CURRICULUM GUIDE FOR 200-LEVEL (MINOR COURSES)

Note: Generally all of the listed courses will be offered. However, on rare occasions, insufficient enrollment may lead to the cancellation of a course. Therefore, it is important to list alternate choices for all courses.

English Department

210. Creative Writing

Language Department

220. Young Scholars Spanish
221. Conversational English

Arts Department

231. Introduction to Photography
232. Art History
233. Acting
234. Introduction to Studio Art
236. Digital Video Production
237. Explorations in Clay - New!

Special Electives

240. Testing, Reading and Study Skills
241. Testing, Reading and Study Skills - ESL
243. Current Events
244. Public Speaking
247. Introduction to Psychology
250. The Research Paper

SAT/SSAT Preparation

245. Preparing for the SAT Exam: Verbal
246. Preparing for the SAT Exam: Mathematics
248. Preparing for the SSAT Exam: Verbal
249. Preparing for the SSAT Exam: Mathematics


The Summit Educational Group will once again coordinate the Summer School's SAT and SSAT programs. For more information about Summit, click on the logo. Since 1988, Summit has been providing effective, innovative, and comprehensive test preparation to thousands of students each year.

English Department

210. Creative Writing
Creative Writing provides a variety of opportunities for those students with a special interest in and a flair for writing poems, scenes, and stories-that is, for using language for effect. The assignments are technical and sequential, designed to develop talents in both writing and editing. The students write in class as well as outside. Three major creative pieces are polished to be evaluated by the instructor and the class in group editing sessions. The instructor also holds individual conferences with each participant to help the student form experiences and observations into patterns of images and dialogue. Particular attention is given to vivid characterization, varieties of narrative techniques, and principles of "affective" writing, such as appeal to the senses, objectivity, understatement, ellipses, and pace. This course is open to any student who is reasonably confident with and interested in writing. It will be offered in two sections; one section for younger students and the other for older students.

Language Department

220. Young Scholar's Spanish
This course is for the young scholar who will be taking Spanish in the fall and who seeks a less intensive course than Spanish 142 or143. A major component of the course is basic conversation, and students are introduced to grammatical topics at the elementary level. Any young scholar who will be enrolled in Spanish in the fall should consider taking this course.

221. Conversational English
This course is for the student whose first language is not English and who wishes to continue practicing his/her English in a more informal, relaxed setting. Emphasis will be on natural expression and the assimilation of useful vocabulary and idioms.

Arts Department

231. Introduction to Photography
This is an introductory course designed for those students with little or no experience with a 35mm camera or the traditional darkroom techniques. This course will address basic darkroom practices, including the proper operation of a 35mm camera, film developing, and making prints. Picture making values and ideas will be discussed throughout the course. Students will have an opportunity to display their images at a gallery exhibit at the end of the term.

This course requires a 35mm camera. Enrollment is limited.

232. Art History
This is a survey of the great achievements of art in the last three centuries, including European and American artists of that period such as Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir, Winslow Homer and the Wyeths. Instruction is primarily with slides and lectures, and the class will make trips to the great museums in New York and other nearby cities to view the works of many of the masters of art.

233. Acting
This is a course for students interested in beginning acting. Topics covered include movement, voice, characterization, and analysis of text. Further, production aspects of make-up, costume and scene making are considered. The school play frequently draws some members from this class for its cast.

234. Introduction to Studio Art
This course focuses on exploration in the studio. Students enrolled in the 200-level studio art course assemble portfolios through a series of projects that require creative thinking, problem solving, and attention to aesthetics. Innovative studio art projects concentrate on the elements and principles of art through a variety of 2 and 3-dimensional art forms. There is an emphasis on the development of personal style through the exploration of both traditional and non-traditional media and a variety of subject matter. The course includes instruction in preparing for a gallery exhibit.

236. Digital Video Production (limited enrollment)
In this class, students will learn to operate a digital video camera, including how to transfer video to a computer for editing and back to the camera, tape or CD. Students will also learn about different types of shots and angles, and how they can help to convey a story. They will write and storyboard short thematic projects, which they will then shoot, download to a computer, and edit using iMovie. With the iMovie software, they will also add titles, music, voice over and special effects. Finally, students will learn to save their projects in a variety of formats. This course is designed for students entering grades 9 through 12.
A digital video camera is required for this course.

237. Explorations in Clay
Designed for both, beginners and advanced students, this course teaches a variety of hand building techniques, including pinch, coil, and slab work. In addition to hand building, students will be able to spend time working on the potter's wheel to develop techniques with centering, throwing cylinders, and then proceeding into more advanced varieties of bowls and vases. Students will learn how to decorate and glaze their ceramic pieces. The class will be devoted to personal attention and exploration, and personal goals will be encouraged. Students will have an opportunity to display their work at a gallery exhibit at the end of the term.

Special Electives

240. Testing, Reading and Study Skills
This course is designed for students who wish to develop greater reading comprehension, improve their reading speed, and increase their vocabulary. Techniques which can help students use their study time more effectively are also taught.

Vocabulary development is accomplished by the study of prefixes, roots, and suffixes and by teaching students how to use context clues. Students are also taught how to develop greater skill in writing coherent paragraphs. There is training in the art of taking college board SAT's and achievement tests, and there is also frequent practice in reading articles for development of both speed and comprehension. Students with a wide range of abilities can benefit from the course.

241. Testing, Reading, and Study Skills - ESL
This course is similar to 240, with the difference that it is designed to meet the needs of students in the ESL program.

243. Current Events
In this course, students will have the opportunity to discuss, read and write about current events. These issues will stimulate interest and enhance awareness of the world around us. Students will be required to study newspapers and periodicals and to participate in all class discussions.

244. Public Speaking
This course is designed to introduce students to the basic techniques of effective speaking in public.

247. Introduction to Psychology
This course is designed as an introduction to psychology. Topics to be covered include: the history of psychology, the mind, brain and biological bases of behavior, personality, learning and motivation, psychopathology, and psychotherapy.

250. The Research Paper
This course is designed to familiarize students with techniques of research in a modern library. After successful completion of this course, students will be able to select and narrow a research topic. They will be able to find and use a variety of resources including reference materials, books, journals, online databases, and the World Wide Web. Students will learn how to evaluate information, particularly information found on the Web. They will also learn strategies for searching the Web to find authoritative information. Lessons will cover how to document sources using an appropriate citation style. These skills will not be developed in isolation; rather through interesting historical and current events topics. The skills learned throughout the course will be applied in a final short research paper.

SAT/SSAT Preparation

245. Preparing for the SAT Exam: Verbal
This course, taught by Summit Educational Group’s expert Critical Reading and Writing instructors, will focus on the academic skills and test-taking strategies required to succeed on the SAT. Summit will provide students with a program of instruction customized to meet their individual needs and maximize their scoring potential. Each student receives an SAT course book, practice tests, and vocabulary flashcards, as well as free access to Summit’s online SAT preparation supplement. The online program is available 24/7 and provides audible and text-based lesson reviews, as well as unlimited SAT practice problems and quizzes. Parents and students will receive access to Summit’s online portal, which can be used to monitor student attendance and homework completion, obtain homework assignments, and review detailed practice test score reports.

246. Preparing for the SAT Exam: Mathematics
Taught by expert instructors, Summit Educational Group’s SAT Math preparation balances fundamental academic skills in algebra and geometry with essential test-taking strategies, to offer a comprehensive and effective preparation program for all students. Each student receives an SAT course book, practice tests, and math flashcards, as well as free access to Summit’s online SAT preparation supplement. The online program is available 24/7 and provides audible and text-based lesson reviews, as well as unlimited SAT practice problems and quizzes. Parents and students will receive access to Summit’s online portal, which can be used to monitor student attendance and homework completion, obtain homework assignments, and review detailed practice test score reports.

248. Preparing for the SSAT Exam: Verbal
This course, taught by Summit Educational Group’s expert SSAT Verbal instructors, will focus on test-taking strategies and academic skills in reading, synonyms, analogies, and essay writing. Summit will provide each student with a program of instruction customized to meet their individual needs and maximize their scoring potential. As part of the course, each student receives an SSAT course book and practice tests. Parents and students will receive access to Summit’s online portal, which can be used to monitor student attendance and homework completion, obtain homework assignments, and review detailed practice test score reports.

249. Preparing for the SSAT Exam: Mathematics
Staffed by an SSAT Math expert from Summit Educational Group, this course will focus on the test-taking and academic skills necessary to maximize scores on the SSAT. Because each student truly learns differently, Summit customizes instruction to meet the needs of individual students. As part of the course, each student receives an SSAT course book, practice tests, and vocabulary flashcards. Parents and students will receive access to Summit’s online portal, which can be used to monitor student attendance and homework completion, obtain homework assignments, and review detailed practice test score reports.