In this course, students will learn writing in conjunction with critical thinking and speaking.
During the first semester, students will be exposed to “refutation,” which is a short essay that attacks certain parts of a narrative. Students will learn to identify and refute parts of a narrative that are unbelievable, improbable, unclear, or improper. Students will also learn to write a “confirmation”-a short essay defending certain parts of a narrative that are believable, probable, clear or proper.
Second semester, students will continue to develop the art of persuasive writing and oration. They will learn to create six-paragraph essays that argue against the common vices of people and argue in favor of common virtues. For example, cowardice and boasting are criticized while courage and humility are commended. Students will also learn to support a thesis statement, use comparison and contrast, use a rhetorical device known as “the contrary,” and more.
In their essays, students will be making use of a range of writing skills, including the ability to inform, to describe, to narrate, and to analyze.
Using books 5 & 6 of Classical Academic Press’s “Writing and Rhetoric” curriculum, students will:
• Write four (and then 6) paragraph essays
• Outline
• Refute or confirm parts of stories
• Understand comparison and contrast
• Introduce and conclude an essay
• Use narrative to further the purpose of exposition
• Use direct quotes to support an argument
• Support a thesis statement
• Argue against certain vices & virtues
• Use comparison and contrast
• Use a rhetorical device known as “the contrary”
• Invent soliloquies to support an argument
• Deliver writing orally
• Revise writing
