This unit relies heavily on the use of newspapers, magazines and Internet resources. Students are also asked to interview someone to record a recollection of a significant event of the past 50 years. These interviews may be included in the student's portfolio. Literature - Students read Death of a Salesman and a variety of contemporary poetry. They also read multicultural literature which depicts some of the conflicts seen in American culture.
Students write a short research paper on a contemporary controversial issue for their portfolios.
We meet weekly to adjust the schedule and decide what to add or omit. Somewhere in the fifth or sixth unit we usually have our interim week so a special curriculum is written for that week, depending on the year's topic. We have never done it exactly the same way two consecutive years. But we do believe that the course as written is challenging and thought-provoking. The majority of students find the course valuable and enjoyable.