It is designed to make students aware of the positive virtues of an integrated humanities approach to learning. This course will be based on several themes that illuminate the dignity and accomplishments of mankind. Some of the themes will be man and his gods, man and his quest for power, and man and his search for excellence. The arts, the music, the literature, the history, and the philosophy of man will be used to enlighten the students about the Classical Age of Greece, the meeting of Eastern and Western cultures, the Renaissance, and the impact of 20th century man. The three genres, fiction, poetry, and drama are stressed, but expository writing and research are also covered.
Critical analysis is also a central aspect of the course.
Class discussions of student writing are daily requirements. Shakespeare is made up of a study of the life, times, and works of William Shakespeare. The use of Elizabethan language, vocabulary, and style is studied. Shakespeare's biography, and a general history of Elizabethan England complement a study of Shakespeare's comedies, histories, tragedies, and poetry. Students will study examples of good compositions in order to improve their own.