All high school seniors are required to participate in the Capstone project end of second semester.

Senior Capstone Goals

• To promote connections between gospel teachings, Church doctrine, economic theory and governmental structures and processes
• To strengthen the transition from high school to college
• To provide a stronger, career-centered, extended community experience during the senior year
• To provide stronger independent learning opportunities for seniors
• To participate in a capstone project which brings together educational strands of a Tyler Catholic School System education
• To help students gain a greater familiarity with the business and professional sector
• To promote stronger formal interpersonal skills
• To help students become proficient with the use of a virtual classroom
• To strengthen the academic learning experience during the second semester of senior year.

Areas of focus in social concern

1. Poverty

• Access to Education
• Minimum Wage
• Fair Housing
• Hunger
• Immigration
• Welfare
• Food Supply
• International Business

2. Justice

• Criminal Court System
• Access to Legal Representation
• Policing
• Death Penalty
• Prison System
• Constitutional Law
• Civil Liberties
• Civil and Criminal Law

3. Health

• Insurance
• Medical Care
• Sanctity of Life
• Medical Ethics
• Pharmaceuticals
• Aging Issues
• Genetic Research
• Specialization of Doctors
• Medical Schools
• Access to Medical Care

4. Family

• Education
• Marriage
• Estate Planning
• Personal FinancingChildrearing
• Real Estate
• Gender Roles
• Extended Family
• Retirement
• Parenting

5. Prejudice

• Racism
• Minority Affairs
• Ecumenism
• Religious Prejudice
• Sexism
• Cultural Bias
• Tolerance
• Civil Liberties
• Freedom of Religion
• Affirmative Action

Timeline:

5th six weeks:

• Introduction of Project
  • Goals
  • Expectations
  • Procedures
• Faculty Panel Review

6th six weeks:

• Library Research
• Small Group Meetings
• Interviews
• Community Professional
• Presentations

Grading

Grades for 6th six weeks in English and Theology will be based on the completion and merit of the individual Capstone Project as outlined in the respective subject criteria. Grades for the final three weeks of Government and Economics will be based on the completion and merit of the individual Capstone Project as outlined in the respective subject criteria. ‘Senior Capstone Project’ is a .5 credit class required for all Gorman students in the senior year. Students will receive a grade for Capstone Project based on 200 points.

• 80 points Capstone Project Class Component/Manley
• 40 points Technology Presentation/Manley
• 20 points Writing Component English/Traweek
• 20 points Economics Component Economics/Collins
• 20 points Government Component Government/Burnett
• 20 points Theology Component Theology/Rueter

General Expectations

• Each student must pick a contemporary area of social concern under one of the five major themes: poverty, justice, health, family or prejudice.
• Each student must clearly state a problem in the area of concern they have chosen.
• Each student must conduct a minimum of one personal interview – posing questions relating to economics, government and ethics – with people affected by the particular area of concern or who affect change in the area of concern. The interviews must include at least four questions in the each area of concern: economics, government and ethics/theology. More than one interview is often appropriate.
• Each student must read at least four credible outside research articles in government and four in economics, with at least one from a professional trade journal for each discipline.
• Each student must read at least one Church document addressing the area of concern.
• Each student must connect the area of concern to a major literary work.
• Each student must submit the written manuscript and present a Power Point Presentation.
• All work will be completed by the individual student.
• WORK SUBMITTED: Must be submitted to the appropriate subject teacher held together with a single binder clip. DO NOT SUBMIT WORK IN A NOTEBOOK.

1. Written Manuscript - Interview Summary, Research, Argument Summary, Journal – as outlined in the corresponding subject requirements on the virtual classroom.
   1. Economic Component
   2. Government Component
   3. Theology Component
   4. English Manuscript
   5. Capstone Class Criteria
2. Power Point Presentation – Each student must sign up on the senior bulletin board to present during school hours with a group of peers. Presentation requirements are outlined on the virtual classroom. Parents and other guests are welcome to attend.

Teachers: Jane Manley; Jerrill Burnett; Daye Collins; Ray Reuter; Fran Traweek
Phone: 903-561-2424
Email: jmanley"at"tkgorman.net; jburnett"at"tkgorman.net; dcollins"at"tkgorman.net; rreuter"at"tkgorman.net; ftraweek"at"tkgorman.net