The Western World: History and Literature

Prerequisite: Concurrent registration in The Western World: History.

The Western World  is a team-taught, interdisciplinary course for freshmen that uses both historical and literary texts to examine the development of Western Civilization from the Classical Era through the 20^th Century.  Units of study include Classical Civilization, Medieval Europe, Renaissance and Reformation, Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, Total War, and 20^th Century Genocide.  Class work is focused on class discussion and daily writing. Daily homework is assigned not only to extend and reinforce student learning, but also to develop independent analytical and processing skills.  Literature selections may vary from year to year, but are always chosen to complement the historical ideas and themes studied.  For example, students may read Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities while studying the French Revolution, Voltaire’s Candide while studying the Enlightenment, Euripides’ The Trojan Women while examining classical Greece , or a Shakespeare play while exploring Renaissance humanism.  The course will emphasize the development of reading, research, and writing skills as indicated on phase 1 of the Social Studies Department Skills Rubric.  Students receive credit in both Social Studies and English.

Click here for the course website

Teachers: 

B. Forrester

H. Crawley (Social Studies)