11th Grade

American Studies: U.S. History 11 (P) - Honors is a thematic unit approach that attempts to combine present and past. Supplemental readings are an integral part of the program designed to enhance the historical framework offered by the text. Each unit poses a major question and several objectives for students to reach. Students are introduced to the most recent books on the subjects at hand, encouraged to accomplish a variety of group projects, asked to recruit guest speakers, and above all, constantly asked to view U.S. history from a humanities perspective. Art, poetry, song and dance are blended with the factual content. U.S. History-Honors begins with the historic decision to drop the atomic bomb, works forward through Korea, Vietnam, Watergate and the Reagan era. The students then go back to the eras of Jefferson and Jackson and work their way back up into the 20th Century. Seeing the U.S. as others see us is an emphasized goal. A major research paper or project will be due each semester.

American Studies: U.S. Literature 11 (HP) The course begins and ends with the question, "What is an American?" In the search for answers students explore the interrelationships among American art, music, drama, dance, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, religious beliefs, "pop" culture, political movements, and intellectual history. Expository writing, timed writing exercises, essays, creative writing, and response logs are required. Activities include creative and critical problem solving, discussion, group work, and various types of collaborative and individual learning.