Humanities

Hum anities at Baxter Academ y for Technology and Science supports our STEM m ission by providing com m unity context and critical thinking opportunities for which innovation and technology takes place. English broadens perspective and build em pathy through analyzing fiction and nonfiction. Students use texts to explore and respond to real world issues. They foster critical thinking that crosses disciplines. Baxter scholars build com m unity by interacting with others through student driven discussion and develop written and spoken com m unication skills. Social studies at Baxter seeks to facilitate the breakdown of history so that students can assess how the past has shaped the world they live in today, how historical forces and system s im pact their lives and the lives of others, and how they can bring about change. Through social studies classes, students gain and hone skills in research, critical thinking, com m unity building, sharing and listening, and em pathy.

Social Studies M odule

Hum anities I Early Civilizations English M odule

English I

Hum anities II Am erican Studies

Hum anities III Global Perspective

English

English I ENG 100 In this course, students will address them es related to social contracts and power and work to answer questions about their identities, beliefs, and the form ation of societies. Students will m aster the reading skills of citing appropriate evidence from fiction and non-fiction texts and use the writing process (including outlines and peer revision) to develop claim s and form ulate well-structured pieces of writing that synthesize big ideas. Students will also participate in m ultiple whole and sm all group discussions in order to learn how to participate in high-level text-based conversations. Standards Assessed: EN in Reading, Writing, and Speaking & Listening. English II: Science Fiction or Young Adult Literature

English III: Short Stories, Dystopia/Utopia, or M ulticultural Literature

English II: Science Fiction ENG 201 In this course, students will address them es related to social awareness and work to address questions about their own perspectives, understanding of system s, and the role of individuals in creating and sustaining change. Students will choose to answer these questions through the lens of Science Fiction novels. Students will be introduced to the process of close reading by learning to identify foundational elem ents of craft and structure and connect them to central them es and/or m ain ideas. In this course, students will focus on organizing their writing by including strong claim s, sophisticated reasoning, and supporting their stance on an essential questions. Students will practice verbalizing their ideas in front of their peers and drive text-based discussions by asking open-ended questions of their peers. Standards Assessed: PR in Reading, Writing, and Speaking & Listening.

English II: Young Adult Literature ENG 202 In this course, students will address them es related to social awareness and work to address questions about their own perspectives, understanding of system s, and the role of individuals in creating and sustaining change. Students will choose to answer these questions through the lens of Science Fiction novels. Students will be introduced to the process of close reading by learning to identify foundational elem ents of craft and structure and connect them to central them es and/or m ain ideas. In this course, students will focus on organizing their writing by including strong claim s, sophisticated reasoning, and supporting their stance on an essential questions. Students will practice verbalizing their ideas in front of their peers and drive text-based discussions by asking open-ended questions of their peers. Standards Assessed: PR in Reading, Writing, and Speaking & Listening

English III: Dystopia/Utopia ENG 301 In this course, students will address them es related to perspective and work to address questions about the im pact of point of view on the definition of history, form ation of literature, and social relationships between individuals and groups. Students will choose to answer these questions through the lens of Dystopian/Utopian literature. At this level, students will engage in rigorous close reading exercises in order to understand how an author?s choice of craft and structure conveys m eaning. In this course, students will select essay questions, craft their own outlines, develop claim s that connect observations across texts, and evaluate their own drafts. Students will participate in student-facilitated H arkness discussions in order to address nuanced them es in a collective m anner. Standards Assessed: GB Writing, Reading, and Speaking & Listening English III: M ulticultural Literature ENG302 In this course, students will address them es related to perspective and work to address questions about the im pact of point of view on the definition of history, form ation of literature, and social relationships between individuals and groups. Students will choose to answer these questions through the lens of Dystopian/Utopian literature. At this level, students will engage in rigorous close reading exercises in order to understand how an author?s choice of craft and structure conveys m eaning. In this course, students will select essay questions, craft their own outlines, develop claim s that connect observations across texts, and evaluate their own drafts. Students will participate in student-facilitated H arkness discussions in order to address nuanced them es in a collective m anner. Standards Assessed: GB Writing, Reading, and Speaking & Listening

English III: Short Stories ENG 300 This course is designed for juniors and seniors who are still working on earning GB evidence in reading, writing, and/or speaking & listening standards. The course will explore the short story genre through analysis of how a writer's craft influences the text?s m eaning. Students will read short stories written 150 years ago, as well as contem porary stories that were published just last year. We? ll explore how our reading (and rereading) of these condensed stories changes our understanding and interpretation of fiction. Equally im portant, we will work through the writing process in order to becom e m ore confident in crafting analytical essays and persuasive pieces. Class discussions will use the H arkness m odel, and conversations will be guided by student questions and observations. Students will also build presentation skills through im plem entation of a variety of speaking strategies. Prerequisites: Junior or Senior who needs additional support and m eeting GB level with reading, writing, and/or Speaking & Listening. English II. Standards Assessed: GB Writing, Reading, and Speaking & Listening

Social Studies I: Early Civilization SOC 100 This course will focus on basic research and the introduction to historical thought. In addition, students will understand how early societies organized them selves to m ake decisions, solve problem s, and produce goods. Students will do this through the study of early civilizations. Standards Assessed: EN in Civics & Governm ent, H istorical Thinking, and Econom ics.

Social Studies II: Am erican Studies SOC 200 This course will focus on analysis of historical docum ents and founding ideals of the United States. In addition, students will exam ine the Am erican experience from the perspective of groups that historically lacked access to power/resources. Standards Assessed: PR in Civics & Governm ent, H istorical Thinking and Econom ics. *This course is a M E state requirem ent* .

Social Studies III: Global Perspectives SOC 300 Students in this course will expand their skills with historical thought and advanced research. Students will focus on the global transfer of goods and wealth and the political im plications thereof. Standards Assessed: GB in H istorical Thinking, Research, Econom ics and Civics & Governm ent. English Creative Writing I ENG 260 In this course, students will learn the craft of creative writing. Students will be expected to produce and share their own original work, and analyze and consider how published poets and fiction writers effectively use literary devices. The course will prim arily focus on the genres of poetry, the short story, and flash fiction. functions as well as other topics as tim e allows. The em phasis is on equation solving and its application to the solution of word problem s. Prerequisites: English II. Standards Assessed: PR/GB in reading, writing, S & L.

English IV: Advanced Creative Writing ENG 360 In this course, students will learn the craft of creative writing. Students will produce, workshop, and perform their own original work, as well as analyze and consider how published poets and fiction writers effectively use literary devices. The course will prim arily focus on the genres of poetry and fiction writing,, though students m ay choose independent projects in play or screenwriting, interactive fiction, narrative podcasts, creative nonfiction, or graphic novels. Students should expect to produce a lot of writing. Prerequisites: Creative Writing I. Standards Assessed: GB/AD in Writing, Reading, and Speaking & Listening

English IV: Science, Tech, & Ethics ENG 401 Students will address them es related to their social and ethical im pact and address questions about their rights, responsibilities, and responses to pressing issues in today?s world. Students will read personal essays as m entor texts, work to develop their own unique voices, and use these experiences to write their own, original narratives. Then, students will read and discuss non-fiction texts related to current science and technology issues. Students will engage in close reading practices, expanding upon their knowledge of craft, structure, author?s purpose, and them e. Students will plan and lead text-based discussions. Standards Assessed: GB/AD in Writing, Reading, and Speaking & Listening, with Research option.

English IV: Lit Sem inar ENG 402 In this course, students will explore literary them es and how they relate to the world around them . Students will read personal essays as m entor texts, work to develop their own unique voices, and use these experiences to write their own, original narratives. Then, students will read and discuss m odern and classical literary works connected by a com m on them e. At this level, students will independently engage in close reading practices, expanding upon their knowledge of craft, structure, author?s purpose, and them e. Students will plan and lead text-based discussions. Standards Assessed: GB/AD in Writing, Reading, and Speaking & Listening. Optional - Research

Social Studies IV: Personal Finance SOC 352 The focus of this course is understanding the events in each student?s life that will im pact them financially. Students will assess their costs, their sources of incom e, and how to build a solid financial future. M ajor projects for this course will focus around applying and interviewing for a job, understanding college debt, creating and m anaging a budget, and planning for retirem ent. There will not be a lot of writing or project work outside of class (other than those projects already m entioned), but there will be readings, videos, and podcasts that students will need to tackle in order to be prepared for in-class activities. Standards Assessed: Pr/GB for Research and Econom ics. Social Studies IV: Civics In Action SOC 400 In Civics in Action we will study rights and responsibilities of people living in, or im pacted by the institutions of, the USA, in theory and practice. We will explore identity, power, privilege and com m unity, working towards learning how we can interact with our political, social, environm ental and econom ic system s to affect change. Standards Assessed: AD in H istorical Thinking, Research, Civics & Governm ent, and Econom ics.

Social Studies IV: Confronting Genocide SOC 455 This course will introduce students to genocides of the 20th century. Students will explore four genocide case studies: Arm enian, the Holocaust, Cam bodia, and Rwanda in order to understand the genocides, their historical context, and the U.S. and international responses to the genocides. Additionally, students will explore the treatm ent of Native Am ericans in the United States as a m eans of learning about the concept of ?cultural genocide.? This foundation will provide a historical lens as students analyze possible genocide policy and present their own solutions to confronting genocide. Standards Assessed: GB/AD Civics & Governm ent and H istorical Context.