HISTORY AND SOCIAL SCIENCE COURSES HISTORY AND SOCIAL SCIENCE COURSES

Introduction to United States Government (7)

This course presents students with an introduction to both the history of United States government and contemporary politics. The class begins with an introduction to the purpose and types of government along with a consideration of what it means to be an American. Next, students embark on a study of the growth and development of United States government, including an in-depth look at the events leading to the American Revolution, the development of the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Students then learn about groups outside the government with political power, including political parties, the mass media, and interest groups. The year finishes with a detailed look at the way each of the three branches of government functions. Contemporary political issues are infused throughout the curriculum with the opportunity for students to discuss and debate current events. A research project on a political issue is one of the key elements of the course. A strong emphasis is placed on developing the skills of historians, including critical reading, research, primary source analysis, argumentative writing, and public speaking.

Introduction to Global Studies (8)

This course builds upon the core question of the 7th-grade Introduction to United States Government course by shifting the focus from an understanding of what it means to be a citizen of a democratic society on the national level toward an understanding of the opportunities and challenges posed by citizenship on the local and global levels. Through examination of historical and contemporary case studies, students seek to understand the consequences of global interconnectivity, the responsibilities that people have to one another in communities of various scales, the ways in which communities of various sizes balance the needs of diverse community members, and the levels on which people experience global events. Topics examined include the movement of people, goods, and ideas, the consequences of industrialization, and the complexities of global decisionmaking. A strong emphasis is placed on further developing the skills of historical analysis and argumentation.

Middle School Debate (7-8)

Is nuclear energy safer than fossil fuel? Are cell phones in school a good idea? In this class, students learn how to take either side of issues like these and win the argument. We investigate a wide range of current issues, honing our research, discussion, and rhetorical skills. Students have the opportunity to participate in both formal parliamentary debate competitions against other LA area schools and more informal opportunities on campus to have some fun with argumentation skills. Students of all experience levels are welcome.

World History: Habits of Historical Thinking (9)

This course provides students with an experientially intensive foundation in the study of history in the 21st century. Students develop an understanding of history on many scales and across the world’s regions, learning to ask the kinds of questions that historians ask and the methods of inquiry they use to answer them. Among the topics covered are the ways in which humans impact - and are impacted by - the environment, the construction of states and social structures, the ways in which power is consolidated and contested within and across societies, and the complex effects of networks of exchange. Particular attention is paid to the research process and developing the habits of historical thinking, namely the generation of historical questions, the interrogation of a wide range of primary-source evidence, and the construction of thesis-driven historical arguments.

Honors Global Studies (10-12)

This course develops students’ understanding of the connections between contemporary global challenges and historical events and trends. Thematic units on topics such as genocide, migration, forced labor, and cross-cultrual interactions build on the historical content in order to allow Honors Global Studies students to approach learning with the intention of developing historically-informed responses to these contemporary challenges. Course units frequently take a casestudy approach centered around active collaboration and culminate in innovative, authentic assessments.

AP European History (10-12)

AP European History provides students with an understanding of the economic, political, and cultural developments in Europe between 1350 and the present. Particular attention is paid to developing the skills of interpretation and argumentation as students hone their ability to write analytical, thesisdriven arguments that demonstrate a nuanced understanding of a wide range of historical evidence.

The reading and writing demands of this course are equivalent to those of an introductory survey course at the college level. Students registered in Advanced Placement classes will be prepared to take the Advanced Placement exam.