ROSS SCHOOL GRADES 9-12 ELECTIVE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS SPRING 2021-2022 - COURSE DESCRIPTIONS 2021-2022 021622
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ROSS SCHOOL GRADES 9–12 ELECTIVE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS SPRING 2021–2022 Revised February 16, 2022
ROSS STEAM INNOVATION CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
The Ross STEAM Innovation Certificate can be earned over four years, although students may complete the program
in less time. Students entering Ross School after grade 9 may provide official transcripts in order for coursework at
previous schools to be evaluated for appropriateness in meeting the certificate requirements in the critical areas of
science, math, technology, and engineering with arts practices, elements, and design. Students engage in authentic,
problem-based learning and design thinking and take advantage of opportunities for personalized research to
enhance readiness for college and careers in STEAM fields.
Requirements:
> Cumulative GPA above 80 for classes required for the certificate
> Four (4) years of Science plus one advanced level Science elective course
> Three (3) years of Mathematics plus one advanced level Mathematics course
> Two (2) STEAM-related Field Academy courses (2022 graduates could be waived from this requirement)
> Completion of STEAM-related Modernity Project (grade 11)
> Completion of STEAM-related Senior Project (grade 12)
> Portfolio of projects and experiences maintained by student
> Three (3) required trimester-long elective courses covering the themes of:
○ Design Thinking
○ Future Technologies
○ Principles of Social Entrepreneurship or E-commerce
> Six (6) trimesters of specialized electives, listed below
Specialized Electives
In addition to the required math and science courses, each student must complete six trimesters from among the
following elective courses (one yearlong course is the equivalent of three trimesters). Please note that not all
electives are offered each year. New electives may be added in future academic years.
Advanced Architecture Advanced Topics in Media Architecture
Advanced Arduino Architecture
Advanced Biology Digital Arts
Advanced Calculus AB Documentary Film
Advanced Calculus BC Film Production I
Advanced Chemistry Film Production II
Advanced Digital Arts Film Production III
Advanced Environmental Science Introduction to Arduino
Advanced Graphic Design Introduction to Biochemistry
Advanced Macroeconomics Introduction to Marine Science
Advanced Metal and Wood Fabrication Introduction Molecular Genetic
Advanced Microeconomics Introduction to Video Game Design
Advanced Photo Lab Metal Fabrication
Advanced Physics Robotics and Basic Coding
Advanced Topic in Economics Social and Mobile: Web-Based Video Studio Art
Advanced Topic in Media: Machines to Think for Us Studio Lighting
Advanced Statistics Mixed Media
Advanced Studio Art Woodworking
Revised February 16, 2022SPRING TRIMESTER ELECTIVE COURSES
CULTURAL HISTORY
Anthropology
"Every man calls barbarism whatever is not his own practice," the French essayist Michel de Montaigne wrote in 1580
in defense of Native Americans from Brazil said to conduct a ritual in which victorious warriors ate the flesh of dead
enemies. This elective prepares students for college-level work in cultural anthropology, the academic discipline
devoted to cultivating the sort of cosmopolitan broadmindedness Montaigne advocated. Cultural anthropologists try to
decode and analyze the diverse ways human beings interpret—and create—reality as they know it. All people take
part in culture, singular: humans' unique ability to sustain social bonds using elaborate systems of symbols, concepts,
and rituals. Each of us also participates in at least one of humanity's many cultures, plural: the distinct systems
different groups use to make sense of the world. The course begins by looking at writers who tried to decode foreign
cultures before the emergence of modern cultural anthropology, such as Herodotus, an ancient Greek historian who
sought to understand the Greeks' Persian enemies, and early modern authors like Lahontan and Schoolcraft, who
wrote accounts of Native cultures while collaborating in the European invasions of the Americas. The class will then
examine scholars like Franz Boas and Margaret Mead, who created cultural anthropology as we know it today in
collaboration with Indigenous thinkers. These intellectual adventurers lived in native villages in places like Alaska and
the South Pacific for months or years on end. They used what they learned during these periods of "fieldwork" to
argue against the racist idea that humanity is divided into distinct, ranked subspecies ("races") rather than a single,
diverse, yet unified whole. The remainder of the course takes a topical approach, introducing students to a sampling
of what cultural anthropologists have had to say about such subjects as religion, gender, sexuality, economics, and
politics. 15 students maximum.
Double Identity in Film
Students view a number of intriguing films examining the figure of the double (the doppelganger), mistaken identities,
and stolen/false identities. The double appears across various cultures and in different genres, including science-
fiction, thrillers, fantasy, political drama, comedy, romance, film-noir, and hybrids of these. The films explore
psychological, emotional, social, and philosophical questions about the nature of our identity, our desires, and our
evolving sense of ourselves. 15 students maximum.
The Great Games: The History of Five CIA Operations
This course examines the history of five covert Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operations with significant
consequences for world history. Students examine the following operations:
• The CIA led a 1953 military coup that toppled the Prime Minister of Iran.
• The CIA operations in Vietnam.
• CIA support for the Afghan Mujahideen against the Soviet Union in the 1980s.
• The counterterrorism operations against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in 2001.
• The hunt for former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during the 2003 Iraq War.
Students examine and think critically about the agency's role within the broader context of history, economics,
geopolitics, and American domestic policy. They analyze and discuss primary (declassified) CIA documents and
secondary sources to gain a nuanced and contextualized understanding of the agency's role in U.S. foreign policy. 15
students maximum.
Revised February 16, 2022Race and Representation in Art, the Media, and Popular Culture This course examines the relationship between race and representation, including constructions of and reflections on class, gender, sexuality, and violence in visual art and culture. Students analyze high art, mass media, and global popular culture from the nineteenth century to the present. Students explore how advertisements, film, and music videos construct and deconstruct racial stereotypes. Students also critically reflect on historical conditions and representations of slavery and contemporary responses in art and culture, violence and representation, and social justice issues. Does art make a difference in the transformation of consciousness? Does it influence institutional policy changes, and how does it affect people's lives? 15 students maximum. Roots, Rock, Reggae: Rastafarianism and Afro-Caribbean Culture During a state visit to Jamaica in 1966, the airplane of Ethiopian emperor Hailie Selassie I was surrounded on the tarmac of Kingston Palisadoes Airport by a crowd of 100,000 "Rastafarians" who proclaimed Selassie as Jah, a manifestation of God come to Earth to liberate captive Africans from "Babylon" and return them to Africa. In the following decades, Rastafarianism, and reggae music, in particular, spread across the world. This class will analyze the beginnings of the Rastafarian movement, its relationship to the music of liberation, and the worldwide phenomenon associated with Caribbean culture, particularly the Jamaican musician Bob Marley. Through directed readings and various media, students will investigate the political, social, and economic impact of 20th century Jamaica and the migration of Caribbean culture to the United Kingdom and the United States. 20 students maximum. Where Do "We the People" Go from Here? The United States election of 2020 was the most controversial political event in the past 50 years. The divided electorate, unproven claims of voter fraud, promotion of the Big Lie of the "stolen" presidency, and the continued influence of Trump/MAGA on the Republican Party all indicate that subsequent elections will be uncharted waters in American politics. Climate change, the Green New Deal, the Black Lives Matter movement, and demands for progressive reform in our society and economics creates tension that threatens to split the United States as no period has since the American Civil War. This class covers the major issues of the U.S. election of 2022. The class researches numerous forms of media, including newspapers, internet news sites, blogs, and personal commentaries to gain an understanding of the discourse and the use of media in influencing popular opinion. Through class discussion, student presentations, and written submissions, students will comprehend the complexity of modern American political issues and gain greater insight into the functioning of the government and the preeminent political topics in the news today. 15 students maximum. MEDIA STUDIES Advanced Photography Lab* This project-based photography lab allows students to develop a distinct technical and aesthetic approach to photography. Students perfect skills in photo printing (using darkroom techniques as well as industry-standard digital platforms, such as Adobe Bridge and Photoshop), color grading, image sequencing, and building visual narratives. Work may be studio or field-based and on film or digital. Students complete this course with a rigorously edited portfolio of images displayed via personal sites, preparing them for future college or professional work. PREREQUISITE: Personal Story Through Photography. 10 students maximum. Conceptual Photography This course is open to advanced and intermediate-level photographers. Students learn to articulate and refine their photographic vision by delving into symbolism and metaphor. The goals of this course include developing or refining a sense of personal style and creating serious pieces in preparation for college portfolios. Classes involve thoughtful Revised February 16, 2022
presentations covering creating sequencing with intent, artist statements, and final portfolio refinement. Students will complete this course prepared to work professionally in fine art, commercial, or documentary photography. 14 students maximum. Personal Story through Photography This course explores different aspects of perception. Through photography, students explore personal issues that are particularly meaningful. Students learn the fundamental skills needed to use a 35mm camera and darkroom basics, such as developing and printing. Students also learn basic editing, compositing, and printing techniques using Adobe Photoshop. This course is a prerequisite for all other photography courses. 12 students maximum. The Secret Life of Objects Stories begin in the physical stuff of our lives. The time we live in is extraordinary, yet with all the uncertainty in our pared-down lives, we might learn that we need less stuff than we thought we did. As we reacquaint ourselves with forgotten things around the house or our block, and even objects of menace, all these impressions can be portals into stories. Every artist understands there is great value in being still and having time to look at our lives and familiar objects in new ways. In this course, students dive into an exploration of the material ecologies in which they live— collecting glimmers, sights, sounds, tastes, smells, things that make us stop or do a double-take—and bring them into creative exercises that transform into stories, photographs, and short films. 14 students maximum. PERFORMING ARTS Ballet Students in this mixed-level (beginner through advanced) course gain both a foundation of classical techniques and continue to advance their techniques by studying the fundamentals of ballet—specifically barre work, center work, jumping, turning, leaping, and traveling classical combinations. Students learn traditional ballet choreography and its historical significance in the evolution of dance as a performing art. Advanced students have the opportunity to study pointe technique and perform en pointe in the spring concert. All students are required to perform in departmental concerts to receive Performing Arts credit for the course and to wear/purchase ballet shoes as required uniform. This class lasts for two consecutive periods each day. Students also receive Wellness credit for this course. 16 students maximum. Chamber Music Students with experience playing piano, classical guitar, woodwind, brass, percussion, and bowed string instruments will study and perform repertoire written or arranged for orchestra, concert band, and or chamber ensembles in preparation for performances throughout the school year. The ensemble is open to graduates of the middle school instrumental music program and other students with experience on piano, classical guitar, or brass, woodwind, or bowed string instruments. This is a trimester elective course that students are encouraged to repeat. Students are required to have their instruments with them on campus from the first day of class. PREREQUISITE: Students must have experience playing an instrument. This is not a course for teaching new instruments to students. Successful completion of this course results in a concert performance at the end of the trimester, thus fulfilling the Performing Arts graduation requirement. 30 students maximum. Chorus Students learn healthy vocal technique, study music notation, and build ensemble musicianship while rehearsing noteworthy music from various periods in preparation for performances throughout the school year. This is a trimester course that students are encouraged to repeat. PREREQUISITE: Students must be able to match pitch Revised February 16, 2022
accurately. Successful completion of this course results in a concert performance at the end of the trimester, thus fulfilling the Performing Arts graduation requirement. 40 students maximum. Jazz Band Students learn to read jazz charts and develop their improvisational skills, instrumental technique, and jazz music aesthetic while playing orchestrations suited to their abilities. They study important jazz players and composers and learn how other cultures have influenced American jazz. The band plays in the performing arts concert at the end of each term, thus fulfilling the Performing Arts graduation requirement. PREREQUISITE: Students may enroll in this course with instructor permission. Students must be able to read music notation and know all major scales and arpeggios. 30 students maximum. Theater Practicum This course is designed to give students exercise and movement training while supplying the spring musical with choreographed scenes. Students participate daily in warm-ups and conditioning exercises for the body and the voice and then move on to rehearse and polish musical numbers from the show. In addition to memorizing dialogue, blocking, choreography, music, and lyrics, students practice healthy vocal production techniques for singing and acting. This course counts for Performing Arts and Wellness credit. 35 students maximum. World Dance Students in this active dance class study and perform many styles of world dance. Traditional and contemporary dances of cultures, including but not limited to Africa, India, China, Japan, Greece, Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Cuba, Thailand, Bali, Korea, Germany, are learned, analyzed, and performed in the spring concert. The fundamentals of universal dance techniques and the specific techniques of different world dances are studied and explored in each class. Daily participation in class, wearing proper dance attire, and active participation in the spring dance performance are course requirements. This course counts for Performing Arts and Wellness credit. Successful completion of this course results in a performance at the end of the trimester. 16 students maximum. SCIENCE Advanced Arduino* This hands-on workshop is designed for motivated students who have completed the Introduction to Arduino course and are interested in designing and building their own Arduino-based projects. Students will choose from an array of sensors, shields, and components for projects ranging from neuroprosthetics to e-textiles. Students will have the opportunity to work independently or in small teams and will be required to document their processes and share their products. Students should be prepared to purchase any components that they would like to keep or would like to use but are not provided by the school. Fee: $40. 12 students maximum. Introduction to Marine Science* Over 70 percent of planet Earth is covered by one big ocean. In this introductory course, students embark on a quest for ocean knowledge. The course begins with a brief history of ocean exploration and how our oceans formed. Students examine the "family tree" of animals, plants, and microbes that live in our oceans. They explore the diversity of marine habitats and the relationships humans have with each one. Students learn about the marine food web and the delicate balance that exists in an aquatic ecosystem. Field trips and laboratory activities allow students to dig deeper into some of the local biology and ecology of Long Island. This course is specially designed for students who want a general introduction to marine sciences. 15 students maximum. Revised February 16, 2022
VISUAL ARTS Advanced Graphic Design* Graphic design is a creative process that utilizes the language of art to communicate ideas for the intended purpose. Students approach industry standards and contemporary techniques to further their design vocabulary and understanding. Reinforcing design fundamentals, students utilize graphic principles, elements, and text to communicate ideas. Posters, logos, type design, and commercial applications are among a few of the project outcomes. Students work with composition and layout to manipulate space and experiment using design concepts. Digital tools, including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, are explored. PREREQUISITE: Digital Arts. 16 students maximum. Animation Animation is about telling stories and sharing ideas visually. By bringing drawings, photographs, and physical objects into motion, stories and abstract ideas can be illustrated to influence and change viewers' minds. Through the exploration of the relevant history, cartoons, and audio integration, plus a comprehensive examination of animation tools and techniques, students produce animations and gain a contemporary understanding of how this medium has affected society. 6 students maximum. Ceramics This course offers students the opportunity to work in various methods of clay formation to gain a strong foundation in the basic processes of hand-building (pinching, coil building, and slab formation). Students are introduced to glazing, surface treatments, kiln firing, and clay terminology. They also learn the history of ceramics and gain an appreciation for contemporary works in clay. 14 students maximum. Digital Arts* In this course, students gain introductory experience in 2D computer-aided design. Digital applications include, but are not limited to, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Students develop an understanding of contemporary design applications through practical assignments using the interfaces of today's professionals. Photo manipulation and file preparation are at the forefront of this course. 16 students maximum. Expressing the Self In this studio course, students explore and express themselves through art. The course starts with students creating a list of textures, words, dreams, and images that they feel represent them. They also make drawings expressing their emotions while blindfolded to learn about making marks that express feeling. From there, students create images using a variety of media and styles that are their own, exploring a potentially more abstract way of making self-portraits. The goal of the course is to help students come closer to understanding themselves and how everything they create can express aspects of themselves. Students are encouraged to explore different media, such as clay, paint, inks, glues, graphite, charcoal, photography, metals, and fluids, to push their techniques and concepts to express their visions best. PREREQUISITE: Introduction to Visual Art or permission from the instructor. 16 students maximum. Introduction to Fashion Design In this class, students are introduced to the creative and exciting world of fashion design. Students understand, analyze, and draw the fashion figure from the front, back, and turned. They learn how to communicate their design ideas in a fashion sketch through garment details, silhouettes, and color theory. They also learn to sketch and render the contemporary fashion figure to eventually illustrate a fashion design collection. The course concentrates on proportion, fabric rendering, design details, garment silhouettes, and presentation techniques. 16 students maximum. Revised February 16, 2022
Painting Students learn fundamental painting techniques using either acrylic or oil paint on canvas. They explore the visual elements of composition, texture, contrast, line, balance, and rhythm. Initial studies are based on observation and master copies. Students are then encouraged to choose their own subjects and develop their own vision. 16 students maximum. Printmaking Students work creatively in the art of printmaking, learning relief, intaglio, and monotype processes. Students work with color, composition, and design to communicate personal concepts while exploring the particular textures and surface qualities inherent to each method. An emphasis is placed on creativity, quality, and skill development. PREREQUISITE: Introduction to Visual Art or permission from the instructor. 16 students maximum. Sculpture and Mixed Media Through observation, experimentation, and individual creative expression, students in this course immerse themselves in the world of mixed media. They look at work from a variety of artists across an extensive range of media. With an emphasis on process, students engage the possibilities of a range of materials and methods, including drawing, wire sculpture, collage, painting, and sculpture. They also explore themes such as social commentary, images of war, landscape, and self-portraiture. Focusing on artists that challenge the art world, students produce an in-depth, creative interpretation of a contemporary artist. 16 students maximum. WELLNESS & ATHLETICS Interscholastic Athletics Spring Sports $150 unless otherwise noted; tryouts may be required at the start of term. Co-Ed Badminton (Club only) Boys Baseball (Varsity and JV); combined with Bridgehampton Girls Golf (Varsity only); combined with Southampton Boys Lacrosse (Varsity and JV); combined with EHHS Girls Lacrosse (Varsity and JV); combined with EHHS Co-Ed Sailing (Club only); $30 membership to Yacht Club) (Optional gear; costs could be as much as $300 Boys Tennis (Varsity and JV) Boys Track and Field (Varsity only) Girls Track and Field (Varsity only) Ballet Students in this mixed-level (beginner through advanced) course gain both a foundation of classical techniques and continue to advance their techniques by studying the fundamentals of ballet—specifically barre work, center work, jumping, turning, leaping, and traveling classical combinations. Students learn traditional ballet choreography and its historical significance in the evolution of dance as a performing art. Advanced students have the opportunity to study pointe technique, and perform en pointe in the spring concert. All students are required to perform in departmental concerts to receive Performing Arts credit for the course and to wear/purchase ballet shoes as required uniform. This class lasts for two consecutive periods each day. Students also receive Performing Arts credit for this course. 16 students maximum. Revised February 16, 2022
Boxing and Rowing for Fitness Boxing is one of the earliest combat sports, dating back to the Sumerian era and evolving over many civilizations and cultures. It is a popular modern-day sport, with training scopes that empower the human body and mind. Rowing is also one of the oldest sporting traditions, adapted by many different cultures. It is an effective training modality for strength and endurance and is made further accessible through indoor rowing. Boxing and Rowing for Fitness is a non-combative and non-competitive fitness class where students learn basic boxing and rowing skills and techniques and improve strength, endurance, and mobility. Fee: $60 for gloves and hand wraps. 10 students maximum. Co-ed Badminton This is a competitive club program with intra-squad matches and possible scrimmages against local clubs. No competitions against other schools are held. This program runs Monday–Friday 3:15–4:45 pm. This course counts as Wellness and toward the Athletics graduation requirement. 16 students maximum. Co-ed Basketball Conditioning Basketball Conditioning is a co-ed Wellness course designed to offer skills development and conditioning opportunities for students interested in the sport. Students improve the level of play through targeted drills and regular scrimmages. The components of fitness addressed in this course include strength, agility, speed, endurance, and power development. Fall and Spring Basketball Conditioning is programmed as pre- and post-season training for Varsity and JV Basketball but is also open to students who just enjoy playing the sport. 20 students maximum Co-ed Sailing This is a recreational team that practices at the Breakwater Yacht Club in Sag Harbor. Certain personal equipment may be required for this course. Regattas may be held occasionally during the season. Practices typically run daily from 3:05–5:00 pm. There is a fee associated with this course. PREREQUISITE: Students must pass a swim test. Co-ed Volleyball Conditioning This pre-season co-ed volleyball training course offers skill-building and conditioning opportunities for students who play volleyball competitively or would like to improve their general fitness and sport-specific skills and techniques. It is open to anyone who is interested and it is strongly encouraged for athletes trying out for the school's volleyball team. The course is designed to improve the level of play and involves targeted drills and squad scrimmages. 20 students maximum. Functional Fitness Students develop an understanding of the human movement system, with an emphasis placed on the role of the muscular and skeletal systems. They explore the body's adaptive response to progressively cultivate strength, mobility, endurance, power, and flexibility. Students engage in exercise modalities that support strength, power, endurance, and mobility development and learn to use equipment and movement with specificity in the context of athletic performance and functional training. Students develop basic knowledge of human physiology as it pertains to human kinetics, adolescent nutrition, and training protocols that promote health and safety. 12 students maximum. Spiral Garden Project The Spiral Garden Project is a project-based learning opportunity for students to collaborate on a hands-on experience in the basics of growing food while focusing on sustainability, stewardship, and mindfulness in nature. By growing vegetables and herbs that will be served in the school cafe, students participate in a holistic learning experience through the practice of "tending" while gaining the knowledge and skills related to the fundamentals of the garden ecosystem and making contributions to a thriving community. Throughout the course, students have opportunities to explore Eastern and Western traditional practices and modern research on understanding the role of Revised February 16, 2022
nature and gardening in health and well-being as they engage in collaborative outdoor activities promoting kinesthetic intelligence, physical fitness, and social and emotional health. This course satisfies the Eastern Wellness graduation requirement and students will also earn community service hours. 12 students maximum. Sports and Movement Training In this course, students address movement patterns as they relate to various sports to develop general fitness and sport-specific skills and techniques. The drills, scrimmages, and movement training in this course enhance students' movement profiles while developing strength, speed, agility, endurance, and stamina for general fitness transferrable to a wide range of sports. Students also develop social and emotional skills and intelligence by navigating the challenges that demand a collaborative and cooperative approach to activities and tasks. 16 students maximum. Theater Practicum This course is designed to give students exercise and movement training while supplying the spring musical with choreographed scenes. Students participate daily in warm-ups and conditioning exercises for the body and the voice and then move on to rehearse and polish musical numbers from the show. In addition to memorizing dialogue, blocking, choreography, music, and lyrics, students practice healthy vocal production techniques for singing and acting. Students also receive Performing Arts credit for this course. 35 students maximum. Walking Meditation Throughout human evolution, walking has been an important conduit for sustaining personal health and fitness by nourishing the mind, body, and in many cultures, spirituality. In this course, students engage in conscious walking and mindfulness exercises, such as mindful eating and finding novelty in simple tasks, as an avenue for unifying the mind and body. Students explore what it means to be present in their moment-to-moment experiences and develop skills and knowledge in contemplative and reflective practices that support their health and well-being. This course satisfies the Eastern Wellness graduation requirement. 20 students maximum. World Dance Students in this active dance class study and perform many styles of world dance. Traditional and contemporary dances of cultures, including but not limited to Africa, India, China, Japan, Greece, Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Cuba, Thailand, Bali, Korea, and Germany, are learned, analyzed, and performed in the spring concert. The fundamentals of universal dance techniques and the specific techniques of different world dances are studied and explored in each class. Daily participation in class, in proper dance attire, and active participation in the spring dance performance, are course requirements. Successful completion of this course results in a performance at the end of the trimester. This course counts for Performing Arts and Wellness credit. 16 students maximum. Yoga Students study yoga as an ancient system of integrated wellness. They explore the historical background and evolution of yogic techniques and the importance of yoga and meditation to lifelong emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual health and wellness. Students learn and practice proper structural alignment, breathing, and gaze techniques, developing the ability to regulate physical, mental, and emotional responses. Students also learn essential elements of pose sequencing and develop personal yoga routines that support a healthy lifestyle. This course satisfies the Eastern Wellness graduation requirement. 20 students maximum. Yoga Fit Yoga Fit is an upbeat Wellness course combining the best of yoga's stability, alignment, strength, breath expansion, balance, and flexibility training with the fitness components of coordination, muscular strength, cardiovascular exercise, core training, and isometric and concentric muscle loading for a comprehensive wellness practice. This Revised February 16, 2022
class is a fully physical daily practice, teaching yoga postures, strength/fitness exercises, and a combination training curriculum. Students are required to participate consistently in appropriate Wellness clothing that allows a wide range of movement. This course satisfies the Eastern Wellness graduation requirement. 20 students maximum. WORLD LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE Creative Writing This course offers students the opportunity to write stories, novels, poems, graphic novels, graphic poems, and limericks. We'll also make room for witty comebacks, heartfelt greeting cards, angry diatribes, feckless screeds, bold manifestos, and the occasional banshee wail of pure, unadulterated lunacy. In short, this is a class where you can discover your preferred literary form and realize your literary voice. We'll also read works by some very good writers. Join us! Write! Make stuff up! You won't regret it. 15 students maximum. The Future Where might you want to live in thirty years? What technological revolutions lie ahead? How trustworthy are predictions about the future? This course will include watching films, reading speculative writers (including novelists and social scientists), analyzing current trends, and discussing what will change (and what won't) about global politics. If you're interested in international relations, economics, style and design, science fiction, or communications, there will be a lot for you to ponder here. This is also a good class to consider if you're trying to figure out how to approach your college applications—the story of the future includes you, of course. A clearer sense of the "big picture" can do wonders for the planning you have to do and the essays you'll need to write. 16 students maximum. Mad Women Many of the best, most enduring works of Victorian literature were written by women who used their narratives to protest against sexism and rail against a whole range of suffocating mores and laws, many of which only applied to women and were designed to marginalize them. Authors like Charlotte Bronte (Jane Eyre) and Charlotte Perkins Gilman (The Yellow Wallpaper) give us stories of women whose voices, though screaming for help, are left unheard. Yet, it also seems that certain freedoms came with the public exile these women faced, as they successfully twisted a fate determined for them by others into personal liberation. Our exploration of these concepts will not begin and end in the Victorian era. We will dive into contemporary literature, analyzing works from authors like Toni Morrison (Sula) and Janet Frame (An Angel at My Table). The works we will read unapologetically deliver stories that point out the long road that still lies ahead of us while highlighting the freedoms gained by women who rebel against a structure that was not built for them. In Mad Women, we will thoughtfully examine the oppressive nature of society then and now, the literature born from it, and the women behind it. 15 students maximum. *If a student takes an advanced course or required elective, it can be used in both the advanced and STEAM electives requirements section. (Example: Advanced Biology can be listed twice to fulfill the advanced science requirement and the STEAM requirement). See the following page for additional information. Revised February 16, 2022
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