Great Books ForumAll 7-12
Traditional Logic I and II
Publisher/Author
Memoria Press
Other Information
Level: 7-8
Description
“A logic course for all ages but designed for use as young as 7th grade, Traditional Logic is an in-depth study of the classical syllogism. Along with a basic understanding of the Christian theory of knowledge, the text presents the four kinds of logical statements, the four ways propositions can be opposed, the three ways which they can be equivalent, and the seven rules for the validity of syllogisms. Each chapter explains challenging concepts in clear, concise language.
Traditional Logic II uses the same tried-and-true format. As in Book I, every chapter of Book II includes enough exercises to ensure that the student masters the material before moving on. And in addition to the case studies of famous arguments, Book II has added writing assignments in each chapter to help you integrate the study of logic with other subjects.” – Memoria Press
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Vocabulary From Classical Roots
Publisher/Author
Norma Fifer and Nancy Flowers
Christian Book: Visit Website
Other Information
Level: All
Description
“This five-book series teaches junior and senior high school students words derived from the most important Greek and Latin roots. Every lesson introduces up to fifteen words derived from two or more classical roots. A dictionary-like format provides all the necessary information, including related forms of the word and sentences illustrating each word’s correct usage. Special sections called “Nota Bene” provide information about etymologies and words that might be confused.” – Christian Books
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Walking to Wisdom Literature Guide Series
Publisher/Author
Classical Academic Press
Other Information
Level: 7-12
Description
“Stories give us an experience of certain knowledge, which is why how we feel about the book is part of what the book is teaching us. We have kept these things in heart and mind while making The Inklings Collection of literature guides, to be used in conjunction with the work of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Dorothy Sayers. We named them “Walking to Wisdom” because acquiring wisdom happens at the pace of a walk and with a mentor. We have sought to guide students through these marvelous books as well as in the skill of reading these particular texts.
Tolkien, Sayers, and Lewis all expressed their ideas in both fiction and nonfiction. The fiction includes dramatic literature, short fiction, long fiction, epistolary satire, and allegory. To shed light on their fiction, we have incorporated some nonfiction essays of Lewis and Sayers in the guides that cover their works. We strongly encourage students to take a full year and use all eight guides as a twentieth-century British literature course, though working through even one guide will be beneficial. Each literature guide both stands on its own and interacts with the others, with sidebar comments and thematic continuity. These books will change students’ lives and, in the meantime, teach them how to read with delight, depth, and skill, as well as prepare them to write well.” – Classical Academic Press
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Western Civilization: A Brief History by Spielvogel
Publisher/Author
Available on Amazon
Other Information
Level: 7-12
Description
“Put the world today into context by learning about the past through this brief, best-selling Western Civilization text that has helped thousands of students succeed in the course. Jack Spielvogel’s engaging style of writing weaves the political, economic, social, religious, intellectual, cultural, and military aspects of history into a gripping story that is as memorable as it is instructive. You will also be exposed to primary source documents–actual historical documents that are the foundation for the historical analysis you read in the chapter. These documents include letters, poems, and songs through history–documents that enliven the past. Throughout the book there are also helpful tools to help you digest the reading, including outlines, focus questions, chronologies, numerous maps, and boldface key terms with definitions.” – Amazon
This text is not specifically Christian or classical but it is an excellent reference source for any history course.
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Wheelock’s Latin
Publisher/Author
Harper Collins
Other Information
Level: 7-12
Description
“While it covers five noun declensions and four conjugations as does Wilson’s Latin Grammar, it is far more comprehensive in treatment with copious explanations, practice exercises, translations, and word etymologies. (An answer key is in the back of the book.) It is probably more comparable to Jenney Latin in scope, but it is much less expensive than Jenney Latin. The price makes this a very appealing option.
The reading level is obviously higher than most high school programs, including Jenney Latin, as evidenced by the following typical explanatory paragraph: “The personal agent by whom the action of a passive verb is performed is indicated by ab and the “ablative of agent”; the means by which the action is accomplished is indicated by the “ablative of means” without a preposition, as you have already learned in Ch. 14.”
The text is proudly humanistic; the foreword tells us that “Frederic Wheelock set about to create a Latin text that would give students something to think about, a humanistic diet to nurture them both linguistically and philosophically.” Consequently, parents must ensure that the philosophic influence of this text is used in a worldview context to consider the ideas presented, weighing them against biblical Christianity. The text is being used with at least one online course where I expect that this will happen, but it will be more challenging to ensure the necessary discussion if students use the text for totally independent study.” – Cathy Duffy Reviews
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Wordsmithy
Publisher/Author
Logos Press
Other Information
Level: 7-12
Description
“Wordsmithy is for writers of every sort, whether experienced veterans, still just hoping, or somewhere in between. Through a series of out-of-the-ordinary lessons, each with its own takeaway points and recommended readings, Douglas Wilson provides indispensable guidance, showing how to develop the writer’s craft and the kind of life from which good writing comes.” – Logos Press
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Writing and Rhetoric Series
Publisher/Author
Classical Academic Press
Other Information
Level: All
Description
“A Creative Approach to the Classical Progymnasmata—Think of the progymnasmata as a step-by-step apprenticeship in the art of writing and rhetoric. What is an apprentice? It is a young person who is learning a skill from a master teacher. Our students will serve as apprentices to the great writers and great stories of history.
Students are often expected to write with no clear model before them. Modern composition scolds traditional writing instruction as rote and unimaginative. It takes imitation to task for a lack of freedom and personal expression. And yet, effective communication from writer to reader always requires some sort of form and structure. Many of history’s greatest writers learned by imitation. In other words, writing takes the same kind of determined study as ballet or diving. Creativity uses conventional form as a stage or a springboard from which to launch grand jetés and somersaults. Too often students are expected to tackle complex writing assignments without learning the necessary intermediate steps. The assumption is that because most everyone can speak English well enough to be understood, and form letters with a pencil, that everyone should be able to write well. Yet how many of us would expect a child to sit at a piano, without piano lessons, and play a concerto? Writing is never automatic.
The Writing & Rhetoric series method employs fluent reading, careful listening, models for imitation, and progressive steps. It assumes that students learn best by reading excellent, whole-story examples of literature and by growing their skills through imitation. Each exercise is intended to impart a skill (or tool) that can be employed in all kinds of writing and speaking. The exercises are arranged from simple to more complex. What’s more, the exercises are cumulative, meaning that later exercises incorporate the skills acquired in preceding exercises. This series is a step-by-step apprenticeship in the art of writing and rhetoric.” – Classical Academic Press
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