Goal: To create an internet-published resource that fills the community’s need for positive information about public education and fulfill many of the writing standards for 12-13.
Ahwatukee Community:
Hello, this message is brought to you by the students of Desert Vista High School, enrolled in Mrs. Benedict’s Honors Junior English Class. For the past semester, these students have been active: reading, writing, and researching- parallel to any other English class. However, there is one distinction. These students have dedicated their time to uncover the hidden treasures of public education. A work force has risen from excited teenagers and all hands are on deck. They are currently in the process of constructing a website bountiful of information about public schools. By visiting http://thethunderproject.org/ you would be supporting their hard work and efforts. This site contains: daily updates, occurrences in Desert Vista, information about the authors, graphics, research papers about different topics concerning public education, and other fascinations hand crafted by students! They thank you for your time and consideration; and hope you check out the website!
With Gratitude,
The Students of Mrs. Benedict’s Honors Junior English Class
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Background
Countless critics have thrown dagger after dagger of scorn and ridicule at the American public education system. They say that it is inefficient, low in standards, and low-ranking on the international scale. They are wrong. Two teachers from Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, Arizona were determined to dispel all the false criticisms, and the Thunder Project was born.
It began as an idea, and grew into a full-scale project aimed at showing the world how great the American education system really is. You may find this hard to believe. After all, rankings have placed the United States far below other countries in terms of education. But anything can appear inferior if unfair comparisons are made. The cream of the crop of other countries is compared to the entirety of the United States. Therefore, these rankings do not reflect the true nature of the American education system. Are you still doubtful? Then, recall the names Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg. Each of these men has revolutionized the world of technology. What else do they have in common? They were all born, raised, and educated in America. Their stories serve as proof that America’s education system is not falling behind.
But, in order to make this point to the rest of the world, over one hundred English students at Desert Vista High School set to work. They mercilessly scoured books, newspapers and databases to find documented proof of American educational success. Then, they began to write. Their articles contained fresh, new ideas, but were still linked to common core standards. Four months later, their hard work has been published here, on the Thunder Project website. This website showcases the abstracts and articles they have written, along with some information about the authors themselves.
Abstracts
In today’s world, a plethora of information is available to anyone who seeks it. Hundreds of thousands of authors have given their own time, money, and research to publish studies, news reports, or their own theories. These men and women are experts in their fields, and their words can give valuable validity to an argument. That is why sources are so important in any article. Before any of the Thunder Project’s articles could be written, a compilation of sources was made. Over the course of this project, each student found at least six different, reliable sources, from books, videos, and magazines to newspaper and database articles. The students then wrote an abstract on each of their sources. In these abstracts, the sources were summarized and then analyzed for effectiveness in rhetoric and structure. The result was a stockpile of hundreds of sources, each discussing a positive aspect of the American education system. Examples of these abstracts can be found under the Articles section of this website.
Articles
In the Article section, you can find papers written by every student who took part in the Thunder Project. These are the cream of the project. Every article combines thorough research and factual knowledge with the students’ own ideas and thoughts. There are informative and persuasive pieces on a variety of subjects ranging from special education to school funding. Over a period of several weeks, these papers were written, edited, and published by students, for students. They not only provide a resource for the community, but they also give students the opportunity to exercise their writing skills and express themselves on a topic that concerns so many.
Authors
The Thunder Project could not have been possible without the numerous student authors who gave their time and effort to researching and writing for this project. Over one semester, these students built a website from scratch and filled it with their thoughts and ideas, hoping to make others see the bright future of the American public education system. The Authors section of this webpage is dedicated to each of the authors who contributed. A short bio can be found about each author along with any works they have published on the site.
Each day, we are adding new articles to the Thunder Project. It is an ever-expanding and ongoing effort to educate the world on America’s school system. What started as a sprinkle of thought has turned into a storm of ideas. Of course, your opinions are important to us. We would love to have feedback from you. Tell us what subjects you would like us to write about or what your thoughts are about a certain topic. We would love to hear from you! So please explore our site and help us take education by storm!
The Thunder Project Articles
http://www.ahwatukee.com/
http://www.azcentral.com/
http://www.ahwatukee.com/community_focus/community_briefs/school_notes/article_b42f42e4-8b6c-11e2-8a5e-001a4bcf887a.html (March 13, 2013)
http://www.azcentral.com/community/ahwatukee/20120510desert-vista-students-website-applauds-public-education (May 11, 2012)
http://www.ahwatukee.com/news/article_6892acee-93c5-11e1-a8b0-0019bb2963f4.html (May 1, 2012)
