Future You: College & Career Persuasive Portfolio
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Future You: College & Career Persuasive Portfolio

Grade 9English15 days
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The 'Future You: College & Career Persuasive Portfolio' project is designed for 9th-grade English students to research potential careers and develop persuasive cover letters and resumes that reflect their future aspirations. Through interactive entry events and portfolio activities, students gather information, draft persuasive letters, and construct professional resumes, enhancing their research and writing skills in alignment with Common Core Standards. The project emphasizes clear and coherent writing, persuasive techniques, and the application of research in creating compelling applications for future educational or job opportunities.
Persuasive WritingCareer ExplorationResearch SkillsResume BuildingCover LetterCommon Core Standards
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can I effectively research and prepare a persuasive cover letter and resume to reflect my future career aspirations and succeed in applications for college or jobs?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • What are the key elements of a persuasive cover letter and resume?
  • How can research on potential careers inform the writing of a cover letter and resume?
  • In what ways does clear and coherent writing impact the effectiveness of a cover letter and resume?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will be able to research and identify key information about potential careers and college programs.
  • Students will create a persuasive cover letter that includes arguments supporting their qualification and suitability for a chosen career or college program.
  • Students will develop a professional resume that effectively communicates their skills, experiences, and educational background.
  • Students will enhance their clear and coherent writing skills tailored to a specific audience in the form of job or college applications.

Common Core Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.1
Primary
Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.Reason: Students will use argument writing to persuade potential employers or college admissions of their qualifications.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.4
Primary
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.Reason: The project requires students to produce clear and coherent writing in the form of a cover letter and resume.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.7
Secondary
Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.Reason: Students will need to research potential careers and synthesize information to support their applications.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.8
Secondary
Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the usefulness of each source in answering the research question; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.Reason: Researching careers requires gathering and evaluating information from various sources, crucial for building a persuasive application.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Career Fair Simulation

Transform the classroom into a bustling career fair with booths for different professions. Professionals from various industries present real-world experiences, sparking inquisitive questions about future career paths and the skills required, setting the stage for research and persuasive writing.

Back to the Future Day

Students receive a mysterious futuristic-looking letter from their future selves describing a successful career or college experience. They must investigate to 'uncover' how they achieved this future, aligning the story with their research and writing goals for the cover letter and resume.

Digital Scavenger Hunt

Students embark on a digital scavenger hunt, uncovering innovative career paths and educational opportunities online. The journey inspires creative thinking, essential for writing a compelling cover letter and resume that stands out in the 21st-century job market.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Career Exploration Investigator

Students embark on a research project to investigate potential career paths, helping them gather crucial information to develop a persuasive cover letter and resume. This activity enables them to understand the prerequisites and skills required for their desired future careers.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Identify three potential career paths that interest you. Consider industries, roles, and organizational types.
2. Use credible sources and databases to gather information about each career. Note details like required skills, educational paths, and possible career progression.
3. Compile your findings in a research portfolio, including a summary of each career path and why it interests you.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA comprehensive research portfolio documenting three potential career paths.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.7 and W.9-10.8 as students conduct research and gather information from multiple authoritative sources.
Activity 2

Persuasive Letter Architect

Students learn how to construct a compelling cover letter by using their research insights. They practice presenting personal qualifications persuasively, aligning them with their chosen career.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Review the research portfolio to identify key qualifications and skills for the chosen career path.
2. Draft a persuasive cover letter tailored to a specific job posting or college program related to your preferred career.
3. Incorporate facts and evidence from your research to support your personal qualifications and suitability.
4. Edit and refine the letter for clarity, coherence, and impact.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA polished, persuasive cover letter targeting a selected career or college program.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.1 as students support claims with valid reasoning, and W.9-10.4 in producing coherent writing.
Activity 3

Resume Builder Workshop

Students construct a professional resume that clearly outlines their educational background, skills, and experiences. The workshop emphasizes the importance of clear and organized writing, in alignment with job and college application requirements.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Gather information about your academic achievements, work experiences, internships, and volunteer activities.
2. Organize this information into sections: Objective, Education, Experience, Skills, and Activities.
3. Use specific action verbs and bullet points to describe your experiences and accomplishments professionally.
4. Review and revise the resume to ensure it is clear, concise, and tailored to the target career or college program.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA professional resume that effectively communicates the student's qualifications and experiences.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsSupports CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.4 by producing clear and structured writing, and aligns with W.9-10.7 by synthesizing information into a coherent document.
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Future You: College & Career Persuasive Portfolio Rubric

Category 1

Research and Information Gathering

This category evaluates the student's ability to conduct thorough and relevant research on potential careers, utilizing authoritative sources and integrating information meaningfully into their work.
Criterion 1

Quality of Research

Assesses the extent and depth of research conducted, including use of authoritative sources and synthesis of information.

Exemplary
4 Points

Conducts extensive and detailed research from a variety of authoritative sources, synthesizing information comprehensively and integratively.

Proficient
3 Points

Performs thorough research using multiple authoritative sources, with good synthesis and integration of information.

Developing
2 Points

Conducts basic research using a limited number of sources, with partial synthesis and understanding of information.

Beginning
1 Points

Research is minimal, with limited sources and poor synthesis or application of information.

Criterion 2

Relevance of Information

Measures the relevance and applicability of gathered information to the persuasive writing task at hand.

Exemplary
4 Points

Information gathered is highly relevant and precisely aligned with the persuasive task, enhancing the overall quality of the writing.

Proficient
3 Points

Information is mostly relevant and generally well-aligned with the task, contributing to a cohesive writing piece.

Developing
2 Points

Some information is relevant, but there are gaps or tangential details that do not support the task effectively.

Beginning
1 Points

Information is often irrelevant or misaligned, detracting from the persuasive task.

Criterion 3

Use of Evidence

Evaluates how effectively evidence is incorporated to support claims in the cover letter and resume.

Exemplary
4 Points

Incorporates compelling and well-integrated evidence that clearly supports all claims, enhancing the argument.

Proficient
3 Points

Uses relevant evidence to support most claims effectively, contributing to the argument's credibility.

Developing
2 Points

Evidence is used inconsistently, with some support for claims but lacking thorough integration.

Beginning
1 Points

Rarely uses evidence effectively, with insufficient support for claims.

Category 2

Writing and Organization

This category assesses the clarity, coherence, and organization of the student's writing in both the cover letter and resume, aligning with the standards for producing clear and coherent writing.
Criterion 1

Clarity and Cohesion

Measures the overall clarity and coherence of the writing, including logical flow and readability.

Exemplary
4 Points

Writing is exceptionally clear and cohesive, with a logical flow that enhances readability and engagement.

Proficient
3 Points

Writing is mostly clear and cohesive, ensuring the reader can follow the argument and structure easily.

Developing
2 Points

Writing shows basic clarity but with occasional lapses in cohesion or logical flow.

Beginning
1 Points

Writing lacks clarity and cohesion, making it difficult to follow the argument or structure.

Criterion 2

Content Organization

Assesses how well the content is organized and structured, particularly in the resume and cover letter format.

Exemplary
4 Points

Content is exceptionally well-organized, with logical and professional structuring that enhances comprehension and impact.

Proficient
3 Points

Content is well-organized, with a clear structure that supports comprehension and readability.

Developing
2 Points

Content shows emerging organization, with occasional incongruities in structuring or readability issues.

Beginning
1 Points

Content is poorly organized, with unclear structuring that hinders comprehension.

Criterion 3

Persuasive Techniques

Evaluates the use of persuasive techniques in the cover letter, assessing how convincingly the student presents their qualifications and intent.

Exemplary
4 Points

Utilizes highly effective persuasive techniques that create a compelling and convincing argument throughout the letter.

Proficient
3 Points

Employs effective persuasive techniques to create a convincing narrative supporting the application.

Developing
2 Points

Uses basic persuasive techniques, with some attempts to create a convincing argument.

Beginning
1 Points

Employs weak or ineffective persuasive techniques, lacking a convincing argument.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

Reflect on how the research process helped you in constructing your persuasive cover letter and resume. What was the most significant piece of information you discovered, and how did it influence your writing?

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Question 2

On a scale from 1 to 5, how confident do you feel about your ability to tailor a cover letter to a specific job or college application after completing this project?

Scale
Required
Question 3

Which of the following skills do you feel you improved the most during this project?

Multiple choice
Optional
Options
Researching career paths
Writing persuasively
Organizing a resume
Clear and coherent writing
Question 4

How do you think the skills developed in this project will be useful in your future college or job applications? Provide specific examples.

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Question 5

Reflect on the feedback process for your cover letter and resume drafts. How did receiving feedback influence your revision process?

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Required