Here are some ideas for a high school capstone project in both English and math:
English Capstone Ideas:
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Literary Analysis and Creative Response:
- Analyze a specific literary theme (e.g., identity, conflict, love) across multiple texts (novels, poems, plays). Create a creative piece (short story, poem, or play) that reflects your interpretation of the theme.
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Media and Representation:
- Explore how different media (film, literature, news) represent a particular social issue (e.g., mental health, race, gender). Create a multimedia presentation or podcast discussing your findings and proposing how to improve representation.
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Writing for Change:
- Research a social issue you are passionate about and write persuasive essays and op-eds aimed at raising awareness. Organize a community event to disseminate information and ignite discussion on the topic.
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Personal Narrative Anthology:
- Write a series of personal narratives about significant life experiences or challenges. Compile these narratives into a cohesive anthology, including reflections on what you learned from each experience.
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Adaptation of Literature:
- Choose a classic work of literature and adapt it into a different format (e.g., graphic novel, screenplay, modern retelling). Discuss the challenges of translation and the themes that remain relevant.
Math Capstone Ideas:
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Statistics and Community Impact:
- Conduct a statistical study of a local issue (e.g., education levels, health statistics). Analyze the data and present findings through graphs and visual aids to educate the community on the implications.
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Mathematics in Nature:
- Explore patterns and mathematical concepts found in nature (e.g., Fibonacci sequence, symmetry). Create a presentation or a booklet showing these patterns through photography or illustrations.
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Financial Literacy Program:
- Design a program or workshop aimed at teaching financial literacy to your peers or younger students. Cover topics like budgeting, saving, and responsible spending using real-world mathematical applications.
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Game Theory and Strategy:
- Investigate game theory and its applications in decision-making. Create a board game or app that uses game theory principles, then conduct a study on how different strategies affect outcomes.
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Mathematical Modeling of Real-World Problems:
- Choose a real-world problem (e.g., predicting population growth, analyzing traffic patterns) and devise a mathematical model to predict outcomes. Present your findings and suggest possible solutions based on your model.
Combining English and Math:
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Quantitative Literacy in Literature:
- Examine how statistics and data are portrayed in literature, using texts that incorporate numerical data or research. Analyze the impact of these elements on the narrative and create a visual representation (infographic or digital presentation) of your findings.
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Survey of Mathematical Themes in Literature:
- Research how mathematical concepts (e.g., probability, infinity) have influenced literature. Analyze texts and create a comparative study exploring how authors incorporate these themes into narratives.
Choose a project that resonates with your interests and strengths, and make sure it aligns with the guidelines and requirements of your school's capstone program!