Course Descriptions
MORNING CORE COURSES
LITERATURE & COMPOSITION
Introduction to Literature (Instructor: Stuart)
Most of us are familiar with the scene in Wizard of Oz where Dorothy clicks her ruby slippers together three times and chants her way home--and yet we rarely think about what "home" is, and why it means so much to us. In other words, is home a dwelling, a city, a nationality, or a state of mind?; what makes us feel at home?; how do we know when we are home?; and how much of who we are is determined by where we come from? In this course, we will consider these questions through a survey of Western literature. We will read short stories, poetry, essays, excerpts from novels, and even a comic book in our attempts to understand what "home" means. Students will demonstrate their understanding of course material through class discussions, oral reading, quizzes, a variety of writing projects--including personal and analytical essays, and journal entries. Attention will also be paid to the process of revising written work.
Modern Literature (Instructor: Stuart)
How do you catch a criminal without becoming one? This is the very modern problem posed by detective fiction, where razor-sharp detectives and clever crooks match wits. In this course, we will take a close look at the work of two masters of detective fiction: Arthur Conan Doyle and Dashiell Hammett. In our explorations, we will not only examine the themes of individual texts, but also think about the genre overall--especially about how it relates to the more "literary" books often assigned in high schools. Students will engage with these questions through class discussions, oral reading, quizzes, a variety of writing projects--including a theatrical adaptation of a text, an analytical essay, short papers, and journal entries. Attention will also be paid to the process of revising written work.
Essay Writing ( Instructor: Kirsch)
This course is designed for rising seniors with a heavy emphasis on negotiating the senior year of high school and making the transition to college level work. Students will read, discuss and analyze essays by writers such as Annie Dillard, Langston Hughes, Richard Rodriguez, E.B. White, Loren Eiseley, Anne Lamott, and Dorothy Allison. The writing in the course will include keeping a journal and writing three essays: 1) a personal statement for use with their college applications, 2) the Columbia College application essay and 3) a 2 - 3 page essay that explains the theme of one of the essays read in class. Students will learn essay terminology and be able to talk about both the structure and content of an essay. Finally, students will be encouraged to submit at least one piece of writing to the summer magazine.
Intermediate Composition (Instructor: Parlor)
In this course, students will work to expand their critical thinking capacities and composition skills through focused readings of a variety of literary and visual texts reflecting themes of individual and group identity, personal conflict, memory and forgetting, and success and loss. Students will compose a variety of written responses to the art works they encounter, and together, we will work to generate meaning by closely studying these texts and by testing ourselves to think beyond surface-level presentations. This course will promote and emphasize the critical thinking, reading and writing, discussion and vocabulary skills of students through careful attention to literary and visual texts that pose interpretive challenges and inspire new ways of understanding the world around them.
MATHEMATICS & COMPUTERS
Intro to Algebra (Instructor: Mynaugh)
In this course, students will be exposed to the main topics taught in a typical Algebra course. Students will learn how to recognize, manipulate and apply various properties of mathematics such as the commutative and distributive properties. Students will also learn how to translate mathematical statements and how to use variables in a problem-solving situation. Using these main ideas, students will also learn basics in factoring, linear equations, linear inequalities, and quadratic equations. Students will apply their understanding and skills in both individual and a group setting where appropriate.
Intro. To Geometry (Instructor: Mynaugh)
This course is designed to build upon the student's knowledge of algebra and introduce geometric concepts, properties, and theorems. The student will analyze characteristics and properties of geometric shapes and develop mathematical arguments about geometric relationships. This class will incorporate spatial relationships using coordinate geometry and teach the student how to analyze mathematical situations through visualization, spatial reasoning, and geometric modeling.
College Math Seminar (Instructor: Mynaugh)
In this course students will learn and apply the concepts of an upper level mathematics course, along with investigating the ideas behind budgeting time and money in college. Topics to be covered will include but not be limited to solving advanced equations and word problems, exponential growth and decay, quadratic equations and graphs and some trigonometry. Students will also learn how to apply all topics for use on a graphing calculator.
SOCIAL STUDIES & FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Introduction to French Speaking Countries (Instructor: Voltaire)
Introduction to French Speaking Countries is an intensive class designed to introduce the qualified Upward Bound participants to the world of French speakers and their environment. Students will be introduced to the world of French speakers, will be taught basic French grammar rules and will develop the ability to converse minimally in French by the end of the six week session. Students will work in groups on a project involving at least three countries.
Global Issues: Traveling People, Moving Voices (Instructor: Parlor) Students in this class will engage directly with both contemporary and historical debates on the topic of immigration and immigration reform. As we investigate a variety of human migrations across different global spaces, some of the important questions we will ask ourselves include: What are some of the forces that push or pull people to travel away from their homes? What are the challenges they face as immigrants? When is movement across different borders allowed or prohibited, and who gets to decide? What are the pathways to and blocks from citizenship? What roles do immigrants play in a nation's culture and economy? In our exploration of these issues, we will read, watch and listen to the stories of immigrants as we immerse ourselves in this crucial and ongoing debate. This course will promote and emphasize knowledge of historical and present-day global events and a broader awareness of the world in which students live by exercising their critical thinking, reading and writing, and discussion skills.
SCIENCE
Environmental Science (Instructor: Provencher)
In this course, students will study our global environment. Each aspect of the environment will be studied by looking at the scientific processes involved, as well as the effects humans have on that aspect, the effects it has on humans, and what can be done to improve the situation. Students will learn about their own contributions to pollution and overuse of resources and ways to conserve and preserve the natural environment.
Genetics (Instructor: Provencher)
In this course, students will learn about and simulate how different traits are passed from parent to offspring. They will study the history of the science of genetics. Students will conduct experiments to determine some of their own and their family's genetic traits and make a family pedigree. Students will read a novel throughout the course and discuss the ethics involved in making decisions involving one's genetic makeup.
Biology Special Topic: Human Relationships
This course focuses on the special topic of Human Relationships. Students will learn about the endocrine system, reproductive systems, how diet affects our being (mind, body & emotions), coming of age issues, communication and healthy human relationships. Specific topics covered will include hormones, puberty, the anatomy of a kiss, physiology of attraction, anatomy and reproduction, nutrition, healthy relationships and decision-making. Instructor: Strong-Dowd
AFTERNOON ELECTIVE COURSES
Photography (Instructor: Rodríguez)
Photography and art have a place for you now and in the future! This course will explore the fascinating world of photography and our place in it. Students will be exposed to some of the history of the medium, different techniques, formats, and careers in photography. The students will take photographs, use a darkroom, discuss, and critique their own work, their peers and the work of professional photographers. Each student will explore the life and work of a professional photographer, to then create some images inspired by the photographer's work. The students will learn what it implies to be a photographer and explore it as a career option.
Digital Art (Instructor: Ms. Cleek)
Students will combine art and technology to create their own digital artwork. This course will focus on web design and creating digital images. This is an introductory course for students to learn the basics of HTML and to create their own website. They will also be introduced to Adobe Photoshop and use it to manipulate images. Students will become familiar working with Macintosh computers. No prior knowledge of Macintosh computer systems or web design is necessary for this course. Course discussions will include the use of Web 2.0, blogging and social networking sites as they relate to students, their personal interests and their goals for their future.
Theater (Instructor: Mr. Satcher)
Students will learn the fundamentals of acting through warm-ups, theater games, group-work, improvisation, and scene-work. Their talents will be used to create our culminating performance for the Arts Festival. Our culminating performance, "Step Your Game Up", will focus on succeeding at the next level, in college and in their career. The students will define, in class, the steps necessary to being successful; then they will become storytellers, and will teach their audience during their final performance about success, through theater. Comedy will draw the audience in, but the lesson in each scene will drive them to succeed.
Introduction to Film & Video (Instructor: Mr. Litwack)
This course is offered for students interested in learning the basics of filmmaking and how to express their ideas through sound and moving images. Students will be exposed to a variety of film genres including narrative, documentary and experimental by watching selected clips and participating in discussions of style and technique. They will learn the basic skills required for pre-production, production and post-production as well as learn the role of each crew member on a film shoot. For the final class project students will break into small groups and collaborate on a short video project of their choosing.
LITERATURE & COMPOSITION
Introduction to Literature (Instructor: Stuart)
Most of us are familiar with the scene in Wizard of Oz where Dorothy clicks her ruby slippers together three times and chants her way home--and yet we rarely think about what "home" is, and why it means so much to us. In other words, is home a dwelling, a city, a nationality, or a state of mind?; what makes us feel at home?; how do we know when we are home?; and how much of who we are is determined by where we come from? In this course, we will consider these questions through a survey of Western literature. We will read short stories, poetry, essays, excerpts from novels, and even a comic book in our attempts to understand what "home" means. Students will demonstrate their understanding of course material through class discussions, oral reading, quizzes, a variety of writing projects--including personal and analytical essays, and journal entries. Attention will also be paid to the process of revising written work.
Modern Literature (Instructor: Stuart)
How do you catch a criminal without becoming one? This is the very modern problem posed by detective fiction, where razor-sharp detectives and clever crooks match wits. In this course, we will take a close look at the work of two masters of detective fiction: Arthur Conan Doyle and Dashiell Hammett. In our explorations, we will not only examine the themes of individual texts, but also think about the genre overall--especially about how it relates to the more "literary" books often assigned in high schools. Students will engage with these questions through class discussions, oral reading, quizzes, a variety of writing projects--including a theatrical adaptation of a text, an analytical essay, short papers, and journal entries. Attention will also be paid to the process of revising written work.
Essay Writing ( Instructor: Kirsch)
This course is designed for rising seniors with a heavy emphasis on negotiating the senior year of high school and making the transition to college level work. Students will read, discuss and analyze essays by writers such as Annie Dillard, Langston Hughes, Richard Rodriguez, E.B. White, Loren Eiseley, Anne Lamott, and Dorothy Allison. The writing in the course will include keeping a journal and writing three essays: 1) a personal statement for use with their college applications, 2) the Columbia College application essay and 3) a 2 - 3 page essay that explains the theme of one of the essays read in class. Students will learn essay terminology and be able to talk about both the structure and content of an essay. Finally, students will be encouraged to submit at least one piece of writing to the summer magazine.
Intermediate Composition (Instructor: Parlor)
In this course, students will work to expand their critical thinking capacities and composition skills through focused readings of a variety of literary and visual texts reflecting themes of individual and group identity, personal conflict, memory and forgetting, and success and loss. Students will compose a variety of written responses to the art works they encounter, and together, we will work to generate meaning by closely studying these texts and by testing ourselves to think beyond surface-level presentations. This course will promote and emphasize the critical thinking, reading and writing, discussion and vocabulary skills of students through careful attention to literary and visual texts that pose interpretive challenges and inspire new ways of understanding the world around them.
MATHEMATICS & COMPUTERS
Intro to Algebra (Instructor: Mynaugh)
In this course, students will be exposed to the main topics taught in a typical Algebra course. Students will learn how to recognize, manipulate and apply various properties of mathematics such as the commutative and distributive properties. Students will also learn how to translate mathematical statements and how to use variables in a problem-solving situation. Using these main ideas, students will also learn basics in factoring, linear equations, linear inequalities, and quadratic equations. Students will apply their understanding and skills in both individual and a group setting where appropriate.
Intro. To Geometry (Instructor: Mynaugh)
This course is designed to build upon the student's knowledge of algebra and introduce geometric concepts, properties, and theorems. The student will analyze characteristics and properties of geometric shapes and develop mathematical arguments about geometric relationships. This class will incorporate spatial relationships using coordinate geometry and teach the student how to analyze mathematical situations through visualization, spatial reasoning, and geometric modeling.
College Math Seminar (Instructor: Mynaugh)
In this course students will learn and apply the concepts of an upper level mathematics course, along with investigating the ideas behind budgeting time and money in college. Topics to be covered will include but not be limited to solving advanced equations and word problems, exponential growth and decay, quadratic equations and graphs and some trigonometry. Students will also learn how to apply all topics for use on a graphing calculator.
SOCIAL STUDIES & FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Introduction to French Speaking Countries (Instructor: Voltaire)
Introduction to French Speaking Countries is an intensive class designed to introduce the qualified Upward Bound participants to the world of French speakers and their environment. Students will be introduced to the world of French speakers, will be taught basic French grammar rules and will develop the ability to converse minimally in French by the end of the six week session. Students will work in groups on a project involving at least three countries.
Global Issues: Traveling People, Moving Voices (Instructor: Parlor) Students in this class will engage directly with both contemporary and historical debates on the topic of immigration and immigration reform. As we investigate a variety of human migrations across different global spaces, some of the important questions we will ask ourselves include: What are some of the forces that push or pull people to travel away from their homes? What are the challenges they face as immigrants? When is movement across different borders allowed or prohibited, and who gets to decide? What are the pathways to and blocks from citizenship? What roles do immigrants play in a nation's culture and economy? In our exploration of these issues, we will read, watch and listen to the stories of immigrants as we immerse ourselves in this crucial and ongoing debate. This course will promote and emphasize knowledge of historical and present-day global events and a broader awareness of the world in which students live by exercising their critical thinking, reading and writing, and discussion skills.
SCIENCE
Environmental Science (Instructor: Provencher)
In this course, students will study our global environment. Each aspect of the environment will be studied by looking at the scientific processes involved, as well as the effects humans have on that aspect, the effects it has on humans, and what can be done to improve the situation. Students will learn about their own contributions to pollution and overuse of resources and ways to conserve and preserve the natural environment.
Genetics (Instructor: Provencher)
In this course, students will learn about and simulate how different traits are passed from parent to offspring. They will study the history of the science of genetics. Students will conduct experiments to determine some of their own and their family's genetic traits and make a family pedigree. Students will read a novel throughout the course and discuss the ethics involved in making decisions involving one's genetic makeup.
Biology Special Topic: Human Relationships
This course focuses on the special topic of Human Relationships. Students will learn about the endocrine system, reproductive systems, how diet affects our being (mind, body & emotions), coming of age issues, communication and healthy human relationships. Specific topics covered will include hormones, puberty, the anatomy of a kiss, physiology of attraction, anatomy and reproduction, nutrition, healthy relationships and decision-making. Instructor: Strong-Dowd
AFTERNOON ELECTIVE COURSES
Photography (Instructor: Rodríguez)
Photography and art have a place for you now and in the future! This course will explore the fascinating world of photography and our place in it. Students will be exposed to some of the history of the medium, different techniques, formats, and careers in photography. The students will take photographs, use a darkroom, discuss, and critique their own work, their peers and the work of professional photographers. Each student will explore the life and work of a professional photographer, to then create some images inspired by the photographer's work. The students will learn what it implies to be a photographer and explore it as a career option.
Digital Art (Instructor: Ms. Cleek)
Students will combine art and technology to create their own digital artwork. This course will focus on web design and creating digital images. This is an introductory course for students to learn the basics of HTML and to create their own website. They will also be introduced to Adobe Photoshop and use it to manipulate images. Students will become familiar working with Macintosh computers. No prior knowledge of Macintosh computer systems or web design is necessary for this course. Course discussions will include the use of Web 2.0, blogging and social networking sites as they relate to students, their personal interests and their goals for their future.
Theater (Instructor: Mr. Satcher)
Students will learn the fundamentals of acting through warm-ups, theater games, group-work, improvisation, and scene-work. Their talents will be used to create our culminating performance for the Arts Festival. Our culminating performance, "Step Your Game Up", will focus on succeeding at the next level, in college and in their career. The students will define, in class, the steps necessary to being successful; then they will become storytellers, and will teach their audience during their final performance about success, through theater. Comedy will draw the audience in, but the lesson in each scene will drive them to succeed.
Introduction to Film & Video (Instructor: Mr. Litwack)
This course is offered for students interested in learning the basics of filmmaking and how to express their ideas through sound and moving images. Students will be exposed to a variety of film genres including narrative, documentary and experimental by watching selected clips and participating in discussions of style and technique. They will learn the basic skills required for pre-production, production and post-production as well as learn the role of each crew member on a film shoot. For the final class project students will break into small groups and collaborate on a short video project of their choosing.