Junior Block Course Description
The junior year American Justice block is a year-long course designed to engage students in the critical analysis of topics related to American politics, law, and social justice issues from historical, contemporary, and literary perspectives. The course develops skills in expository writing, close reading of a variety of fictional and informational texts, critical thinking, leadership, group discussion and public speaking. Guest speakers, field experiences, project-based learning, and community service projects provide students with practical knowledge and experience.
By enrolling in this course students have committed themselves to a program of reading, writing, speaking, and critical thinking on a level above that of the advanced high school junior.
Upon completing the Junior Block, students will earn nine high school credits. Students may also choose to earn up to six concurrent credits at a reduced tuition rate through USI’s College Achievement Program (CAP) for English, (ENG 101), Advanced Speech (CMST 101), and Special Topics: Social Justice (SOCW 224). Students may have the option of taking the Advanced Placement Language/Composition exam in May.
By enrolling in this course students have committed themselves to a program of reading, writing, speaking, and critical thinking on a level above that of the advanced high school junior.
Upon completing the Junior Block, students will earn nine high school credits. Students may also choose to earn up to six concurrent credits at a reduced tuition rate through USI’s College Achievement Program (CAP) for English, (ENG 101), Advanced Speech (CMST 101), and Special Topics: Social Justice (SOCW 224). Students may have the option of taking the Advanced Placement Language/Composition exam in May.
1st Semester CoursesAP Language/Composition (CAP ENG 101)
Advanced Speech (CAP CMST 101) Law Education Community Service |
2nd Semester CoursesLanguage/Composition (CAP ENG 101)
American Social Movements (CAP HIST 130) Special Topics: Social Justice (CAP SOCW 224) Debate |
College Achievement Program (CAP)
Students who qualify may choose to earn up to six concurrent credits at a reduced tuition rate through USI’s College Achievement Program (CAP) for English (ENG 101), Advanced Speech (CMST 101), American Social Movements (HIST 130), and Special Topics: Social Justice (SOCW 224). To enroll in CAP, students must have at least a 2.5 GPA [ENG 101 has additional criteria] and submit the completed application to the instructor on or before the given deadline. USI will bill students at their home; no money should be submitted to the high school. Students who are eligible for free or reduced lunch this academic year may enroll at no charge by indicating eligibility on the application in question #13. College credit can only be earned during the semester in which the student is enrolled in the course.
As of the 2014-2015 school year, ENG 101 is a pre- or co- requisite for SOCW 224. Meaning, in order to enroll in SOCW 224 second semester, students have to have enrolled in ENG 101 first semester or be enrolled in ENG 101 second semester.
To learn more about CAP, visit www.usi.edu/cap, call 812-228-5022, email [email protected] or find them on Facebook by searching for USI CAP.
As of the 2014-2015 school year, ENG 101 is a pre- or co- requisite for SOCW 224. Meaning, in order to enroll in SOCW 224 second semester, students have to have enrolled in ENG 101 first semester or be enrolled in ENG 101 second semester.
To learn more about CAP, visit www.usi.edu/cap, call 812-228-5022, email [email protected] or find them on Facebook by searching for USI CAP.
The Academy Spirit
The Shepard Academy Spirit - an intense energy and enthusiasm for learning and academic inquiry - is expected from all students. A spirit of peer cooperation and willingness to take on a leadership role is expected when working collaboratively.
Respect, response, and responsibility are the three ideas that set the tone for our community of learners. We will respect our ideas and the ideas of others. We will respond thoughtfully to each other and will accept responsibility for our own learning and actions.
Respect, response, and responsibility are the three ideas that set the tone for our community of learners. We will respect our ideas and the ideas of others. We will respond thoughtfully to each other and will accept responsibility for our own learning and actions.
Qualities of Academy Students
The courses in the Shepard Academy are designed to offer students interested in these subject areas a rigorous course of study. Following are some qualities expected in Academy students:
- Multi-taskers. Students enrolled in Academy courses will be required to multi-task at an advanced level. Junior Block students may be expected to handle at least 5 to 6 different tasks simultaneously.These tasks may include independent reading, vocabulary studies, weekly and semi-weekly assignments, varied writing and reading assignments and/or speeches.
- Strong Time Managers. Academy students should have strong time management skills. Part of these skills will include using a planner to ensure adequate preparation for long-term projects.
- Responsible Self-learners. Academy students are independent workers who are self-starters and naturally seek resources to answer questions and accomplish tasks. In addition, they are resourceful and pursue additional enrichment of studied topics. They use previously corrected papers and assignments as guides and references for improvement of future work.
- Advanced Readers. Academy students should be able to identify major concepts in fictional and informative texts. Furthermore, they are willing and expected to read increasingly difficult texts in specified time frames. Academy students will read several books/plays per nine weeks. One novel or biography will be done independently. In addition, these students can respect, appreciate, evaluate and critique aspects of a writer’s style and identify the author’s purpose.
- Skillful Writers. Academy students should expect to write every day in a variety of modes which will include in-class timed writings, expository essays, summary/responses, literary analysis, synthesis essays, reader’s response, and researched writing. Students use the writing process - prewriting, drafting, revision, and publication - and serve as thoughtful peer reviewers of their classmates' work.
- Willing Speakers. Academy students are expected to participate in a variety of speech situations which can include Socratic Seminars, class discussions, presentations, debates, and recitations.
- Careful Listeners. Students enrolled in the Academy are adept at listening, reflecting and responding to either written work or discussion. In Socratic Seminars, debates, and class discussions these students will evaluate and respond to statements after synthesizing what has been previously stated. Mere repetition and rewording would be minimal.
- Serious-mindedness. Students in the Academy are focused on learning and achievement. This focus includes strong study skills.
Academic Integrity
The faculty and students of the Shepard Academy uphold the qualities of honesty, integrity, and truthfulness. Because we are a community of honor, honorable conduct is expected at all times:
1. Students will not give or receive aid on tests, quizzes, and exams from other students or electronic resources.
2. Students will not copy or allow to be copied any homework or other assignments.
3. Students will not plagiarize any part of published materials, essays, or work of another.
4. Academy faculty will uphold standards of honesty and integrity.
Any evidence of plagiarism, presenting someone else's work as the student’s own, the student allowing someone else to present his/her work, or collaborating without proper permission, results in failure for the specific assignment. Students must do their own work. Penalties for plagiarism/cheating range from a 0 on an assignment to loss of Citizenship to disciplinary action through the administrator’s office.
Students enrolled in the CAP program will be removed from that CAP class should a second instance of plagiarism occur.
1. Students will not give or receive aid on tests, quizzes, and exams from other students or electronic resources.
2. Students will not copy or allow to be copied any homework or other assignments.
3. Students will not plagiarize any part of published materials, essays, or work of another.
4. Academy faculty will uphold standards of honesty and integrity.
Any evidence of plagiarism, presenting someone else's work as the student’s own, the student allowing someone else to present his/her work, or collaborating without proper permission, results in failure for the specific assignment. Students must do their own work. Penalties for plagiarism/cheating range from a 0 on an assignment to loss of Citizenship to disciplinary action through the administrator’s office.
Students enrolled in the CAP program will be removed from that CAP class should a second instance of plagiarism occur.
Text and Materials
AP Language/Composition has two required texts:
All additional course material is posted on our Academy’s websites:
1st semester: http://www.shepardacademyjuniorblock.weebly.com
2nd semester: http://www.shepardacademyjuniorblockspring.weebly.com
Materials
- The Language of Composition, 2nd Edition
- 5 Steps to a 5 - AP English Language
All additional course material is posted on our Academy’s websites:
1st semester: http://www.shepardacademyjuniorblock.weebly.com
2nd semester: http://www.shepardacademyjuniorblockspring.weebly.com
Materials
- headphones/earbuds will be used to listen to assigned podcasts and TED Talks during class.
Netbooks and Personal Electronic Devices
Because we are a "paperless" course, your netbook is essential for your work in the Shepard Academy. When used properly for note taking, research, inquiry, and class activities, netbooks are a valuable educational tool. However, when used for chatting, gaming, or unrelated Internet surfing, netbooks can be a distraction and can negatively impact a your performance in class. Students are expected to make responsible choices regarding netbook use in this class.
Students are to bring their netbooks, sufficiently charged, to class each day. The classroom’s design does not allow for easy access to multiple electrical outlets, so students should not expect to charge their netbooks in class on a regular basis.
In consideration of your instructors and classmates, please keep your cell phone and other electronic devices out of sight during class unless otherwise instructed.
Students are to bring their netbooks, sufficiently charged, to class each day. The classroom’s design does not allow for easy access to multiple electrical outlets, so students should not expect to charge their netbooks in class on a regular basis.
In consideration of your instructors and classmates, please keep your cell phone and other electronic devices out of sight during class unless otherwise instructed.
Assessments and Evaluation
Throughout the course, students are assessed via observation, discussion, in-class writings, formal writings, creative and analytical performances, individual and collaborative projects, and formal examinations. Each assessment is designed to address the unit’s essential question or a related focus question. Many units of study will end with students completing a cumulative project. Whenever possible, students will be offered choice in content, process, and/or product.
In the pursuit of being a “paperless” course, all assignments are submitted, evaluated, and returned through Haiku Learning . All course materials are posted as content or document files on the Weebly site.
Graded work is evaluated using points and weighted categories. Each course grade is divided into component parts, or categories, each part being worth a percentage of the total course work grade for the course (100%).
The two 9 week grading periods in a semester are cumulative. The cumulative course work grade counts 80% of the semester grade. The final exam/project counts 20% of that semester's grade.
In the pursuit of being a “paperless” course, all assignments are submitted, evaluated, and returned through Haiku Learning . All course materials are posted as content or document files on the Weebly site.
Graded work is evaluated using points and weighted categories. Each course grade is divided into component parts, or categories, each part being worth a percentage of the total course work grade for the course (100%).
The two 9 week grading periods in a semester are cumulative. The cumulative course work grade counts 80% of the semester grade. The final exam/project counts 20% of that semester's grade.
Late Assignments and Make-up Work
Assignments are to be submitted electronically by the time and date indicated on the Haiku dropbox or indicated by the instructor. Late assignments submitted by the date indicated but after the time deadline receive a 10% late penalty; assignments submitted after the date and time indicated receive on initial 20% deduction with a 10% deduction for each additional day it is late (up to 50 percent).
Students are to initiate their own make-up work. Any time a student misses part or all of a class for any reason, he or she should check the Academy’s Weebly website and with classmates before coming to an instructor with questions. Unless otherwise arranged, make-up work must be turned in within three class periods of the student’s return to receive full credit. Make-up work submitted after three days receives a 50% deduction. Work missed due to truancy may not be made up.
Students who are absent on the day of a test or in-class writing may have an alternative make-up assessment.
Students are to initiate their own make-up work. Any time a student misses part or all of a class for any reason, he or she should check the Academy’s Weebly website and with classmates before coming to an instructor with questions. Unless otherwise arranged, make-up work must be turned in within three class periods of the student’s return to receive full credit. Make-up work submitted after three days receives a 50% deduction. Work missed due to truancy may not be made up.
Students who are absent on the day of a test or in-class writing may have an alternative make-up assessment.
High School Attendance Policy - as stated on the EVSC website
A student is expected to attend school regularly to derive maximum benefits from the instructional program.
Possible Consequences of Irregular Attendance:
After students miss 10 days, they and their parent(s) may be notified of the need to attend a pre-court conference. At that time, legal notice is given. Students who miss additional days of school after the pre-court conference are required by Indiana law to have a medical statement from a physician or be seen and possibly sent home by the school nurse. Failure to follow this law will result in a referral to Child Protective Services or Juvenile Court, depending upon the circumstances and the age of the student. There can also be a pre-court conference called if the student has missed 5 consecutive days (habitual truancy).
Students may have credits denied for excessive truancies. This is not automatic but at the school administrator’s discretion and based on individual circumstances. Continued truancies may also result in loss of a driver’s license or work permit.
Possible Consequences of Irregular Attendance:
After students miss 10 days, they and their parent(s) may be notified of the need to attend a pre-court conference. At that time, legal notice is given. Students who miss additional days of school after the pre-court conference are required by Indiana law to have a medical statement from a physician or be seen and possibly sent home by the school nurse. Failure to follow this law will result in a referral to Child Protective Services or Juvenile Court, depending upon the circumstances and the age of the student. There can also be a pre-court conference called if the student has missed 5 consecutive days (habitual truancy).
Students may have credits denied for excessive truancies. This is not automatic but at the school administrator’s discretion and based on individual circumstances. Continued truancies may also result in loss of a driver’s license or work permit.
Student in Good Standing
In the Shepard Academy, a student in "good standing" carries a grade of "C" of higher in all Academy classes. A student who has a "D" or "F" in any Academy class will not be considered in good standing and will not be eligible to participate in field experiences or attend guest speakers and Citizens' Academy presentations until he or she regains good standing. Instead of attending the field experience or speaker, a student who is not in good standing will be given the opportunity to make-up missing assignments or work on future assignments to regain good academic standing. The instructors reserve the right to make adjustments as necessary.
Course Descriptions and Evaluations
Advanced Placement Language/Composition (CAP ENG 101) [1st & 2nd Semester]
This course engages students in becoming skilled readers of prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts, and in becoming skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes. Students in this college-level course are expected to meet the demands of a rigorous curriculum, carefully analyze a broad range of literary works and legal texts, and deepen their awareness of rhetoric and how language works. Through close reading and frequent writing, students develop their ability to work with language and text with a greater awareness of purpose and strategy, while strengthening their own writing and rhetorical abilities. Course readings feature expository, analytic, personal, legal, and argumentative texts from a variety of authors and historical contexts. Students examine and work with legal briefs, court cases, essays, speeches, and imaginative literature. In addition, the course will include a study of grammatical structures, sentence combining, punctuation, and SAT/ACT vocabulary and test preparation. All formal and research writing will follow the current MLA format. Page layout includes: stacked heading in upper left corner, double-spacing, 1 inch margins, and 12 point, plain font.
In order to enroll to earn CAP credit for ENG 101, students must have a 2.5 or higher cumulative GPA and meet two of the following three criteria:
Because it is a year-long course, the final grade for the ENG 101 CAP course will be determined by averaging the 1st and 2nd semester grade percentages.
Students may also opt to take the Advanced Placement Language/Composition exam in May.
In order to enroll to earn CAP credit for ENG 101, students must have a 2.5 or higher cumulative GPA and meet two of the following three criteria:
- Rank at or above the 51st percentile in the high school class (For example, multiply the number of students in the class by .51 [100 x .51 = 51] and subtract the resulting number from the number of students in the class [100-51=49]. In order to qualify for English 101 enrollment using class rank, the student must rank 49th or higher in his class.)
- SAT Critical Reading score of 450 or greater, PSAT Critical Reading score (for juniors) of 45 or greater, or ACT Reading score of 19 or greater.
- SAT Writing score of 450 or greater, PSAT Critical Writing score (for juniors) of 45 or greater, or ACT Combined English/Writing score of 19 or greater)
Because it is a year-long course, the final grade for the ENG 101 CAP course will be determined by averaging the 1st and 2nd semester grade percentages.
Students may also opt to take the Advanced Placement Language/Composition exam in May.
2nd Semester Grading Categories
Writing tasks
- revisions 25%
- prewriting and drafts 5%
Literature study/Literature Circles
- summative assessments 20%
- homework, classwork 10%
National History Day 15%
Language Study 15%
Vocabulary Study 10%
(80% of semester grade) 100%
Final Exam 20%
- revisions 25%
- prewriting and drafts 5%
Literature study/Literature Circles
- summative assessments 20%
- homework, classwork 10%
National History Day 15%
Language Study 15%
Vocabulary Study 10%
(80% of semester grade) 100%
Final Exam 20%
Debate [2nd Semester]
This course introduces and develops the study and application of the basic principles of debate involving support for the basic types of arguments (induction, deduction, causation) and debate strategies (affirmative or negative argument construction and extension, case development, refutation or rebuttal of argument claims and evidence, and persuasive speaking). Students will gain experience in both Policy Debate and Lincoln-Douglas Debate and will apply their skills to Social Justice Bracketology.
Grading Categories
Persuasive Speeches
Debate Final 20%
Grading Categories
Persuasive Speeches
- Speech Delivery 15%
- Preparation 5%
- Debate Delivery 30%
- Preparation 10%
- Debate Delivery 30%
- Preparation 10%
Debate Final 20%
American Social Movements [2nd Semester]
Grading Categories (80% of Semester Grade)
Special Topics: Social Justice [2nd Semester]
This course is an introduction to diverse theories and practical applications of social justice. Students will explore the meaning of oppression and discrimination and the role of citizens and public policies in addressing the needs of vulnerable populations. The course will examine various social movements, both historical and present as efforts to remedy social and economic injustice.
Course Objectives Include:
Students who have at least a 2.5 GPA may may enroll in USI’s College Achievement Program, CAP, to earn college credit for SOCW 224 Introduction to Social Justice, at a reduced rate of tuition ($80 per credit hour or $240 total). SOCW 224 is a three credit hour course that is highly transferable.
Grading Categories (80% of Semester Grade)
Social Justice Projects 45%
Bulletin Boards 20%
Social Justice Watch 20%
Socratic Seminars 15%
(80% of the Semester Grade)100%
Final Exam 20%
Course Objectives Include:
- Defining social and economic justice;
- Explaining various forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination
- Describing the history of social movements and protests;
- Analyzing the interplay of economic, ideological, and political forces in sustaining or addressing social and economic justice;
- Analyzing the impact of public policies on various diverse groups related to age, culture, class, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexual orientation.
- Analyzing the impact of various social protest movement on social and economic justice;
- Evaluating the various role citizens in a democratic society play in addressing social justice.
Students who have at least a 2.5 GPA may may enroll in USI’s College Achievement Program, CAP, to earn college credit for SOCW 224 Introduction to Social Justice, at a reduced rate of tuition ($80 per credit hour or $240 total). SOCW 224 is a three credit hour course that is highly transferable.
Grading Categories (80% of Semester Grade)
Social Justice Projects 45%
Bulletin Boards 20%
Social Justice Watch 20%
Socratic Seminars 15%
(80% of the Semester Grade)100%
Final Exam 20%