We often get questions like, what is Classical Writing like? Do you use this approach? Do you align with that approach? What do you do with Great Books? Do you study the Bible? Classical Writing’s focus is on teaching writing … Continue reading
Category Archives: Classical Writing Method
How to argue against an opponent’s points of view
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imgur.com/gallery/dHJg4o1 This summer, I will be posting some rhetoric theory, as we finish up our rhetoric handbook. You may, I hope, recognize some political tactics that occur across the entire political spectrum in terms or explanations, accusations, spins, and general … Continue reading
Outlining Essays — a little theory
We look to the ancients for ideas on how to organize our writing better. Parts of an Ancient Speech If you include an introduction and a conclusion, Aristotle says the basic parts of a speech are four: I. Introduction (Also … Continue reading
Musings about a Classical Education
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I want to share some thoughts about classical education, the idea of a classical education, its origins, and why this type of education seems to deliver the sort of rigor and mastery we wish our students to have. This summer, … Continue reading
Plagiarism – and when to worry about it
Because Classical Writing is BIG TIME into imitation, paraphrasing, and copybook, we often get asked where the line is between imitation and plagiarism. It is a valid question, one I have answered on the message boards and in blogs before, … Continue reading
Plagiarism
I recently had a student in one of my classes, who on an online exam problem that asked her to ‘explain in her own words’, had copied and pasted two paragraphs from a web site into her exam. Her copy-and-paste … Continue reading
Spelling Lessons
Does Classical Writing teach spelling? We are often asked that question. Spelling Instruction Everything we do we do in light of the weekly stories the kids analyze and write about, including spelling. Do I have to have a separate spelling … Continue reading
Consistency
To be consistent is to constantly adhering to the same principles, course, or form. That is what www.dictionary.com tells me. In this blog I will discuss homeschooling of little kids, mostly, but the broader principles here apply K-12, and perhaps … Continue reading
Journaling as part of writing across the curriculum
Journaling is to formal writing what sitting in your pjs sipping a cuppa is to being formally dressed in company sipping a cuppa. Journaling is getting your thoughts down on paper, whatever form they might take, whatever sense or lack … Continue reading
Dictation in elementary school
🙂 The copybook post was so very popular, I thought would follow it up with a post on dictation. Copybook allows the student to study a passage, note the spelling and mechanics, and reproduce the piece accurately in his or … Continue reading