CAPSTONE PROJECT

Eighth grade students at Portland Jewish Academy participate in a multifaceted, interdisciplinary project which addresses the PJA Middah of Tikkun Olam, integrates the curriculum of the Jewish Studies program and addresses the fundamental skills of the research process and academic writing as taught by the PJA Humanities department.  This Capstone project requires students to design, implement and facilitate a Community and Service project.  These Community and Service projects, which have a grounding in the historical and textual curriculum studied in 6th, 7th and 8th grade Jewish Studies, also require the student to incorporate international mindedness. 

After identifying an area of interest and a contemporary need in their community, students write proposals for approval of their project and then create an action plan.  Students don't just plan their project, but experience it with their 6^th and 7^th grade schoolmates.  8^th graders make connections between Jewish history and text, as well as their own Jewish identity, by writing a drash (a talk or discourse on a particular topic). 

Before, during and after conducting their community service project, 8th graders write formal academic research papers exploring some facet of their Capstone area of interest.  This paper, which runs about 10 pages in length, is written in a formal academic voice. Students are also taught research and notetaking skills and prove their proficiency through a research process log, and in a formal Works Cited formatted using MLA style.  The final facet of the Capstone experience is an exhibition where students will display their Capstone work on trifolds and and answer questions from parents and community members.  This year that exhibition takes place on June 12.

Components of the Capstone project

Part I:  Research Paper

Students will

• Select a topic related to their Community and Service project. 
• Narrow their topic to a thesis statement
• Fully research their topic in order to support their thesis statement
• Identify a credible online source
• Use multiple sources of information, including books, periodicals, online databases and internet websites
• Receive instruction on sources available to them at PJA
• Take a field trip to the local Multnomah County Library
• Draft an outline (or a reverse outline)
• Complete multiple drafts of an analytical research paper
• Include parenthetical citations
• Create a Works Cited
• Find one adult to edit their paper
• Engage in the Peer Review process
• Learn proper MLA formatting

Part II: Drash

Students will

• Write a drash exploring the connections between their Community and Service project and their Jewish Studies curriculum
  • Possible topics:
    • Compare and contrast to another mitzvah (literally commandment though also defined as a good deed) 
    • Select a mensch (a role model) who inspired their project
    • Draw connections to events in Jewish history
    • Identify a passage from the Tanach (the Hebrew bible) and make connections to their project

Part III: Community and Service Project

Students will

• Identify and area of interest for their project
• Write a proposal to submit to the PJA faculty Capstone supervisors
• Create an action plan
• Identify ways of including 6^th and 7^th graders in their project
• Complete 10 service hours
• Document all service hours
• Conduct a project
• Write a reflection of their experience

Part IV:  Capstone Expo

Students will

• Prepare a trifold for display at the Expo
• Be able to speak extemporaneously in response to questions from visitors to the Expo
• Be assessed by PJA faculty Capstone supervisors