Departing from the structure of previous years, 2008 ACE camps will not offer major and minor courses. This year, every camper will take THREE courses, choosing from the course offering at each camp. Campers will register for the classes during camp check-in. Campers need to have in mind their top three course selections and two back-up courses before they arrive at camp.

Classes are 70 minutes each EXCEPT the last day when they are 45 minutes each, and each class will have a daily quiz. Subject area competitions will be Literature, Social Studies, and Science/Math. There will not be an individual math competition.

2008 Camp Courses

Course Descriptions

Below is a list of descriptions of courses ACE is offering in 2008. Descriptions of the courses will be posted as they become available.

Anatomy
Quizbowl-relevant anatomy topics will be covered, including major organs, systems, and diseases. 

Astronomy

Biology, Advanced Topics

Drama, American
This class will look at the 20 most asked about works of American Drama. Basic plot elements and characters will be discussed for each play.

Earth Science Topics

Fine Arts, 20th Century
The course will cover the major artists and composers of the twentieth century from Post-Impressionism onwards. It will also cover all the major art movements and works.

Fine Arts, Basic
This class will introduce students to the most quizbowl-relevant works and creators of both visual art and classical music. This class will focus only on the most asked-about works, and is intended mainly for first and second year players or those with very little background in fine arts.

Fine Arts, Advanced
This class will cover more advanced quizbowl-relevant fine art topics. Advanced Fine Arts is intended for more experienced players or those who already have a basic knowledge of quizbowl fine arts. Both visual arts and classical music will be covered.

Geography, North American
Students will learn about the political and physical geography of North American geography. Topics will include rivers, mountains, deserts, bodies of water, and cities of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

History, Advanced European Topics
This class is intended for students who have basic background in European History. Various quizbowl-relevant topics will be explored, including major rulers, wars, and treaties.

History, Post-World War II
This class will cover the quizbowl-relevant people, places, and events of the second half of the 20th Century. Major topics will include the Cold War, the Middle East, World Leaders, and American Politics/Domestic Policy.

History, United States, Advanced Topics
This class is intended for students who have basic background in US History. This year's class will focus mainly on 19th and early 20th century history, including elections, court decisions, and legislative acts.

History, United States, Basic
Basic US History will introduce first and second year students to the American history topics that appear frequently in quizbowl questions. It is highly recommended that beginning players take one of the basic classes.

History Lab, United States, Basic
The US History lab will give beginning players an opportunity to reinforce through review and buzzer practice the information learned in the basic history class. The basic US History lab is only available to students who enroll in the basic history class.

Literature, 20th Century
This class will cover major 20th Century writers and works of fiction and poetry that are likely to appear in quizbowl questions. Students will learn about important writers, plot elements, and characters.

Literature, Basic
Basic literature will introduce first and second year students to the works and authors that appear frequently in quizbowl questions. It is highly recommended that beginning players take one of the basic classes.

Literature Lab, Basic
The literature lab will give beginning players an opportunity to reinforce through review and buzzer practice the information learned in the basic literature class. The basic literature lab is only available to students who enroll in the basic literature class.

Literature, British: Post-Shakespeare
This class will cover major British works of fiction and poetry that are likely to appear in quizbowl questions. Students will learn important plot elements, characters, and poetic lines.

Math I
This class will cover basic topics that will appear in computational toss-ups. This class is intended for students who have not yet completed Algebra II.

Math II
This class will cover more advanced topics that will appear in computational toss-ups. This class is intended for students who have already completed Algebra II.

Mythology
This class will cover the major stories and characters surrounding Greco/Roman, Norse, Egyptian, and World mythologies.

ACE Director J. R. Barry conducting a social studies class. Barry was honored in June 2004 as one of only 100 Presidential Educators.

Philosophy
This class presents an overview of Western philosophy from Plato to Derrida. Philosophy is traditionally a very difficult subject for players to learn about and this class aims to introduce each philosopher and their major works and ideas in a simple and understandable way.

Physics

Science, Basic
Basic science will introduce first and second year students to the science topics that appear frequently in quizbowl questions. Special consideration will be give to biology, but other science topics will be covered. It is highly recommended that beginning players take one of the basic classes.

Science Lab, Basic
The science lab will give beginning players an opportunity to reinforce through review and buzzer practice the information learned in the basic science class. The basic science lab is only available to students who enroll in the basic science class.

Scientists
This class will discuss the major figures who have made contributions to scientific knowledge throughout history. Some biographical information will be covered, but most of the class will focus on the theories, discoveries, and inventions of each.

Shakespeare
Shakespeare is the most-asked about writer in quizbowl questions. This class will cover Shakespeare's plays, covering the plot and major characters of each.

Social Sciences
This class will cover the major figures and ideas of the social sciences. Topics in psychology, sociology, anthropology, and economics will be taught.