Film as Literature 1

In the first semester, students follow an intensive study of a variety of films. Students examine them for their literary elements as well as for their use of filming techniques. For instance, students might view one film for its use of close-ups and camera angles, and another film for its use of strong symbols and characters. Students do a variety of writing including analysis, research, and a journal of outside required viewing. During the second semester, students demonstrate their knowledge by writing and directing their own short film(s). They may choose to act in them, but this is not a requirement. Students discuss the screenplay format and draft practice screenplays. After students have a completed script, they work on storyboarding their movies, determining a budget (very small), and choosing the locations in which they will film their movies. The majority of the fourth quarter involves filming and editing student films. The course culminates in a film festival showcasing the student-created films.

Film as Literature 2

Students study film both as an art form and as a mode of communication, engaging in critical analysis of how both of those aspects enable the film medium to have an enormous, and increasing, influence on human society. Students are taught to "read" a film, analyzing its narrative structure, genre conventions, subtext, technical and artistic factors, and purpose; paying particular attention to the new genres and modes of creation and reception made possible by the explosion of new technology in the past decade. In particular, students examine how films often reflect the times and conditions in which they are made, and conversely, how motion pictures sometimes help shape attitudes and values in society. The emphasis will be on the various language/sign systems and the spectrum of techniques used by filmmakers in conveying meaning, and the interaction between filmmakers’ strategies and audience reception and readings within specific cultural contexts. The Film 2 course will take into account the fact that in just the last couple of years a typical student can, for the first time in history, approach film as a medium in which he/she can readily create and distribute their own work, thanks to inexpensive DV cameras, free editing software and free Internet distribution via sites like Youtube.  Students will analyze the radically altered relationship between motion pictures and viewers, studying the many ways in which the public can now readily be participants rather than simply observers in the globalized film medium, challenging themselves as students to apply a critical eye to their own relationship with that medium. 

Journalism

Students in this course produce the school newspaper by reporting, writing, and pasting up copy to report both the news of the school community as well as issues and events of concern to the students. While emphasis is on newspaper production, students continually deal with the issues attendant to reporting the news and meeting their responsibilities to one another and to the public. Students study nonfiction writing and discuss reporting techniques and the role of journalists in society. They continue to perfect their composition skills, concentrating especially on persuasion. Students are responsible for determining the editorial policies and content of the newspaper, supervising its internal and external circulation, and generating additional revenue through advertising sales. The course offers instruction and practice in copy writing and editing; proofreading; writing of feature stories, editorials, human interest stories and critical reviews of plays, books, and motion pictures; headline writing; page makeup; and business management, including advertising.

Writers Workshop

The first semester of this course focuses on the styles, techniques, and forms of poetry, with an emphasis on the creative process. Students are encouraged to discover their own styles as they experience and experiment with activities based on classic and modern poetry. Students build a portfolio over the course of the semester, with the ultimate goal of publication in school, local and national literary magazines. The class workshop atmosphere encourages sharing and discussing works in process, revision, and formal readings, as well as major and minor projects which involve the study and analysis of a variety of recognized poets and their writing styles. The second semester focuses on the study and the creation of prose, including short stories, stage plays, radio plays and screen plays. This semester includes journal response writing, studying exemplary models of prose and drama, sharing and discussing student works in process, editing and revising, and submitting for publication. Students will also play an integral role as editors and contributors to Visions, The Marin School literary magazine. Students may collaborate with the drama department and film class in the production of original scenes, plays, and screenplays with the possibility of public performance.

Pre-Calculus

This elective math course covers coordinate geometry, polynomials, inequalities, functions, exponents and logarithms, trigonometric functions, triangle trigonometry, trigonometric addition formulas, polar coordinates and complex numbers, and sequences and series. Emphasis is placed on the application of these skills. This course requires a strong background of Algebra 1 and Algebra 2/Trigonometry concepts. Upon completion of this course, students earning a 2.7 or higher may take the calculus course.

Calculus

This interactive course introduces students to calculus as applied to business, economics, and the life and physical sciences, and the social sciences. As students learn concepts and try exploration questions, they become involved in the development of each topic. This approach allows students to have a deeper understanding of the material. The course covers limits, differentiation, exponential and logarithmic functions, integration, functions in several variables, trigonometric functions, and numerous applications for each. Students have the opportunity to take the AP calculus exam.

Statistics

This introduction to statistics focuses on the statistical thinking behind data gathering and interpretation. The four major topics of the course are data production, data organization, randomness, and inference. Students will spend significant time learning about measurement, sampling, and experimental design. Interwoven are important topics for numerical competence in our complex world such as real-world surveys, data ethics, government statistics, and abuse of statistical inference.  Statistical ideas and reasoning and their relevance are explored in a wide variety of fields such as medicine, education, environmental science, business, psychology, sports, politics, and entertainment.

Physics

This course covers topics in projectile motion, rotational motion, force, energy and momentum, planetary motion, optical reflection, refraction through lenses, sound & the motion of waves, electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics and some electronics. We use vector notation, incorporate the calculus for those who are taking it simultaneously, and analyze various primitive physical systems in some detail to establish the basis for a complex, conceptual understanding of physics.

SF Bay Area Ecology (year-long UC approved lab science course)

We are privileged to live in one of the most beautiful areas in the world.  The coastal regions of San Francisco and Monterey Bay support a remarkably rich and diverse array of ecosystems.  From mountains and redwood forests, to rocky shores and sandy beaches, to coastal wetlands, tide pools, and undersea kelp forests, to an undersea canyon that is larger than the Grand Canyon, we seem to have it all.  This course will provide an overview of this area. This is a hands-on, project and lab based class.  We will start with a study of the forces, such as plate tectonics and climate, which have shaped  - and continue to shape the land.  We will then focus on California geography and geology with a special emphasis on the Bay Area.  During field studies, we will explore these different ecosystems and observe the native (and non-native) inhabitants.  A special emphasis will be placed on seasonal events and visitors.  We will be doing actual scientific research on the sandy beach, rocky intertidal zone, and the San Francisco Bay estuary.  We will also investigate how humans have influenced the ecosystem and look at strategies for maintaining a sustainable future. Prerequisites: Biology and Chemistry 

Zoology (prerequisite: Biology)

In Zoology students gain an appreciation of animal life — from the molecular level, embryonic development, phylogenic evolution, anatomy and physiology, behavior and, finally, ecology. The interplay of all these aspects is emphasized so that upon completion of the course they will be perceived as simply different levels of magnification of the animal rather than compartmentalized areas of study. Because of the great natural diversity of the Bay Area, students engage in frequent field studies including wild animals of the nearby Pt. Reyes National Seashore, the marine mammals of Ano Nuevo, tidal life at Duxbury Reef, bird life at the Audubon Ranch and Bolinas Lagoon as well as other local venues. Additionally, students participate in animal investigations including chick embryology, in vivo classroom observations and classical dissections. Virtual field trips are taken all over the world using our in-class widescreen high definition projection system.

Technology

The Marin School views the use of technology as the means to an end, but not as an end in itself. The emphasis is on learning to use the tools of technology to enhance and facilitate the curriculum.

The school provides students with access to both Macintosh and Windows compatible computers, connected to the internet via a high speed connection. All staff members are equipped with laptops, and students are encouraged to use laptops as well. A wireless LAN is available everywhere on campus, indoors and out.

Students use a variety of software programs to complete their classroom assignments, including word processing, presentation, digital audio, digital video, image processing and the like. Digital cameras and recording gear are used to capture and record events and projects. We provide editing stations for both video and audio, and interested students may also access our recording studio and enroll in the recording arts class. These resources are integrated into both core curricular classes and electives as students produce short films, soundtracks, and documentaries.

We offer 3D Computer Graphics and Animation, Fab Lab and Robotics. The Fab Lab enhances all our multi-media/creative arts programs.

Robotics

The Robotics Technology course takes students through a project based series of investigations from simple, analog circuit based robots through more advanced, programmable robots. Emphasis will be on studying and applying concepts from electronics (dc electricity, circuits, components), physics (Newton’s laws, etc) and technology. Students design and build an example of at least three different robots – a “BEAM” robot of simple electronic parts, a LEGO Mindstorms robot (programmed with the Lejos/Java programming language) and a more advanced Java based robot based on the Ridgesoft IntelliBot™ kit.

Modern Native American History

This one-semester elective traces the relationship between Native Americans and the United States since 1776. The major topics include culture, art, religion, leaders, and conflict. Topics include The Trail of Tears, Indian Wars, the Reservation System, the American Indian Movement, sports mascots, and Native American Films. The course objectives are to expose students to a seldom talked-about part of American history through primary sources, field trips and selected readings, as well as to help students understand the current issues of Native Americans.

America and the Vietnam War

This one-semester elective traces the causes, events and outcomes of the war in Vietnam from French colonization to the present day.  The two main areas of focus will be the American military involvement in the war and the Vietnam-related events in the United States.  We pay close attention to the escalation of the war and the impact on Lyndon Johnson’s presidency.  Students also look at the antiwar movement in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s.  The class includes guest speakers, films, and primary source documents to supplement the texts.   Students conduct interviews of Vietnam War Vets and participants in the antiwar movement for a class project. 

Politics and the Media

This one-semester elective introduces students to the connections between politics and the media and fosters the development of critical thinking skills necessary to maturely analyze print and broadcast media. Drawing on a wide array of sources, students examine the role of mass communication throughout modern history, analyze various forms of media through sociological, political, cultural, and economic frameworks, and evaluate media coverage and representation of past and current events. The course begins with an introduction to basic concepts of information technology, written and oral communication, political ideology, media bias, journalistic ethics and responsibility, and Constitutionality. Students then investigate how media coverage has shaped our understanding of modern historical and political events; analyze the role of propaganda throughout history; compare radio, television, Internet, and print news media in the United States; and analyze conservative and liberal American news media outlets. Finally, they learn to compare various English-language media outlets around the world and become familiar with media watchdog organizations and alternative news sources.

Philosophy

This is a year-long elective course about the role of philosophy in the life of the individual and contemporary society. Students reflect upon their personal values and apply those reflections to various social and political issues. The course emphasizes communication of ideas and views, persuasive and/or analytical writing and speaking, reading and analyzing written materials as well as developing an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of the individual in a free, democratic society.

Comparative Religion

Comparative Religion is intended to help students have a context for understanding the political, philosophical and social dynamics of the world they live in. It is a two- semester course.  Semester one covers 'western' thought, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam and aspects of the Greek and Roman mythology and natural philosophy. In Semester two students look at 'Eastern' thought, Hinduism including the Gita and Ramayana, Taoism ( and the Confucian social component) and the major Buddhist schools. The second semester will also spend time on African and Native American views of reality.

Social History of Rock 'n' Roll

The Marin School has a diverse student body that encompasses a large number of musicians and music enthusiasts. This is evident in the school's jazz band, unique bell system that includes music instead of traditional chimes, and the number of students with professional musicians as parents. However, the students at the school have little understanding of how popular (rock) music came to be. This course will serve as an avenue to tie student's enjoyment of music with the historical and sociological events of the last 70 years. The goal of the class is to advance the student's knowledge of American History, economics, and global issues. Popular music in the United States has always served as forum for protest, suggestions for social reform, the lament of the under-represented, and as a means for the disenfranchised to express their frustration. Music inspires strong emotions, and so this class is a natural to generate dialog, argument, and discourse surrounding social change in U.S. History.

Resistance, Rebellion and Revolution

A one-semester elective, focuses on three specific areas of conflict. Students first look at the history of the environmental movement and read excerpts from Thoreau's Walden and Civil Disobedience. We study some of the writings of John Muir and the founding of the Sierra Club. The class reads Edward Abbey's The Monkey Wrench Gang and discusses current environmental issues. The second area of study is illegal immigration into the United States. We focus on arguments from both sides and read The Devil's Highway. Finally, we look at the resistance to Apartheid in South Africa and how change was brought about. We read Kaffir Boy and look at how the racist system affected people and how they forced a change. The class is project based; students complete three projects during the semester and one final project.

Spanish 4

Spanish 4 encompasses oral skills, reading, comprehension, grammar and composition, and emphasizes the use of Spanish for active communication. The course reflects interests shared by the students and teacher (the arts, history, current events, literature, culture, sports, etc.). Curriculum includes novels, short stories, recordings, films, newspapers, and magazines. The course seeks to develop language skills that are useful in themselves and that can be applied to various activities and disciplines. Students are expected to have a high level of motivation as well as a strong interest in the Spanish language.

French 4

In French 4, students review all the tenses and all the moods of the verb conjugations. This class encompasses oral skills, reading comprehension, grammar, composition, and emphasizes the use of French for active communication. The course reflects interests shared by the students and teacher (the arts, history, current events, literature, culture, sports, etc.). Material might include recordings, films, newspapers, and magazines. The course seeks to develop language skills that are useful in themselves and that can be applied to various activities and disciplines. Candidates must have a high level of motivation and interest and sufficient time to prepare out-of-class reading and writing assignments.