American Humanities
Honors placement subject to departmental recommendation
This course will examine numerous historical and literary developments in American culture from the pre-colonial era into the present. Students will explore the tensions between the country’s founding ideals and the ways in which those ideals have been interpreted and applied in practice. Through literary analysis and historical study, students will appreciate how expansion, war, immigration, and social justice movements have continued to shape the course of the nation. Various discussions, papers, and projects will allow students to practice skills of critical thinking, writing, research, problem-solving, communication, and creative expression. A range of projects and assessments will be used.