Randall Lisi 5/2/18

Research and Problem Solving

Over the four years I have been at The Greene School I have had many projects that have

required me to strengthen my skill in research and problem solving. Some examples are​ A

r​esearch paper about diet soda from ELA, two of my science labs, both from biology, and three

different projects from math.( Algebra 1, Geometry, and Precalculus).

I wrote my research paper for Ela as a freshman. This was one of my first research papers

of highschool. This paper helped teach me how to properly research a specific topic. For the

paper we were told to pick a topic that appealed to us and to conduct a research paper about that

topic. For my science artifacts they were both labs that helped enhance my problem solving

skills. For one of the labs we were tasked with dissecting a fetal pig. This was a challenging task

for the group. We had done prior research to performing the lab so we were informed on the pigs

organs and the procedure that we were performing. This lab really showed that I was good at

researching because I knew the procedure that we had to perform very well and I Knew about the

inside of the pig and what organs I could expect to see. The other lab was a strawberry D.N.A

lab. This lab was more problem solving than research oriented because we were trying to find a

way to pull the D.N.A from the strawberry so we could see it. Some research was definitely

involved in this process but it was mostly problem solving and I really mastered this skill

because I was able to figure out the process and actually see the D.N.A physically from the

strawberry.

For my first math artifact I was tasked with making a snowflake out of slope

intercept form. This was my first problem solving project for my algebra 1 class. My
second math artifact was symmetry of a butterfly for geometry. We had done other

projects throughout the year working on similar things but after doing that project I really

felt like it showed that I was able to solve problems with my mathwork. My final artifact

is a pre calculus based project about tsunamis. This project encompasses the research and

problem solving skill set all in one and really shows mastery of this target. For this

project I researched a specific type of tsunami and the rate of impact and damage caused

by one in other areas. I then did calculations to figure out the impact and how much

damage that tsunami would cause if It were to happen here in Rhode Island. Over the past

four years of my attendance at The Greene School in one way,shape, or form I have been

challenged by my teachers to strengthen and master my research and problem solving

skills.