick a back-up topic in case your first choice does not work out.

What are human rights?

Watch the short documentary on human rights at http://www.youthforhumanrights.org/what-are-human-rights.html and fill out a Listening Guide.

Browse the UDHR and the ads to find a right that interests you and you would like to research. (Note: 1, 28, 29, and 30 are too broad for this research project.

Once you have selected your right, turn in the HR Topic Sheet to get credit for this first step.

 For more background information Read the rest of this entry »

9th graders have been working hard on HR projects all term. Now it is time to turn these projects in. The last day these projects can be emailed is Wednesday, March 16. If you email me your project on Monday, March 14 you will receive extra credit.

Please save your “movie” as a Window Media Video file (.wmv). Email your finished project to mawenzel@wsd.net.

UPDATE: Only PowerPoint 2010 will allow you to save your presentation in the .wmv format. If you do not have PowerPoint 2010 please save your file in the Power Point Show (.ppsx  or .pps) format.

I will be using the HR Rubric to evaluate your work. This counts toward the “Presentation” portion of your grade.