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Sophomores balance control and choice on their research paper

Sophomores+balance+control+and+choice+on+their+research+paper

Often referred to as “the guinea pig year,” the 2014 sophomores have been no strangers to change.

The once solid foundations of junior year have become shakier and shakier as this year goes on. So far, sophomores have been told they will get to choose between AP Language or AP English Literature, a choice never before offered to juniors; they will also have to take the new Smarter Balanced tests, despite having already taken CAPTs this year.

And now, yet another alteration provides a challenge.

Since autumn, sophomores been known that they would also be writing their research paper—a long-time dreaded Junior endeavor—a year earlier than any students before them. Students were, unsurprisingly, shaken.

But this past Friday, when rumors flooded that sophomores would be assigned their topics rather than allowed to choose their own, anxiety and irritation spiked. And it wasn’t just sophomores who were upset: juniors who had been through the process felt sorry for their younger classmates.

Terrie Yang ’15, is worried. “If students are assigned topics that they don’t care about, this takes a lot of the pleasure out of researching and writing. I think this could really impact the quality of the final product.” Yang wrote her paper this year on gifted and talented education.

Emma Fasciolo ‘16 is unhappy with the lack of options given to some sophomores. “English class in itself is very stressful, so having [a research paper topic] assigned to me has put a lot of extra anxiety on me and makes me like the class even less” says Fasciolo. She notes that some teachers may assign topics based off the course curriculum, such as the French Revolution in Tale of Two Cities. Fasiolo doesn’t think that’s worth it, though; She writes best about things she is interested in, not topics she is forced into.

English teacher Holly Sulzycki, who currently instructs both sophomores and juniors, said, “It’s a balance between offering them freedom while still having control.”

“Part of assigning a topic is because picking and choosing is such a long process,” Sulzycki explained as to why some teachers would choose to limit choice. “It takes Research and Lit a full semester. If anyone is choosing to assign a topic, it has to do with their skill set and the sheer fact that it’s March.”

Some students are trying to find the bright side.

“We have less of a choice, but there are choices within the restrictions, I think,” said Emily Howard ’16. “What I was told was, since we have less time—we have a month, if not less— it would take a long time to choose, so I’m fine with it.”

Since the decision came from teachers rather than the English department as a whole, opinions vary among staff members as well.

“I don’t dictate how the research process goes,” said Julie Heller, chair of the English department. “It’s really up to the individual teacher.” She made it clear that teachers knew in the fall that the research paper would be moved, but that, no matter how early they knew, “It’s impossible to plan out your year with any level of certainty.”

English teacher Jesse Bauks, who also teaches sophomores and juniors, said he hasn’t started the research paper with his 10th grade students yet. He plans to at the end of the month.

Bauks has taught the junior English paper as long as he’s been at Staples, 12 or 13 years. During that time, he said, the paper has evolved; for example, he and his colleague, a few years back, piloted a more “humanities-based” paper, involving topics with “more novelists and artists and even historians.”

Bauks notes that he’s meeting with other sophomore teachers at the end of the year, to get a “consensus of what works. We’re trying to find out what’s appropriate and what our expectations should be.”

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About the Contributors
Jackie Cope, Features Editor
Senior Jackie Cope is determined to “Make H15tory” this year,  as it is written on the windows of her car in hot pink writing. Cope is currently working on the Inklings staff as one of the features editors and is ready to bring fun, engaging, and colorful features to this year’s papers. “I am beyond excited to be in charge of features,” Cope said.  “Last year I was Opinions Editor -- still fun but I needed a change.” Some of her previous work includes a piece where she focused on the current fashion trends around Staples.  It is a prime example of everything she publishes: lively, well-researched, and thought provoking. When Cope is not reporting on pressing topics at Staples, she devotes a good amount of her time to volunteer work. This past summer, she volunteered as a teacher’s aid at Daughters Of Charity pre-school in Bridgeport, Connecticut. “To put it into simple words, my job was making sure these three to five year olds didn’t kill each other,”Cope said.  “It’s total chaos -- one minute they’re laughing at something that is minorly funny and the next they trip and end up crying as if the world is coming to an end.” Aside from having to provide constant attention, Cope very much enjoys the presence of children and viewed her time working at the school as more of a fun activity rather than a job. She explained that many people would find her job as a challenging one, since she would be, “with these kids for hours on end, every day.”  However, Cope survived, “simply by treating them as funny little humans,” she said. “I loved it so much that I still find myself sharing stories about them to my friends.” Unsure of her profession for the future, whether it includes being with children or with writing, Cope is ready to leave her mark at Staples High School. “Hopefully I will know where I will be attending school for the next four years before April,” she said. “Until then, I’m going to have fun, work hard and make my own history.”  
Jessica Gross, A&E Editor
Most kids might shy away from new experiences and dread trying something they’ve never done before, but not Jessica Gross ’15. “I’m totally open to new things,” said Gross, “Actually, I love trying new things.” And it makes perfect sense. The A&E Page Editor has lived in Hong Kong, been to Paris to see a rock concert, and even attended a Berklee College summer program for the performing arts. While she indulges her passion for performing arts through her involvement in Staples Players and her love for journalism in Inklings, Gross’ guilty pleasure is baking. Whether it’s for friends, family, teammates or co-workers, she is always able to put her own spin on any traditional treat. And it’s not just her friends who take note of her knack for baking; even her boss at the restaurant she works at has remarked on her talent, adding a dessert special to his menu featuring Gross’ homemade cookies and brownies. She has even ventured as far as making mini key lime pies, a favorite on the menu. When someone has so many different passions, it’s hard to pick their proudest moment. However, Gross’ came to mind easily: “My band and I opened up for Paul Simon at a concert,” she said, “it was incredible.” Gross is actually the lead singer for that band, created at the School of Rock in Fairfield. Few musicians were invited to join the band at School of Rock, only those with rare talent made the cut. Whether it is finding an interesting topic to cover for Inklings, practicing with her band to get the best sound, or even baking a delicious snack, Gross does it all with flair. So as she embarks on her senior year, take note of her name, because who knows, Jessica Gross might be headlining a tour, opening up a bakery, or even writing for The New York Times in the near future.

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