Course Description:

In high school, students mostly read novels and narratives and almost no philosophy, arguments, or theories. However, many universities, whether you’re majoring in the humanities or the sciences, require that you complete a course in textual analysis.

For high school students, reading philosophy, knowing what the author said, and providing an adequate analysis is something that is often uncomfortably foreign. However, many are asked to do so in college, and it can be a daunting experience. Being able to speak in a Socratic seminar and provide thoughtful discussion centered around a text is an art and skill.

Students will read typical first-year undergraduate works selected from this list: Basic Writings of Existentialism, Five Dialogues by Plato, Tao Te Ching, and the Communist Manifesto. Students will read passages for homework, answer questions that are geared to provoke discussion, and write short responses. During the session, the instructor will explain key points and main ideas as well as try to put authors in conversation with each other. This class will put you one step ahead of your peers in thinking, writing, and discussing college level texts.