2012-13 upper school course description book - University Liggett ...

Historical Persuasive Writing
First semester, 1/2 credit
The goal of Historical Persuasive Writing is to develop the ability to write an effective history paper by
finding and using proper evidence to support an argument. Students will examine multiple historical
eras and explore diverse geographies and cultures within an historical context. The foundation for each
era will be introduced by a historical film and supplemented with primary and secondary sources,
which will be analyzed and discussed. Within each historical era, students will be empowered to explore
their own interests and arguments. Students will then write research papers in which they incorporate
multiple sources and mediums. Students will further their historical understanding while
simultaneously developing their historical writing and researching skills. Typical assignments include
writing rough drafts, peer editing, conferences with the teacher, revising, short answer reflection
questions, and discussion of historical events and plot development.
No textbook requirement
Post-Soviet Eurasia
First semester, 1/2 credit
Spanning from the Carpathians in Europe to the Pacific Ocean, the largest geopolitically unified region
on earth includes Russia, Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Over the past
hundred years - and in particular the past twenty – these countries have undergone some of the most
dramatic changes in history. Throughout the course, students will monitor English-language Russian
news sources, first analyzing them for bias and point of view. These will range from Kremlin-controlled
to totally “free” media. Long periods will include 20 minutes of current events analysis from these
sources, students being required to bring in an article of interest, which will allow them to begin to see
the results of trends being studied and to recognize the names of the major players in Russian political
and cultural life. Students will also create a deck of “player” cards, including photos and important
information about each of the major political players in the post-Soviet world. The final project will be a
summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in which students will represent a country of
the former Soviet Union in negotiations of economic and political policy.
Course Pack provided
Psychology
First semester, 1/2 credit
This course, an overview of the broad and diverse field of psychology, is based upon three themes: 1)
Psychology embraces the scientific method and applies it to the study of animal (human & non-human)
behavior, 2) The study of psychology reveals how even the simplest human behavior is influenced by a
myriad of forces, and 3) Psychology has an impact on everyday life. As such, the course will introduce
the scientific study of human behavior, including learning, cognitions, emotions, relationships, and
development and provide an overview of the many types of human and social problems aided by the
study and application of psychological theory and principle. As part of the academic experience,
students will participate in computer-assisted simulations of many well-known experiments, analyze
primary sources, determine the validity of popular claims, design field research paradigms, and create a
research participant consent form.
Psychology, The Science of Behavior (7th edition) ISBN 0-205-54786-9
by Carlson, Miller, Heth, Donahoe, & Martin
Pearson Publishing
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