Athletes, Violence, and Media
This course illustrates how popular media influences American perceptions about sports and media’s power to shape identities, as well as public and social issues. We will examine how controversial sports-related ethnic/racial bias can create special challenges for athletes to overcome. No experience as an athlete is necessary for this class, just an interest in the social and cultural issues that surround the popular sports world!
The Brain: A User’s Guide
This course will serve as an introduction to the functions of the brain. Students will learn about the workings of their brain through a multi-disciplinary approach that includes insights from the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, clinical medicine, sociology, computer science and philosophy. Classes will help students develop an understanding that individual uniqueness is the result of a complex mix of biological, social and environmental factors. This course is designed to promote the notion that science is fun and cool and is intended to encourage scholar interest in, and excitement about, science and medicine.
Creative Writing: Using Literature & Film to Tell a Story
Have you ever wanted to be a creative writer? In this class, you’ll have the chance to create your own original works based around our reading of authors who pushed the boundaries of memoir and poetry, including Cupcake Brown’s gritty memoir A Piece of Cake, Ntozake Shange’s powerful choreo-poem for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf, and a film study written by contemporary authors. Authentic writing doesn’t have to be stagnant and restrictive, as we will prove! By using novels and film as a platform for writing, you’ll learn to analyze different styles and develop your own unique writing voice.
Criminal Justice: Is Justice Blind?
Have you ever seen the inside of a court room? How about a juvenile detention center or youth development center? What do police officers really do at a crime scene? This course will lay the ground work for the study of criminal justice by analyzing and describing the agencies of justice and the procedures they use to identify and treat criminal offenders. The course will also cover issues such as race, gender, economics and mental health and how these issues may play a part in the delivery of justice. Students will have the opportunity to experience firsthand different criminal justice agencies such local district civil court, local law enforcement agencies and juvenile justice correctional facilities, and will hear from experts who work in the field.
Engineering 101
The laws of physics govern all movement and collisions. They affect most aspects of our everyday lives - from sports we play to buildings where we live and work to the way we move through the world. Engineering allows us to apply those laws of physics to our advantage. In this course, we will build bridges, protect precious cargo, and float boats (among other things), all by applying the laws of physics to the discipline of engineering.
Herpetology in the Piedmont
Reptiles and amphibians are often a severely misunderstood and frequently feared group of organisms! In this course, we will do some ‘myth busting’ about the local reptiles and amphibians found in our community. You will have the opportunity to learn how to identify common frogs, salamanders, lizards, turtles and snakes and also to engage in some science investigations that are currently being conducted by high school students such as yourselves. Who knows? Maybe you will come to love amphibians and reptiles! WARNING: This class isn’t for people who are afraid of a little (or a lot) mud ?! We will be spending time in the forest, in the stream, in the vernal pool, and in the lake! No swimming involved, however! IF YOU TAKE THIS CLASS A SECOND TIME, you can expect to serve in a leadership role by researching new topics on your own and leading activities. You will not simply be a “student” again, but will need to bring all you learned previously to the more advanced role of student assistant.
How to Win Friends & Influence People – with MUSIC!
Why do some songs make you feel sad? Why do some make you feel happy? Mad or ready-to-fight? Peaceful and calm? Music not only affects our emotions, but it can and has been used as a tool to persuade others into seeing your side of things. In this class, we will study these songs as well as write our own!
How Does Your Pizza Grow?
Join in the food revolution! Learn how to grow your own! Travel through the life of a pizza. Uncover how ingredients are made and the impact they have on the world’s carbon footprint. Travel to farms; unearth the history of grains and breads; discover various careers in agriculture; eat local foods….eat lots of local foods; and learn how to grow your own vegetables. Do you love tomatoes? Help investigate, taste and choose heirloom varieties, used to make homemade PIZZAS! And celebrate the end of the summer program with a delicious pizza party! This class spans lunch on several days and includes opportunities to eat at a variety of local restaurants.
Learning to Think
That’s right . . . If you take this class, you will learn how to think better. Using the Step-By-Step method developed by the Elon Philosophy Department, you will learn how to construct and evaluate arguments, how to read and write more clearly and how to persuade people using evidence. These skills are absolutely fundamental to college-level work, and this class will make you a better thinker and better listener.
Philosophy of Religion
Many of us are raised in particular faith traditions, but we often fail to question what it is that we mean when we say that we have or do not have “faith.” What does it mean to believe in God? What does it mean to be an atheist? How can we reconcile religious belief with suffering? What is the relationship between religion and science? Spirituality and art? God and nature? What can we make of the diversity and plurality of religious belief? In this class, we will examine these and other questions by considering philosophical and religious texts from a variety of faith traditions.
College Admissions Essays [first two weeks]
Rising seniors will plan, draft, and revise at least one major college application essay – choosing from among a small set of typical essays that can be used to apply to various colleges. As a final step, they will prepare to share their essay aloud, concentrating on voice, demeanor, and skillful reading for an audience, as well as learn to respond thoughtfully to audience questions.
Elon Academy 301 [final two weeks]
The capstone class for college planning, including all the critical nuts-and-bolts like finalizing your college choices and seeking scholarship opportunities.
Elon Academy 201 [first 2 weeks]
Bring your Future College Student self to this two-week crash course in navigating college pathways as a high school junior! How do you select schools, including “dream,” “match,” and “safety” choices? What should you know now about the admissions process, funding sources, and more? What are the unique challenges for first generation students in the college search?
Present Yourself! [final 2 weeks]
Building on the basic presentation skills developed in EA 101 last summer, scholars will work intensively on their ability to present themselves and their stories to others, including how to represent themselves both verbally, textually, and visually.
Elon Academy 101 [4 weeks]
An introduction to college life, college lingo, and thinking about college for your future. From goal-setting to exploring what it really takes to “be a doctor” or any other career, from what you need to do during your high school years to what it will be like three years in the future, scholars get familiar with owning their Future College Student selves. This includes working on the basics of how to present themselves and their stories to interested others.
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