Jessica McCallum AHS DP
  • Humanities 12
  • QUILL MEDIA
  • Writing Resources
  • Senior Project
  • About Me
  • Humanities 12
  • QUILL MEDIA
  • Writing Resources
  • Senior Project
  • About Me

SENIOR HUMANITIES
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We can do hard things! 
SYLLABUS

Group Critiques

4/9/2026

 
Reminders:
  1. Check the TED Talk and Paneling Schedule. One more time.  Make sure you know paneling and presentation times!  All will be done in Lori’s classroom for you guys.
  2. Help During TED Talks- If you need help with thesis revisions during TED Talks please EMAIL ME to schedule an appointment. I have time available, but need to know when you want to meet.
  3. GO TO ELECTIVE CLASSES. This will be expected through the end of the year.
  4. Professional Dress is REQUIRED. Don’t fail your TED Talk because you couldn’t get it together to dress nicely.  See us if you need help or particular items of clothing!  NO JEANS.  NO TENNIS SHOES. SHOWER.

TED Talk Critiques
  1. Get into groups
  2. Review the protocol
  3. Figure out order of critique
  4. Do it!

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TED Talk Prep

4/7/2026

 
Announcements
  1. Check the TED Talk and Paneling Schedule. One more time.  Make sure you know paneling and presentation times!  
  2. For Off Campus Work on Wednesday. Both the library and the Smiley Building have some rooms available for private small groups- use them for practicing your TED Talk!
  3. THURSDAY- Be ready for critiques. Slides and notecards should be DONE by Thursday.  
  4. GO TO ELECTIVE CLASSES. This will be expected through the end of the year.
  5. Professional Dress is REQUIRED. Don’t fail your TED Talk because you couldn’t get it together to dress nicely.  See us if you need help or particular items of clothing!  NO JEANS.  NO TENNIS SHOES. SHOWER.

DO RIGHT NOW!! If your name is on the board, please add your research question to the public document right now! 

Reminders from Libby (do this during class today if you haven’t!
  1. Seniors: complete the Senior Yearbook Survey if you haven't yet--this includes your senior quote and senior portraits!
  2. Seniors: complete the Senior Celebration Booklet Input Survey--this gives what you'd like to have included on your 1/2 page in the Senior Celebration Booklet
  3. Seniors: complete the Graduation Staff Speaker/Music Survey to nominate faculty speakers and make suggestions about your class song, which will play at the end of the Graduation ceremony

SHARE WITH A PARTNER: ​
  1. What are you thinking about for your presentation?  Where are you right now?
  2. What are you feeling good about right now- where are the strong points?
  3. What are you concerned about?  Where do you need help?
  4. Show the group your slides, talk them through what they mean.
  5. What kind of help do you need?  Are there questions you have that the group could help you with?

WORK TIME: 
  • Thesis Revisions!
  • TED TALK PREP! Notecards, Slides, etc. Be ready for Group Critique on Thursday!
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Slides, Notecards, Public Schedule

4/6/2026

 
Announcements
  1. Check the TED Talk and Paneling Schedule. One more time.  Make sure you know paneling and presentation times!  All will be done in Humanities teacher's classroom.
  2. For Off Campus Work on Wednesday. Both the library and the Smiley Building have some rooms available for private small groups- use them for practicing your TED Talk!
  3. TUESDAY- YAY, OLIVER! We will run one practice critique as a model. Thanks in advance for giving Oliver the benefit of your support and feedback!
  4. THURSDAY- ALL should be ready for critiques. Slides and notecards should be DONE by Thursday.  
  5. GO TO ELECTIVE CLASSES. This will be expected through the end of the year.
  6. Professional Dress is REQUIRED. Don’t fail your TED Talk because you couldn’t get it together to dress nicely.  See us if you need help or particular items of clothing!  NO JEANS.  NO TENNIS SHOES. SHOWER.

Starter:  Send an invitation email to your TED Talk to the following people.  Make sure your email includes a polite salutation, the time and date of your TED Talk, your research question, and a brief description of what they can expect at the TED Talk
  1. Family
  2. LINK Mentor (if your talk is at all related to the field you interned in)
  3. Any other teachers/students/professionals you would specifically like to attend
  4. CC your Humanities teacher on this email


Fill out Public Schedule
  1. Put your most revised and perfected version of your research question here!  If you need to revise it based on thesis feedback, DO IT NOW! If you revise further after today, please change it, or let me know so I can.
  2. This will go out to the general public, so proofread carefully!

Q&A Prep and Tips
  1. Share out some of the types of questions you anticipate the panel asking you.
  2. Let’s go over how to answer questions-- the do’s and don’t’s! 
    1. DO:  Be specific
    2. DO: Thank the panelist for their question
    3. DO: take a moment to think back to your research and offer examples and evidence
    4. DON’T: Say “I don’t know” if the question is within the scope of your research question!

Work Time
Finish the things!
  1. Finish outlining, if you haven’t already done so.
  2. Make your slides
  3. Make your notecards
  4. Work on thesis revision

TED Talk Work Time

4/3/2026

 
SCHEDULE WILL BE DONE BY THE END OF THE DAY WITH PANELING FILLED IN!

WORK TIME
  1. TED Talk Outlines
  2. Thesis Revisions- remember, do the HARD THINGS first!
    1. Rewrite question or thesis if suggested
    2. Rewrite and reorganize- look at suggestions for organization and argumentation
    3. Fix other parts (intro, conclusion, part 2)
    4. Proofread, sentence level, transitions
    5. Formatting (use the damn checklist!)

TED Talk Prep

4/2/2026

 

Announcements
  1. TED Talk Scheduling: We will be starting TED Talks next FRIDAY. This means TED Talks will run from April 10-April 17. I will get you guys the schedule tomorrow with full panels formed. 
  2. Next Week:
    1. TUESDAY- Need a volunteer to practice their TED Talk for the class. This will give you the opportunity to be critiqued by all of us!  
    2. WEDNESDAY- Off campus work day to get your slides and notecards done, and work on your thesis revisions.
    3. THURSDAY- Need to be ready with your full presentation- slides, presentations, notecards, all of it for small group critiques. 

TED Talk Example- Secrets of Great Communicators (Watch from 5:47-10:00)
  1. What were three specific tips that stood out to you?
  2. What is one change or revision you want to make to your TED talk based on what you saw on this talk?

TED Talk Outline
  1. Outline TED Talk
  2. Done?  Start working on slide design!
  3. Our goal is to walk into class with a completed outline and slide drafts on MONDAY, to allow for maximum practice and refinement.


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TED Talk Prep

3/31/2026

 
Starter: Response to Feedback 
Review the rubric feedback on your thesis (and in your email) and the marginal comments in your paper draft. Please reply to the email with Jessica’s feedback answering the following questions:
  1. What pieces of the feedback felt like she reinforced things you already knew about your draft?
  2. What surprised you? Reflect on any revelations you had that you didn’t realize about your draft.
  3. Did you disagree with any of the feedback? Why? Is there any feedback you want to reject or question? Explain.
  4. Did anything confuse you about the feedback? What questions do you have for Jessica?
  5. What are your next steps? Make a specific list IN THE ORDER of most to least important.

Thesis Revision and Resubmission
When you re-submit your final final draft, please take the following actions and submit answers to the reflection questions (these should be answered on a separate doc).

Your revised paper grade will REPLACE your original grade.  In order for your re-submission to be accepted, you must follow the guidelines linked exactly.


TED Analysis:  In small groups, share out your TED analysis from yesterday + starter
  1. What patterns did you see in terms of what people liked, and what was interesting?
  2. What were the verbal and non-verbal talents the presenters showed?  Share, write your top two on the board.
  3. Write the top audience interaction technique on the board
  4. What style differences did you note in your group?  What similarities?
  5. What did your group notice about how the talks were structured?
  6. Share your different styles as presenters


Student Slides
Let’s look at some example slide shows from past AHS students. Pick 2, scroll through and be prepared to share out what do you notice?

  1. Shea D.
  2. Maddie T.
  3. Bella O.
  4. Vista D.
  5. Ava Kadence J
  6. Taylor S
  7. Rosie G
  8. Garrett M
  9. Trevor H
  10. Amira
  11. Darby
  12. Billie B

Student Examples:  Watch a student example linked on Lori's DP (see the finalists on the sub-menus). Take notes on the following things:
  1. What was their hook?  Was it effective?  Why/why not?
  2. How did this person use positive elements of their own personality to cultivate relationships with the audience and make their talk more interesting?
  3. What do you think would make an effective hook for YOUR presentation?
This is your ticket into independent work time to work on…


TED Talk Outline
Use the template to start outlining your TED talk!  Think carefully about what to include, what to cut, and how to sequence it. 

Conference with Jessica about Thesis Revisions?

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March 30th, 2026

3/30/2026

 
Announcements
  1. This Wednesday is off campus. You will be working on your TED Talk outline and thesis revisions. 
  2. ALL Thesis revisions and resubmissions will be due no later than Monday, April 20, at 3:30 pm. You are REQUIRED to revise.
  3. Monday, April 20 you will have an in-class thesis reflection writing assignment. More to come on this later!

Thesis Grades
  1. These will be entered, and I will email you your grades and rubrics by the end of today.
  2. Don't Panic! Read them and take them in- remember that these grades are based on college level expectations, as such, they may be lower than you have grown accustomed to. I am not in the business of mercy grading; I want to help you get better and be ready for college-level work.
  3. I and HERE FOR YOU!!! We will conference in coming days to clarify your feedback and help you establish next steps.
  4. This is my grade distribution:  
    1. A- zero
    2. B- 4
    3. C- 4
    4. D- 10
    5. F- (2 not submitted)
  5. Tomorrow we will talk about the revision process. You will have through TED talks to finish revising your thesis. 

Starter: How to Sound Smart in Your TED Talk
  1. TED talk with no content
  2. Why would I have you watch this?  What can we learn from it?

Overview and Logistics
  1. Review the TED Overview and Rubric document
  2. Scheduling Survey- Fill this out so I can create the schedule and have it finalized this week!

Day 1 Assignment
  1. Sarah Kay
  2. Watch another TED Talk + Notes

Action Project Cohorts

3/11/2026

 
Meet in your Cohort Groups!
Jessica's cohort is in Lauren's room.

Conference with your Cohort Advisor
  1. Where are you with your project? Show me!
  2. What is super important that you get done this week before the big chunk of work time in April/May?
  3. What are the biggest concerns and sticking points?
  4. Link to Conference Notes

MLA Formatting/Proofreading

3/10/2026

 
Announcements:
  1. Wednesday = ON CAMPUS, in Senior Project Cohorts 2nd-4th period. You MUST conference with your senior project cohort leader this morning!
  2. Thursday and Friday = Action Project Cohorts. You should be in your cohort during periods 3 and 4 each day. If you need to work off campus, you must arrange that in advance (not the same day, not after these periods) with your cohort leader. NOW is the time to ensure you are ready to hit the ground running after spring break!
  3. FINAL DRAFT THESIS DUE Friday 3/13 at MIDNIGHT. However, you should NOT plan on having revision time on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday in class. Those days will be working on your senior action project. 

Revision Tasks
  1. MLA Formatting Checklist- all together: Check out Hayden's example!

Options for Proofreading:
  1. Read it out loud to yourself
  2. Have a friend read it carefully to proofread
  3. Get rid of squiggly lines on Google Doc (this is probably not sufficient, but is a good first step)

FINISH THIS SUCKER!

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Title Page/Abstract/Self-Critique Works Cited

3/9/2026

 
Announcements:
  1. Wednesday = ON CAMPUS, in Senior Project Cohorts 2nd-4th period. You MUST conference with your senior project cohort leader this morning!
  2. FINAL DRAFT THESIS DUE Friday 3/13 at MIDNIGHT. However, you should NOT plan on having revision time on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday in class. Those days will be working on your senior action project. 

Starter
How do you push yourself to focus on tedious tasks? Think about when you’re at work, when you’re here, when you have chores, basically anytime it’s monotonous yet requires attention. If you’ve never had to do…well, sweet summer child…
  1. How do you get through these moments successfully?
  2. What strategies do you use?

Title Page and Abstract
  1. Create your title page. Do it RIGHT NOW.
  2. Write your Abstract
  3. SHOW your Humanities teacher- this is your ticket into revision

Self-Critique- Citations and Works Cited.
  1. Command/Control F for (  (that’s a parenthesis)
  2. This should find all your in-text citations.
  3. Check them for the following format, “...because if you don’t, the wrath of Humanities gods will descend upon you” (Fisher 23).  ←see where the period is?!?
    1. (Last name page).
    2. If no author, (“First Few Title Words” page).
    3. If no page numbers, leave them out
    4. NO YEAR. NO FIRST NAMES. NO COMMAS.

Works Cited
  1. Do you have a citation for EVERY SOURCE used in your paper?
  2. Are they in MLA format?
  3. Are they in alphabetical order?
  4. Do they have a hanging indent (confused by this term? Ask for help!)

Work Priorities for Today
  1. Fix your comments and address mistakes
  2. Keep polishing your paper to a fine sheen
  3. Bask in the existential dread of having a few more short days until the deadline

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