CT Sci Center project
Here’s the link to the detailed rubric for the CT Science Center Exhibit Proposal
Here are the links to the requirements handout and the C.S.C. visitor’s guide:
CTScienceCenter_visitor_ guide
Here’s the link to the Connecticut Science Curriculum. Remember this is a large pdf file and the 6-8th grades are the last pages of the document. If you use it, start ant the end and go backwards a page at a time to find what you need.
pk8_science_curriculumstandards2011
Mentor Texts: here are some excellent papers from last year. Look at them for how to write in third person, etc.
Proposal
This paper is different from most other writings you have done so far because it will be written in the third person. We had a mini-lesson in third person writing in October shortly before your first lab report was due in science. Go over your notes from that class before you begin drafting this paper. None of the following person personal pronouns are allowed: I, me, my, mine, we, our, ours, you, your, yours. Here is an example:
Incorrect:
When you see the colorful interactive exhibit I designed, you’ll want to try it out.
Correct:
When visitors see the new colorful interactive exhibit, they’ll want to try it out.
Be sure to click on the “policies” tab if you forgot my regular paper writing requirements.
Here’s the link to the handout we used in class on this: ThirdPerson
Expository or Persuasive?
A business proposal is considered an example of expository writing in that it explains all the details about your idea: where it will go, what it will look like, how will it work, who will want to use it, how will they learn from it, how will it be constructed, what will it cost, etc. You want to include enough details so that the scientists at the C.S.C. can think in their heads, “Oh I get it, I can order these parts and get a two person crew together in our workroom to do this in about five hours with our existing tools. Cool!” However, the tone must always remain persuasive. In the real world if a company cannot write a persuasive business proposal no one hires them and they go out of business!
Research
This paper does require that you do research, after all, the people who design exhibits for museums know more about science than an eighth grade textbook, don’t you think? You need to find two-three sources on your specific science topic and read them to incorporate those ideas into your proposal. For example, if you want to add an exhibit about dwarf planets, you might go to the NASA website, the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado website (www.lasp.colorado.edu), or read a book or article from National Geographic. You must then cite your source in you paper by using credit in context, as shown below:
Business Letter
The letter follows standard business letter format and content, which must be followed very precisely. It must have your return address, the date, the recipient’s title and address, a proper salutation, and a proper closing. In addition, it must properly show the enclosures and carbon copies (cc’s). You will be using the style called block format, but there are a few other formats such as modified block and semi-block. This is the only assignment of the year other than poems that you will single space. Please refer to your notes as you draft your letter.
Perdue University has an excellent website on writing with a detailed section on writing a business letter and a sample. Copy the address into your browser to read more.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/653/01/
On their site you can click on the tab on the left side of the page to go to “sample letters.” You’ll want to look at the first one, block style. Below is a letter from a former student that earned an A+, I have changed his address, phone number and name for privacy:
Expository of Persuasive?
The cover letter should be as persuasive as you can be. It should NOT be in the third person; “Thank you for considering my proposal,” is a common closing sentence. The content should very short and sweet-only a paragraph or two. Just introduce your proposal in a way that makes a very busy adult want to turn the page! Take good notes in class when we go over this and bookmark the websites I give you. The hardest part of the letter is not the content, it’s meticulously using proper business letter format.
Technical Drawings: pictures worth 1000 words
These scale drawings help your client (the C.S.C. staff) visualize your proposal, convince them of the merits of your design, and enable a contractor or member of the C.S.C. staff to construct it.
You may do them by hand using graph paper, or you may do them on the computer using Google SketchUp, or other drawing software. Either way, they must have a title, labels for all important items, and a key for the scale. All words must be correctly spelled and written in capital letters. They must be accurate, neat, and use space well. Be sure to listen carefully and take good notes when Dr. McCarthy explains the topic in detail in class.
The Final Product
On the due date you will be turning in a complete packet to both Dr McCarthy and myself at the beginning of class, and the documents will be paper clipped, stapled, and organized before this class. The order is cover letter, proposal (which will be stapled if it is more than one page), and drawings. Mr. Klimas will let you use his photocopier for the floor plans if you drew them by hand, but he must be asked no later than the day before the project is due. You will present a complete product, just as a designer would in the real world.