Summer Enrichment Course Descriptions 2008 • Research and Writing of the Righteous Gentiles: The Unsung Heroes of the Holocaust
This course is a study of those individuals, young and old, of all economic backgrounds, whose lifesaving actions of courage, resilience, and
spirit have been recognized as "Righteous Among the Nations" by Israel. In many countries of Europe, brave citizens risked their lives to hide Jews in their homes, barns, attics, and nearby woods. These
heroes would have been shot on the spot by the Nazis if their actions had been discovered. The students will be introduced to a brief overview of the preconditions of the Holocaust in early-twentieth-century
Europe, followed by a timeline of events during the Holocaust as a foundation for studying the diverse and numerous stories of heroism. An exposure to the rescuers and liberators of the Jews will also be given.
Additionally, this subject will be explored through invited speakers, such as survivors and World War II veterans and field trips. • Just Change: Addressing Social Problems in a Contemporary Society
"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."- Margaret MeadThis course is
a hands-on course that will provide students with the opportunity to intellectually and actively explore pressing issues of social injustice. The course will cover various books, articles, films and relevant
computer resources in order to provide an essential historical understanding of issues and a theoretical framework for analysis and social action. In an effort to build a bridge between theory and practice, each week
students will work on a variety of service projects in order to contribute to efforts aimed at alleviating suffering and promoting justice. This course hopes to empower students to be thoughtful and effective
agents of change in our complex world. Among the many issues covered will be hunger, poverty, homelessness, and human rights.
While this course will generally follow the enrichment
calendar, certain projects may require some flexibility on the part of students. Students will be required to maintain a journal, actively participate in experiential learning opportunities and complete a
portfolio at the end of the enrichment session. There will be no tests. Students should be open to dialogue, willing to engage in analysis, willing to get their hands dirty, and most importantly willing to
serve their fellow human beings. Maximum 15 students.
This course will satisfy the Senior Service Project requirement for rising Seniors and count as an additional elective within the
History Department. •
Picturing the Past: Images as Documents in Historical Scholarship
Students will examine United States history through the visual
representations that have documented American experience, both real and imagined. The goal of the course is two-fold. One is to trace some of the larger themes recurrent in the nation's history related to
human-environment interaction, technological innovation, and the connection between self-improvement and nation-building. Paintings, lithographic prints, photographs, films and other visual artifacts will be used
as a lens on various aspects of American culture including historical events, power, fame, and issues of race, class, and gender. Central to our assessment of these concepts is a consideration of the relationships
between commerce, art, and documentation. The second goal of the course aims to instruct the process of writing a research paper. From choosing a topic to the citation of sources, students will be led
through the research and writing step by step in preparation for the academic demands of the college level. •
Principles of Macroeconomics
The course will focus on the basic
principles of macroeconomics with a focus on current macroeconomic policy issues and data. It begins with an overview of the fundamental concepts of market economics that are foundational for the study of the
macro economy. Students will learn how national economic activity is measured, looking specifically at GDP, unemployment and inflation, and their relationship to the business cycle. Theories of the macro
economy will be compared beginning with the classical-Keynesian debate as the starting point. Students will then examine the monetary system of the United States, including the Federal Reserve System, money
markets and fractional reserve banking. Fiscal and monetary policy options will be examined in the context of current political debates. Finally, international economics and theories of economic growth and
development will be discussed. •
Film Critiquing/ Reviewing
This class is first and foremost not a reiteration of Seton Hall's esteemed Cinema class. Film history,
aesthetics, production, terminology, and genres will be analyzed and discussed in order to provide a basis, but will not serve as the course's focal point. The course's focal point is writing. Students will learn the
preparation involved for viewing and writing about film. They will learn the do's and don't's of film criticism, as well as the six definitive approaches to writing about film. The class will also concentrate on the
style and structure applicable to film reviews and critical / theoretical film essays.
In class, students view films from different genres and periods and then write a reaction piece:
wherein, they examine and comment on the emotional / cathartic power of the film, the film's achievement of purpose, and the film's entertainment value. Students, with the aid of the instructor, will edit their reaction
pieces and present a coherent and organized 250-500 word film review. In addition, students are required to choose one of the six approaches to film criticism / reviewing and prepare a two-three page essay
examining a film(s). Students, at the commencement of the course, will choose a noted film critic (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone; Roger Ebert, The Chicago-Sun Times; Owen Glebierman, Entertainment Weekly, etc.), read the
critic's weekly reviews, and identify any trends or specific hallmarks in the critic's approach to film criticism / reviewing. The final project of the course is a two page paper: wherein, the student clearly identifies
these trends and comments on their effectiveness or ineffectiveness. References to specific articles and a work cited page are mandatory. There will be Field Trips. • Introduction to Ancient Greek I
"The Gospels were not written in English. This causes some questions: What does the New Testament really say? Is there a
difference between what English translations of the Bible say and what the original Greek text means? How can we be sure our English texts are accurate translations? These are some of the questions we will
tackle in this course. We will be learning basic vocabulary and grammar. We will be reading actual Greek texts on the first day of class. The grade is based on daily quizzes and
exams. By the end of the course, students will be able to translate whole chapters of the Greek New Testament. This course will be a huge advantage to students' junior year in Theology as well as those students
interested in studying the Humanities in college." • Physics
The course consists of lectures, problem solving sessions and many laboratory
experiments. The program is designed so that almost all the work is done during class time with a minimal amount of homework. A typical day consists of lectures and problem solving in the morning and afternoon lab
experiments that reinforce the concepts learned in the morning. Since there are two hours of lab time, the students working individually or with partners, are able to work at their own pace. Lab reports are written
during the school day, ensuring that the students learn the proper technique for maintaining a scientific notebook. Maximum 16 students. This class had to be closed last year as we reached maximum enrollment. • Latin II Honors
Latin II Honors continues the study of the Latin language, Roman history, and culture at an accelerated pace. While initial classes will focus on vocabulary and
grammar, as the class progresses, heavy emphasis will be placed on translation, both individual and in small groups. The course will culminate with the translation and intensive study of Julius Caesar's
"Gallic Wars". Homework, aside from long-term projects, will be minimal, and possible day-trips to both New York and Philadelphia are in the works. There will be field trips.
This class has a special schedule. •
Geology
Focused on understanding the Earth as a "dynamic system" and the history of this system. In addition to the classroom lectures, this
lab course will involve hands-on activities and field trips focused on topics such as mineralogy, rock formation, topography, seismology, geologic map interpretation, and geologic chronology. Maximum 15 students.
There will be field trips. •
Algebra II Honors
The Algebra II Honors summer course will cover all the topics our full year Algebra II course masters. The advantage
of taking this course in the summer is the student can interact with the material continuously and stay focused on one subject and time restraints present less of a problem so the class moves at an even pace. The
structure of the class encourages class participation and allows for a fun learning environment. The reason to take Algebra II Honors in the summer is to keep options open such as Calculus AP and Statistics
AP. These advanced math courses may earn the student college credit and are available to be taken senior year if all prerequisites are fulfilled. • Precalculus Honors
Precalculus Honors will cover all the material that is covered in the Precalculus Honors class that is offered during the year. It will also include a video
component that will look at the history and impact of mathematics and technology. The class structure will allow immediate follow up work that will take the place of most homework. This should keep homework to a
minimum. Taking this class sets up the current junior for Calculus AP. Taking this class sets up the current sophomore for Calculus AP junior year and Statistics AP senior year. • Geometry Honors
This is a course in Euclidean Geometry including plane and solid Geometry. The students will be exposed to two-column proofs and there will be some applications
related to physics. The main objectives of the course are: 1) to teach students basic geometric facts, which will be needed for future math courses and the SAT's. 2) To be able to solve problems in
Geometry. 3) To be able to solve Algebra problems in a Geometry context. 4) To be able to follow a deductive presentation. 5) To realize some of the "real world" applications of Geometry. 6) To
be able to construct a proof. 7) To be able to execute right triangle trigonometric problems. The course may also include a math/science related field trip. If time allows, we will even begin some
Algebra II. • Treasures of New York City
4 days: Mon, June 16-Thurs- June 19. Tuition: $250. Academic Weight = One Honors Trimester
This is designed as a four-day mini course centered on day trips to key sites in New York City.
Not necessarily in this order:
- 1. New York City Official Heritage Tour sponsored by The History Channel and GrayLine NY Sightseeing Company and a tour of the United Nations
- 2. The Metropolitan Museum including headphone tours of the Egyptian exhibit and the newly redone Greek and Roman exhibits
- 3. Southern Manhattan and Ellis Island: This will include a visits to the World Trade Tower site, the Elizabeth Ann Seton Chapel and the National Museum of the American Indian as well as the trip to Ellis
Island including a 30-minute production at the Ellis Island Living Theater: Taking a Chance on America: Bela Lugosi's Ellis Island Story
- 4. A visit to Chinatown and Little Italy (including possible tour through Yao Mandarin school including an introduction to Chinese)
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