CAP Portfolio

Senior

My Role in the World

Junior
7
Sophomo
re
7
Freshma
n
7
Advance
Critical
Social
Media &
d
Reasoni Awarene Communicati
Exhibitio
ng
ss
ons
ns

Critical Reasoning: Assignments in this category require that students deeply

analyze an issue or topic and examine both their own and others beliefs and
perspectives.
o How does this assignment help me better understand my thinking and
question those ideas I believe to be true?
Social Awareness: Assignments in this category help students gain a better
understanding of the environment and world around them and help them attain
greater capacity to affect change in their community. This category has been
combined with Ethics and Values.
o How does this assignment help me learn more about society and provide me
an opportunity to promote positive change within my community?
o How does this assignment help me better understand my values and the role
they play in the decisions I make?
Media and Communications: Assignments in this category reflect an
understanding of medias role in shaping our society, and/or how mass
communication can enrich or limit society.
o How does this assignment help me understand Medias influence? To what
extent does the Media shape our values?

Advanced Exhibitions: Assignments or activities in this category are ones that

are generally beyond the traditional classroom setting and showcase individual
and unique student talents or interests. Exhibitions may be academically based, or
completely outside the classroom. Students are required to showcase one
different Advanced Exhibition per year, for a total of three.
o How does this activity enrich my life and the lives of those around me?

All assignments submitted for consideration must include a reflection (see

attachment). Grade-level teachers will approve all portfolio submissions.

Critical
Reasoning
Assignment/Activity:

Writing
Media
Creative
Literature
Research
Group Dynamics
Assignment/Activity:

Social
Awareness
Assignment/Activity:

Writing
Media
Creative
Literature
Research
Group Dynamics
Public Performance
Assignment/Activity:

Media &
Communicati
ons

Advanced
Exhibitions

Assignment/Activity:

Assignment/Activity:

Writing
Media
Creative
Literature
Research
Group Dynamics
Assignment/Activity:

Writing
Media
Creative
Literature
Research
Group Dynamics
Public Performance
Assignment/Activity:

Writing
Media
Creative
Literature
Research
Group Dynamics

Writing
Media
Creative
Literature
Research
Group Dynamics
Public Performance

Writing
Media
Creative
Literature
Research
Group Dynamics

Assignment/Activity Title
CAP Debates
Year Sophomore
Skill
Research, Debating
Critical Thinking

Writing
Media
Creative
Literature
Research
Group Dynamics
Public Performance

Portfolio Category

This project was the first time I had ever taken part in a legitimate debate in school. While in middle school, we
had a mock Constitutional Convention, where pairs of students were assigned a delegate that attended the convention.
That was the closest Ive ever had to an in-school debate, and I really liked it. My experience in that assignment made me
very eager to take part in this debate.
At the beginning of the assignment I found it hard to decide which topic to take, but Ben Miller and I ended up
choosing the topic of pharmaceutical companies being able to set prices on their products themselves. I found the topic
very interesting, and the research came easily. Ben and I collected as many articles and sources as we could, and printed
out all of the quotes we wanted to use. We then cut them out and organized them in categories based on what arguments
we wanted to make.
The actual presentation of the debates came quite easily for me. My partner and I had all of our speeches written
out the night before. After a couple practice runs we were ready to go. Our group was to go in front of Ms. Cullen, but
since she wasnt there, but since she was not available on the Monday of debates, Mr. Mayo graded our debate. Our
opponents were May and Lea, who Ben and I are both friends with, so it was fun to go up against people we knew.
My only criticism of the project is that the topics were too restrictive. The idea that you should choose a topic you
were interested in was so heavily emphasized, but the available topics were only those written about by students in a
separate project. While that is semi-representative of students preferred topics, it is still a bit narrow. It would be nice if
we could select our topics without restriction, maybe an approval process could be included.
Also, this wasnt much of an issue for me, but jumping straight into debates was very difficult for some people
Ive talked to. It wouldnt be a bad idea to have a practice day with other groups, or do a preliminary, smaller debate in
order to introduce the process. Lots of kids went in completely blind, and I think it showed in the quality of some of the
debates.

Student Signature

Date

Teacher Signature

Date

Advisor Signature

Date