Blog – Kathryn Turnbull

THE-131: Acting I

Course Description:

As a foundation in acting technique, exercises and presentations contribute to the process of freeing the student’s imagination and creativity for application to scene study and class performance.

Major Takeaways:

Despite acting for many years in plays and musicals throughout middle and high school, taking a course in acting allowed me to approach theatre as an academic. I analyzed the plots of several plays and examined the playwriting process, from initial inspiration to final production. Through monologue performances and duet scenes, I improved my confidence and public speaking skills, eventually designing and coordinating our end-of-semester One Act Program.

View:

One-Act Performances Program

Download

Plot Analysis for Monologue #2: Joan of Arc by Bernard Shaw

Download

BIO-108: Environmental Biology & Lab

Course Description:

An introduction to human effects on interactions among organisms and the environment.

Major Takeaways:

Through readings, labwork, and lectures, I learned about the more technical aspects of environmental science. The course focused on ecology, systems, and the impacts of climate change on our natural and built environments.

HIS-323: US Conservatism: From Teddy Roosevelt to the Tea Party

Course Description:

A study of the conservative movement in the United States from 1900 through the present, examining historical context as well as change over time in what is considered “conservative.” The course will consider intellectual, economic, social, religious, cultural, and political conservative movements. (Cross-listed with POL-323.)

Major Takeaways:

This course helped me to consider political movements as subjects of history; political ideologies do not merely adapt to changing contexts, but rather they inform them. Understanding the foundations of the modern American Right has given me valuable insight into current political debates and policy decisions that I hope to utilize in my career.

Read:

Minorities and Conservatism: Applying Essentialism to Political Identities

Download

ENG-110: The Craft of Writing

Course Description:

With literature as a context, this course engages students in critical inquiry through reading, discussion, oral presentations, and writing, emphasizing an in-depth exploration of the writing process from generating ideas to polishing the final draft. Students will learn to analyze texts; develop a significant and focused controlling idea; construct well-organized paragraphs to advance the argument or narrative; use sources effectively; and write and speak with clarity, creativity, and eloquence. They will write and revise frequently and will receive regular commentary on their writing.

Major Takeaways:

This class instilled a love for creative writing and effective communication of new ideas. I got to discuss the writing styles of classic American authors and give a presentation on my independent research on hereditary wealth and the politics of inheritance in America to a large audience.

Read:

Alice Walton: From Walmart Heiress to “Wal-art” Philanthropist

Download

CHI-102, CHI-201, CHI-202: Intermediate Chinese

Course Description:

Designed to advance skills in spoken and written Mandarin Chinese. Grammatical structures, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

Major Takeaways:

I completed both Elementary and Intermediate levels of Mandarin in continuation of the three years of study I completed during high school. I have studied both spoken and written forms of Mandarin, as well as Chinese history and customs. Learning the Chinese language has allowed me to better appreciate current Chinese culture & calligraphy, opening up exciting career opportunities in international affairs and US-China relations.

SOC-251: A History of Sociology

Course Description:

Introduction to theory in social science, review of the major theoretical constructs of the 19th century and application in modern social science.

Major Takeaways:

I gained a modern understanding of sociological theories and explanations. I engaged with current themes and trends in sociological thought through a combination of essays, discussions, and exams.

ESS-101: Introduction to Environmental and Sustainability Studies

Course Description:

Causes and effects of human incursion into natural systems. Examination of social, political, ethical, and economic issues and theory in light of ecological and evolutionary principles, with a goal of developing sustainable programs.

Major Takeaways:

This introductory course inspired me to pursue the program minor; I was able to investigate the wide variety of human-environment relationships in an academic and analytical environment.

Read:

Impact Analysis: Denim Lifecycle

Download

HIS/ESS/AS-215: African Environmental History

Course Description:

This course will survey the evolution of African environmental and ecological systems over the past 200 years. Subjects will include aspects of the physical environment visible through changes in climate and hydrology, as well as key issues of human/environmental interaction, such as agriculture, deforestation, conservation, famine, malaria, and the role of colonialism and economic development in environmental change. The course will also examine the ways in which outsiders have created myths about the African environment and how Africans have managed their natural resources over time. The course will examine the causes and social effects of famine, vector-borne disease and the impact of political ecology of globalization on African environmental management. Course assignments will cover most geographical regions of Africa, but with special attention to East Africa.

Major Takeaways:

African Environmental History combined elements of Africana Studies, Environmental Studies, and History to achieve a powerful interdisciplinary objective; understanding “Africa” as a complex and nuanced product of African agency against colonial implications and lasting, dangerous misconceptions of the continent as a whole. This course remains one of my favorite classes at Agnes Scott.

Read:

Imagining African Environments: Zoos, Circuses, Menageries, and the Colonial Impulse

Download

HIS-325: The American Revolution: Causes and Consequences

Course Description:

The political, social, economic and ideological roots of the American Revolution; the Constitution and early government; the creation of an American national culture; and the contested meanings of freedom in the early republic.

Major Takeaways:

I took this class half-expecting it to be a rehashing of the standard American public school curriculum, but my expectations not have been farther from reality. This course helped me to completely reimagine the intentions of the Founding Fathers and understand the way that our ever-evolving national identity was created long before the republic was created in law. It challenged myths and assumptions about the institution of slavery and introduced me to the reality of a multi-racial, multi-faith abolitionist movement at the end of the 18th century.

Read:

The Violent Expansionism of the American Revolution: Indigenous Responses to the “Contest for Indian Land”

Download

PH-331: Environmental Health

Course Description:

This course is designed to introduce and provide an overview of key areas in environmental health. Using the perspectives of the population and community health, the course will cover factors associated with the development of environmental health problems. Students will gain an understanding of the interaction of individuals and communities with the environment, the potential impact on health of environmental agents, and specific applications of concepts of environmental health. The course will consist of a series of lectures and will cover principles derived from core environmental health disciplines. Topics will include physical, chemical, and biological hazards to health; how pollutants are produced and disperse in the environment; the scientific basis for environmental regulation and policy decisions; social movements for environmental health and justice; and emerging global environmental health challenges.

Major Takeaways:

I gained a baseline for studying public health and continued to build upon my understanding of environmental racism, ecological health risks, and leaders in the field of environmental public health.