Early Modern World History 1550-1815

Beginning with the Age of Enlightenment and ending with the fall of Napoleon, students explore how new discoveries and religious conflict began changing the political and cultural climate of Europe. They will study empire-building, the Age of Enlightenment, and the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution. Through in-class discussion, timeline projects, research essays, and reading from original sources, students gain an appreciation for the cultural upheaval caused by leaving the Old Regime of feudalism behind and entering a world transformed by communication, new forms of government, and new technology. Texts: The Western Heritage and The Interesting Narrative and Other Writings

19th & 20th Century World History

Spanning the Industrial Revolution to the Cold War, students will explore how the world changed by participating in classroom discussions, writing research essays, creating an ongoing timeline, and completing relevant projects throughout the year. Looking at the political, social, economic, and cultural changes that radically altered the manner in which nations interacted with one another, students will gain an understanding of the power of political ideology as well as the impact of mechanization in transforming all levels of society. Texts: Western Heritage volume 2, selected fairytales of The Brothers Grimm, The Communist Manifesto, Animal Farm, 1984 and The Treaty of Versailles.

American History

The American History course will provide an overview of key events in the development of the United States from roughly exploration of the New World through the 2000s. The course will be a thematic and topical study of the political, social, and economic, and cultural developments that shaped the history of the United States from the birth of a nation to the present. The goal of the course is to make history ‘come alive’ using many forms of information and research including primary and secondary sources, biographies, guest speakers, music, art, food, architecture, and field trips. Students will gain an understanding not only of what happened in history, but will also learn valuable historical research skills to complete a research paper on a topic of their choice. Texts: Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story and A Student Workbook for Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story.

Government & Economics

This year-long course provides a comprehensive exploration of how God-orders civic society through Government and Economics. In the first semester, students will examine the foundations of American government, exploring the Constitution, the three branches, political parties, and key departments, as well as the roles and responsibilities of federal and state governments through the lens of Scripture and the founding documents. Through primary documents, discussions, and projects, students will gain a deeper understanding of how our government works and how citizens can actively engage in it. In the second semester, the focus shifts to economics, beginning with biblical principles and economic history before moving into the fundamentals of microeconomics and macroeconomics, including markets, money, trade, business, and labor. Students will also consider modern economic issues, the government’s role in the economy, and principles of wise financial stewardship. By year’s end, students will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to be informed, responsible, Biblically-grounded, participants in both civic life and the economy. Texts: Exploring Government, Exploring Economics and Making Choices: A collection of assigned documents, essays, and speeches.

Academic Composition

This course focuses on developing students’ writing skills across a variety of genres, emphasizing clarity, coherence, and the effective use of structure and style. Students will engage in regular practice with narrative, descriptive, analytical, and persuasive writing, refining their ability to craft well-organized and compelling essays. Throughout the year, students will learn to develop strong thesis statements, support arguments with appropriate evidence, and employ revision strategies to enhance their work. They will also explore the writing process in depth, from prewriting and outlining to drafting and editing. By the end of the year, students will have a comprehensive portfolio showcasing their growth as writers. Texts: The Writer’s Workshop and Writing About Literature

Literature of the Early Modern World

Complementing the Early Modern World History class, this course explores the implications of a rapidly changing Europe. Beginning with plays by Shakespeare and concluding with Charles Dickens’ brilliant novel focusing on the French Revolution, students explore themes of anti-Semitism, class conflict, and the impact of industrialism on all levels of society. Homework will include extensive reading and writing essays of explication, analysis, and comparison and contrast, as well as research assignments. Class time will include discussion of the texts, writing workshops, and occasionally, viewing productions. Texts: The Prince by Machiavelli, The Merchant of Venice, Macbeth, The Misanthrope, Tartuffe, and Other Plays, The Pilgrim’s Progress, A Christmas Carol, Silas Marner, Pride and Prejudice, A Tale of Two Cities and Shakespeare’s Sonnets and Poems

19th & 20th Century Literature

This course will trace the development of Western culture over the last two centuries by examining its expression in poetry, plays, and prose fiction. Students will trace the increasing secularization of society, explore the ideas that shaped and grew out of the world wars, as well as the experiences of people who lived through them, and consider some of the big questions which dominate our world today, such as the importance of religious liberty and freedom of speech and the search for meaning in life which is so central to every human heart. Texts: Frankenstein, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, All Quiet on the Western Front, The Great Gatsby, The Gift of The Magi, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, Night, The Screwtape Letters, 1984 and Fahrenheit 451.

Great Books of Ancient Literature

What qualities make a good life? That is the central question this Rhetoric-level course invites students to explore. Engaging deeply with the classics of Western civilization, including works by Aristotle and Plato, students will consider timeless questions through literature, philosophy, and ethics. In the first semester, the focus is on literature, including epic poetry, tragic plays, and ancient biographies. The second semester turns to philosophy and ethics, with close study of Plato’s Republic and the dialogues surrounding the trial and death of Socrates. Texts: The Odyssey, Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, The Oresteia (the only Greek trilogy surviving), Medeo, two of Plutarch’s biographies, Republic, Nicomachean Ethics, Mediations and Ecclesiastes. 

American Literature 

This class will explore the idea of the American Dream, starting during the years of westward expansion, continuing through the injustices of the Civil War, and ending in the mid-20th century by asking the questions: what is the American Dream?  Is the American Dream truly achievable? AND is it biblical? We will explore the topics of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness using works by Mark Twain, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Willa Cather, Russell Freedman, Frederick Douglass, Stephen Crane, Betty Smith, John Steinbeck, Tennessee Williams, and Eleanor Roosevelt. Texts:  Republic by Plato, Rhetoric, Lend Me Your Ears: Great Speeches, The Writer’s Workshop: Imitating Your Way to Better Writing, The Little Seagull Handbook with exercises, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Farmer Boy, My Antonia, Our Town, Lincoln: A Photobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, The Red Badge of Courage, To Kill a Mockingbird, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Of Mice and Men, The Glass Menagerie, You Learn by Living and 101 Great American Poems. 

Speech & Rhetoric

This course is a companion course for both Modern Literature and Modern History. Students will write about topics drawn from both of those classes, and in so doing, develop their abilities in research, argument building, logical arrangement of ideas, and skillful use of language. Students will also practice speech writing and presentation. Texts: Rhetoric Alive! Book 1 and Lend Me Your Ear: Great Speeches in History.

Inductive Logic 

Using the text The Argument Builder, students in this class learn the basics of how to both write and speak persuasively. Students also use the text The Art of Argument to learn how to identify and correct common logical fallacies to strengthen their arguments. Students begin the year watching the classic courtroom drama, 12 Angry Men, and discussing it in light of the errors in human understanding described in Francis Bacon's Four Idols. Mini debates on topics such as uniform dress standards allow students to practice applying their knowledge and to develop debate skills. The course culminates in a moderated debate at the end of the year for students to showcase their skills in front of family. Debate Resolutions in the past have included the following: Creation should be taught alongside evolution in public schools; Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a benefit to humanity. Text: The Art of Argument and The Argument Builder

Junior/ Senior Thesis

The Junior/ Senior thesis course at ACTS is a year long project. This course is the culmination of skills developed in the grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric courses. Students will apply these skills by conducting scholarly research on an issue of concern. They will develop an eloquent, cogent argument that engages with scholarly sources and presents a reasoned course of action. Students are given personalized feedback throughout the year. At the end of the year, they are then required to present that argument orally before their peers and a panel of respondents. The student must connect this discussion to matters of wisdom and human flourishing. Texts: Rhetoric Alive! Senior Thesis and The Office of Assertion: the Art of Rhetoric for the Academic Essay

Biology

An overview of the five kingdoms using Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Biology this course places emphasis on the scientific method, cellular structures, and the use of the microscope. Students will conduct labs under supervision as well as dissections of various specimens over the course of the year. Maintaining a lab journal with detailed notes will prepare students for college level lab sciences. A Science Fair project will also be done as part of this course. Text: Exploring Creation with Biology

*Meets twice a week, 1 hour (Monday) and 1.5 hours (Thursday) for a total of 2.5 contact hours per week for 32 weeks.

Chemistry

This is a High School Level Chemistry course using Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Chemistry text.  The course emphasizes the scientific method as students learn about the foundational elements of the universe.  Students explore molecules, mixtures, and chemical reactions through hand-on investigation.  Laboratory experiments are an important component in the curriculum, and students actively maintain a laboratory notebook throughout the year documenting observations, results, and conclusions. Text: Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Chemistry

*Meets twice a week, 1 hour (Monday) and 1.5 hours (Thursday) for a total of 2.5 contact hours per week for 32 weeks.