Personal Project Journal Entry Checklist
As you complete your journal entries, make sure you can answer “yes” to the following items:
Remember, the journal prompts are to get you started. You can add more information than what the prompts are asking. You can also add your own journal entries, in addition to the prompts.
Phase 1- Determining the Purpose
Journal #1 Setting the Focus <Include this entry in project paper, label it “Investigating”>
Reflect upon the brainstorming process. How did you decide upon possible topics? What global context interests you the most? Why are you excited about your possible topic? What prior knowledge do you have about your topic?
Journal #2 Deciding on a Product
What do you want to create? Write about how you could show your learning. Are you leaning more toward one idea over another? What types of resources would you need? Are there other people who could help you? Remember, you can create a product, like a painting or a website. You can also write an essay, or put on an event. Whatever you decide, make sure it is challenging, but possible given your resources.
Journal #3 Planning the Steps <Include in project paper, labeled “Planning”>
Make an action plan for your product. Write a list of steps you need to take in order to make your vision a reality. Include any materials or other resources you may need.
Journal #4 Global Context
Reflect upon your project’s global context. Why did you choose this context? What importance does your project have in relation to this global context? What might you or other people learn from this project? How can your project better the lives of others?
Journal #5 Setting the Criteria <Include in project paper, labeled “Planning”>
How will you know your project was a success? What criteria will you set for yourself? For example, if you are creating a website, one criterion could be based upon the number of people that leave comments on your site. You can consider your website a success if people are engaging with your content and leaving comments. You can use the sentence starter: “I’ll know I’ve done a good job if__________” as a starting point.
Journal #6 Reflecting on your Goals
Blend all the notes you wrote in your previous journals into one paragraph, which will serve as the introduction to your project paper. In this paragraph you should:
a. Define the goal of your project and explain why you chose that goal
b. Identify the global context that links to your project and explain how it relates
c. Explain the steps you intend to take to achieve you goals
d. Explain how you will evaluate whether or not you reached your goals
Supervisor Feedback Phase 1
Ask your supervisor for feedback on:
-Challenge level (too easy, too challenging, not enough resources)
- Possible sources for information
-Relation to the Global Context
Phase 2- Research
Journal #7 Process Reflection
Review the feedback you received on the first set of journal entries. Do you need to make any changes? If so, what changes will you make?
Journal #8 Determining the Purpose
What are you hoping to learn as a result of your research?
Journal #9 Planning for Research <Include in project paper, labeled “Investigating”>
Identify the central focus of your research. What exactly are you hoping to learn/prove through collecting this information? Identify 3 different sources you will use to find information. These can be credible websites, books, databases, interviews, works of art, etc. Identify any places you will need to go in order to find information, such as the library or museum.
Journal #10 Documenting the Research
Begin to create a working bibliography and research notes. This is a place for you to write about where the information came from (in MLA format) and to take notes on the information. You should have at least three research notes at this time. Structure your research notes in the following way:
Author. Title. Publisher, year of publication. Type of publication (print, web)
Notes: (this is where you write useful information from the source. Put things in your own words. If you copy phrases exactly, put them in quotation marks “ “
Uses: (a quick note about how you can use this information in your project)
As you gather more sources, continue to add them to this journal entry.
Journal #11 Documenting the Research-the Works Cited Page
Create a works cited page using MLA format. You can use Easybib or www.owl.english.purdue.edu for help.
Journal #12 Reflecting on the Research
Evaluate the research that you did. Write a paragraph explaining the product that you will create in the next phase of the project, based on the information you found. Reflect on your performance so far. What are you proud of? What do you to need to work on harder?
Supervisor Feedback Phase 2
Ask your supervisor the following questions:
Do I have enough information to achieve my goal in creating the product? If not, what additional information could I collect?
How can I best plan myr time to complete the project by the deadline?
Process Journal Phase 3: Reflection and Product Development
Now that you have gathered a variety of information on your topic, it is time to create your product. In this phase, you will:
Create the Product you set forth to accomplish
Write a report documenting and analyzing your Personal Project
The product may take many different forms, but the essay must follow a set structure and must be between 1,500 and 3,500 words. You will use the journals you completed in the first two phases of the project to complete the essay. The structure is as follows:
Journal #13 Paper Outline
Create an outline for your project paper. Use the following list to help structure your outline. The components of the list match up perfectly with how you will be graded. For the highest grade, follow the list closely:
Section 1: INVESTIGATING
This is your introduction. You started the project by investigating, but you may have followed the inquiry cycle (Inquiry• Action• Reflection) back to investigating multiple times, furthering your investigation each time.
Define a clear goal and context for the project, based on personal interests
In my report:
I give the precise meaning of the goal of my project; I explain exactly the ‘what I wanted to achieve, when, where, how I wanted to achieve it and why’ of my project.
I define the global context which applied best to my project.
I tell a little about myself and the relevant interests I have.
If I made changes to my goal during the project, I explain the changes made openly and honestly.
Identify prior learning and subject-specific knowledge relevant to the project
I identify what I already knew about this topic/project and the sources of my knowledge, before I started.
I identify what I learned from MYP subjects before the project started, and how this was helpful.
Demonstrate research skills
I outline the research skills I had when I started the project.
I discuss the research skills I developed through the project.
I explain how I may have shared my skills to help peers who needed more practice.
I identify my skill progress, checked against the ATL skill chart.
Section 2. PLANNING This includes all the work you did to plan and organize your project towards a product/outcome
Develop criteria for the product/outcome
In my report:
I refer to the criteria I designed to evaluate the project product/outcome.
If I made changes to the criteria during the project, I have explained the changes openly and honestly.
Plan and record the development process of the project
I provide evidence of my planning through timelines, milestones or other.
I present a record of how the project progressed from start to finish.
Demonstrate self-management skills
I outline the self-management skills I had when I started the project.
I discuss the self-management skills I developed through the project.
I explain how I may have shared my skills to help peers who needed more practice.
I identify my skill progress, checked against the ATL skill chart.
Section 3. TAKING ACTION
This is the main doing part of your project -the action part of the inquiry cycle, where the product/outcome is developed and completed.
Create a product/outcome in response to the goal, context and criteria
In my report:
I discuss the product/outcome as the result of the process I undertook during the project.
I check that I have included evidence of my product to be submitted with my report.
Demonstrate thinking skills
I outline the thinking skills I had when I started the project. I discuss the thinking skills I developed through the project. I identify new skills I learned through the project.
I discuss the thinking skills I developed through the project.
I explain how I may have shared my skills to help peers who needed more practice.
I identify my skill progress, checked against the ATL chart.
Demonstrate communication and
social skills
I outline the communication and social skills I had when I started the project.
I discuss the communication and social skills I developed through the project.
I explain how I may have shared my skills to help peers who needed more practice.
I identify my skill progress, checked against the Project specific ATL chart
Section 4: REFLECTING This is the point at which you look back over the project and evaluate your development. You may have reflected during the process of the project, and you can refer to this here too.Evaluate the quality of the
product/outcome against their
criteria
In my report:
I evaluate the product/outcome against the criteria I designed.
I identify the strengths, weaknesses and possible improvements of the product/outcome.
Reflect on how completing the
project has extended their
knowledge and understanding of the topic and the global context
I identify challenges and the solutions I developed to meet them.
I demonstrate a deeper knowledge and understanding of my topic and my identified global context.
I base my reflection on evidence, including my process journal.
Reflect on their development as an IB learner through the project
I identify how I have developed as a learner (using the IB learner profile as appropriate).
I discuss my strengths and weaknesses in completing the project.
I summarize the impact the project could have on my future learning.
Journal #14 First Draft Project Paper
For this entry, write your first draft of your Project Paper. Use your outline from Journal #13 and the Project Paper Guidelines.
Journal #15 Final Project Paper
You do not write in your journal for this entry. Instead, type your final copy of the Project Paper. Follow the paper guidelines. Remember to include copies of journal entries at the end of your paper.
Journal #16 Planning the Exhibition <Include in Project Paper, labeled “Taking action”>
Congratulations! You are almost done! The Exhibition is the final component of the Personal Project. Your work will be on displayed in the school and you will get a chance to speak about your work. For this journal, sketch how you envision your work to be displayed.
What are you most proud of in completing this project?
As you complete your journal entries, make sure you can answer “yes” to the following items:
- Did I include the date?
- Did I include the prompt title?
- Did I answer all of the questions in the prompt?
- Will my entry make sense to an outside reader?
- Did I write neatly (or type)?
- Did I include diagrams or visuals if necessary?
- Is my entry at least two paragraphs?
Remember, the journal prompts are to get you started. You can add more information than what the prompts are asking. You can also add your own journal entries, in addition to the prompts.
Phase 1- Determining the Purpose
Journal #1 Setting the Focus <Include this entry in project paper, label it “Investigating”>
Reflect upon the brainstorming process. How did you decide upon possible topics? What global context interests you the most? Why are you excited about your possible topic? What prior knowledge do you have about your topic?
Journal #2 Deciding on a Product
What do you want to create? Write about how you could show your learning. Are you leaning more toward one idea over another? What types of resources would you need? Are there other people who could help you? Remember, you can create a product, like a painting or a website. You can also write an essay, or put on an event. Whatever you decide, make sure it is challenging, but possible given your resources.
Journal #3 Planning the Steps <Include in project paper, labeled “Planning”>
Make an action plan for your product. Write a list of steps you need to take in order to make your vision a reality. Include any materials or other resources you may need.
Journal #4 Global Context
Reflect upon your project’s global context. Why did you choose this context? What importance does your project have in relation to this global context? What might you or other people learn from this project? How can your project better the lives of others?
Journal #5 Setting the Criteria <Include in project paper, labeled “Planning”>
How will you know your project was a success? What criteria will you set for yourself? For example, if you are creating a website, one criterion could be based upon the number of people that leave comments on your site. You can consider your website a success if people are engaging with your content and leaving comments. You can use the sentence starter: “I’ll know I’ve done a good job if__________” as a starting point.
Journal #6 Reflecting on your Goals
Blend all the notes you wrote in your previous journals into one paragraph, which will serve as the introduction to your project paper. In this paragraph you should:
a. Define the goal of your project and explain why you chose that goal
b. Identify the global context that links to your project and explain how it relates
c. Explain the steps you intend to take to achieve you goals
d. Explain how you will evaluate whether or not you reached your goals
Supervisor Feedback Phase 1
Ask your supervisor for feedback on:
-Challenge level (too easy, too challenging, not enough resources)
- Possible sources for information
-Relation to the Global Context
Phase 2- Research
Journal #7 Process Reflection
Review the feedback you received on the first set of journal entries. Do you need to make any changes? If so, what changes will you make?
Journal #8 Determining the Purpose
What are you hoping to learn as a result of your research?
Journal #9 Planning for Research <Include in project paper, labeled “Investigating”>
Identify the central focus of your research. What exactly are you hoping to learn/prove through collecting this information? Identify 3 different sources you will use to find information. These can be credible websites, books, databases, interviews, works of art, etc. Identify any places you will need to go in order to find information, such as the library or museum.
Journal #10 Documenting the Research
Begin to create a working bibliography and research notes. This is a place for you to write about where the information came from (in MLA format) and to take notes on the information. You should have at least three research notes at this time. Structure your research notes in the following way:
Author. Title. Publisher, year of publication. Type of publication (print, web)
Notes: (this is where you write useful information from the source. Put things in your own words. If you copy phrases exactly, put them in quotation marks “ “
Uses: (a quick note about how you can use this information in your project)
As you gather more sources, continue to add them to this journal entry.
Journal #11 Documenting the Research-the Works Cited Page
Create a works cited page using MLA format. You can use Easybib or www.owl.english.purdue.edu for help.
Journal #12 Reflecting on the Research
Evaluate the research that you did. Write a paragraph explaining the product that you will create in the next phase of the project, based on the information you found. Reflect on your performance so far. What are you proud of? What do you to need to work on harder?
Supervisor Feedback Phase 2
Ask your supervisor the following questions:
Do I have enough information to achieve my goal in creating the product? If not, what additional information could I collect?
How can I best plan myr time to complete the project by the deadline?
Process Journal Phase 3: Reflection and Product Development
Now that you have gathered a variety of information on your topic, it is time to create your product. In this phase, you will:
Create the Product you set forth to accomplish
Write a report documenting and analyzing your Personal Project
The product may take many different forms, but the essay must follow a set structure and must be between 1,500 and 3,500 words. You will use the journals you completed in the first two phases of the project to complete the essay. The structure is as follows:
Journal #13 Paper Outline
Create an outline for your project paper. Use the following list to help structure your outline. The components of the list match up perfectly with how you will be graded. For the highest grade, follow the list closely:
Section 1: INVESTIGATING
This is your introduction. You started the project by investigating, but you may have followed the inquiry cycle (Inquiry• Action• Reflection) back to investigating multiple times, furthering your investigation each time.
Define a clear goal and context for the project, based on personal interests
In my report:
I give the precise meaning of the goal of my project; I explain exactly the ‘what I wanted to achieve, when, where, how I wanted to achieve it and why’ of my project.
I define the global context which applied best to my project.
I tell a little about myself and the relevant interests I have.
If I made changes to my goal during the project, I explain the changes made openly and honestly.
Identify prior learning and subject-specific knowledge relevant to the project
I identify what I already knew about this topic/project and the sources of my knowledge, before I started.
I identify what I learned from MYP subjects before the project started, and how this was helpful.
Demonstrate research skills
I outline the research skills I had when I started the project.
I discuss the research skills I developed through the project.
I explain how I may have shared my skills to help peers who needed more practice.
I identify my skill progress, checked against the ATL skill chart.
Section 2. PLANNING This includes all the work you did to plan and organize your project towards a product/outcome
Develop criteria for the product/outcome
In my report:
I refer to the criteria I designed to evaluate the project product/outcome.
If I made changes to the criteria during the project, I have explained the changes openly and honestly.
Plan and record the development process of the project
I provide evidence of my planning through timelines, milestones or other.
I present a record of how the project progressed from start to finish.
Demonstrate self-management skills
I outline the self-management skills I had when I started the project.
I discuss the self-management skills I developed through the project.
I explain how I may have shared my skills to help peers who needed more practice.
I identify my skill progress, checked against the ATL skill chart.
Section 3. TAKING ACTION
This is the main doing part of your project -the action part of the inquiry cycle, where the product/outcome is developed and completed.
Create a product/outcome in response to the goal, context and criteria
In my report:
I discuss the product/outcome as the result of the process I undertook during the project.
I check that I have included evidence of my product to be submitted with my report.
Demonstrate thinking skills
I outline the thinking skills I had when I started the project. I discuss the thinking skills I developed through the project. I identify new skills I learned through the project.
I discuss the thinking skills I developed through the project.
I explain how I may have shared my skills to help peers who needed more practice.
I identify my skill progress, checked against the ATL chart.
Demonstrate communication and
social skills
I outline the communication and social skills I had when I started the project.
I discuss the communication and social skills I developed through the project.
I explain how I may have shared my skills to help peers who needed more practice.
I identify my skill progress, checked against the Project specific ATL chart
Section 4: REFLECTING This is the point at which you look back over the project and evaluate your development. You may have reflected during the process of the project, and you can refer to this here too.Evaluate the quality of the
product/outcome against their
criteria
In my report:
I evaluate the product/outcome against the criteria I designed.
I identify the strengths, weaknesses and possible improvements of the product/outcome.
Reflect on how completing the
project has extended their
knowledge and understanding of the topic and the global context
I identify challenges and the solutions I developed to meet them.
I demonstrate a deeper knowledge and understanding of my topic and my identified global context.
I base my reflection on evidence, including my process journal.
Reflect on their development as an IB learner through the project
I identify how I have developed as a learner (using the IB learner profile as appropriate).
I discuss my strengths and weaknesses in completing the project.
I summarize the impact the project could have on my future learning.
Journal #14 First Draft Project Paper
For this entry, write your first draft of your Project Paper. Use your outline from Journal #13 and the Project Paper Guidelines.
Journal #15 Final Project Paper
You do not write in your journal for this entry. Instead, type your final copy of the Project Paper. Follow the paper guidelines. Remember to include copies of journal entries at the end of your paper.
Journal #16 Planning the Exhibition <Include in Project Paper, labeled “Taking action”>
Congratulations! You are almost done! The Exhibition is the final component of the Personal Project. Your work will be on displayed in the school and you will get a chance to speak about your work. For this journal, sketch how you envision your work to be displayed.
What are you most proud of in completing this project?