Communications
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REQUIRED: Freshman Seminar (1 credit)
The Communications Department harnesses and shapes Episcopal’s growing interest and energy in the broad field of communications. This department includes the study of Public Speaking, Media Production, Journalism (both print and online), Film Analysis and AP Psychology. We challenge ourselves to grow and differentiate each of these strands, providing students with new opportunities to understand themselves and our culture better, as well as helping students explore and hone their skills in communicating their personal perspectives to others.
Level: 9th grade
Length: Year
Description: In Freshman Seminar, 9th grade students learn and practice skills required to be successful students and responsible community members. Students engage in activities that develop skills needed over the course of their academic experiences, including but not limited to public speaking, technology, study skills, and healthy living. This course fulfills the state-mandated health education requirements.
Level: 10th through 12th grades
Length: Semester
Description: This course aims to introduce students to a practical, hands-on approach to effective public speaking, including techniques to lessen speaker anxiety, and the use of visual aids to enhance speaker presentations. Our focus is on developing a personal style of speaking that is confident, spontaneous, energetic, and vocally and physically expressive. Through exercises, speech presentations, and individual coaching, students learn how to present and develop a speech while maintaining an audience's interest. The course is aimed at anyone who would like to improve their ability to speak in front of small or large groups, regardless of experience.
Level: 10th through 12th grades
Length: Year
Prerequisite: Successful completion of prior English class, completed application process, and Yearbook adviser’s approval.
Description: This year-long course educates students on the basics of yearbook publication, with an emphasis on journalistic writing, photography, and design. Students in the course produce Episcopal’s yearbook, Talon. Students who take this course must be self-motivated, as well as able to meet deadlines. Working outside of regular school hours is required. Students also learn to write and edit effective captions, headlines, and copy, as well as learn how to take well-composed photographs, how to crop them correctly, and how to place them into layouts, using the computer software programs Photoshop and InDesign.
Level: 11th and 12th grades
Length: Year / Course can be taken more than once.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Journalism: Yearbook and Yearbook adviser’s approval.
Description: This year-long course continues to educate students on the process of yearbook publication, with an emphasis on journalistic writing, photography, and design. Students in the course produce Episcopal’s yearbook, Talon. Students who take this course must be self-motivated, as well as able to meet deadlines. Working outside of regular school hours is required. Students also learn to write and edit effective captions, headlines, and copy, as well as learn how to take well-composed photographs, how to crop them correctly, and how to place them into layouts using the computer software programs Photoshop and InDesign.
Level: 10th through 12th grades
Length: Year / Course can be taken more than once.
Prerequisite: Completed application process including a photography portfolio and Yearbook adviser’s approval.
Description: This year-long course educates students on the basics of yearbook publication, with an emphasis on photography. Students in the course help produce Episcopal’s yearbook, Talon. Students who take this course must be self-motivated, as well as able to meet deadlines. Working outside of regular school hours is required, sometimes off campus. Students also learn how to take well-composed photographs and how to edit them correctly, using the computer software program Photoshop.
COUS52 Journalism: Newspaper (.5 credit), Semester 2
Level: 10th through 12th grades
Length: Semester
Prerequisite: Successful completion of English 9, completed application process, and Newspaper adviser’s approval.
Description: The course objective is to educate students on the basics of newspaper-based journalism, with an emphasis on writing and photography. Students also learn how to prep for, record, and assess podcasts. All material is submitted to the online publication. Students who take this course must be self-motivated and must be able to meet deadlines. Work outside of regular school hours is required. Students learn to produce effective journalistically-sound content, portraying student perspectives, both on and off of Episcopal’s campus.
COUS52H Honor Journalism: Newspaper (.5 credit), Semester 2
Level: 11th and 12th grades
Length: Semester / Course can be taken more than once.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Journalism: Newspaper and Newspaper adviser’s approval.
Description: The course objective is to educate students on newspaper-based journalism, with an emphasis on writing and photography. Students also learn how to prep for, record, and assess podcasts. All material is submitted to the online publication. Students who take this course must be self-motivated and must be able to meet deadlines. Work outside of regular school hours is required. Students learn to produce effective journalistically-sound content, portraying student perspectives, both on and off of Episcopal’s campus.
Level: 9th through 11th grades
Length: Year
Prerequisite: Teacher discretion, due to equipment and classroom constraints.
Description: This course introduces students to the basics of film production, including videos for social media and digital marketing. Students utilize DSLR cameras, external audio recording equipment, and the computer software Adobe Creative Cloud to create videos in a broad range of styles. Students will also study elements of filmmaking by analyzing movies throughout the year. Students who enroll in this course must be self-motivated, as well as able to meet deadlines.
Level: 10th through 12th grades
Length: Year
Prerequisite: Media Production 1 and teacher approval.
Description: This course serves as a continuation of the basic skills learned in Media Production 1. Students direct and produce segments while learning to develop a personal vision for short films. Media Production students will also delve further into the exploration of film analysis. Students must be self-motivated, as well as able to meet deadlines. Satisfactory completion of Media Production 1 and 2 satisfies the Fine Arts track graduation requirement.
Level: 11th and 12th grades
Length: Year
Prerequisite: Media Production 2 and teacher approval.
Description: This is an advanced class in film production and in-depth film analysis. In this class, students produce professional-grade videos for the Episcopal community. Students who take this course must be self-motivated, as well as able to meet deadlines. Using advanced equipment and computer software, students continue to develop their creative film- making skills.
Level: 12th Grade
Length: Year
Prerequisite: Honors Media Production 3 and teacher approval.
Description: This course is for the advanced film student who wishes to compile a portfolio of creative short films. Students continue to produce professional-grade videos for the Episcopal community as well as their own creative films. The main objective of this course is for students to produce a finished demo reel of their work.
Level: 11th and 12th grades
Length: Year
Prerequisite: Application essay and GPA.
Description: The primary objective of the course is to study the scope of human behavior and cognitive processes. The goals of this course are to immerse students in modern psychological investigation techniques, to explore the ethics and morality of human interaction, and to emphasize critical thinking skills in the application of sound scientific principles. Psychology is a complex social science with multiple perspectives and interpretations.
Level: 11th and 12th grades
Length: Semester
Prerequisite: Parental approval. (R-rated films may be involved.)
Description: This course introduces students to the basics of film analysis, cinematic formal elements, genre, and narrative structure. This course additionally helps students develop the skills to recognize, analyze, describe and enjoy film as an art form and as an entertainment form. Due to the mature content of some of the films, the course is available only to juniors and seniors.