The document outlines the requirements for a graduation project that North Carolina high school students must complete to receive their diploma. It has four main components: a research paper written in junior year, a portfolio completed in senior year, a product requiring 15 hours of work with a mentor, and a presentation given to judges in senior year. The research paper must be 3-6 pages and cite 4-6 sources. The portfolio documents the process. The product can be physical, a performance, written work, or related to a career or service. It must have a positive community impact. The presentation explains the entire process using technology.

1. The Graduation Project
English III – Research Paper

2. The Graduation Project is part of the English
curriculum that is now required for graduation and
must be completed successfully in order to receive a
high school diploma.
This NC Graduation Project gives students an
opportunity to demonstrate many of the skills they
have learned since entering school.
This performance-based assessment incorporates
21st century skills with other concepts.
Students select a topic of interest and pursue the
process through their junior and senior years.

3. FOUR COMPONENTS OF THE
GRADUATION PROJECT
Research paper (to be written in the
junior year)
o Length:
Academic 3-5 page minimum
Honors/AP 5-6 page minimum
o Sources:
Academic (4) – 1 print, 1 chart/graph, 2 electronic
Honors/AP (6) – 2 print, 1 chart/graph, 2 electronic, 1 additional
o Must be typed; double spaced (12 point Times New Roman)
o Must use MLA format
oWill count 25% of your 2nd or4th quarter
grade

4. FOUR COMPONENTS OF THE
GRADUATION PROJECT
Portfolio (To be completed in the senior
year)
oDocuments the process
oIncludes letters, paper, resume, evaluations,
reflections
oFirst impression to judges
o1 ½" white binder with creative cover
oMust include, in order, the listings in Table of
Contents

5. FOUR COMPONENTS OF THE
GRADUATION PROJECT
Product (To be completed in the senior
year)
oRequires a minimum of 15 hours with a mentor
oMust be documented through photos, video,
journal entries, etc.
oMust have a positive impact on the community
or be a valuable item
oIs not just a brochure or poster
oMust be an extension of the research

6. FOUR COMPONENTS OF THE
GRADUATION PROJECT
Presentation (To be presented in their senior
year)
oIncludes information about the entire process
oRequires using technology (PowerPoint, video, etc.)
oIs presented to a panel of 4-5 judges
o 8-10 minutes in length (with time for questions)

7. Students must adhere to all deadlines in turning
in all documents.
Students can choose his/her own faculty advisor
to help guide them through the process...let
them become their "best buddy."
Student must also choose a community mentor
who will help them in the completion of their
product.

8. CHOOSING A TOPIC:
 Is the topic of personal interest to you?
 Do you know enough about the topic to get started, but can still
benefit from further research?
 Is the topic global enough to be researched but narrow enough to
allow time for depth?
 Does the topic lend itself to the other components of the project?
 The topic is engaging and provides a "learning stretch" for student-
is not something you already know a lot about-does this topic
offer you a challenge?

9. CHOOSING A TOPIC:
 Do you have your parents' permission to pursue this
topic/product?
 Can you find a community mentor to help you with this topic?
 Think and rethink your topic-will it hold your interest for the
semester?
 Can a product be developed from this topic?

10. TOPICS CAN BE:
Career-oriented
Hobby-oriented
Service-oriented (Suggested)

11. PRODUCTS CAN BE…
 Students should select a project that is interesting, fun, and
worthwhile.
 There are several types of projects that meet the requirements for
the North Carolina Graduation Project.
 NOTE: Students will have to have a tangible OR intangible product
to present to the review panel that is directly related to their
research paper and a long-term project.
Your project proposal must fit into one of the
following categories:

12. PRODUCTS CAN BE…
Physical project-a project that is created-
something that can be touched and seen.
o build or make something; such as a fashion outfit, a computer
program, a rebuilt engine, a model of a historical scene.
o Make a quilt
o Restore a piece of furniture
o Build a model house
o Write and illustrate a children's book
o Construct a robotic hand
o Design, create, and sell a T-shirt as a fundraiser for charity

13. PRODUCTS CAN BE:
Performance project-a project that requires
the student to do something like
acting, singing, teaching, coaching, or
directing.
o Perform a dance you have choreographed
o Perform a musical selection you have written
o Perform a magic show.
o Direct a play
o Create an original dance or musical arrangement
o Create an original CD in a sound studio
oDesign and publish a website

14. PRODUCTS CAN BE:
Written project
oWrite an original children's story
oCreate a book of original poetry
oWrite a series of newspaper articles and publish in a local paper

15. PRODUCTS CAN BE:
Career-Related project
o Shadow a police officer and write/speak about the experience to a specific
audience
o View and document medical procedures
o Volunteer at a local veterinarian's office
o Job shadow a teacher, nurse, or other professional job shadowing a
professional in the area you might wish to work, volunteering time at
a local office of some kind.
o Note: simplistic projects (like job shadowing without any application
beyond the job shadowing experience) are generally considered too
lightweight for a GRAD Project and are unacceptable unless some
measure of increased sophistication is applied.

16. PRODUCTS CAN BE:
Service project
o Organize a food drive
o Develop and implement an exercise program at a local senior center
o Volunteer at a hospital, nursing home, etc.

17. PRODUCTS CAN BE:
Physical experience
o Learn to sky dive
o Run a marathon
o Go on a wilderness survival trip.
o Take a Lifesaving course

18. Is This a Product?
YES NO
Raising catfish Making a PowerPoint about catfish
Producing a brochure and other
promotional items about Wallace and
distributing it through the Chamber of
Commerce
Making a brochure about Wallace
Building a generator Making a poster about how to build a
generator
Teaching music to children Explaining different kinds of music to
the judges
A series of game videos you yourself
shot as a service to the athletic
department
A video of a game shot by the coach’s
wife

19. Is This a Product?
YES NO
Learning how to install car speakers
and installing them in a friend’s car
Already knowing how to install
speakers and installing them in your
own car.
A web site you designed A poster about how to design a web
site
A brochure to recruit animal shelter
volunteers distributed throughout the
community
A brochure listing facts about cats
from your research paper
A PowerPoint** showing pictures of
you teaching reading to children
A PowerPoint on how to teach reading
** Power Points are NOT a product unto themselves. They may be part
of the presentation but do not replace a product.