Great Books Forum7-12 Rhetoric and Composition
Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students
Publisher/Author
Sharon Crowley, Veritas Press
Other Information
Level: 7-12
Description
“Revives the classical strategies of ancient Greek and Roman rhetoricians and adapts them to the needs of contemporary writers and speakers.” – Google Books
Rating
Would you use this product again?
Classical Composition Series
Publisher/Author
Memoria Press
Other Information
Level: 7-12
Description
“In the Classical Composition series, author James A. Selby has resurrected the progymnasmata, the method of teaching composition used by classical educators for more than 1500 years. Students follow a structured approach to learning the various skills for writing and rhetoric. Lessons begin with imitation. Students first learn the skills of narration and paraphrasing, working from given material rather than their own ideas. They gradually begin to develop their own stories, but still based on ideas provided within each lesson. As they continue through the courses, they will eventually develop and present their own ideas.” – Cathy Duffy Reviews
Rating
Would you use this product again?
Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student
Publisher/Author
Edward Corbett
Other Information
Level: 7-12
Description
Widely used in advanced composition and writing courses, Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student discusses the three vital components of classical rhetoric–argument, arrangement, and style–bringing these elements to life and demonstrating their effective use in yesterday’s and today’s writing. Presenting its subject in five parts, the text provides grounding in the elements and applications of classical rhetoric; the strategies and tactics of argumentation; the effective presentation and organization of discourses; the development of power, grace, and felicity in expression; and the history of rhetorical principles. Numerous examples of classic and contemporary rhetoric, from paragraphs to complete essays, appear throughout the book, many followed by detailed analyses. The fourth edition of Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student features a new section on the Progymnasmata (classical composition exercises), a new analysis of a color advertisement in the Introduction, an updated survey of the history of rhetoric, and an updated section on “External Aids to Invention.” – Google Books
Note: This text uses the classical Progymnasmata, but may not have been written with a classical model of education in mind.
Rating
Would you use this product again?
Tell us your experience: Does this curriculum fit with your classical model?
Classical Rhetoric Through Structure and Style
Publisher/Author
Veritas Press
Other Information
Level: 7-12
Description
“With the word “progymnasmata” showing up here and there, homeschoolers are becoming familiar with this collection of rhetorical exercises that has endured with success within the Western Tradition. This was the classical Greek method of building up the student’s reasoning and articulation skills through a series of interrelated, rhetorical exercises. Learning to write and speak more persuasively is a worthwhile investment of time and energy for the advanced student who already has a firm grasp of grammar. This series of 31 lessons is a teacher-oriented collection of lessons that the teacher can use to help teach rhetoric. It’s not a workbook intended to teach the student rhetoric. A model check sheet is provided to help with grading. Please note there is Christian content.” Rainbow Resource
Rating
Would you use this product again?
Classical Rhetoric with Aristotle
Publisher/Author
Memoria Press
Other Information
Level: 9-12
Description
“Martin Cothran’s Classical Rhetoric with Aristotle is a guided tour through the first part of the greatest single book on communication ever written: Aristotle’s Rhetoric. With questions that will help the student unlock every important aspect of the book, along with fill-in-the-blank charts and analyses of great speeches, this companion text to Aristotle’s great work will send the student on a voyage of discovery from which he will return with a competent knowledge of the basic classical principles of speech and writing.” – Memoria Press
Rating
Would you use this product again?
Everyday Debate and Discussion
Publisher/Author
Classical Academic Press
Other Information
Level: 7-12
Description
“Everyday Debate & Discussion: A Guide to Socratic Conversation, Informal Discussion, and Formal Debate (Student Edition) not only shows students how to conduct informal and formal debates, but also how to develop good arguments by using solid logic and the resources available in their own thinking as well as the world around them. Students will employ the techniques of logic and rhetoric, such as the common topics of definition, comparison, relationship, circumstance, and testimony. Additional study of ethos, pathos, and style is also included, as well as a study of debate arrangement.” – Classical Academic Press
Rating
Would you use this product again?
Excellence in Writing Courses Series
Publisher/Author
Institute for Excellence in Writing, Andrew Pudewa
Other Information
Level: 7-12
Description
“In order to succeed in every area of life, your students must hone the skills needed to communicate confidently and effectively. Through the process of learning to write well, they learn how to think clearly and to express themselves eloquently and persuasively. Our goal is to equip your teachers to assist their students in this process.” – Institute for Excellence in Writing
Rating
Would you use this product again?
Fitting Words Classical Rhetoric
Publisher/Author
Roman Roads
Other Information
Level: 9-12
Description
“FITTING WORDS instructs students in the art of classical Rhetoric, providing them with tools of communication that will equip them for life. Intended for high school students and above, Fitting Words is a complete curriculum covering a year of instruction. In this course, students will learn the theory of using words well, study the greatest speeches of all time, and practice the skills of effective oratory.
What is Rhetoric and why do we need it? The short answer is that God created us as people of words, and He wants us to use them in a fitting way. “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver”(Proverbs 25:11). Rhetoric is the art of using words well, and is measured by our ability to teach men the truth, to move men to goodness, and to delight men with verbal beauty. Effective speaking and writing is informative, powerful, and elegant.” – Roman Roads
Rating
Would you use this product again?
Imitation in Writing Set
Publisher/Author
Logos Press
Other Information
Level: All
Description
“As the title suggests, this course from Logos Press aims to teach writing through the medium of imitation. The author proposes that as it was the method of a bygone era, and since educators still use imitation to teach many different subjects, e.g. handwriting, art, math, music, and reading, it is an effective tool for teaching the art of writing. Written for a classroom setting, the series is easily adapted to a homeschool environment. Each book has step-by-step instructions, beginning with the student’s first reading of the original work and ending with a final draft and grading of his own version. All of the stories, tales, myths or fables to be imitated are included in each book, along with reproducible worksheets which guide the student in taking notes on key aspects of rewriting the original: vocabulary, plot, characters and any additional requirements. Examples are given of completed worksheets and rewritten stories, tales, myths and fables to aid the teacher. A neat series for teaching young people to write creatively.” – Rainbow Resource
Rating
Would you use this product again?
Lost Tools of Writing
Publisher/Author
Circe Institute
Other Information
Level: 7-12
Description
“The Lost Tools of Writing: Level One: 5th edition (LTW) teaches a holistic, systematic approach for teaching composition. While often used within classical education settings, LTW can be used by all homeschooling parents with students in middle school and beyond. Students need to have developed basic grammar and writing skills, and they need to be able to think divergently, drawing information from sources and considering it from different perspectives. While younger students might work at a simpler level, the same essential techniques can be used with teens and adults. The goal is to help students learn to write with both creativity and discipline. The vehicle for teaching these skills is the persuasive essay, but skills learned will transfer over to most other types of writing.
The program consists of a 352-page Teacher Guide, a student workbook, and a series of instructional videos for parents and teachers that are accessed through Vimeo. Andrew Kern and Leah Lutz take turns presenting the video lessons, and both are excellent presenters. Videos are relatively short segments that run from about seven to twenty minutes each. Parents and teachers need only watch about one per week as they teach the program, learning techniques as they go.” – Cathy Duffy Reviews
Rating
Would you use this product again?