Senior Paper

At our high school, the students have to write a "Senior Paper" in their Civics or Economics class. The intention is to prove that they can use critical thinking to analyze some information and draw conclusions. Another intention is to make sure that our High School graduates can actually read and write!

Ina is taking Economics right now and is working on her Senior Paper. I think it is valid to make sure that she is capable of critical thinking and can draw conclusions, but I also think it is fair for me to help her in several ways.

First, English is not her native language. While a goal of this year is for her English to improve, I feel that it is fair to help her with her grammar and the words that she chooses.

Secondly, she has not grown up around our political system like most of the Seniors at the school. Therefore, I feel that it is fair to help her understand the basics of our political system and guide her with the research that she needs to do.

Beyond that, the assignment is hers. I gave her suggestions on what to research, but she is doing the research (although I am doing the research in paralle with her). She is then doing the writing. I am reviewing what she writes and making the grammar and wording suggestions. I am not planning on changing her conclusions -- those are hers and not mine.

The assignment calls for her to analyze the economics of 5 proposals from each of the main Presidential candidates: Barack Obama and John McCain. That is a LOT of work! By doing this, she will actually be more informed about the candidates than a majority of Americans!

The other fact that I have to admit is that I am becoming a more informed voter by helping Ina with this paper. I have had to review the candidate's web sites, review articles about their positions, try to help Ina find out how they will pay for their proposed policies, and similar research that takes a lot of time. It's easy to make a choice without really understanding the details of the choice. I am learning more details about the choice than I ever have before!

I don't intend for this to be a political blog, so I will not comment on the choices. However, I am sending a big "Thank You" to Ina for helping me do a better job of using my right to vote.

- Rob