THE INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PROJECT IS THE MAIN PART OF AN ELECTIVE SOCIAL STUDIES COURSE FOR 11TH AND 12TH GRADERS. THE COURSE GOAL IS TO ENHANCE STUDENT UNDERSTANDING OF LEGAL CONCEPTS WHILE PROVIDING DIRECT EXPOSURE TO A WIDE RANGE OF POSSIBLE LAW-RELATED CAREER CHOICES. STUDENTS DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A RESEARCH PROJECT INVOLVING SERVICE, ACTION, OR OBSERVATION OF ONE OR MORE COMMUNITY AGENCIES. FOR STUDENTS UNABLE TO LEAVE SCHOOL DURING SCHOOL HOURS TO CONDUCT RESEARCH, THE SOURCEBOOK OFFERS ALTERNATIVE RESEARCH PLANS TO BE CARRIED OUT AT SCHOOL OR IN THE COMMUNITY OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS. THE COURSE INCLUDES GENERAL ORIENTATION, RESEARCH PROJECT PLANNING, DATA GATHERING, DATA PROCESSING, ORAL PRESENTATION OF RESULTS IN CLASS, AND PROJECT EVALUATION. STUDENTS MAINTAIN WEEKLY LOGS WHICH RECORD THEIR PROGRESS. SAMPLE RESEARCH TOPICS, SUGGESTED RESEARCH STRATEGIES, FORMS, FIGURES, LAW RELATED JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS, AN EVALUATION FORM, AND APPENDIXES WITH SCRIPTS OF THREE FILMSTRIPS ACCOMPANYING THE COURSE ARE INCLUDED. THE COURSE IS PART OF A PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY THE LAW EDUCATION GOALS AND LEARNINGS (LEGAL) PROJECT OPERATED BY THE DADE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD AND FUNDED UNDER TITLE IV OF THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT. THE PROGRAM GOAL IS TO PROMOTE STUDENT UNDERSTANDING AND SKILLS RELATED TO THE CRIMINAL AND CIVIL (CONSUMER) JUSTICE SYSTEMS. FOR OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE LEGAL PROGRAM FOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, SEE NCJ 62130, 62133, 62134, AND 62142-62149. (CFW)