In humanities, we explore various aspects of human culture, history, and society. Our curriculum encompasses literature, philosophy, history, and the arts, allowing us to gain a deeper understanding of the human experience across different time periods and cultures. Through thorough analysis, discussions, and creative projects, we develop our ability to think critically about complex issues and appreciate diverse perspectives. At the beginning of the year, we focused on Walden by Henry David Thoreau and performed skits on his ideas. Then, we moved into studying education and the impact of AI before moving into our rhetorical analysis and satire unit. Currently, we are focusing on race and diversity and exploring various texts and media that highlight these themes.
During our rhetorical analysis unit, we had an in class essay based on a text of your choice from a set of three. I chose to analyze the rhetorical devices and how they show meaning in an excerpt from Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. His piece examines society's reliance on technology and the omnipresence of consumerism in the modern age. The full essay is available below or here.
In our satirical analysis unit, we studied various forms of satire and their effectiveness in critiquing societal norms. We analyzed works such as "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift and "Babycakes" by Neil Gaiman, focusing on how satire can be used to highlight social issues and critique human behavior. In this essay, I examined the satirical choices in “Open Letter to the Kansas School Board (2006)” by Bobby Henderson. This piece attacks the Kansas School Board's decision to teach Intelligent Design alongside evolution. The detailed analysis is available below or here.
In the present times, AI in education is a pressing issue. Many teachers and students rely on AI, but there are debates about whether AI is beneficial or harmful in the classroom. In this essay, we combined a variety of sources to highlight and discuss our own opinions of AI's role in education. The detailed analysis is available below or here.
In October, the New York Times held an AI contest for students where they could showcase their experiences with AI in a variety of mediums. This contest was assigned as part of our humanities course. I created a painting to represent how AI constrains many teens. The artist statement is available below or here.
