Midterm Project (41%)

Show that you understand and can explain the contents of a field-related article to classmates from a different program.

Find out which topics that you learn about in your program interest students from other programs.
Find a credible article (not a video) at the right difficulty level for you on one of those topics (ideally written for people working in the field, not for the general public). Explain in writing why the article is credible and include a full reference for the article. Share this with the teacher as explained below.
Choose new words from the article and add them to your vocabulary table. Share the table with the teacher as explained below.
Create notes for the content of the article and write the reference correctly at the end of your notes.
Prepare for speaking about your topic.
Using your notes, converse or do a role-play with a classmate and the teacher about your topic. Share your notes (and role-play if you choose this option) with the teacher as explained below. (Evaluation here)
Write about the topic. (Evaluation here)
Get quizzed on the new words. (Evaluation)

Step 1: Topic

Consult your classmates but ultimately it's your choice. As long as you're teaching them something you learn about in your field that is not common knowledge, they'll be interested. Do not talk about what your program is or what typical jobs in your program are like; talk about a subject, concept, process, material or piece of equipment that people working in your field might have as part of their specialized field-related knowledge.

Step 2: Article content, level, credibility, and reference

It's good content:
- if it explains a concept, procedure, equipment or other knowledge that people working in your field need to know is good.
It's NOT good content if:
- it describes your program or a typical day at work.

It's the right level for you if there are many new words but not too many. Thirty minutes in the dictionary to understand one section is too difficult.
Identify factors that ensure the article is credible. It isn't necessary to verify all the factors: sometimes one or two factors are enough. For example, articles about Ontario law are reliable if they come from the Ontario Bar Association.
Include the reference for your source and indicate the reference style that you used (APA 7th edition or CSE citation-sequence).
Share this with the teacher asap through a WORD 365 document titled as follows: Your full name Midterm Project. For example, Mariam Saleh Midterm Project

Step 3: New words

Add words from your article to your Vocabulary Table.
- If you think I might say a word is too easy, ask me if I'll accept it on your list. Words that are too easy = cheating. You'll lose 1 point from your vocabulary quiz score for each word that is too easy.
The table must include all your new words for the course so far.
Title your Vocabulary Table as follows: Your full name Vocabulary Table. For example, Mariam Saleh Vocabulary Table.
Share it with the teacher.

Step 4: Notes

Do them in the same document as in Step 2 above.
Make sure they follow the format we saw in class: headings, indentations, symbols, succinctness, clarity for anyone to understand them.
Include the reference(s) for your source(s), correctly written at the end of your notes.
Make sure you have enough content to talk for between 3 and 5 minutes about the article and to write 350 words minimum. If you want to use more than one article, you can, but it needs to be on the same topic.

Step 5: Prepare for speaking about your topic.

You can lead a conversation (with your notes to guide you) or a role-play (with your notes and a rough script to guide you):
- If you're doing a role-play (highly recommended for future health technicians, social workers, police officers, business professionals, and psychologists; and an option for everyone), write a loose script of what you expect to say and want to be asked for different parts of the dialogue. Be sure to create opportunities for explaining content from your notes.

Step 6: Speaking evaluation

When your notes are complete, you can do this step.
- See the Speaking Grids below for how to get a good score.

Step 7: Writing evaluation

Do this at home in the same document that you created and shared in Step 2.
- This is a straightforward expository text for everyone, even if you chose to do a role-play for the Speaking Evaluation.
- See the Writing Grid below for how to get a good score.
- There are no points for the introduction or conclusion, so keep them really short (one or two sentences is enough).
You’ll do a 15-minute live writing sample during class to validate that you wrote the text yourself.

Step 8: Vocabulary Quiz: See below for details.

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