Vanderbilt Summer Academy (VSA)

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2010 Course Offerings Coming Soon . . .

2009 Course Descriptions

Session 1	Session 2	Session 3
Rising 8th graders	Rising 9th and 10th graders	Rising 10th, 11th, or 12th graders
Nanotechnology Literary Analysis World Religions Writing in Your Own Voice The Graphic Novel Constitutional Law Anthropology Baseball by the Numbers Biomedical Imaging	Consumerism Legend, Fairy Tale, and Myth Astronomy Novel Writing Bioethics Math and Music Literature and Revolt Nano-Engineering Digital Storytelling	The Western Canon The Chemistry of Everyday Things Special Topics in Math Medicine, Health, and Society Making Film The Lit and Philosophy of Comedy Writing Short Stories Med School 101 Law School 101

[ 2007 Course Descriptions | 2008 Course Descriptions]

Questions about VSA Academics? Contact Jay Watson at (615) 322-1181 or by email.

Session 1

Introduction to Nanotechnology
In the world of nanotechnology less is more. This course is designed to introduce students to the broad field of science and engineering at the atomic scale through cutting-edge examples and hands-on experiences in self-assembly, surface science, molecular engineering, nanomaterials fabrication, and nanobiotechnology. We will ask and explore the following questions: What makes certain molecules self-assemble into useful nanoscale structures? How do you convert solar energy to electrical power by using a protein? How do you design a surface to specifically detect a virus? Can we create materials that contain as much surface area as a football field in a single gram? In very little time you will discover the answers to these and other problems in the science of small things. –Kane Jennings

Literary Analysis: From the Short Story to the Novel
How do writers create narrative fiction? What roles do voice, location, point-of-view, treatment of time, and other literary devices play in works of narrative? This course will focus on techniques for analyzing short stories and novels. Students will read, discuss, and write about a selection of short stories from authors such as Edgar Allan Poe, Mark Twain, Guy de Maupassant, Kate Chopin, Julio Cortázar, and Rosario Ferré. The course will culminate with students using their newfound skills in literary analysis to tackle the novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon. This course is designed for those who love the written word, so come prepared to read and talk about fascinating works of fiction. –Edward Friedman

World Religions
In today’s society, it is easy to point to differences between religions and see how divisive they can be. What is not so apparent is the common trend that unifies almost all religions: their attempt to identify and solve life’s big questions. From Buddhism’s focus on human suffering to Christianity’s struggle with the twin problems of sin and death, religion is for the inquisitive, and this course offers an intensive instruction to the field of comparative religions. We will begin with the Abrahamic faiths—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—then approach the study of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and (time permitting) several tribal religions. We will consider the religious roots of current political conflicts, and we will also address more recent movements toward identifying oneself as “spiritual” rather than “religious.” With careful readings of primary and secondary sources, the course will include guest speakers, visits to holy sites, and observation of worship and devotional practices. –David Dunn

Shouts and Whispers: Finding Your Voice
Writers are often told, “Write what you know.” Certainly, subject matter is important, but it is the author’s use of voice that is arguably the most important choice in writing. After all, whether one is writing fact or fiction, there is no story without voice. In this course, budding writers will have the opportunity to explore and develop their individual voices, while carefully considering their own approaches to and assumptions about the craft of writing. Through daily creative and expository writing practice, a wide range of readings, and group discussion and critique, we will build both the confidence and the skill base necessary to “tune in” to our writer's voice. From shouts to whispers, it’s not just what you say, but how you say it that matters. –Jan Harris

Baseball by the Numbers
.406…56…61*…The game of baseball is defined by its numbers. Three thousand hits punch a batter's ticket to Cooperstown, while 300 wins are the gold standard for pitchers. During this course, students will study the historical significance of numbers in baseball. They will discuss the relative merits of statistics and have an opportunity to apply their knowledge and beliefs to running a baseball team through computer simulation. Students will also construct their own simulation, keep track of their players' stats, and make a determination as to which skills are most valuable for a hitter to possess. Play ball! –Dawson Gray

How to Think Like an Anthropologist
The word anthropology is derived from the Greek words anthropos (humanity) and logos (word).  Therefore, the work of an anthropologist is, literally, talking and writing about humanity.  This course is designed to bring you into the conversation about humanity by introducing you to the field of sociocultural anthropology.  Through studying and debating case studies from various cultures – from the Trobrianders of Papua New Guinea to the Q’eqchi’ Maya of Guatemala and the Dobe’ Ju/’hoansi of Kalahari Desert in Africa – we will learn about theories of culture, cultural relativity, the limits of objectivity, the practice of ethnographic fieldwork, and how local economies balance reciprocity and market exchange. While our intensive study will certainly teach us about other cultures in the world, perhaps the most important lesson will be for us to learn to look at (and talk about) our own cultures in new and exciting ways. –Avery Dickins de Giron

The Graphic Novel
This course will be a one-week foray into the literary world of the graphic novel, with emphasis on the difference between “plain” textual and graphic renderings of narrative. During our week together we will think about how the graphic novel straddles the line between literature and visual art, and we will consider these texts in light of narrative theory, aesthetics, and psychological models of visual versus phonetic memory. Also, we will interrogate the graphic novel genre, asking questions such as: how is a graphic novel different from a book with pictures? What kinds of themes recur in graphic novels? What is gained by telling stories through linguistic text and graphics? Selected authors may include Alan Moore, Matt Groening, and Chester Brown. –Elizabeth Covington

Comparative Constitutional Law
What are the distinctions between constitutional and ordinary law? What types of rights should be enshrined in a constitution? What purposes should a constitution serve? And, who should have the final word on deciding exactly what the words of a constitution mean? While there are certain common traits embedded in the DNA of constitutions, the people and the leaders of nations have nevertheless arrived at radically different answers to these questions. Islamic constitutionalism and popular constitutionalism, among others, provide powerful influences that are globally redefining what a constitution is. In this course, we will look at the shared traits of constitutions, the points where they come together, and the significant differences upon which constitutions divide. Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches, the students will try their hands at answering these difficult questions and crafting their own governing document.  –Jeffrey Usman

Biomedical Imaging Technology
Exploratory surgery used to be a relatively common method to diagnose medical conditions that could not be determined by physical exam. This was true despite the discovery of x-rays over a century ago in 1895. However, technological developments in biomedical imaging of the past 50 years have revolutionized diagnostic medicine so that exploratory surgery with its dangerous risks has become largely obsolete. How is it that sound waves, x-rays, and radio waves are used to see inside the body non-invasively? What do the images we make reveal about the health and function of the body? We will discover the answers to these questions and then turn our attention to the challenge of designing an affordable diagnostic imaging system for the developing world. - Cynthia
Paschal

Session 2

Consumerism in America
Can scanning your credit card be considered a religious act? What about going to the mall? In this course we will investigate how buying is like praying and how the mall is like a church, even though the act and the place may be neither religious nor holy. Jean-Jacques Rousseau first posed the idea of a civil religion that holds the state together. Likewise, we will explore how American consumerism is like a civil religion that holds the economy together – by examining economic "holy days," "sacred symbols," and "acts of worship." Combining the disciplines of economics and religious studies, we will see how market logic affects almost every decision we make. The course of study will first require students to become proficient in liturgical and ritual theory, accomplished by this through reading religious texts and visiting holy places. At the same time, they will develop an expertise in the history of modern political economy through their study of Smith, Marx, Keynes, Friedman, and more. Also, through hands-on experiments and observations of consumers in action, students will learn to recognize some of the manipulative techniques of advertisers. By course's end, students will have an emerging awareness of both the complex ethics and myriad practices of market religion in America—and they'll certainly never look at Christmas the same way again. –David Dunn

Impossible Narratives: Legend, Fairy Tale and Myth
Once upon a time in a land far, far away…these words conjure an imaginary time and place where magical creatures frolic, people are enchanted, and the improbable becomes the probable. Although many people dismiss these stories as children’s tales, this course asks serious questions about this kind of literature. For example, what cultural work do these stories perform? What happens when a story lacks a discernable author? How do other kinds of literature build on the narrative principles of legend, fairy tale, and myth? We will investigate the differences and similarities between these three kinds of story—legend, fairy tale and myth—with a particular emphasis on how anonymous, informal, and oral narrative functions in cultural contexts. Students will become familiar with major 20th and 21st century theories of legend, fairy tale and myth – which also happen to be the theories that constitute the foundations of contemporary literary theory. We will read Greek mythology, selections from The Brothers Grimm, and modern retellings such as those by Eudora Welty. –Elizabeth Covington

Astronomy
Every night you can be an eyewitness to events that transpired millions of years ago, just by looking at the stars. This introduction to astronomy will combine cosmology—the study of the universe and humanity’s place in it—with hands-on observational techniques. Students will design experiments and collect and analyze data at the Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory. We will use a variety of approaches: daytime sun observation and study, naked eye observation, spectral analysis, radio astronomy, astrophotography, computer simulation, and a nighttime telescope lab where students will learn to assemble and use 8” Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. Traveling through millions of years of history and light years worth of space, students will leave with a greater understanding of their own place in the here and now. –Erika Grundstrom

Whalehunting: Starting the Next Great American Novel
It only took Herman Melville the better part of one summer to write Moby Dick, and Jack Keroac famously bragged that he wrote On the Road in just three weeks. In this class we hope to give those literary giants a run for their money. Often, aspiring novelists are daunted by the scope of the task in front of them. In this class, students will hone the arsenal of tools necessary for successful completion of a writing project of extended length. We will talk about conquering writer's block, structuring narratives, developing characters, manipulating plots. Most importantly, students will be given the opportunity to get started on their own voyage to the next great American novel. –Jan Harris

Bioethics and the Law
This course will challenge some of your existing ideas about “right” and “wrong,” and blur your perceptions of white, black, and gray issues. Bioethics incorporates aspects of science, medicine, law, philosophy, religion, and social sciences. In this course, students will be introduced to basic legal principles, terms, and concepts, as we explore both classic cases in bioethics and some of today’s most hotly contested social and cultural controversies. Texts will include legal cases, scholarly articles, and film.  Topics may include: euthanasia, abortion, artificial intelligence, genetics and privacy, cloning, stem cell research, animal experimentation, performance-enhancing drugs, access to healthcare, organ transplantation, and bioterrorism. You will wrestle with profound and provocative questions while developing confidence in your ability to communicate your ideas and perspective as a rational participant in our democratic, civic discourse. –Joshua Perry

Math and Music
Math is everywhere in music, from Brahms to the Beatles, Bartok to Ben Folds. Exploring the meeting point of mathematics and music opens up both worlds as expressions of beauty and wonder. This course will explore set theory, musical scales, matrices, serialism, compositional techniques, and the Fibonacci sequence, among other topics, helping students to reach a synthesis between the fields of math and music. Listening examples from various genres (classical, jazz, rock, etc.) will be an integral part of the classroom experience. Hands-on games and activities, including a musical composition written by the students using techniques learned in class, will allow students to refine their ideas about what music is and how it relates to math. A musical background is helpful but not required. –Dawson Gray

Literature and Revolt
Literature is by its very nature revolutionary; fiction writing is the breaking of new ground through the crafting of stories, events, and entire worlds that can exist solely in the imaginations of the writer and the reader. It is hardly surprising, then, that literature can be filled with rebellion and revolt.  In this course we'll think about the power of literature in terms of new, radical, and even revolutionary ideas by looking at a selection of short texts that run the gamut of inspiring rebelliousness. Some of the authors we'll explore include Angela Carter, Charles Dickens, George Orwell, Jean-Paul Sartre, Richard Wright, and Emile Zola.  We will examine the connection between literature and social causes such as environmentalism and socialism, and we will consider the ways that fiction has affected society—even going so far as to determine how fiction has impacted  history and whether it can affect the future. –Robert Barsky

Nanotechnology and Engineering
In applied science and engineering, the next big thing isn’t big at all. Nanotechnology
explores our ability to manipulate miniature worlds and promises to revolutionize how we interact with our own world. This course will introduce students to the broad field of science and engineering at the atomic scale with a focus on two global issues—energy and health. Under the guidance of faculty members from the Vanderbilt Institute for Nanoscale Science and Engineering, students will embark upon a journey through matter as we know it. Our hands-on activities will help answer questions such as “How can new lifesaving drugs be made more effective?” and “How can we create a protein to convert solar energy into electrical power?” –Greg Walker, with contributions from Richard Haglund, James Dickerson, Todd Giorgio, David Cliffel, Jim Davidson, and Kane Jennings

Bit by Byte: Storytelling in the Digital Age
From the invention of the written word to the development of cinema, storytelling has become increasingly high-tech. For many years, those who aspired to wide-scale distribution of their stories were often stymied by lack of access to the necessary equipment—be it a printing press, a phonographic recorder, or a Kinetoscope. Fortunately, 21st century professional storytelling technology is increasingly affordable and accessible. This class will place these tools in students’ hands, and we will use them to create art, podcasts, film and more. We’ll explore the various media used by storytellers past and present, discovering how media affects narrative and how the relationship between author and audience changes as a result of that choice. Paint or pixels; vectors or video—you’ll choose the narrative and make the creative decisions, adding your story to the digital world. –Nathan Poole and Jake Wilson

Session 3

The Western Canon
The word canon means simply “rule” or “measure.” Hence, the notion of a “Western canon” would suggest that we will be studying texts that set the bounds by which Western civilization recognizes itself, traditionally called “the classics.” The trouble is that the term Western is relative to the position of the speaker.  If one is standing in China, then France is western.  If one is standing in Alaska, is China western?  Additionally, massive immigration, cultural cross-fertilization, and the waning authority of traditional Western power structures further complicate our notions of Western civilization.  Thus, this “great books” course is something of a Trojan Horse.  Texts will be selected based upon their perennial significance, like the Bible, Plato, Augustine, Dante, Machiavelli, Locke, and Paine.  Others, like the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Qur’an, will serve to destabilize our concept of Western civilization (for example, by showing its indebtedness to the Middles East).  Less widely read, but not less important figures like Marx, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Dostoyevsky, and Wiesel will help us moderns come to terms with the legacy of Western civilization and its role in contemporary life.  Since we will avoid the standard fare of most high school curricula, students should be independently motivated to digest difficult material usually encountered for the first time in rigorous college courses.  We will also spend time in daily seminar discussions, where we will come to terms with the content of the reading, evaluate its historical significance, and consider its contemporary relevance. Students will spend the final days of class developing constructive, argumentative theses that they will present and defend before their peers. –David Dunn

The Chemistry of Everyday Things
DNA fingerprinting, beauty products, food additives, pesticides, and prescription drugs – in this course we will learn about the chemistry of these everyday things. Our study will examine how the chemistry we encounter on a daily basis is embedded within social, historical, legal, and religious contexts. This study will also help us to attempt to answer fundamental questions about the role of science in society. Topics may include the distortion of climate change research by politicians; the role of chemistry in raising the bar for what passes as beautiful; moral and social influences in halting research on new contraceptives while development of Viagra-type drugs increases; and the double-edged sword of pesticides and herbicides in our food supply. Students will explore these subjects through readings and discussion. –Michelle Sulikowski

Special Topics in Math
This course offers a unique opportunity for highly motivated students to expand their knowledge and comprehension of math. Students will spend part of their time working independently on a math area of their choosing (Algebra II, Pre-calculus, or Calculus, depending on prior experience). As students progress, they will be asked to demonstrate their increased competence through brief tests administered by the instructional staff, who will always be available to provide individual guidance and feedback. In addition, students will participate in whole-class discussions and activities that introduce topics from advanced disciplines such as linear algebra, combinatorics, logic, and game theory. Students will leave the class with a sampling of these higher-level topics, a more advanced understanding of their chosen math area, and an increased understanding of how math is used in the world today. Algebra I and Geometry are prerequisites for this course. –Dawson Gray

Making Film
When it comes to movies, some might say that there are “flicks,” and then there are films. What exactly is the difference between a matinee and a masterpiece? What are the qualities of transformative movies and movie moments—the experiences that become part of us? How does a filmmaker plan those moments? Or, is it all just ephemeral “movie magic?” Over the course of three weeks we will work as both film critics and filmmakers in order to answer critical questions about film as art. We will watch and dissect a variety of works by masters ranging from Kurosawa to Aronofsky, while also exploring the darkest recesses of schlock cinema. We will explore how film can immerse us in the story, pulling us in to better pull us apart. Finally, students will have the opportunity to synthesize their learning by taking the camera and creating movies themselves. –Jake Wilson

Medicine, Health, and Society
This course introduces students to medical anthropology, which seeks to understand the cultural constructs of health, disease, the human body, and healthcare systems. Because the social environment influences people’s ideas about the body, we will study both the prevention, causes, and treatments of illness as well as the relationships between socioeconomics, politics, and cultural concepts, as they constitute variables of bodily experience, social cohesion, and the regulation and control of individual and collective bodies. Additionally, we will explore how globalization contributes to the dissemination of Western biomedicine, often altering local/folk perceptions of health, illness, and the body. We will begin our journey into medicine, health, and society by exploring the differences between Western biomedicine and non-Western ethnomedicine using case studies from various cultures in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Students will participate in specifically designed activities that will emphasize newly learned concepts and the cultural differences in medical systems. –Monte Hendrickson

The Literature and Philosophy of Comedy
What makes us laugh and why?  At least as far back as ancient Greece, authors and philosophers have attempted to understand how comedy operates within the larger social framework and its role in promoting and even subverting social norms.  In this course, we will read comic literary works and philosophical pieces dealing with the nature of comedy.  We will consider themes such as the role of history in perceptions of comedy, comedy and the formation of individual identity, and the intersection of comedy and the absurd.  We will then analyze the ways that comedy is used variously both to prevent and to affect political and social change.  Philosophical works will include selections from Aristotle, Thomas Hobbes, and George Meredith; literary works will include the work of Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, John Kennedy Toole, and David Sedaris. This course is designed as a college first-year level writing seminar; students will write two formal papers and significant class time will be devoted to the mechanics and process of writing. –Elizabeth Covington

Writing Short Stories
In the world of literature, there is hardly anything as satisfying--or as difficult to create--as a well crafted short story. William Faulkner may have called the short story “the most demanding” form of prose, but students in this course will rise to the challenge. We will explore the genre of short stories through both creative writing and critical reading. Students will learn skills and strategies to becoming a better writer while working daily on their own compositions. Simultaneously, we will examine classic and cutting-edge examples from authors such as Flannery O’Connor and Michael Chabon. By course’s end students will have completed several short stories, developing their own voice and rhythm, and they will leave the class with a more finely attuned sense of critical reading and analysis. –Jan Harris

Law School 101
You’re thinking that you will go to law school once you’ve graduated from college – but what does that entail? This summer, highly qualified high school students who aspire to a career in law can sample the law school experience through a new partnership between Vanderbilt Summer Academy and the Vanderbilt University Law School. Drawing on Vanderbilt Law School's curriculum, faculty, and clinics, Law School 101 will provide students with a broad overview of the meaning of “law.” This course combines theory and practice, giving students the chance to both wrestle with foundational legal decisions and to try their hand at arguing motions and writing briefs. Along the way, students may encounter torts, civil procedure, constitutional law, environmental law, and many other subjects that comprise the basis of a legal education. The course will culminate with students observing a legal office in Nashville; these legal offices may include public defender offices, prosecutors’ offices, judges’ chambers as well as law firms.

Download Law School 101 Brochure.

• You must be 16 years old by July 5, 2009 in order to participate in Law School 101.
• In addition to the VSA application, this course requires:
  • Transcripts
  • 2 Letters of Recommendation (In sealed envelopes which your recommender
    has signed across the seal)
  • Resume
    

Med School 101
Eligibility: Academically talented high school students, ages 16 and above, with a strong interest in medicine. Must have completed a chemistry and a biology course before July 2009.
Spend three weeks this summer immersed in learning about human organ systems,
emerging public health issues, and what it means, practically and ethically, to practice medicine in today’s world. Vanderbilt Summer Academy and the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine have partnered to bring a bit of the med school experience to highly qualified high school students who aspire to a career in medicine. Bringing an integrated curriculum to the study of medicine, Med School 101 will utilize small group discussions, laboratory exercises, traditional lectures, and Problem Based Learning—an exciting approach in which students will learn to analyze and to diagnose case studies of real medical conditions. This course will also utilize the available resources of the Vanderbilt School of Medicine—from faculty lectures to Vanderbilt labs.

Download Med School 101 Brochure.

• You must be 16 years old by July 5, 2009 in order to participate in Med School 101.
• In addition to the VSA application, this course requires:
  • Transcripts
  • 2 Letters of Recommendation (In sealed envelopes which your recommender
    has signed across the seal)
  • Resume