Curriculum
2010-2011 Curriculum Guide
Fees: There are no fees; however, teachers may require a reading packet in lieu of a textbook.
The arts grow increasingly dependent on the written word as a means of expression, whether in the form of grant proposals, artists' statements, applications to conservatories, screenplays, or simple displays of one's independent point of view. Consequently, one of the most important academic objectives of the Humanities department at Idyllwild Arts Academy is teaching students the skills that are involved in clear, simple, and thoughtful writing. It is an objective central to both English and history classes. In addition, the Humanities department understands that different skills are required at different stages of academic development. For 9th and 10th grade students, writing instruction emphasizes vocabulary, grammar, academic summaries, paragraph development, brief essays in a variety of genres, and frequent research exercises pertaining to course content. For 11th and 12th grade students, the writing instruction focuses primarily on the development of short critical and persuasive essays which include the aforementioned elements as well as a greater emphasis on research and the use of secondary source materials.
English
Introduction to Literature - Full year course - required for freshmen
Prerequisites - None
Introduction to Literature explores the literature and cultures of several regions of the world. Past explorations have included India, North American indigenous peoples, Africa, Latin America, and Japan. The readings address all major literary genres (novels, short stories, poetry, drama, and some non-fiction). Discussions about theme, style, use of metaphor, narrator’s voice and character development help students interpret possible meanings of the work and of literature as a whole. Written expression and the writing process are also heavily emphasized as students learn to develop critical and personal essays and shorter research papers. Students will also work on academic skills such as summarizing, note-taking, outlining, and learning to read critically. Finally, students build vocabulary and test-taking strategies for the PSATs and the SATs through workbook assignments and quizzes.
Classics of Western Civilization - Full year course
Prerequisites – Introduction to Literature or 9th grade English
Classics of Western Civilization focuses on literary classics which provide insight into Western culture. In addition, writing assignments emphasize the writing process as it applies to compositions which analyze and explain aspects of the literature studied. The literature includes short stories, drama, poetry and novels of Homer, Sophocles, Sappho, Dante, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Swift, Mary Shelley, Dostoevsky, Camus, Kafka, Ibsen and Woolf.
American Literature - Full year course
Prerequisites – 2 years of high school English
American Literature examines the themes that run through the body of the American literary canon. In the first part of the course students work to understand the ideals that have shaped American life and, by extension, its literature. In the second half, students consider the realities and their correlation or contrast with those ideals. Progressing thematically rather than chronologically, the class studies units such as Southern literature, literature of immigration, race and nature. Through class discussion and extensive group work, students consider works of major (and minor) American authors and trace the reactions and responses to the culture of this country.
In addition to understanding the fiction and non-fiction of America, the class works on analytical writing skills including frequent formal essays, personal and college essays, and response papers.
Senior English Electives- One semester courses
Prerequisites – 3 years of high school English
The following courses are designed for seniors. Each course meets for one semester only, so students must take two courses to earn one English credit. (Not all courses are offered each year.)1. Contemporary Literature
Through readings, discussions and writing this course explores how authors use their art to respond to the world of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. One of the main themes investigates the different ways writers deal with suffering, death or loss, both on an individual and historical or cultural level. Readings include novels and dramas, non-fiction, short stories and poetry. Discussions about themes, style, and use of metaphor, narrator’s voice, and character development will help students understand what is meant by “contemporary literature.” Students have many opportunities to practice all kinds of writing, including extensive work on a college admissions essay and a grant proposal. An essential aspect of the writing process is revising one’s ideas, so students will be required to write at least two versions of all longer writing assignments. Finally, students will also develop research and analytical skills through presentations and brief papers on the critical literature about the readings and themes.
2. Mythology
Myths originally served two purposes--to explain and to teach. They continue to appeal today because they depict a universe in which human beings take their place in a much larger scheme. They also reveal important aspects of attitude, behavior, and values of particular cultures. This course exposes students to the great stories that comprise classical and world mythology.
3. The Novel into FilmThe Novel into Film focuses on a comparative analysis of the mediums of literature and cinema by examining the process of adapting novels into feature films. Students discuss the process of adaptation as one of translation, wherein a core story is rendered in two separate modes of storytelling, each defined by a specific language and aesthetic. Students consider the notion of novel as "resource" for film and discuss the possibility of artistic liberty as a means of creating a unique work of art.
4. Poetry
Students develop critical thinking and communication skills as they explore the genre through close reading, collaborative discussion, and exploratory and persuasive writing. While this is not a course in the writing of poetry, students may feel inspired to write their own poems. The bulk of the writing in the course is critical essays written about the poems.
5. The Art of Telling Stories: Native American Literature and Culture
Through readings of fictional and non-fictional work, as well as examinations of film, visual arts, performance art, and music, this course will explore the multiple perspectives on the Native American experience. Students also look at the historical context that shows that literature and art are not only expressions of individual identity, but witness to the history and culture of a people. Among the authors and artists students explore are Sherman Alexie, Louise Erdrich, M. Scott Momaday, Leslie Marmon Silko, Gerald Clarke, Chris Eyre, Gerald Vizenor, Darcy NcNickle, Joy Harjo, John Trudell, and Joseph Bruchac.
6. Criticism: Theory and Practice - One semester, senior electiveCriticism establishes in the students a foundation for a critical approach to the arts, one grounded in classical theory (Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, Plato, Augustine) and contemporary ideas about aesthetics (Kant, James, Lessing). Because Idyllwild Arts Academy is uniquely populated with students pursuing their artistic disciplines at an advanced, pre-professional level, students also study specific contemporary critics in their disciplines and produce criticisms of their own, based on these models, of performances both on campus and off.
World Literature - Full year course
Prerequisites – Completion of Advanced ESL
World Literature is designed to engage international students in the literary works of well-known writers from many different countries of the world. Students study a variety of literary genres including short stories, poetry, drama, essays, biographies and short novels. They also focus on their writing skills, in particular the construction of tightly organized, cohesive, and concise essays.
Honors Courses in the Humanities
The Humanities department offers a series of honors courses in the 11th and 12th grades. They entail a far more rigorous and challenging curriculum than the standard courses at these grade levels. The reading assignments are more complex and provocative, requiring students to invest more time, critical analysis, and creative energy in the study process. These courses also demand that students consistently write and think with increased argumentative sophistication, critical insight, thoughtfulness, and clarity. In short, they not only provide greater depth of subject matter and more interesting opportunities for independent learning, but they also commit the student to a heavier academic workload that may at times impinge upon a student's devotion to arts classes. The following are the minimum requirements for all honors classes in the Humanities department at Idyllwild Arts Academy.1. Humanities honors classes have a maximum of 18 students per class.
2. All applicants must have an academic GPA of 3.8 or higher.
3. All applicants are required to write an in-class essay during a scheduled 40 minute X-Block period. They will answer one of several questions pertaining to the study of either literature or history.
4. All applicants must also submit at the time of their scheduled X-Block a graded writing sample for their current history or English teacher to evaluate. Samples must be accompanied by a type-written assessment explaining how the student responded to the teacher’s comments and criticisms of their work.
All new incoming applicants are required to write an in-class essay in a scheduled 40-minute testing session during student orientation week in early September. They will answer one of several questions pertaining to the study of either literature or history. Students must also submit at the time of their scheduled in-class essay a graded writing sample. Samples must be accompanied by a typewritten self-assessment explaining how the student responded to the teacher’s comments and criticisms of their work.
5. All applicants are then evaluated by the Humanities department faculty regarding their academic work ethic, class participation, reading and writing skills, and intellectual curiosity.
6. All honors students are required to read one assigned text for each of the honors English and history courses over the summer break that precedes the start of the new academic year.
American Literature (Honors) - Full year course
Prerequisites – above
The honors American Literature course examines the same themes as the non-honors course and the division of content between the semesters is also similar. The honors course however, tackles more content, including more complicated and varied literature and longer extracts from selected works. Fewer group projects are assigned and the class emphasizes independent work and high-level college preparatory analysis and discussion. Expectations for written work are far more stringent than those assignments for a non-honors student, and the personal attention to writing style and the perfecting of essay structure and approach is more intense. In order to succeed in the honors course, students need not only diligence, but also imagination and analytical creativity.
Literature of Western Thought (Honors)
In honors Literature of Western Thought students trace the ever-changing relationship between literature, history, and culture from the First World War to the present day, exploring that relationship through poetry, novels, short stories, plays, films, and non-fiction essays. Students hone their critical thinking skills through the writing of persuasive thesis papers, close textual readings, research, and written and oral collaboration.
History
World Cultures - Full year course - required for freshmen
Prerequisites - None
World Cultures provides an introduction to cultures from around the world. The course moves from continent to continent, investigating one or more countries in depth. Recent explorations have included Tanzania, Iran and Columbia. Students study political and physical geography, history, and current events to guide them to a critical understanding of where cultures come from and how to best understand them today. Through class discussion and a variety of written and hands on projects, World Cultures students work to gain skills in critical thinking and writing.
The History of Western Civilization - Full year course
Prerequisites - None
The History of Western Civilization is designed for students at the 10th, 11th and the 12th grade levels who have an interest in the subject or who need world history credit to fulfill graduation requirements. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the historical and philosophical achievements and controversies that comprise the past 2500 years of Western culture. We will begin with a short review of Greek and Roman civilizations, paying particular attention to the clashes between cultural stasis and change, democracy and imperialism, individualism and citizenship. However, the primary focus of the course will be the timeframe of the Renaissance through to the aftermath of the First World War. Our task will be: first, to understand the events and values of each historical period; second, to evaluate and interpret the significance of each period in relation to our own lives in the present; and third, to perceive ourselves in the present as historical beings who will be judged by others in the future.
United States History - Full year course
Prerequisites - None
U.S. History introduces students to some of the philosophical, political, economic, and cultural controversies that define American history. The course aims to make real the connection between the past and the present through an ongoing investigation of domestic and international current events. The course also entails an exploration of historical themes rather than the traditional chronological approach to American history. Some of the themes are “Creativity and Innovation,” “Systems and Resistances,” and “Economy, Work, and Wealth.” By contrasting the histories of these themes with their present-day practices, students gain the ability to situate themselves in a larger historical context and envision a variety of roles for themselves as world citizens.
This course also provides students with a chance to build thinking, reading, writing, analytical, and test-taking skills. They learn to read and evaluate primary and secondary materials, to plan and write effective essays, and to formulate sound oral and written arguments. All writing assignments require students to think across traditional disciplinary lines and find connections between diverse realms of culture, from politics and economics to art and technology. Students are challenged to develop independent opinions and support those views with strong evidence and persuasive analysis.
Government and Economics - One semester only (required course)
Prerequisites - U.S. History
Government and Economics introduces students to some of the philosophical and historical issues that comprise America’s political, economic, and cultural place in the contemporary world. Students begin with a discussion on the meaning of politics, government, economics, democracy, and globalization. From there students explore the Colonial and Constitutional foundations of American political practices and beliefs, concluding with an investigation into the institutions of federalism, the legislative, executive, and judicial institutions of government. By placing the histories of these American ideas and institutions beside their present-day global influences, students gain new and different insights into those places where politics intersects with their daily lives as students, artists, and citizens.
Social Science Senior Electives - One semester only
Prerequisites - World History and US History
The following courses are designed for seniors. Each course meets for one semester only and is paired with the required government and economics course to fulfill the senior social science requirement.
1. Comparative Religion
Comparative Religion is designed to provide a firm foundation of knowledge in the world's religious traditions. Through class discussion, personal reflection and essays, students investigate questions of the soul, faith, salvation, and the idea of the sacred. Students delve into the metaphysical interpretations which different traditions assign to reality and discover common threads as well as differences in ritual and religious identity. Huston Smith's World Religions serves as a general reference. To give a deeper experience of primary texts in various religious traditions, students also read such works as The Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads, The Heart Sutra and The Dhammapada, The Qu'ran, The Bible, Taoteching, The Analects of Confucius, and readings in Native American and Aboriginal cosmologies in addition to essays on inter-religious dialogue by Cousins and Panikkar.
2. Introducing Psychology
Introduction to Psychology begins with a brief look at the history of psychology as an objective science, noting some of the great minds that have influenced the discipline. As the course continues, students have the opportunity to trace the process of human development while analyzing biological, personal, and social influences on various aspects of psychological function. Topics include perception, emotion, memory, language, the origins of behavior, nature vs. nurture, as well as relevant aspects of personality and social psychology. Finally, students conclude the semester with a comprehensive look at various issues in contemporary psychopathology.
3. Introducing Terrorism (not offered 2010-2011)
Introducing Terrorism will survey historical episodes in which acts of terror destabilized the values of divine right, reason, nation, capitalism, modernity, and democracy. The timeframe will stretch from the reign of terror during the French Revolution to the present-day impact of Al-Qaeda. The conceptual focus of the course will explore the performative (i.e., theatrical, cinematic, linguistic) aspects of terrorism. Examples will include Robespierre’s public use of the guillotine, the assassination of Ferdinand on a Sarajevo parade route, the televised takeover of the Munich Olympics, and the recurring implosions of the World Trade Center. By mixing the historical with the conceptual, the course will consider how terrorism makes us rethink the value of power in a world where a “show of force” by the powerless can weaken the “foundations” of the powerful.
U.S. History (Honors)
Honors U.S. History challenges students to think about the American historical transition from a variety of critical perspectives. This course's foundations are the philosophical, political, economic, and cultural controversies that define American history. Its structure is primarily thematic rather than chronological, and the course content and creative opportunities allow students to develop their own independent points of view. The content of U.S. History (Honors) includes a critical engagement with primary texts, stretching from narratives on the first Spanish encounters with the Aztecs and John Winthrop's “Little Speech” aboard the Arbella, to George Kennan's Cold War essay on Soviet conduct and George Bush's recent policy statements on the war against terrorism. In addition, the course relies on a good deal of critical writing and research projects that challenge students to develop sound ideas and arguments in relation to some of the most notable and controversial interpretations of the American historical record. For these reasons, the course requires not only hard work, but also a good measure of curiosity, creativity and ambition.
U.S. Government and Economics (Contemporary History: Politics and Art) (Honors) - Full year course
Honors Government and Economics is a study of some of the more provocative shifts in human thinking during the late 19th and 20th centuries, shifts that continue to influence politics, economics, culture, and the arts. The course begins with an exploration of the decline of European colonialism depicted in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. It is an event that prompts us to rethink the limits of Western capitalism and globalization, modern philosophy and the problem of morality, and individual identity and community. Deeper investigations into these historical themes will guide the second part of the course, with particular attention paid to the ideas of Marx, Nietzsche, Freud, and Arendt. The last part of the course will involve students in developing research projects into aspects of the relationship between these themes and the future of their artistic and professional pursuits.