Grades 6 & 7
Web-based
High School Junior
Qualifying verbal score
Students discover how creative writing and scientific inquiry offer different perspectives on the same complex and unfolding universe. Central to these courses, readings are inspired by science and provide students with models for creating their own poems, stories, and essays. For example, students might consider how Einstein's theory of relativity has influenced the images and themes of 20th-century poets, or how an essay about childhood memories is enhanced by understanding neuroscience. These courses involve substantial discussion of readings as well as writing workshops in which the instructor and peers offer constructive criticism. Students typically read, discuss, and write at least every other day (academic year) or daily (summer). 
In , students explore the connection between discovery in science and creativity on the page as they read poetry, plays, and fiction written about or inspired by scientific ideas. Vladimir Nabokov's ideal was to combine the passion of the scientist and the precision of the poet. That may sound like it should be reversed. Poets are passionate. Scientists are precise. But, the converse is also true. As students learn the craft of poetry, they see that creative writing has an element of precision. Without imagination, there is no purpose to observation; without keen observation skills, even the wildest imagination is shabbily furnished. Planck's discovery of the quantum, Einstein's theory of relativity and Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle, for example, reveal a universe far stranger than previously imagined, and the students' task as writers is to inhabit that universe. Towards the end of this short course, it will become clear that observation, imagination, and the use of metaphor are all essential aspects of both science and art. Students interact with their instructors and other students in a Web classroom, and some lessons require pre-writing exercises in addition to a final writing assignment. Also, this format includes a mandatory writers' workshop in which students comment upon each others' work. This is a very interactive course. Students typically read, discuss, and write at least every other day (academic year) or daily (summer). A hallmark of Art Meets Science courses is the readings. Students need to read closely and carefully, re-reading whenever possible. In four of five lessons, group discussion of the readings is required in order to complete the final writing assignment. To assess readability level, please read this excerpt from "Starry Night" by David Levy. Note that this excerpt is not the same excerpt used in the sample assignment. Learn more about the summer sessions. Get more information from Frequently Asked Questions.
All CTY Online courses require a properly-maintained computer with Internet access and a recent-version web browser (such as Explorer 6, Firefox, or Safari). Students are expected to be familiar with standard computer operations (e.g. login, cut & paste, email attachments, etc). |
Spam blockers, parental controls, and other internet filtering software must allow email from JHU (jhu.edu & jhem.jhu.edu), and from the instructor's email address (provided at start of course). Important: Frequent changing of a student's screen name or email address is inversely proportional to success. |
If this course uses a web-based classroom for assignments and group discussion, your browser will need to allow cookies, javascript, and popup windows from the classroom web site. You may test a web-based classroom. |
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