Senior Comprehensives Prompts

Issue Selection

Prompt (Issue SelectionTool)

Select an issue that:

• Is your passion.
• Is a problem.
• Is significant.
• Goes beyond a limited, local scope.
• Will provide a consistently high level of engagement throughout the school year.
• Has a reasonably broad and deep research base.
• Can be acted upon through a hands-on project.

Details

• This tool can help you carefully choose your topic.
• Here's a list of sample topics selected by previous classes.
• Topic selections must be discussed with and approved by senior shepherds.
• This will be completed as part of JCGI.

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Research Portfolio

Prompt (Rubric)

Establish a scholarly research base for the issue consisting of an annotated bibliography, bibliography, and interview.

• Scholarly: Entries should be based on sources that are reputable and current.
• Consisting of:
  1. A 20-entry annotated bibliography, with 15 entries related to proposing an action plan that addresses the issue being addressed with 5 entries that help to inform your biblical perspective.
  2. A 15-entry bibliography (of sources in addition to those used for the annotated bibliography)
  3. An interview

Details

• This will be completed as part of Bible/Global Issues.
• Use MLA format.
• Include a cover page. (This should be identical to the Portfolio Issue Action Paper cover page, except with a clear indication that is it the Research Portfolio. The cover page may include appropriate graphics and/or photos, and the cover page must include the student's name, issue, and date—see samples.)
• Research Portfolios will be assessed by a panel of examiners whose rubric totals will be averaged to produce a final score and who will consult with each other as needed.

Required Outline

• Cover page
• Annotated bibliography
• Bibliography
• Interview
• Optional: brief summaries of any internships, personal experiences, field studies, surveys, and/or interviews

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Prompts for Research Portfolio Components

1. Annotated Bibliography

Prompt

• Create a 20-entry annotated bibliography, with 20 entries related to analyzing the issue and current solutions to it and with 5 entries related to evaluating the issue and global/local solutions using Biblical values, concepts, and/or principles.
  • Annotation: An annotation is a brief summary of a book, article, or other publication. Its purpose is to describe the work in such a way that the reader can decide whether or not to read the work itself. Annotations often appear as part of a bibliography, the list of sources that is a standard appendage to scholarly books and articles, including most student papers. When a bibliography includes annotations it is known as an annotated bibliography.
  • Annotated Bibliography: An annotated bibliography contains a brief paragraph following each citation summarizing the content, assessing the source, and reflect on how it fits the issue.

Details

• This will be completed as part of JCGI and Bible.
• Use MLA format.
• Help in Writing Annotations
• Sample Annotated Bibliographic Entry

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2. Bibliography

Prompt

• Create a 15-entry bibliography (of sources in addition to those used for the annotated bibliography)

Details

• This will be completed as part of JCGI.
• Use MLA format.

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3. Interview

Prompt

Conduct an interview with expert in a relevant field of study, using a collection of meaningful questions relating to your issue. Document the interview.

Details

• Interview questions must be discussed with and approved by senior shepherds.
• This interview will be completed as part of Bible class.

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Project and Summary

Prompt (Rubric, Sample Projects)

Complete a research-based, hands-on project that addresses the issue, demonstrates personal involvement, shows resourcefulness, and engages the community. Write a summary of the project.

• Research-based: The project should be connected to the research.
• Hands-on/Addresses the issue: The project should be a viable, legitimate, effective response to the issue.
• Personal involvement: The project should show passion in action/a high level of engagement.
• Resourcefulness: The project should demonstrate effective planning and resourcefulness (meaning, obstacles, as appropriate, were effectively addressed).
• Engages: The project should engage the audience and invite a response, based on quality information.
• Summary: 2-3 pages

Requirements for Summary

• Explanation of why you chose this project. This explains your personal connection to the issue and what you did.
• Explanation of what your project was and what you did to make it happen. Be sure to include any difficulties you encountered that negatively impacted the outcome.
• Explanation of how your project intersects with your issue research.

Details

• Project proposals (see sample projects) must be discussed with and approved by senior shepherds.
• The project (80%) and summary (20%) will be completed as part of JCGI.
• The summary paper should be well written.
• The project and summary will be assessed by a panel of examiners whose rubric totals will be averaged and who will consult with each other as needed. The panel will read the summary, 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.
• The summary is part of the writing portfolio.

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Synthesis Paper

Prompt (Rubric)

Propose an action plan that effectively addresses the issue.

Synthesis paper must include:

• Phenomenon: Description of the issue. What is happening with your issue?
• Theological Analysis: Explaining what is going on in your issue that is morally wrong from a biblical perspective by analyzing the problems through broad theological themes (e.g., CFRR, God’s character, relationships with self, others, environment, and God, etc.)
• Social Studies Analysis: Analysis of why this issue is happening (causes) by looking at the issue at all levels (local and global) using Social Studies perspective
• Social Studies Analysis of responses: Explaining what responses are being attempted or have been attempted in the past, and in what ways they have been effective or ineffective.
• Goal statement: Possible outcomes/solution. What are you aiming for?
• Theological justification of goal: Analyze your goal through broad theological themes (see “Theological Analysis” for examples). From a biblical perspective, why is that a justifiable goal?
• Realistic action steps: Based on the social studies analysis of the issue, what actions in the levels below are likely to move the situation towards that goal state? How does your social studies analysis support the effectiveness of this action? You do not need to include every level, but you should address more than one.
  • Local/Communal
  • State/Provincial/Prefectural
  • National/Federal
  • Business/Corporation/Organization
  • International
• Personal Response: What does this mean for you? What is your response to the issue?

Details

• The Synthesis Paper is the culminating piece of the writing portfolio. It flows from the portfolio pieces, especially the Issue Analysis Paper and the Biblical Perspective Paper. It should not be cut and paste, and it should not just be about preparing for the presentation. It should be an effective synthesis.
• This paper will be addressed as part of English class. When submitting the Synthesis Paper, please submit it as part of a writing portfolio.
• 8-15 pages (not including title page and works cited)
• MLA format, Times New Roman (size 12)
• The Synthesis Paper will be assessed by a panel of examiners whose rubric (being modified) totals will be averaged to produce a final score and who will consult with each other as needed.

Possible Outline

• Introduction
• Analysis of issue and current solutions (see Issue Analysis Paper)
• Biblical evaluation (see Biblical Perspective Issue Paper)
• Action plan (consider referring to the Project and Summary)
• Conclusion

Required Writing Portfolio Components

1. Cover page (This should be identical to the Research Portfolio cover page, except with a clear indication that is it the Portfolio Issue Action Paper. The cover page may include appropriate graphic and/or photos, and the cover page must include the student's name, issue, and date—see samples.)
2. Student profile page (see samples)
   • Prompt: Introduce yourself and your issue to your audience.
   • Details
     • This will be completed as part of JCGI.
     • Length: 1 page
     • Components:
       1. A portrait-type photograph (neck or shoulders up), 5 x 6 cm
       2. Your name
     • The title of your issue action presentation
       1. A statement (about 50 words) of your presentation objective that answers the question, “What are you trying to accomplish by today's presentation?”
       2. Brief statement (about 50 words) of why you chose this issue
       3. Your educational history (in bullet-style points)
       4. Selected relevant experiences (in bullet-style points)
       5. Brief statement of your future plans, ambitions, hopes
          • See samples
3. Index (see examples)
4. Nature of Good and Evil Paper
5. Issue Analysis Paper
6. Who Am I Now? Paper
7. Biblical Perspective Issue Paper
8. Project Summary
9. Portfolio Issue Action Paper

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Portfolio: Action Plan Paper

Prompt

Provide a personal, Biblical, viable action plan regarding the issue.

• Personal: Provide a compelling action plan with which you are highly engaged.
• Biblical: Base the action plan on relevant Biblical values, concepts, and/or principles.
• Viable: Provide an action plan that is specific, research-based, and effective. 

(Tip: Provide an action plan that addresses the issue globally/locally—at multiple levels, for example, school, community, city, region, NGO, country/government, world region, world/UN; provides a variety of ways your audience can get involved; and answers the following question: How can we, living in a broken world, respond to the issue and help others do the same?)

Details

• This paper will be completed as part of English class.
• 2-3 pages (not including works cited)
• Use MLA format.

Possible Outline

• Introduction
• Explain a variety of global/local ways to address the issue. Tie the ways to address the issue to your research (including your Biblical values, concepts, and/or principles) and possibly to your project.
• Conclude with a story of how efforts changed the lives of one or more people.

Portfolio: Biblical Perspective Issue Paper

Prompt

Within the context of creation-fall-redemption-restoration, use Biblical teaching to critique the issue, explain why Christians can and should respond, and critique current solutions to the issue.

• Within the context of creation-fall-redemption-restoration: Use creation-fall-redemption-restoration as the context or framework, not as the main point. Do not spend significant time explaining creation-fall-redemption-restoration. Instead, use it to organize your thinking (see parentheses below) and to flesh out biblical teaching.
• Use Biblical teaching: Format the Biblical teaching as Biblical values, concepts, and/or principles. Support each Biblical value, concept, and/or principle with multiple Bible passages, and connect each to creation-fall-redemption-restoration.
• (Creation, Fall) Use Biblical teaching to critique the issue:
  • Use creation and/or fall as the context.
  • Use 1 or more Biblical values, concepts, and/or principles to critique the issue (as presented in your Issue Analysis Paper).
• (Redemption, Restoration) Use Biblical teaching to explain why Christian can and should respond: Use redemption and restoration to explain why Christians can and should respond. Emphasize that as redeemed people, Christians can and should live out (the above) Biblical teaching.
• (Restoration) Use Biblical teaching to critique current solutions to the issue: Use (the above) 1 or more Biblical values, concepts, and/or principles to critique the current solutions (as presented in your Issue Analysis Paper).

Details

• This paper will be completed as part of Bible class.
• 4-6 pages (not including title page and works cited)
• MLA format, Times New Roman (size 12)

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Portfolio: Who Am I Now? Paper

Prompt

Using examples from literature and values, concepts, and/or principles from the Bible, reflect your understanding of life, your worldview, and your purpose. Connect this to how you respond to evil and suffering, as exemplified in the issue you are exploring for your Senior Comps.

Details

• This paper will be completed as part of English class.
• Consider using Campbell’s “hero’s journey” pattern when narrating your own journey.
• Remember, organize by ideas not sources!
• Non-AP: You must incorporate a 7 - 10 quality literary sources.
• AP: You must incorporate 12 - 15 quality literary sources, and your paper should be steeped in insightfully woven literary references. Use a central metaphor, simile, or analogy to frame your paper.

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Portfolio: Issue Analysis Paper

Prompt

Analyze your issue and current global/local solutions to it.

• Analyze: Analyze your issue and solutions from the perspectives of culture, economics, and politics.
• Issue: Clearly demonstrate the significance of this issue. For example, show the breadth of the issue as is spans cities, countries, and/or world regions; or by demonstrating its impact upon cities, countries, and/or world regions.
• Global/local: Meaning, at multiple levels, for example, school, community, city, region, NGO, country/government, world region, world/UN) to your issue from the perspectives of culture, economics, and politics.

Details

• This paper will be completed as part of JCGI.
• 4-6 pages (not including title page and works cited)
• MLA format, Times New Roman (size 12)

Portfolio: Nature of Good and Evil Paper

Prompt

Non-AP: Using examples from literature and values, concepts, and/or principles from the Bible, explain the nature of good, the nature of evil, how both relate to suffering and connect to the specific issue you are researching this year, and what you can do to bring more good to the world around you.

AP: Synthesize perspectives of diverse characters and Scripture together with your own perspective to develop an illustration of the nature of good/evil and redemptive/destructive ways of responding to those themes. You should also find ways to connect this to the issue you are researching.

Details

• This paper will be completed as part of English class.
• Non-AP: You must incorporate 5 – 7 quality literary sources; there is no word count.
• AP: You must incorporate 7 – 10 quality literary sources; there is no word count.

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Issue Action Presentation

Prompt (Rubric)

Propose an action plan that effectively addresses the issue.

• Analyze: Use reputable, current sources to analyze the issue and current global/local solutions to it. Use your research to support your action plan.
• Biblical: Within the context of creation-fall-redemption-restoration, use relevant Biblical values, concepts, and/or principles (each of which is supported by multiple Bible passages) (1) to evaluate the issue and solutions to it, (2) to explain why Christians should respond, and (3) to develop the action plan.
• Personal: Provide a compelling action plan with which you are highly engaged.
• Global/local: Provide an action plan that addresses your issue globally/locally (meaning, at multiple levels, for example, school, community, city, region, NGO, country/government, world region, world/UN).
• Viable: Provide an action plan that is specific, research-based, and effective.

Details

• This will be addressed as part of English class.
• 20 minute presentation, followed by 5-10 minutes of helping your audience learn more by responding to their questions
• The presentation will be assessed by a panel that uses a rubric.

Possible Outline

• Introduction
• Analysis of issue and current solutions
• Biblical perspective analysis of issue and current solutions
• Action plan
• Conclusion
• Question and answer time with panel

Sample Presentations

Class of 2013

• Child labor in the coffee and chocolate industries
• HIV/AIDS Discrimination in South Africa
• Lack of eye care in developing countries
• Men's Response to Women's Oppression
• Plastic Pollution in the Ocean
• Racial Profiling

Class of 2012

• Child Displacement
• Child labor in the cocoa industry
• Karoshi: Death of a Salaryman
• Racial Media Bias
• Voluntary Prostitution
• Women’s Rights in the Middle East

Class of 2011

• Challenges of Hunger in Bangladesh
• Educating Girls in the Developing World
• "I Can't Do Math": Math Anxiety and Its Roots in Early Education
• Lack of Safe Drinking Water in Rural Areas of Developing Countries
• Misconceptions Which Hinder People with Learning Disabilities
• Teacher Trouble: Why Ineffective Teaching Persists in High Poverty Schools

Class of 2009

• Presentation B
• Journalistic Bias
• Misused Strategies of "Infotainment" and Media Bias
• The Global Tobacco Crisis

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