Senior Project Proposal
Daniel Sweeney
A. Summary
I have chosen to investigate the overarching issue of ponzi schemes. More
specifically, I want to explore the effects of ponzi schemes on society and the economy.
Through the use of deception, ponzi schemes have stolen many of people’s life savings.
The perpetrators behind ponzi schemes have been able to start illegitimate, but thriving
practices despite the fact that ponzi schemes are fraudulent and therefore illegal in the
United States.
The driving questions behind my research are as follows:
● How are ponzi schemes started?
● How do ponzi schemes affect the economy?
● Who are the main targets of ponzi schemes and why are they targeted?
● What laws have been created to prevent ponzi schemes?
● How do ponzi schemes thrive without being detected by the authorities?
I plan on teaching a civics and economics class about fraudulent practices and
their detrimental effects. With the help of my advisor, Mrs. Jennifer Hill, I want to
design a lesson plan that will educate a class on ponzi schemes. The purpose of teaching
a class about ponzi schemes is to alert the students about the dangers of scams.
Teaching a group of students will start to prepare the younger population so that they
are familiar with different types of scams which will result in knowledge that will
hopefully prevent them from having their money stolen later on in life. I will relate
fraud to the curriculum of civics and economics in order to make my presentation
appropriate for a civics and economics class. The ultimate goal of my senior project is
to inform students about fraud in a fun and entertaining way. To measure the success of
my project, I will ask the students to take a quick survey along with answering a few
questions to see how many understood the material.
B. New Skills, Enhanced Skills, and Growth Goals
New Skills
● Teaching
● Creating interactive activities
Enhanced Skills
● Research
● Slideshow/Presentation
Growth Skills
● Communication
● Organization
C. Marketing Plan/Facilities/Audience
I am going to teach in a Virginia Beach City Public Schools classroom. The target
audience of my project are students who are not aware of ponzi scheme and other forms
of fraud. I am going to contact a Middle School Teacher who teaches Civics and
Economics. My project will relate to the economics portion of the Civics and Economics
class. My presentation will be interactive and interesting to hold the attention of the
students participating.
D. Projects Steps
Preliminary Steps Contact Teacher, emails, research 5 hours
Midway Steps Create presentation, confirm with teacher, practice 7 hours
Later Steps Practice, check technology in classroom, gather all 5 hours
materials needed to teach
Follow Up Send thank you to teacher, analyze survey 3 hours
Total 20 hours
E. Project Documentation
● Photographs of teaching class
● Email conversations
● Phone logs of calls
● Screenshots of text messages about project
● Advertisement flyers
F. Project Justification
My project will help to educate young individuals on the dangers of ponzi
schemes and other fraudulent practices. Learning about fraud will help prevent those
students from being victimized in the future. Fraud can take place just about anywhere,
so it is important to be aware of its dangers. This project will be a challenge for me
because I have never thoroughly researched ponzi schemes or fraud. As for my project,
this will also prove challenging because I have never formally taught a classroom full of
students before. The longest presentation I have ever given was 10 minutes long, and I
have never written a lesson plan guided by a curriculum. By choosing this project, my
knowledge of fraud will be expanded as well as my presentation/teaching skills.
G. Project-Paper Connection
The main goal of my paper is to answer the guiding questions. My paper will not
be limited to just ponzi schemes; other types of fraud will also be included. Enough
research will be in my paper to effectively teach a class about fraud. After my
presentation to the class, they will know how about the dangers of fraud and how to
avoid becoming a victim.
H. Academic Honesty
I understand that any academic dishonesty by me on any part of the project will
result in failure of the Senior Project and forfeiture of the Legal Studies Seal on my
High School diploma.
