Departmental Courses

In most cases Third Formers will take courses listed as a level I and Fourth Formers will take courses listed as a level II. Fifth and Sixth Form courses are based on level of preparation, interest and personal academic needs. In most cases courses can be taken be either Fifth or Sixth Form students.

English Department

English I

English I, a core curriculum course in the Third Form, reflects the goals and topics of the form’s theme – A Sense of Place: Community and Belonging. The focus is on the development of reading skills, comprehension, studying vocabulary in context, improving grammar skills, and developing sentence and paragraph writing techniques.

Third Form students learn methods for analyzing readings and identifying literary devices such as setting and figures of speech. Students develop and look for connections between texts in the core program. Students also start developing their individual writing styles through memoirs, persuasive speeches, creative writing prompts, and analytical assignments. The reading list includes The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Animal Farm, A Prayer for Owen Meany, The Watsons Go to Birmingham, and Who Do You Think You Are? Stories of Friends and Enemies, along with other selected short stories and poems.

English II

English II emphasizes close reading skills and builds paragraph and essay writing skills as part of the form’s core curriculum. Fourth Formers learn the basic structure of a persuasive essay, with a special emphasis on forming meaningful and defensible theses with appropriate supporting evidence. Students learn to differentiate fact from opinion. They learn to rephrase or summarize what the teacher or a classmate has said and to take notes in a discussion setting. Nightly written responses to reading selections, which include Beowulf, Henry V and Tale of Two Cities, prepare the students for active and productive classroom participation. The students finish the year by reading In the Heart of the Sea in preparation for their own five-day sail. After the first marking period, an honors section is broken out from the rest of the class. Students in this section read additional texts and respond to more sophisticated writing assignments. The basic syllabus remains the same.

English III

Constituting the Fifth Form core curriculum with the United States History class, English III examines some of the important historical and intellectual issues in American culture. In their study of American topics arranged chronologically from the colonial era to the present, English III students read a wide variety of material including nonfiction essays, speeches, and letters, novels such as The Scarlet Letter and The Great Gatsby, The Best Short Stories of Mark Twain, plays including Death of a Salesman, and poetry. In the process, Fifth Form English students continue their work on close reading; they build textual analysis skills, become familiar with “critical” language, and learn how authors use the elements of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama to achieve their rhetorical and aesthetic purposes. Students practice the procedures for student-centered “discovery” classes, trying different roles and ways of participating. They continue the process of learning to choose good evidence to support assertions and to integrate that evidence, particularly quotations, into their writing. Weekly composition assignments emphasize the entire writing process from brainstorming a topic to making the final revisions and producing a finished document; topics range from personal narrative to argument and literary analysis. The reading and writing skills practiced throughout the course will prepare students for the verbal and writing sections of the SAT I exam.

English IV

English IV is a year-long course with specific objectives for each term; there is a strong emphasis on active reading, and careful writing and revision throughout the year. The course is built around literary works representing a variety of cultures and literary voices. Texts include The Merchant of Venice, The Lovely Bones, Our Town, A Separate Peace, Bird by Bird and Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned. Students are challenged to apply the ideas presented in these texts to their own evolving values and beliefs, recognizing connections between the works and real life experiences. Writing assignments require creative nonfiction techniques, and the term culminates in the production of a personally based, creative nonfiction writing project. In the spring term, Sixth Form teachers usually offer courses focused on a specific theme or issue; when there has been enough interest, poetry writing has often been a spring option. Sixth Form English students learn to distinguish the strongest supporting examples for their thesis in a text and practice a variety of ways to incorporate evidence into their papers. They work throughout the year to become increasingly active and thoughtful participants in student-centered discussions of their reading. Their goal is to become articulate and persuasive in making assertions and responding to others.

English IV Advanced

English IV Advanced is an intensive year-long course with a strong emphasis on active reading and careful writing and revision throughout the year, as well as a special focus in the Fall Term on preparation for the SAT. In the Fall Term, students will read literary works that resonate with the hero’s journey of the Form Program, and the challenges of living a life of virtue. Specific titles include but are not limited to Life of Pi, The Old Man and the Sea, The Power and the Glory, and March. Students will also attend at least one theatrical production at the Hartford Stage Company after reading the work in class. In the Winter Term, students will engage with a diversity of classic and contemporary voices, including the works of William Shakespeare, Robertson Davies, Elie Wiesel, Toni Morrison, and Walter Mosley. Finally, in the spring term, as the culmination of their South Kent career, students will study the literature of boarding schools – works set in and about school communities – as a means of reflecting on what they have accomplished during their time at South Kent.

Analytical and Creative Writing

Analytical and Creative Writing is designed for Post-Graduates who have already completed a senior English program in their previous school. The goal will be to improve their writing skills. Students develop an interest in writing, and strengthen the skills needed in college composition through careful practice of all phases of the writing process. Writers work on refining their individual voices and achieving fluency in expression. There will also be a major effort to improve the writing component of the SAT examination. Because most of the Post-Graduates need to improve their overall scores for the NCAA requirements for Division I athletes, general preparation for that exam will be included in the Fall Term.

AP English Composition

This course is geared toward successful results on the AP Exam for English Composition. The syllabus will follow the College Board requirements. Extra reading will be included to enhance the readiness of the students for college level English in a seminar style class. Extensive writing beyond the requirements for the exam will be included to ensure success in all aspects of college writing.

Journalism

Writing for Journalism is a year-long elective English course offered to motivated Fifth and Sixth Formers. The class covers a wide variety of topics - all focusing on different types of writing. These include news writing, feature writing, sports writing, editorials and columns, writing for radio and television, writing for public relations, and writing for new media and online sources. Students learn about the theory behind journalism, while at the same time they are expected to exercise the practical skills involved in writing, researching, and reporting on a variety of topics. The text, Journalism Today, is used, along with supplemental materials from other textbooks, including Scholastic Journalism, and The Radical Write. Examples are regularly drawn from present-day events to connect the theory of what is being discussed to what is currently occurring in the “real world.” This class makes use of resources on the Internet in this pursuit. Peer editing is used regularly to allow student to critique each other’s work and as a way to learn from each other. This is supplemental to the grading process, as all written work is also evaluated by the teacher. The editing process involves lengthy suggestions for improving each piece of writing. Revision and rewriting is stressed, as written work goes through several drafts before a final draft is accepted.

Enhanced English

Enhanced English is offered for all four years (Enhanced English I, II, III, and IV). Each course has a focus on developing communication skills – spoken English as oral communications, reading, writing and pronunciation for students from other countries. There is also a cultural aspect included in the instruction. Uniquely American activities are featured, such as pumpkin carving around Halloween, creating gingerbread houses and decorating Easter eggs, to expose students to activities they might not experience in their home country. The goal is to totally immerse the students in the English language and American culture, to prepare them for study at South Kent School and an American college. Students will stay with this sequence until benchmarks are reached that support their readiness to compete in college using English as the language of instruction. One of these markers is the SAT examination where a minimum score of 450 on the Critical Reading and Writing must be reached. Special preparation for these examinations in included in the program for the third and fourth years of this sequence.

MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

Algebra 1

A prerequisite for Geometry and Algebra 2, Algebra 1 covers and builds basic algebra skills. Geometric patterns, probability, and statistics are the basis for working with linear expressions and sentences. Students work extensively on graphing using the TI-84 Silver Edition calculator. They explore linear sentences, rates of change, exponents, solution sets, polynomials, linear systems, quadratic equations, problem solving, and effective communication in mathematics. We also encourage our students to move from specific problem solutions to making generalizations about the problem or process under study. When appropriate, students develop their understanding by subjecting actual data to algebraic analysis.

Geometry

Geometry is taught initially through an inductive approach. Students learn to think, discuss, and work together. In addition to the traditional construction tools, students use graphing calculators and computers to investigate and establish geometric properties and to learn geometric concepts. The focus is on measuring angles, line segments, perimeters, areas, and volumes of plane figures using real world applications.

Algebra 2

Offered as a one- or two-year course, Algebra 2 includes the properties of numbers, graphs, expressions, equations, inequalities, and functions used to solve real life problems. The TI 84 Silver Edition graphing calculator is used in handling these concepts and is required for this course. When appropriate, spreadsheets and computer graphing are included. Topics studied include explicit and recursive formulas, variation, matrices, inequalities, sequences, functions, polynomials, exponents, factoring, and an introduction to logarithms. Those students who have a strong mathematical background take Algebra 2A, a one-year course that is a prerequisite for precalculus. For those students who need extra time to focus on the concepts, the basic Algebra 2 curriculum is taught over two years. Each course carries a full credit for graduation. The second year usually carries students to the same point as those in Algebra 2A—thus making precalculus possible for them in college.

Algebra 3

This course is a continuation of Algebra 2 and begins with a review of its essential concepts. New topics include polynomial function, rational and radical functions, conic sections, counting principles and probability, series, statistics, and trigonometric functions. The TI-84 Silver Edition calculator is required. Computers and spreadsheets are used where applicable. We continue to focus on problem solving and real world applications as we encounter new topics and think about old topics in different ways. This course can lead to precalculus for underformers.

Precalculus

Precalculus provides students with an applications-oriented, investigative mathematics curriculum in which they use technology to solve problems and enhance their understanding of mathematics. Topics covered include the basic elementary functions such as polynomial, recursive, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions. Data analysis is integrated into all topics studied. Combining different functions allows the students to describe and make predictions about a variety of complex problem situations

Calculus

The concepts of calculus are used to solve problems in a variety of contexts. Concepts are presented as real-world applications; calculators and computers are used to develop concepts to solve problems, and the interpretation of problem solutions is given strong emphasis. On completion of this course, students will be prepared for the Advanced Placement Calculus AB examination of the College Board.

HISTORY/ SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT

History I

History I introduces Third Form students to the study of history using a cultural model approach. This is in keeping with the overall theme of the Third Form, A Sense of Place: Community and Belonging. History I students are taught to analyze cultures, both past and present, using a frame of reference that considers family, government, religion, economy and education. History I students begin their study of culture by learning to apply the cultural model to their own school community. From there, the class works backwards in time. At the conclusion of this course, the students should be very familiar with a cultural model approach to the study of history, with specific applications to the cultural history of Egypt, Greece, Rome and the Early Middle Ages.

History II, Modern European History

History II builds upon the skills developed in History I. Students are taught to apply the cultural model approach to an in-depth analysis of modern European history. In keeping with the overall theme of the Fourth Form, The Quest: Coming of Age, students are encouraged to inquire into the meaning and nature of the hero in history. At the conclusion of History II, students should be very familiar with the cultural history of Europe, from the late Middle Ages to the present. Additionally, students should be able to answer the following questions: Why do cultures need heroes? What are the stages of a hero’s journey? As in English, a special honors section is created for those students who show special affinity for the study of history. They read additional primary sources such as Machiavelli’s The Prince, and The Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels. This section’s added goal is to sharpen analytical skills both in reading and writing.

History of Science: An Inquiry into the Mechanical Arts

This Fourth Form course will run roughly parallel to the core English and History offerings in the form. In keeping with the form theme, The Quest: Coming of Age, the class will examine several significant discoveries and inventions from the Middle Ages, Renaissance on into the early 20th century. Each term's class discussion and projects will center themselves upon one main text as well as a small collection of articles and primary source materials. There will be strong emphasis on a hands-on, inquiry approach to learning. Projects may include the construction of remote-controlled robotic siege machines that are tested against the defenses of a scale-model medieval fortress and competitions to build "machines" that draw inspiration from Rube Goldberg, Leonardo da Vinci, and 20th-century inventors and theorists.

US History

US History students apply what they learned in History I and II to an in-depth analysis of United States History. Since Fifth Form students must begin to seriously position themselves for the college selection process, one section of this course is taught in a more “traditional” manner, with an eye on the SAT II test offered in the spring. The second section is presented with “process oriented” rather than “subject content” objectives. Its members are those students for whom this approach seems advisable. Often some of our history buffs prefer this approach. History III covers American history from the European migration to the present. Specific themes covered include the formation of the American character, westward expansion and the American dream, diversity, economic growth, religious values, the Cold War and Globalism.

US History Advanced

US History Advanced covers the history of the United States from the colonial experience of Native Americans to Vietnam. As noted in the advanced English course description, the two courses will be interdisciplinary. Students will read text, novels, short stories, speeches and primary source documents from the time periods studies. Texts include A People's History of the United States, Mayflower, The Essential Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers, The Lincoln Douglas Debates, To End All Wars - Woodrow Wilson and the Quest for New World Order, and We Were Soldiers Once...and Young. Particular attention is devoted to the political, social, religious, and economic aspects of American exceptionalism. Westward expansion and the diversity of the population will be the starting points of discussion. Understanding “frame of reference” will be the focus of the class.

African-American History

The course will begin by examining the concepts of race and the implications thereof starting with a brief examination of the theories presented by Jared Diamond in his book Guns, Germs, and Steel. From here, the impact of European capitalism and colonization on African societies will be examined. A firm understanding of how and why the Atlantic Slave Trade came to be will establish the starting point for discussing the African-American experience from the Colonial period to the modern era. The goal is more than just understanding the diverse nature of our country; it is rather, developing an appreciation of how this diversity challenges us and enriches all of our lives.

Art History

Art History is a three-term course intended to provide Sixth Formers the academic skills to analyze and interpret art works in terms of form, and cultural and historical context, emphasizing common characteristics evident across time and among cultural/ethnic groups. Students compare works of art in terms of history, aesthetics, and culture.

Asian History

This year-long course is available to Sixth Formers and will focus on a different region each term – Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Australia), Muslim/Middle Eastern Asia (India, Pakistan and Afghanistan), and Old World Asia (North and South Korea, Japan and China). Students will gain an understanding of the incredible diversity of the different regions in terms of the culture and religion, as well as the history.

Economics

The basic tenets of macroeconomics will be developed with an emphasis on the driving forces economics trends have on a democracy. Because the effects of issues such as oil prices influence an overall global economy, the course will also look at the political implications for a healthy world economy of growth within limits. Finally, the requirements to manage our natural environment while developing companies and industries, needs international commitments and cooperation. The overall goal is to develop an informed awareness of the processes that underlie a free enterprise system.

AP Government

This course is geared toward successful completion of the AP Exam for U.S. Government and Politics. It defines and explores fundamental political theory and the day-to-day operations of the American government. This course is taught like a college-level history class; therefore it requires a substantial amount of reading, writing, and critical thinking. Though not necessarily a prerequisite, students should have an understanding of American history and major contemporary issues. In addition to preparing students for the AP exam, the course will provide students with the skills necessary to be an informed and involved citizen.

FOREIGN LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT

Latin I

As a required course for Third Formers, first year Latin provides the first steps to learning an ancient language which formed the foundation for all the Romance languages and also influenced many of the other modern world languages. In addition to the basic conjugations, declensions, pronouns, and related sentence structure necessary for basic reading, students will also find in their vocabulary the roots of many words that have derivatives not only in English, but also in whatever Romance language they wish to study next. This knowledge of linguistics will also help them increase their scope of English reading vocabulary, which in turn will increase their general knowledge throughout life. Just one Latin word can be the basis of many other words in many other languages, so even a little bit of Latin knowledge goes a long way. In addition to the language element, weekly cultural modules will be presented on different aspects of Roman life.

Latin II

This course follows Latin I and continues the study of the language and culture of the ancient Romans. Upon completion of the course students will have studied all aspects of the grammar of Latin and will have built a vocabulary sufficient for further study of the classic literature of Rome. Throughout the course students will analyze grammar of both English and Latin, thereby developing their understanding of how languages work and how they convey meaning. Additionally as students study vocabulary they will learn English words derived from Latin and strengthen their knowledge and understanding of both Latin and English. Further, throughout the course students will learn about the history and culture of Rome and the influences of that ancient nation that have persisted in the western world through the ages.

Spanish I

The objective of this course is to introduce the students to culture and language by reading, writing, speaking, and listening to Spanish. Students are taught the use of the present, simple past and near future verb tenses. Students learn to understand and respond to simple questions and commands as well as read and comprehend simple texts. Basic grammar, as well as cultural material, is introduced. Students are evaluated through frequent vocabulary quizzes, lesson and chapter tests, oral assessments, homework, and class contributions.

Spanish II

This course is a continuation of Spanish I. It emphasizes oral work, more use of the present tense of regular and irregular verbs, as well as the preterite and imperfect tenses. Use of recorded material as well as dialogues and discussions help improve general comprehension and communication skills. Students increase their proficiency through additional reading and oral presentations. A continued emphasis is placed on cultural awareness.

Spanish III

This course is designed to bring students to an acceptable level of oral proficiency with an emphasis on the mastery of structure and vocabulary: to create with language, to participate in conversation, and to communicate in basic social situations. Extensive vocabulary and cultural knowledge are accomplished through short readings and topical essay writing. Verb tenses are expanded to include present, past, and future tenses. Cultural awareness is expanded through extensive use of newspaper and magazine articles, current events, and literary selections.

Spanish IV/ V

Spanish IV is designed for the advanced language student. Various materials are used to achieve a high level of accomplishment in oral and written communication. The Spanish IV-V curriculum will be expanded to include not only short stories but also novellas in Spanish. Students will be able to expand their use of verb tenses to include the concept of grammatical moods and their uses. The SAT II in Spanish may be taken at the completion of this course.

SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

Environmental Science

This course makes use of the South Kent campus resources extensively and also includes a number of field trips off campus. Students are briefly exposed to geology, oceanography, ecology, meteorology, astronomy, anthropology and archaeology. Laboratories in each of these sciences are integral parts of the course. The key skills stressed are measurement, the scientific method, and text skills.

Biology

This course uses the theory of evolution as the key for helping students understand life in all its forms. Students focus on the cell, genetics and DNA research in an effort to understand the relationships among the different forms of life. There is an extensive laboratory component featuring traditional biology labs, such as dissections, and modern physiological labs, such as respiration. Data is gathered when appropriate using Vernier’s Lab-Pro system on computers.

Advanced Biology

This course is designed for students who already have a strong background in the biological sciences. It focuses on topics that will prepare the student for the SAT II examination in Biology. Topics such as intermediate metabolism, photosynthesis, molecular genetics, and evolution are presented using selected laboratories that develop skills in these areas. The chemistry of these processes will be extensively explored.

Chemistry

Chemistry is a general study of the structure and interaction of matter and energy. The course is designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of basic chemical principles, focusing principally on the conservation laws. It features extensive use of Excel Spreadsheets to process and analyze quantitative data. Besides being used for calculations, the TI 84 Silver Edition calculator contains special programs, such as the periodic table, that support problem solving. Most of the lab data, temperatures, pH, voltage, spectrophotometers, etc., is collected using the computer based Lab-Pro system from Vernier. Each lab station has its own computer.

Physics

Physics covers concepts in mechanics, including special relativity and an introduction to quantum physics, as well as properties of matter, heat, sound, light, kinematics, and magnetism. Most concepts are introduced by laboratory experiments using the Vernier systems. Because these students are more experienced in mathematics, usually taking calculus simultaneously, the concepts can be rigorously analyzed.

Psychology

This is an introductory psychology course designed to give students a general overview of the field of psychology. A special emphasis is placed upon the study of psychology as a science rather than a general liberal arts discipline. Some of the major themes researched are: the brain and its behavior, heredity versus environment, nature versus nurture, the conscious versus the unconscious mind. The course will also expose students to various fields of psychological theories. The central theme of the course is: why is the study of psychology important when describing human behavior?

Physiology and Anatomy of Sports

This is a year-long non-lab science course developed around the functioning of the human body. Emphasis is placed on areas such as muscles, bones, nutrition, influence of supplements, etc. that affect the lives of serious athletes. Most of the boys who take the course have a strong athletic background. The course will provide students with the necessary information to make wise choices as they follow their dream of being a major college athlete.

MEDIA /ART COURSES

Media

This year-long Fifth and Sixth Form elective provides students with a hands-on opportunity to create multimedia videos. The course makes use of the school's state-of-the-art video lab and studio. Software such as Final Cut Pro, Soundtrack Pro, Motion, and DVD Studio are used as part of the curriculum. Students regularly publish podcasts on a variety of subjects, including news, school events and athletic contests. They learn how to direct, cut and edit the footage. Student work is showcased on a podcast web site.

Studio Art I

This is a full-year course in which students learn about different forms of artistic expression, including both two-dimensional and three-dimensional design. The course focuses on drawing techniques, color theory, painting, collage, sculpture, and pottery. Aside from in-class projects, students will be given a sketch book that will be used throughout the entire year in which nightly homework assignments will be performed. Work from this class will frequently be exhibited throughout the school.

Studio Art Advanced

This is a term-long course that gives a quick snap-shot of two-dimensional and three-dimensional design. Students will be given a sketch book that will be used throughout the term in which nightly homework assignments will be performed. The classroom projects will vary from term to term, but the goals will remain the same. Work from this class will be exhibited throughout the school.