240A Humanities 12 H / 240 Humanities 12 ACP

Do you want to do interdisciplinary work that investigates fundamental human questions spanning centuries, and places around the world? Might you want to be part of a tight-knit community that strives to see you as a person and scholar? The combination of English and Social Studies takes place in a number of ways throughout the course. You'll read English texts through a social science lens and/or a historical context. You'll use literature as a tool to examine Social Studies topics. You'll take a single idea and explore it across the two disciplines. This combined approach allows students to further immerse themselves in the course material to gain a fuller understanding of themselves within the context of their world. This past year, the course paired an introduction to Sociology and Psychology with Lahiri’s The Namesake. Concepts such as tyranny, family and cultural dynamics, and colonialism with Adiche’s Purple Hibiscus. The role of storytelling and meaning-making with Shakespeare’s Hamlet, excerpts from Lepore’s The Name of War, two documentaries - This Changes Everything and The Destruction of Memory, and KCRW’s Diaries of a Divided Nation. An exploration of what is real and what is true with the Wachowski’s The Matrix and excerpts from Harari’s 21 Lessons for the 21st Century. Small group discussions, individual conferencing, class projects and activities are often built around choice, with choice pointing students to an examination of identity and the human experience. If you are interested in learning more about the world around you, as well as finding the connections across different subjects, then this course is for you. 

Essential Skills in the Humanities Classroom

Students will read, watch, and listen to understand.

Students will think historically and reflectively.

Students will communicate persuasively and narratively.