humanities 12: Honors and Challenge extensions
Welcome to Honors version of Humanities 12. All your additional documents and challenge extensions will be here, listed by project (just like the docs page).
Honors Track Explanation (with texts and expectations)
Honors Application (Free Speech Forum additional requirements and rubric)
Honors Application (Free Speech Forum additional requirements and rubric)
freakonomics
Essential Question: To what extent to you believe Levitt's "Roe v Wade" theory of crime prevention?
Malcom Gladwell's book "Tipping Point" - Read Chapter 4 (begins on pg 72, see me for text)
Freakonomics Introduction (Levitt's abortion-based theory on crime reduction)
The Levitt/Gladwell Debates - Read this after you have read both the Freakonomics Introduction and Gladwell, chapter 4.
Honor's Lunch - Date TBA (sometime late next week?)
The honors lunch will be casual meeting where I'd like to hear your thoughts on the two sides of the Levitt/Gladwell debate. It's not a debate so much as two experts sharing their perspectives, but they are two fascinating thinkers working through a complex problem. To be ready for the Honors lunch, you should be able to...
1. Summarize each argument (from Levitt and Gladwell)
2. Address the strengths and weaknesses of each perspective (which evidence was most/least convincing, why?)
3. Speak thoughtfully about each theory, and about how two great minds go about creating consensus around certain points, but remaining opinionated and divided on others.
You'll have to...
1. Read the Freakonomics introduction
2. Read chapter 4 of "Tipping Point"
3. Read the blog dialogue (the Levitt/Gladwell Debates)
4. Be able to point to specific places in the text that support your point.
Want more? Come see me for a brief but interesting writeup explanation of Broken Windows Theory
Assessment:
The meeting is mandatory, but casual, and all of you will be expected to participate. You will get a participation grade based on clear evidence that you have done the readings and are willing to put forth a thoughtful perspective.
Malcom Gladwell's book "Tipping Point" - Read Chapter 4 (begins on pg 72, see me for text)
Freakonomics Introduction (Levitt's abortion-based theory on crime reduction)
The Levitt/Gladwell Debates - Read this after you have read both the Freakonomics Introduction and Gladwell, chapter 4.
Honor's Lunch - Date TBA (sometime late next week?)
The honors lunch will be casual meeting where I'd like to hear your thoughts on the two sides of the Levitt/Gladwell debate. It's not a debate so much as two experts sharing their perspectives, but they are two fascinating thinkers working through a complex problem. To be ready for the Honors lunch, you should be able to...
1. Summarize each argument (from Levitt and Gladwell)
2. Address the strengths and weaknesses of each perspective (which evidence was most/least convincing, why?)
3. Speak thoughtfully about each theory, and about how two great minds go about creating consensus around certain points, but remaining opinionated and divided on others.
You'll have to...
1. Read the Freakonomics introduction
2. Read chapter 4 of "Tipping Point"
3. Read the blog dialogue (the Levitt/Gladwell Debates)
4. Be able to point to specific places in the text that support your point.
Want more? Come see me for a brief but interesting writeup explanation of Broken Windows Theory
Assessment:
The meeting is mandatory, but casual, and all of you will be expected to participate. You will get a participation grade based on clear evidence that you have done the readings and are willing to put forth a thoughtful perspective.
The founding brothers, by joseph Ellis
Honors Humanities 12, Route 1 with Matt Hughes
Howdy all, I'm excited to have you in Honors Humanities 12. In this route, we'll be reading “Founding Brothers” by J. Ellis. In addition, we will also be doing some seminar prep, a seminar, and then a paper based on themes from the seminar. Here's what you need to do: 1. Read the book. Stay on schedule! Each chapter is between 30 and 45 pages, and we'll have a week to read each. Note the reading schedule on my DP Honors page and on your bookmark. 2. Come to the madatory seminar pre-meet on November 5th. During this meeting I'll unveil all the prep you will need to get ready for the seminar in one week. There will be a strong relationship between seminar prep, the seminar, and the paper. Each is specifically designed to prep you for the next. 3. The Seminar, Nov 12. This will be an ungraded, mandatory lunch seminar. If students would like, we can do 2 seminars because they are short. The purpose for the seminar is for students to grapple with complex themes of the book and formulate ideas for the upcoming essay. The seminar will be explicitly designed to serve the paper. 4. The Paper. Date Change! The new due date for the essay is Monday, December 8. You will need to produce a 1000 word essay on one of the seminar prep prompts. They will be given to you during the seminar pre-meet. However, there will be a DIY option where you may develop your own essay if you like, so be thinking of this as you read and bring your idea to seminar. |
Documents and Resources
The bookmark. Lose yours? Want another to give to your mother as a present? Print out another one and keep it close to your heart. Discussion questions. We'll base some of the seminar off of these questions. This will give us a framework for understanding the book and moving toward the essay. Stay tuned for the following documents: Seminar pre-meet Seminar questions Essay rubric and requirements |