Splash Biography

AMY ESTERSOHN, Writer, thinker, doer, dreamer, cat lover

Major: English

College/Employer: University of Chicago

Year of Graduation: 2009

Brief Biographical Sketch:

Amy likes to write-- a lot. She writes when she should be doing other things, such as right now, when she is writing her biography instead of doing her math homework. (Shh, don't tell anybody).

As an English major at the University of Chicago, Amy has experimented with different styles of writing and has had the opportunity to publish some of her work in newspapers and in blogs.

Likes: chocolate chip cookies, naps, fuzzy sweaters, ping pong, comic books

Dislikes: Sour candy, the sound of knuckles cracking, being late, math homework

Past Classes

(Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

C998: Beyond SillyBandz and Justin Bieber: a (brief) history of teen consumers in Splash! Fall 2012 (Oct. 06, 2012)

In this class, we'll discuss questions like: 1. What is a "teenager," and what are some of the social/ historical/ biological/ economic reasons that people ages 12-19 tend to think and act differently from those younger and those older? 2. What were some of the first companies that sold products to children and teens, and how did their sales tactics differ from today's sales tactics? 3. Why do teenagers buy things? Do they buy things for different reasons than adults buy things?

C999: Why Your Brain Isn't a Calculator: Psychology of Decision Making in Splash! Fall 2012 (Oct. 06, 2012)

Even if you're good at math, your brain can still play tricks on you when calculating how to make a decision. This class will show you how, and how humans tend to distort certain facts over others when they make decisions. Come ready to play some games and engage in discussion!

C802: Psychology and Decision Making in Splash! Fall 2011 (Oct. 01, 2011)

This class will explore why humans tend to take certain risks, from gambling to clothing purchases. Get ready to play some games, do a tiny bit of math, and learn a LOT about psychology!

H569: Starting a New Business 101 in Splash! Fall 2010 (Oct. 02, 2010)

Congratulations! The Splash Fund for new business ideas has decided to give you 1 million dollars for you and your friends to start a company. So, what kind of business do you decide to start? And, more importantly, how are you going to convince the Splash Fund that you're using the money wisely?

A501: A3: Journalism: More Than Just Facts in Cascade! Fall 2009 (Oct. 20, 2009)

You may know how to write for an English teacher, but have you ever thought about how different it would be to write for thousands of people from all different backgrounds? In this class, we'll look beyond the who, what, when, where, why, and how to discuss what to write, how to write it, and whom to write it for. This class will include all but one of the following: YouTube videos, discussions about Rihanna, the opportunity to see college students do crazy things, and pink elephants.

L356: Rocking the Personal Essay in Splash! Fall 2009 (Oct. 03, 2009)

This class will explore the creative personal essay: the kind of writing that you read in magazines, on blogs, and yes, in college essays. We will discuss what makes a personal essay a personal essay and practice techniques to make our essays stronger.

C421: Just Do It and Have it Your Way: A Very Brief Introduction to Advertising and Consumer Culture in Splash! Fall 2009 (Oct. 03, 2009)

This class will examine the history and development of advertising in the United States and will consider advertising's impact on American culture. Should we be concerned that stock characters that embody gender and culture stereotypes are used to sell maple syrup, rice, and baseball? Should we be concerned that fast food chains and sportswear companies give us empowering slogans?

L200: Writing for the World in Splash! 2008 (Oct. 04, 2008)

Have you ever wanted to write something but didn't feel you knew the words to use? Have you ever wanted to write about something sad? Funny? Informative? In this class, we'll take a relaxed approach to practicing putting words on paper, and we might laugh or cry a little bit in the meantime. We might also (like we did last year) write love letters to Chris Brown. This year, anything goes.

B8: The Fundamentals of Literary Imagination: Creative Writing in CASCADE (2009)

In this class, you will be able to create your own inspiring and creative pieces of writing. Instead of strictly ...