Senior Comprehensives

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  • The Senior Comprehensives is a year long culminating event that is fully integrated into the senior year classes.
    • There are four distinct assessment activities attached to the comprehensives:
    • A research portfolio
    • A writing portfolio
    • A hands-on project
    • An oral presentation. All teaching staff (and staff who are trained as educators) are invited to be on a panel for the assessment of the oral presentation.

Contents

Time Line

Timeline for all elements (check below for details about assignments and portfolios)

  • September 28, 2012 Final Topic Selection Due
  • November 20, 2012 5 Annotated Sources submitted to JCGI class
  • December 4, 2012 Interview questions approved by shepherds
  • December 11, 2012 Preliminary project proposal submitted to JCGI class
  • December 14, 2012 Teacher draft of the Nature of God and Evil paper
  • January 17, 2013 Nature of Good and Evil submitted to English class
  • January 15, 2013 Project Proposal advised by shepherd and submitted in JCGI
  • January 25, 2013 Interview submitted to Bible class
  • February 1, 2013 Global Perspective paper in JCGI class (+ 15 new sources, may later count toward annotated sources)
  • February 26, 2013 10 Annotated Sources submitted to Bible class
  • March 5, 2013 Biblical Perspective Paper teacher draft submitted to Bible class
  • March 14, 2013 Teacher draft of Who am I Now?
  • April 16, 2013 Biblical Perspective Paper final draft submitted to Bible class
  • April 17, 2013 Who Am I Now? final draft submitted to English class
  • April 19, 2013 Project completed
  • April 24, 2013 Project Summary submitted to Global Issues class
  • May 2, 2013 Research Portfolio 15 Additional Annotated Sources (25 + 15 non-annotated) submitted to Global Issues class
  • May 17, 2013 Writing Portfolio (includes items in addition to those in this timeline)
  • June 4, 2013 Oral Presentation

Research Portfolio

  • The Research Portfolio comprises 25% of the final comps assessment.
  • Completed portfolio due May 2, 2013, but many elements have earlier due dates for classes.
  • The research portfolio will be assessed by a panel of examiners whose rubric totals will be averaged and who will consult with each other as needed.
  • Many elements will have been turned in to other classes, but they should be collected by the student to submit in the final research portfolio on May 2. 2013.
  • The research portfolio can have hand written page numbers and can contain original documents collected together and not reformatted.
  • The research portfolio will include:

1) Cover page identical to writing portfolio cover page except a clear indication that it is the research portfolio. Cover page may include appropriate graphic and/or photos (not required). Must include the student’s name, topic, and date. Examples
2) Student Profile Page. Examples
3) An Annotated Research Bibliography of exactly 20 items. Students are encouraged to select the best of their research and the items that are the most relevant to their topics to include here.
Five of these are due by November 20, 2012 (optional rewrite due December 10 but revisions should not happen after this date).
The second fifteen are due May 2, 2013. Turned in to Mr. D’s Global Issues (or Japanese Culture) class.
4) Bible class annotated bibliography relevant to Bible Perspective Paper (5 sources in addition to 20 research sources) due February 15, 2013 and turned in to Bible class. (help with writing these)
5) A bibliography of at least 10 different (more recommended) sources in addition to the 25 used for the annotated bibliography. These do NOT need to be annotated. Many, if not all, of these will appear in the works cited portions of the writing portfolio. MLA style citations. To be turned in separately in this research portfolio on May 2, 2013.
6) Optional Brief Summaries of any internships, personal experiences, field studies, surveys, interviews, etc. you used for your comps process. None of these are specifically required.
7) References filled out by a student’s classroom teachers and advisors that assess a student’s research activities as he or she explores his or her topic. These are automatically generated (the student does not need to ask for them or collect them for the portfolio) for each student and will only address the research process for the comps (JCGI).
8) Interview from Bible class. Due January 25, 2013.
9) References generated by your peer accountability group and provided by Mr. D in Global Issues (JCGI).

Research Rubric

Writing Portfolio

  • The Writing Portfolio comprises 25% of the final comps assessment.
  • Competed portfolio due May 17, 2013 but many elements have earlier due dates.
  • The writing portfolio will be assessed by a panel of readers whose rubric totals will be averaged and who will consult with each other as needed.
  • Many elements will have been turned in to other classes, but the student should cut and paste them into one formatted document with automatically paginated numbers and the student’s last name on every page after the index page.
  • The writing portfolio will include:

1) Cover page identical to research portfolio cover page except a clear indication that it is the writing portfolio. Cover page may include appropriate graphic and/or photos (not required). Must include the student’s name, topic, and date. Examples
2) Student Profile Page. Examples
3) Index page. Examples (for style options only)
4) Bible Perspective Paper This assignment intersects with her or his comps topics. This paper will receive a stand-alone grade in Bible class in addition to the comps assessment. Rough draft, March 5, 2013 Final Draft April 13, 2013. Expectations including length and format will be set in Bible class.
5) Nature of Good and Evil: This paper explores the nature of good and evil using contrasting examples from literature and scripture to describe how good and evil relate to suffering and how an individual can bring good to the world. This paper will receive a stand-alone grade in English class in addition to the comps assessment. Final draft January 17, 2013.
6) Who Am I Now: This paper explores the student’s world view and goals with a connection to his/her comps topic. This paper will receive a stand-alone grade in English class in addition to the comps assessment. Final due April 17, 2013.
7) Project Summary. A paper that summarizes a student’s project and connects it to his or her topic. This paper will be also be assessed in global issues and Mr. D, your shepherd or Ms. Foxwell are available for questions concerning the project. Parts of your project proposal may be usable here. Due April 24, 2013.
8) Global Perspective Summary A paper examining the global impact of your topic. This paper will also be assessed in your Global Issues class. Due February 1, 2013.
9) A Final Portfolio Paper of 8-15 pages will be submitted about your topic.
This paper will likely include significant elements from other papers in the portfolio and serve as preparation for the presentation portion.
It should not be all cut and paste and it should not only be about preparing for your presentation.
This paper will be included in your portfolio and receive a stand-alone grade in the Global Issues class.
Final Draft for formal paper is due May 17, 2013. Preliminary draft can be submitted to Mr. D in Global Issues for editing before May 4, 2013.

Writing Portfolio Rubric

Project

  • The hands on project comprises 25% of the final comps assessment
  • Project proposal due January 15, 2013, in Global Issues. Expectations set in Global Issues class.
  • Projects due April 19, 2013.
    • Extensions will only be granted if there are valid reasons related to the implementation of your project.
    • Final written project summary due April 24, 2013.
  • The project will be assessed by a panel.
    • The panel will read the summary found in the writing portfolio, examine the element of the project made public to the CAJ community, and (in some cases and only if necessary) interview the students or investigate the projects themselves.
  • Mr. Duhrkoop and Mrs. Foxwell will be directly working with the students on their projects and will be responsible for making sure the panels are fully informed about the project.

Project Rubric

Presentation

Transcript Notations

The following is the wording that will be included on your permanent transcript. Each transcript will state:

The comprehensives at Christian Academy in Japan are designed to showcase a student’s talents, skills and applied efforts during a culminating event in their senior year. In a process that relies on both cooperation with the teaching staff and on independent work and problem solving, students engage an issue of their choosing as they think deeply about, and interact with, the problems of a fallen world. There are four elements assessed which are weighted equally for the final designation: Research, Writing, Project and Presentation.

And then your rating (and only your rating, not the other levels) will be added:

  • (Name of this student) achieved an overall rating of: Exemplary achievement An exemplary rating in this rigorous process requires exceptional work in all of the comprehensive elements and only a few students attain this highest level of achievement.

Or:

  • (Name of this student) achieved an overall rating of: Exceeds standard An exceeds standard rating in this rigorous process is a significant accomplishment and is only attained by those who achieve high marks in multiple areas of the comprehensives.

Or:

  • (Name of this student) achieved an overall rating of: Meeting the standard Meeting the standard in this rigorous process is a notable and worthy accomplishment and indicates success across all or most of the elements.

Or:

  • (Name of this student) achieved an overall rating of: Some Achievement

Or:

  • (Name of this student) achieved an overall rating of: Little Achievement

FAQ's

Frequently asked questions about the senior comps:

  • Q: Will I graduate if I do not do well on the comps?

A: Yes. A poor performance will be reflected on your transcript but it will not keep you from graduating.

  • Q: Will I graduate if I do not complete my comps?

A: No. You will receive an incomplete and not receive a diploma until they are completed to an acceptable level that reflects reasonable effort.

  • Q: Do I have to rewrite all the papers in my writing portfolio?

A: No. You may submit the papers you did in class, although you may certainly make changes if you are able to. If you are short of time, and have to make compromises, invest your energy in the final paper and not rewrites.

  • Q: Who assesses my portfolio?

A: A group of CAJ educators who have experience in assessing papers works collaboratively to fill out the portfolio rubric (copy found on the web site). Your portfolio will be assessed by at least two people and the rubrics will then be examined for consistency. The assessors work together and often discuss the results. If the assessments vary, the portfolio will undergo additional scrutiny by an additional assessor.

  • Q: Can I cut and paste my papers throughout the year into my formal paper?

A: You may certainly use content from other papers, some of it word for word, but the purpose of the final paper is to synthesize what you have learned from various assignments into 1 formal paper.

  • Q: What happens if I turn in my portfolio late?

A: You receive a significant downgrade in points at 10% a day. After the assessments the following week, the highest score you can achieve is a 1 and the portfolio will still need to be completed to an acceptable level that reflects reasonable effort.

  • Q: Who is eligible to be on the panel for the presentation?

A: CAJ staff members who have a degree in education, are certified to teach, or have experience in teaching.

  • Q: If my project does not go well, does that mean I will not do well on my portfolio?

A: No. While the project is represented in your portfolio in the summary and may be referred to in the final paper, the assessors will be instructed to not base their evaluation of the portfolio on the quality of the project element.

  • Q: Will the research portfolio be assessed by the same people who assess the writing portfolio?

A: No. While good research is necessary to write knowledgeably in your writing portfolio, your research portfolio will be assessed by different individuals than your writing portfolio. This is to ensure that excellent research is rewarded apart from your writing ability, and to make sure that if you are an excellent writer you can not rely on that to avoid doing good research.

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