The Exhibition Journal is a comprehensive tool to help a student move through their senior exhibition.
What is the Senior Exhibition?
The exhibition is a public demonstration of student’s knowledge, skill, and readiness to join the larger community as an educated adult. Students spend 15 weeks researching a societal issue and preparing an action plan to address that issue. They work independently and with an advisor to investigate the many factors of the problem or issue, research the topic using primary and secondary resources, connect with a governmental or non-governmental organization, and, finally, they design, organize, implement, and evaluate a sustainable Exhibition Project to address the problem or issue. The summary of their findings and process are presented to a jury via an oral presentation, concrete presentation, and portfolio.
Exhibition topics are different for each student (as the topic should reflect the student’s personal interests and passions) although the format is standardized. The Senior Exhibition project should emphasize depth of thought, engagement in community, appropriate personalization and goals, and student initiative. It is the showing off, in the best sense, of a rewarding educational journey toward the “important things” which confront all adults. A diploma should be awarded upon a successful final demonstration of mastery before graduation, as a student’s demonstration that they, too, can do important things.
There are four judges elements in the MasterPoint Senior Exhibition:
Exhibition Project: The Exhibition Project should impact the larger community in some way. This project helps students realize their agency and get their hands dirty to do something, not just be a spectator watching someone else perform!
Exhibition Display: This segment of the project should further illuminate the topic or Exhibition process for the student. It might be a video, poetry, sculpture, painting, etc. Students are presenting their topic and experience in a tactile manner.
Portfolio: The portfolio should contain the student’s written Exhibition Paper and Exhibition Journal.
Exhibition Paper: Students develop an original thesis and sophisticated argument illustrated within in a 10-page to 15-page paper that includes
Introduction, Demonstrated Issue, Relevant Research on Issue, Exhibition Project Description, Assessment of Impact, and Conclusion. Papers should utilize correct MLA formatting, including citations.
Exhibition Journal (this book): Students should prepare a research journal with a minimum of 15 entries detailing their research process, “respectful skepticism,” and thoughtful analysis of the topic/issue. The journal should include the planning notes and response from the Exhibition Project, notes from Advisory meetings and Governmental/Non-Governmental Organization Meeting Notes, as well as a Log of hours spent on designing, planning, implementing, and evaluating their Exhibition.
Oral Presentation: The presentation should include the reason why the student was drawn to this topic, a persuasive exposition of why this topic is an “important thing,” the relevant research on the topic, how the student determined their Exhibition Project, the steps taken to implement the Exhibition Project, and the assessment of the project, as well as proposed next steps that could be taken to make a difference regarding this topic. Students should use a multi-media presentation in conjunction with their oral presentation. Following the presentation – which should last 20-30 minutes — the student answers questions about their project from the Exhibition Jurors.
This Exhibition Journal will guide students through the entire process. It provides guidance for each element, as well as a judging rubric for the jurors.