Benchmark 2
Sub-driving Question (SDQ) creation
Benchmark Objectives (or, What your teachers want you to gain from doing this assignment)
* Practice communicating effectively with a group and discover how to collaborate and compromise
* Create the SDQ that will lead your group research project for the remainder of the semester
Notes:
* All steps are included in this document (i.e. there are no building blocks). You should complete the following benchmark by hand using pencil and paper. Each step MUST be signed-off by your IT teacher before moving to the next step. A photograph of the completed and fully signed-off document should be retained in your Drive for eventual archiving.
Step 1: What relationship do your themes have to one another? (pencil and paper)
Write down every group member’s theme on a piece of paper. Play with different organizational structures for your themes. Some themes can be “nested” beneath other themes. Some will sit side-by-side next to one another (these are “parallel”). For this step you will use the same organizational concepts you use when creating an outline. You can use graphic representations of your organization, or you can use the outline type of format. Illustrate your thinking by use of symbols (like arrows, equals signs, etc), and by adding helpful words or phrases.
- Once you have thoroughly explored all theme relationships and made them clear on your paper have this step signed off by an IT teacher.
Step 2: Decide on your group’s most promising theme (verbal)
This is a conversation. Use your best communication skills. Be sure your concerns are heard by all. Don’t sit back and let someone else make decisions for you, get involved. Your group’s goal in this step is to arrive at a theme that works for all of you. Is everyone’s theme represented in some way? If you have decided to leave one or two themes out, is there a good reason to do so (besides that it makes this step easier?). Be ready to give a good justification for the decisions you make at this stage.
* Before having your new theme signed off by a teacher be sure it:
1) is not obvious;
2) is arguable;
3) applies to all people at one point or another.
- Once you have all agreed on a theme have it signed off by an IT teacher.
Step 3: Craft your SDQ (pencil and paper)
Now it’s time to join your theme to this semester’s driving question: Why do I matter?
- At the top of a fresh sheet of paper write your theme on one side and the driving question on the other. Draw an arrow to connect them. This is a visual representation of your task. Use the rest of this sheet for the tasks below.
- Together your group needs to come up with three, well thought out, well written statements in response to this question: Why does our theme matter?
- Now synthesize and narrow the three statements down to one polished, well crafted statement that you can each stand behind firmly. What are the strongest claims you have made? How can you blend these ideas together into one statement?
- Turn that statement into a question. This is your working SDQ. Evaluate your working SDQ by subjecting it to the “Criteria for a Sound SDQ” below.
- Write down your 6-10 distinct and researchable categories as bullet points beneath your SDQ.
(Don’t forget to photograph this document for your website, but get all IT teacher’s initials on your piece of paper first.)
Criteria for a sound SDQ
All SDQ’s:
* must be unique
* must address the Driving Question
* must not contain bias
* must divide into 6-10 distinct and researchable categories (Ask yourself is it too broad or too narrow?)
* must not elicit a yes/no answer
* must not be able to be answered directly or simply
It is the process and the products and the Academic Exhibition that collectively communicate the group's findings and conclusions to the SDQ.
Questions or concerns about Benchmark 2? Ask in the Forum below!
* must be unique
* must address the Driving Question
* must not contain bias
* must divide into 6-10 distinct and researchable categories (Ask yourself is it too broad or too narrow?)
* must not elicit a yes/no answer
* must not be able to be answered directly or simply
It is the process and the products and the Academic Exhibition that collectively communicate the group's findings and conclusions to the SDQ.
Questions or concerns about Benchmark 2? Ask in the Forum below!