Humanities

Prerequisite: Students must qualify for English 1 Honors through results of their HSPT test.

This year-long course explores the beginnings of poetry, narrative, and drama in Western civilization. The first semester guides students through representative works of ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian literature, followed by ancient Greek epic literature and drama. The second semester continues the study of Greek drama, examines the seminal literary works of ancient Rome, and culminates with the study of a novel that integrates key elements of the religious and philosophical traditions of ancient peoples. Throughout the course, students will consider how these great texts illuminate our understanding of God and humankind. Writing instruction begins with a five-paragraph essay in the first semester and focuses on style and coherence. Honors students are expected to delve deeper into textual analysis and demonstrate limited usage errors. The course includes bi-weekly vocabulary and grammar lessons.

• Homework expectation: 2-3 hours per week
• Year
• 10 Credits

How Humanities 1 Honors (English) differs from English 1 Honors:

• Humanities 1 Honors (English) focuses on the literary heritage of the ancient cultures that preceded and influenced Western Christianity; most of the texts are ancient and written in poetic form. English 1H is a genre-survey course that contains a mix of modern and ancient texts, including poetic works, but also multiple novels and short stories.
• Humanities 1 Honors (English) employs the Socratic Method teaching style more often: open-ended class discussion, often with students and teacher sitting in circle as peers, with heavy expectation on student-led dialogue and an emphasis on analysis and comparison of texts. English 1H employs periodic Socratic method with less analysis and integration, relying more on teacher-led instruction.
• Students in Humanities 1 Honors (English) will be expected to do a substantial amount of independent reading to consider the development of literature over time and its significance for our understanding of our cultural origins and theology. English 1H has significantly less reading and focus on connections to theology.

Prerequisite: Students must qualify for English 1 Honors through results of their HSPT test.

This year-long course explores the origins of Christianity and the roots of theological thought in Western civilization. In the first semester, students will learn about the foundations of Hebrew and Greek culture through selective reading of the Old Testament. In the second half of the course, students will develop the art of philosophical inquiry, logical reasoning, and critical thinking through close readings of numerous primary sources from Ancient philosophers (e.g., Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle). The course will culminate with an examination of contemporary texts that highlight the values that have most shaped the course of Christian history. The course  incorporates substantial use of the Socratic method.

• Homework expectation: 2-3 hours per week
• Year
• 10 Credits

How  Humanities 1 Honors (Theology) differs from Theology 1:

• Humanities 1 (Theology) is an honors-level class that appeals to students who demonstrate advanced critical thinking and intend to participate in active, purposeful discussion.
• Humanities 1 (Theology) begins the first semester by reading 16 of the 46 books of the Old Testament that give a cohesive narrative of salvation history and a foundation for Hebrew Culture. Theology 1 does not include a study of the Old Testament.
• Humanities 1 (Theology) reads primary sources from the philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle while Theology 1 explores modern-day worldviews.
• Humanities 1 (Theology) includes reading contemporary works from such authors as C.S. Lewis, Frank Sheed, and Peter Kreeft, while Theology 1 uses The Blessed Trinity textbook.
• Humanities 1 (Theology) students will be expected to do a substantial amount of independent reading and annotating and must desire to dive more deeply in philosophical discussion.
• Humanities 1 Honors (Theology) students can expect to do 2-3 hours of work a week, which includes weekend reading. Theology 1 students can expect between 1-2 hours weekly.