* Viewer discretion advised. This video includes discussion of mature topics and may be inappropriate for some audiences. Here's a TED first: an animated Socratic dialog! In a time when irrationality seems to rule both politics and...

Robert Wright uses evolutionary biology and game theory to explain why we appreciate the Golden Rule ("Do unto others..."), why we sometimes ignore it and why there’s hope that, in the near future, we might all have the compassion to...

Steven Pinker's book The Blank Slate argues that all humans are born with some innate traits. Here, Pinker talks about his thesis, and why some people found it incredibly upsetting.

The mirror test is supposed to be a way to figure out when an animal is self-aware, but there might be only one particular animal this test works well on: humans.

In which Mike Rugnetta begins our unit on pantheons, which are families of gods. We further define pantheons and talk about why they're important. Then, we discuss pantheons from the myths of the ancient Mediterranean, starting with...

After witnessing the atrocities of his fellow man in World War II, William Golding was losing his faith in humanity. Later, during the Cold War, as superpowers began threatening one another with nuclear annihilation, he was forced to...

In which John Green teaches you about capitalism and socialism in a way that is sure to please commenters from both sides of the debate. Learn how capitalism arose from the industrial revolution, and then gave rise to socialism. Learn...

In which John Green teaches you about capitalism and socialism in a way that is sure to please commenters from both sides of the debate. Learn how capitalism arose from the industrial revolution, and then gave rise to socialism. Learn...

In this video, we demonstrate how to analyze and evaluate Federalist 51. We start with a quick definition of key literary analysis terms. Then, set the historical and cultural context of the document, examine the text to delineate...

Pupil outcome: I can write a clear analytical response about human nature in the novel. Key learning points: - Consider the first version of your work a first draft and not the finished essay. - Redrafting your analytical writing is just...

Pupil outcome: I can trace Stevenson’s use of setting across the the novel, ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’. Key learning points: - Stevenson takes the conventions of the Gothic genre and subverts them to make his fictional...

Pupil outcome: I can explain the role of Friar Lawrence and his relationship to Romeo within Act 2, Scene 3 of ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Key learning points: - In Elizabethan England, religion played a central role in people’s lives. - Friar...

Pupil outcome: I can understand how Stevenson conforms to, and subverts, Gothic conventions in ‘Jekyll and Hyde’. Key learning points: - Gothic fiction is fascinated by strange places, yet Stevenson sets his story in London. - The figure...

Pupil outcome: I can write about the gothic in ‘Jekyll and Hyde’. Key learning points: - Jekyll is a typical gothic protagonist: egotistical and isolated. - The story dramatises Jekyll's inner struggle between good and evil and the same...

Pupil outcome: I can use single paragraph outlines to plan a response. Key learning points: - Golding uses the novel to explore the true nature of human beings. - A cohesive argument unpacks one 'big idea' - each paragraph should work...

Pupil outcome: I can explore how Orwell presents apathy and complicity in ‘Animal Farm’. Key learning points: - Arguably, Benjamin's language conveys apathy throughout 'Animal Farm'. - We might see Orwell as suggesting that Benjamin's...

Pupil outcome: I can write the opening to an impactful narrative. Key learning points: - To create atmosphere, you might use similes, dialogue and motifs. - To avoid clichés, you might think about how you can add extra detail and sensory...

Pupil outcome: I can explain who Thomas Hobbes was, his context, and why his religious views were considered controversial. Key learning points: - Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher who lived during the Renaissance and...

Pupil outcome: I can retell the Genesis story of Eve and The Fall, and explain different Christian perspectives on this. Key learning points: - The Genesis account of Eve and The Fall can be read in different ways, depending on the view...

Pupil outcome: I can explain how emotive language is used to discuss poverty in Victorian Britain. Key learning points: - There was no compulsory schooling in Victorian Britain. - Education was a luxury only the rich could afford. -...

Tommie Shelby, a professor at Harvard University, explores the idea of prison abolition, a concept often dismissed as unrealistic. He explains that abolitionists argue prisons are both ineffective and immoral, and that mass incarceration...

In this video, the host Jade interviews Beatrice the Bear, who represents love and shares her insights on the importance of love in our lives. Through a heartwarming story, Beatrice emphasizes the significance of showing love to others,...

In this video, Tetsuo the Turtle teaches us about the importance of respect. Through a story about a boy who broke the rules in a park, Tetsuo emphasizes the need to follow rules, be considerate of others, and take care of our spaces....

In this video, Ella the Elephant is the special guest and she shares a heartwarming story about kindness. She talks about her visit to India during the Holly Festival, where she meets a girl named Ahimsa who is lost and afraid. Ella...