Academic Seminars

ACADEMIC SEMINARS

Academic Seminar 9

Freshman Seminar: Foundations for Academic and Career Success I

Academic Seminar 10

Sophomore Seminar: Foundations for Academic and Career Success II

Academic Seminar 11

Junior Seminar: Foundations of Knowledge

Academic Seminar 12

Senior Seminar: Guided Research NEWFANE ACADEMIC SEMINAR PROGRAM COURSE OFFERINGS

Freshman Seminar: Foundations for Academic and Career Success [I] Length/Credit: 1 Credit Recommended Grade: 9-10 Final Exam: Local In Freshman Seminar, students participate in a systematic and carefully designed curriculum aimed at building a foundation of skills essential to success in high school classes. Curricular topics in Freshman Seminar are framed around the following eight units of study: 1) Character Development; 2) Communication; 3) Writing; 4) Inquiry; 5) Collaboration; 6) Organization; 7) Reading; and 8) what it means to be ‘College and Career Ready’. Through the in-depth study and exploration of these eight units, students in Freshman Seminar explicitly learn successful class interaction techniques and etiquette, team building, time management, goal-setting, learning styles, Costa’s Levels of Questioning, essay writing and reading, SAT and ACT Prep, Philosophical Chairs, Socratic Seminar, Test-Taking Strategies, and Public Speaking.

Sophomore Seminar: Foundations for Academic and Career Success [II]

Length/Credit: 1 Credit Prerequisite: Foundations for Academic and Career Success [I]; AVID 9; or counselor recommendation Final Exam: Local In Sophomore Seminar, students master skills first introduced in Freshman Seminar, with the aims of preparing students for success in high school classes. Curricular topics in Sophomore Seminar are framed around the same eight units of study as in Freshman Seminar: 1) Character Development; 2) Communication; 3) Writing; 4) Inquiry; 5) Collaboration; 6) Organization; 7) Reading; and 8) College and Career Readiness. Students in Sophomore Seminar continue honing their abilities in team building, time management, goal-setting, learning styles, Costa’s Levels of Questioning, essay writing and reading, SAT and ACT Prep, Philosophical Chairs, Socratic Seminar, Test-Taking Strategies, and Public Speaking. Students in sophomore seminar visit colleges and universities and hear a number of guest speakers to further broaden their perspectives while self-examining preconceived notions. Junior Seminar: Foundations of Knowledge

Length/Credit: 1 Credit Prerequisite: Foundations for Academic and Career Success [II]; AVID 10; or counselor recommendation Final Exam: Local Junior Seminar is a foundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Using an inquiry framework, students practice reading and analyzing articles, research studies, and foundational, literary, and philosophical texts; listening to and viewing speeches, broadcasts, and personal accounts; and experiencing artistic works and performances. Students learn to synthesize information from multiple sources, develop their own perspectives in research-based written essays, and design and deliver oral and visual presentations, both individually and as part of a team. Ultimately, the course aims to equip students with the power to analyze and evaluate information with accuracy and precision in order to craft and communicate evidence-based arguments. Throughout the program, students consider and evaluate multiple points of view to develop their own perspectives on complex issues and topics through inquiry and investigation. Senior Seminar: Guided Research

Length/Credit: 1 Credit Prerequisite: Foundations of Knowledge; AVID 11; or counselor recommendation Final Exam: Local Senior Seminar allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, or issue of individual interest. Through this exploration, students design, plan, and conduct a yearlong mentored, research-based investigation to address a research question. In Senior Seminar, students further their skills acquired in the Junior Seminar course by understanding research methods; employing ethical research practices; and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information as they address a research question. The course culminates in an academic thesis paper of approximately 5,000 words and a presentation, performance, or exhibition with an oral defense.