Your Contract & Getting Approved¶
SDA Commons Wiki · South High School
This page walks you through every section of the Studio Contract — what it's asking, how to fill it in, and what Reese is looking for when he reviews it.
Before you start: you should have already worked through Design Your Studio. Have your EQ, standard, texts, and demo mode ready before you open this page.
The Big Picture¶
Your contract has nine parts. Here's what each one is for and roughly how much time it takes:
| Part | What it's for | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Your Essential Question and why you care | 10–15 min |
| 2 | Which standard(s) you're targeting | 5 min |
| 3 | How you'll demonstrate your learning | 10 min |
| 4 | Which skinnies apply to your standard | 10 min |
| 5 | What each score level means for your specific studio | 15–20 min |
| 6 | Your Deliverable (Week 6 studios only) | 10 min |
| 7 | Your week-by-week timeline | 10 min |
| 8 | Which texts you'll use | 5 min |
| 9 | Your signature | 2 min |
Most students finish in one sitting — about 45–60 minutes if you've already done the Design step. Don't rush Part 5. That's the most important part.
Part 1 — What This Studio Is About¶
Essential Question:
This is the question your entire studio is built around. If you've worked through Design Your Studio, you already have a draft. Write it here — exactly as you've worded it, even if it still needs refining.
What Reese is looking for: A question that's genuinely arguable, specific enough to research, and personally meaningful to you. If it's too broad or too factual, this is where he'll push back.
Why This Question Matters to Me:
Two to three sentences. Not "because it connects to the standard" — that's not why you chose it. What made you pick this question? What do you actually want to know?
This section tells Reese that you've thought about this and that you'll still care about it in Week 4.
Part 2 — Standards¶
Primary Standard:
Write the full standard code. Examples:
- 9-10.R.9 — for a reading-focused studio comparing two arguments
- 9-10.W.4 — for a studio ending in an argument essay
- WH.6_12.3 + Era 3 — for a World History studio on political revolution
- USH.9-10.2 + Unit 5 — for a US History studio on the New Deal
If you're not sure of the exact code, find it in the Skinnies Library — every skinny is labeled with its standard code.
Crosswalk Standard (if applicable):
Only fill this in if your studio genuinely requires both an ELA and a SS standard — and only if you've talked to Reese about it. A crosswalk studio is more complex. Don't add a crosswalk standard just to have two.
Studio Type:
Check one: - ELA-primary: You're demonstrating an ELA standard. Your texts might include a historical document, but the skill you're proving is an ELA skill (analysis, argument writing, etc.) - SS-primary: You're demonstrating a Social Studies standard. You're using reading and writing skills as your method, but the standard is SS. - Crosswalk: Both standards are equally weighted in your demo. Reese approves these before you proceed.
If you're not sure which type fits, it's almost always one of the first two. Ask Reese.
Part 3 — Demo of Learning¶
Demo Mode:
Circle or check the mode you chose in the Design step:
- Written Assessment
- Extended Writing
- Verbal Conversation
- Visual/Creative
- Multimedia/Performance
- Portfolio Annotation
→ Full descriptions of each mode: Design Your Studio — Decision 4
What My Demo Will Look Like:
This is the most important line in Part 3. Be specific. Don't write "I will write an essay." Write:
"I will write a 4-paragraph argumentative essay responding to the prompt: 'Who bears the most responsibility for World War I?' I will use at least three sources and address one counterargument in paragraph 3."
Specific = defensible. When it's time for Reese to score your Demo, this is what he'll read to understand what he's supposed to be assessing.
Who Will Score My Demo:
Check all that apply. Most studios include self-assessment, peer review, and Reese review.
Part 4 — Skinnies to Investigate¶
This section asks you to list which skinnies are most relevant to your standard and demo mode. A skinny breaks a standard into what it looks like at score levels 1.0 through 4.0 — in plain language.
Why this comes before Part 5:
You can't fill out the Proficiency Targets until you know what the standard actually requires at each level. The skinnies tell you that. Fill out Part 4 first, open those skinnies, read the 2.0 and 3.0 descriptions, and then come back to write Part 5.
How to find your skinnies:
Search by standard code or browse by subject area. Each skinny is a one-page breakdown. You want the skinnies that match: 1. Your primary standard 2. Your demo mode (if there's a demo-mode-specific skinny) 3. Your era or unit (for SS standards)
Write the name or code of each skinny you'll use — 1–3 is typical.
Part 5 — Proficiency Targets¶
This is the most important part of your contract.
Part 5 is where you translate the standard into language that describes your specific studio. You're not copying the skinny — you're using the skinny to describe what score levels look like for your EQ and your demo mode.
How to do this¶
- Open the skinny for your primary standard
- Read the 2.0 description (what you can do independently, but at the basic level)
- Read the 3.0 description (what you can do independently at the target level)
- Read the 4.0 description (what goes beyond the standard)
- For each level, ask: What would this look like if I'm writing about my EQ, using my texts, in my demo mode?
An example¶
Standard: 9-10.R.9 (Analyze and evaluate two arguments) EQ: Who bears the most responsibility for WWI? Demo Mode: Extended Writing
| Score | Generic skinny language | What this means for MY studio |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | With support, identifies a claim in one text | With help, I can find the main argument in one of my sources |
| 2.0 | Independently identifies claims in both texts; notes one difference | On my own, I can summarize the position each source takes and name one key difference |
| 3.0 | Compares how each text builds its argument; evaluates which is stronger and why | On my own, I can write a full comparison of how Kaiser Wilhelm's apologists vs. historians like Keegan build their arguments — and explain which case is stronger with specific evidence |
| 4.0 | Evaluates assumptions and blind spots in each argument; connects to a broader pattern | I can identify what each source assumes about power and responsibility — and argue that both miss the same structural factor |
Write YOUR version of this for each score level. Keep it concrete. It should describe something you could actually check.
My Target Score:
Write the score you're aiming for. Most students set 3.0 as their target. If you're setting a 4.0 target, Reese will want to make sure Part 3 (your Demo description) can actually show 4.0-level work.
Part 6 — Deliverable¶
Every studio ends with a public Deliverable in Week 6 — something you make and share with a real audience. The Deliverable is different from your Demo. Quick distinction:
| Demo of Learning | Deliverable | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Proof you understand the standard | Something you make and share |
| Audience | Reese (and you) | Anyone — classmates, parents, community |
| Assessed? | Yes — scored 1.0–4.0 | Not scored on the rubric |
| Example | Extended argumentative essay | That essay formatted and published to the SDA Commons |
Describe your Deliverable in 1–3 sentences. Where will it be exhibited? Who is the audience?
Part 7 — Your Timeline¶
Fill in a checkpoint for each week. A checkpoint is one specific thing you will have done by the end of that week — not "work on sources" but "finished reading all three sources and written a one-page reaction to each."
The six-week arc¶
| Week | Phase | What you're typically doing |
|---|---|---|
| 1 — Launch | Set up | Contract signed, first texts read, initial reaction written |
| 2 — Dig | Research | Deep reading, annotation, Source Log nearly complete |
| 3 — Build | Draft | First full draft of Demo complete, or first draft of Deliverable |
| 4 — Shape | Revise | Feedback received and incorporated; major revision complete |
| 5 — Finish | Polish | Final version complete; self-assessment filled out |
| 6 — Publish | Exhibit | Demo submitted; Deliverable exhibited (if Week 6 studio) |
Your Week 1 checkpoint is the most important one. This is what tells Reese you're not starting from scratch in Week 2. Typical Week 1 checkpoints:
- "I have read at least one passage from each of my four texts and written a reaction paragraph for each."
- "My EQ has been refined based on what I found. I've shown it to Reese."
- "I've pulled the skinnies for my standard and know what 3.0 looks like."
Write your own. Be realistic. If you don't finish a checkpoint, you figure out why and adjust — but you need checkpoints to know if you're on track.
Part 8 — Resources¶
Reading Library texts I plan to use:
List the texts from the Reading Library that you've identified for your studio. Link each one by title. You need at least two from the Reading Library.
Other Sources:
At least one source you found yourself — not from the Reading Library, not from a pre-built studio packet. This is you doing independent research. It can be:
- A news article (from a legitimate outlet, not a random blog)
- An academic article or book chapter
- A primary source you found in an archive or database
- A documentary or reputable podcast episode
Bring it to Reese if you're not sure it qualifies. He won't reject it — he'll help you figure out how to use it.
Part 9 — Agreement¶
Read the agreement before you sign. It says:
- You chose this EQ because you're genuinely curious about it
- You understand what score you're working toward and what it requires
- You will attend all checkpoints
- You will ask for help if you get stuck instead of sitting and waiting
- Your Demo will be your own work
Sign with your name — typed or written. Reese signs (or initials) in the Teacher Review box.
Reese will approve, or ask you to revise: - If your EQ isn't arguable enough - If your Part 5 Proficiency Targets are too vague to assess - If your Demo description doesn't match your standard - If your timeline doesn't have real checkpoints
His notes go in the Notes box. If he marks "Needs revision," fix it and bring it back. This is normal — it doesn't mean your idea is bad.
Once Your Contract Is Signed¶
You don't start Week 2 work until Reese has signed your contract. That's not a formality — it means your plan is solid enough to build on.
After it's signed: 1. Save your contract to your Google Drive studio folder 2. Run your studio using the Student Workflow page as your week-by-week guide 3. Check in at your scheduled checkpoints 4. When you're done: When You're Done
Open Your Contract¶
→ Open Studio Contract (Make a Copy)
Your Contract & Getting Approved · SDA Commons Wiki · South High School See also: Design Your Studio · Skinnies · Student Workflow · When You're Done