Welcome to Humanities Research

1. . . . Learning to think critically, • speak and write intelligently, • collaborate effectively, • research and develop ideas, • make decisions, • and then do something great! Welcome toHumanities Research Marguerite Hefferon Therese VonSteenburg

2. What we study

3. Student Projects sample topics • The Ethics of Orphan Drug Laws • China’s Global Economic Strategies • Internet’s Effect on Global Music • An Analysis of U.S. Voting Patterns • Effects of War on Women’s Rights • The Truth about Internet Gaming • Understanding the Mechanisms of Self-Deception • Rethinking Drug Education • The Children of War and PTSD • The American Religious Identity • Science and Bioethics • Athletes, Drugs and Eating Disorders • Addressing Poverty in African Nations • Defining a New American Nationalism • Impact of Social Networking on Teens • Social Networking and Iran’s Revolution • Creating a Viable Climate Change Policy • Defining a “New” Musical Theater

4. Past topic FORMATS Long Essay Collection of essays Play (stage) Screenplay and film Documentary film Anthology of stories and artwork Webpages/Blogs

5. Reported Benefits of the HR Program

6. Now a few words from the alums. . . Hello from ZambiaAshley Feuchs I came to the Peace Corps Zambia after graduating from the World Arts and Cultures Program at UCLA. I am doing work to mobilize my village and surrounding villages regarding HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, malaria prevention, improved child and maternal health, and improved food security. The work I did in Humanities facilitated my independent thinking and helped me gain confidence in my ability to be a self-motivated self-starter.

7. Now a few words from the alums. . . Hello from Tufts! WYATT CADLEY For me, Humanities Research was a transformational academic experience. It was through Humanities Research that I learned how to research and write at a college-level, skills that gave me a significant advantage over my peers at Tufts. I first met my Tufts academic advisor through HR. I read a book by a Tufts professor when I was a junior and contacted her via email. Now, five years later, she is my academic advisor and a fantastic professional resource. It’s clear that we’ll stay in touch long after I graduate.

8. Now a few words from our alums. . . Hello from Los Angeles!EMMA WISDOM I’m not sure I realized how much HumRe served me until I got to college, started to pursue film more seriously, and began to apply for internships in the industry. All those presentation skills came rushing back, the public speaking strategies -- and of course the film I’d made for HumRe proved my interest in the industry. I now work as an intern at a start-up film production company in Santa Monica. HumRe gave me the room and the encouragement to think on my own.

9. Now a few words from our alums. . . Hello from Harvard! MICHAEL MITCHELL As a public school graduate heading to a university populated by the graduates of elite prep schools, I expected to be at a major disadvantage. To my relief and delight, I was wrong: thanks to Humanities Research, I was ready to take advantage of opportunities and resources that my peers here are only now, in their third years, beginning to discover. From how to use databases like JSTOR to how to craft an argument across dozens of pages, Humanities Research offers its students skills they'll need to flourish in college . HumRe imbued me with a spirit of inquiry and a passion for discovery. As a student of both philosophy and international affairs, I see HumRe is an investment in the values that our school district aspires to represent and advance.

10. Now a few words from our alums. . . Hello from Cornell! EMMA SCHNUR The research skills I learned in Humanities Research absolutely set me up for success. I'm convinced that my HumRe project on global climate change policy was my ticket into Cornell. And while my friends at Cornell struggled with how to find peer-reviewed articles or structure lengthy papers, I already had the skills to do so. I spent this past summer as a research intern at the Harvard Forest in Massachusetts, studying forest landowner conservation awareness. I am continuing this research as a part of my senior honors thesis.

11. Now a few words from our alums. . . Hello from Colgate! KATIE RAPP My work in Humanities Research definitely sparked an interest for what I want to do with the rest of my life. After graduation, I will be working at the Eileen Fisher Foundation with their summer leadership program for high school girls. My interest in social issues, the study of minority groups, finding ways to have individuals' voices heard, all originate from my Humanities project in high school. Humanities Research was the most valuable course I took in high school. It gave me the opportunity to be creative and to learn to trust myself and self-guide my work.

12. Now a few words from our alums. . . Hello from Princeton! MAX SIEGEL Now in my junior year, I've taken several graduate seminars, and I attribute my ability to be competitive with the graduate students to the early start I had in academic research. I soon will publish two papers in philosophy: one in a journal and another in an edited volume. This wouldn't have been possible if I had only begun independent work here two years ago. In short, Humanities Research was, I think, the most valuable preparatory experience I had in high school.

13. Now a few words from our alums. . . Hello from Brown! Chelsea Feuchs This last semester, I participated in a Global Independent Research Project, studying the history of women in the Israeli military. Because of the skills I learned in HumRe, I was able to read hundreds of pages each week, synthesize that information into critical response papers, and finish with a 25 page final paper. I was so proud of the work I did, and I have HumRe to thank for a lot of my motivation and work ethic. HumRe raised expectations for us beyond that of traditional classes; it challenged us to grapple with work from fields across the humanities, and it exposed us to culture, literature, and critical thinking.

14. Now a few words from our alums. . . Hello from Johns Hopkins University! Although my current studies have little to do with the project I did in Humanities Research, I regularly tell my friends that nothing prepared me more for college than Humanities Research. I have a lot of friends here who take only science and applied math classes and spend time doing research in labs. But while their accomplishments are certainly impressive, their educations are strikingly incomplete. Humanities Research taught me how to consider questions that aren't solved by experimentation -- and that has inspired me to think in different ways. • CHARLIE SIEDELL

15. Create small classes • Cultivate each students' individual passions and interests • Nurture inquiry • Build a collaborative community of researchers • Expect excellence Our recipe for success: Thanks for your continued support and interest!