These videos provide additional teaching instruction for the Lost Tools of Writing Level 2. There’s a video for every lesson, one video each week, about 10-15 minutes each.

To view the videos you will need a password, which will be emailed to you upon completion of the order.

To learn more about The Lost Tools of Writing and read FAQs, please click HERE

The post The Lost Tools of Writing: Level Two – Online Instructional Video Subscription appeared first on Classical Education Books.

The Lost Tools of Writing Level Two, features eight new lessons (and thus eight new essays), each of which enable you and your students to dig – and think – deeper.

In LTW I, your students learned the basics of constructing a persuasive essay. By implementing the three canons of classical rhetoric – Invention, Arrangement, and Elocution – your young writers learned the process of crafting a coherent written argument, starting with the blank slate and ending with a complete and thorough essay. Our goal in LTW I was not so much to worry about the kind of persuasive essay the students were writing so much as it was to ensure they were growing increasingly comfortable with the steps necessary to create it.

In LTW II, however, you’ll continue your study of classical rhetoric by studying the judicial address, which refines the persuasive essay taught in LTW I. So just as the elements of LTW I build upon one another, so LTW II builds upon LTW I.

Through the eight lessons/addresses in LTW II, your students will work within the framework of the three canons, but each will be aimed at this new kind of address. This familiarity will empower you as a teacher and will provide confidence for your students.

Much is familiar: You will recognize the invention charts, the arrangement templates, and much of the format. But a lot is new as well. Featuring clarified teaching materials (with new discussion tips, simplified assessments steps, and improved examples), this new edition is the ideal follow-up for any teacher or student who is familiar and comfortable with LTW I.

To learn more about The Lost Tools of Writing and read FAQs, please click HERE

The post The Lost Tools of Writing: Level Two – Teacher’s Guide (2nd Edition) appeared first on Classical Education Books.

The Lost Tools of Writing Level Two, features eight new lessons (and thus eight new essays), each of which enables you and your students to dig – and think – deeper.

In LTW I, your students learned the basics of constructing a persuasive essay. By implementing the three canons of classical rhetoric – Invention, Arrangement, and Elocution – your young writers learned the process of crafting a coherent written argument, starting with the blank slate and ending with a complete and thorough essay. Our goal in LTW I was not so much to worry about the kind of persuasive essay the students were writing so much as it was to ensure they were growing increasingly comfortable with the steps necessary to create it.

In LTW II, however, you’ll continue your study of classical rhetoric by studying the judicial address, which refines the persuasive essay taught in LTW I. So just as the elements of LTW I build upon one another, so LTW II builds upon LTW I.

Through the eight lessons/addresses in LTW II, your students will work within the framework of the three canons, but each will be aimed at this new kind of address. This familiarity will empower you as a teacher and will provide confidence for your students.

Much is familiar: You will recognize the invention charts, the arrangement templates, and much of the format. But a lot is new as well. Featuring clarified teaching materials (with new discussion tips, simplified assessments steps, and improved examples), this new edition is the ideal follow-up for any teacher or student who is familiar and comfortable with LTW I.

Please note that the complete set of the LTW II includes one Student’s Workbook. A separate workbook must be purchased for each additional student using the program.

The post The Lost Tools of Writing: Level Two – Student Workbook (2nd Edition) appeared first on Classical Education Books.

“ If we lose the ability to imagine how words are like seeds, we risk presuming that language cannot serve any purpose greater than our own. If we cannot imagine how human words can communicate self-giving life, then we lose the ability to imagine how Christian faith is possible.”

The Lost Seeds of Learning invites readers to consider how our understanding of the learners, the teachers, the content, the forms, and the purposes of the verbal arts becomes transformed in light of Christian faith. Recovering the vision of how grammar, logic, and rhetoric can be like seeds and not merely neutral tools helps us remember why these arts are crucial to Christian formation. These arts have an intrinsic purpose not of human choosing and a particular purpose to communicate new life. Such life communicated is a divine gift and the form of such communication can be self-giving. Such verbal giving and receiving is a living knowledge that relies on the testimony of particular persons over time. By imagining words as seeds, Christian educators can cultivate attention, patience, and responsible action rather than distraction, impatience, and paralysis.

The post The Lost Seeds of Learning: Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric as Life-Giving Arts appeared first on Classical Education Books.

A 1-semester course for grades 8 or 9 and up

Think of the progymnasmata as a step-by-step apprenticeship in the art of writing and rhetoric. In the award-winning Writing & Rhetoric series, author Paul Kortepeter has recovered this proven method of teaching writing in conjunction with critical thinking and speaking. This is the eleventh in a series of 12 books that will train students over 6 years.

Thesis Part 2

The Writing & Rhetoric Book 11: Thesis Part 2 Teacher’s Edition includes the complete student text, as well as answer keys, teacher’s notes, and explanations. This teacher’s edition supplies descriptions and examples of what excellent student writing should be like for every writing assignment, providing the teacher with meaningful and concrete guidance.

In Writing & Rhetoric Book 11: Thesis Part 2, students will implement what they learned about writing well-crafted persuasive thesis essays in Writing & Rhetoric Book 10: Thesis Part 1 and advance those skills by creating dynamic and powerful speeches. A vital part of rhetoric, oratory connects thinking and writing to the indispensable art of public speaking. Students will learn from masters of oratory, past and present, by studying the great speeches of Cicero, Thurgood Marshall, Ronald Reagan, John F. Kennedy, and Malala Yousafzai, among others. When preparing and delivering their speeches, students will utilize the 5 canons of rhetoric and the common topics of invention to help them discover and refine their theses.

Thesis Part 2 is designed to build students’ confidence in public speaking, teaching them the habits of excellent delivery and proper breathing. Incorporating the skills learned throughout the series, students will research, write, and then deliver 3 practice speeches (or declamations) of their own creation in the manner of the traditional branches of rhetoric: judicial, ceremonial, and political. As students gain skill, they will learn to delight in discourse as a way “to enlighten the understanding, please the imagination, move the passion, and influence the will” (George Campbell).

In this 1-semester book, students will learn to:

• write persuasive speeches in the style of a closing argument in a courtroom, a eulogy at a funeral, and the proposal of a law in a legislative body
• refine their writing of theses, topic sentences, and antitheses
• improve their conclusions to extend and enhance their original theses
• strengthen their ability to derive information from texts, organizing and summarizing it in expository paragraphs
• develop an awareness of transitions, tone, and writing style
• practice fluent reading using diverse speech texts
• identify a variety of genres, particularly judicial, ceremonial, and political oration
• interact with well-written texts through discussions and exercises in evaluation and critical thinking
• draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research
• strengthen their oratory skills through opportunities for public speaking
• see the relationship between writing and speaking
• use oration as an aid to the process of revisionSee the Support tab above for suggested schedule and product support.

Suggested Schedule
Speech Content Rubric
Speech-Writing Instructions
Resources for Select Audio Recordings

Companion Products

Writing & Rhetoric Book 11: Thesis Part 2
Writing & Rhetoric Book 11: Thesis Part 2 Teacher Guide

The post Writing and Rhetoric: Book 11 – Thesis: Part 2 (Teacher Guide) appeared first on Classical Education Books.

A 1-semester course for grades 8 or 9 and up

Think of the progymnasmata as a step-by-step apprenticeship in the art of writing and rhetoric. In the award-winning Writing & Rhetoric series, author Paul Kortepeter has recovered this proven method of teaching writing in conjunction with critical thinking and speaking. This is the eleventh in a series of 12 books that will train students over 6 years.

Thesis Part 2

In this book, students will implement what they learned about writing well-crafted persuasive thesis essays in Writing & Rhetoric Book 10: Thesis Part 1 and advance those skills by creating dynamic and powerful speeches. A vital part of rhetoric, oratory connects thinking and writing to the indispensable art of public speaking. Students will learn from masters of oratory, past and present, by studying the great speeches of Cicero, Thurgood Marshall, Ronald Reagan, John F. Kennedy, and Malala Yousafzai, among others. When preparing and delivering their speeches, students will utilize the 5 canons of rhetoric and the common topics of invention to help them discover and refine their theses.

Thesis Part 2 is designed to build students’ confidence in public speaking, teaching them the habits of excellent delivery and proper breathing. Incorporating the skills learned throughout the series, students will research, write, and then deliver 3 practice speeches (or declamations) of their own creation in the manner of the traditional branches of rhetoric: judicial, ceremonial, and political. As students gain skill, they will learn to delight in discourse as a way “to enlighten the understanding, please the imagination, move the passion, and influence the will” (George Campbell).

In this 1-semester book, students will learn to:

• write persuasive speeches in the style of a closing argument in a courtroom, a eulogy at a funeral, and the proposal of a law in a legislative body
• refine their writing of theses, topic sentences, and antitheses
• improve their conclusions to extend and enhance their original theses
• strengthen their ability to derive information from texts, organizing and summarizing it in expository paragraphs
• develop an awareness of transitions, tone, and writing style
• practice fluent reading using diverse speech texts
• identify a variety of genres, particularly judicial, ceremonial, and political oration
• interact with well-written texts through discussions and exercises in evaluation and critical thinking
• draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research
• strengthen their oratory skills through opportunities for public speaking
• see the relationship between writing and speaking
• use oration as an aid to the process of revision

Suggested Schedule
Speech Content Rubric
Speech-Writing Instructions
Resources for Select Audio Recordings

This is a consumable item. For more information on this product’s copyright, please refer to our General FAQ section here.

Companion Products

Writing & Rhetoric Book 11: Thesis Part 2
Writing & Rhetoric Book 11: Thesis Part 2 Teacher Guide

The post Writing and Rhetoric: Book 11 – Thesis: Part 2 appeared first on Classical Education Books.

The post Literary and Rhetorical Terms appeared first on Classical Education Books.

Writing & Rhetoric Book 10: Thesis Part 1
Writing & Rhetoric Book 10: Thesis Part 1 Teacher Edition

The post Writing and Rhetoric Book 10: Thesis Part 1, Audio CD appeared first on Classical Education Books.

Think of the progymnasmata as a step-by-step apprenticeship in the art of writing and rhetoric. In the award-winning Writing & Rhetoric series, author Paul Kortepeter has recovered this proven method of teaching writing in conjunction with critical thinking and speaking. This is the tenth in a series of 12 books that will train students over 6 years.

In Writing & Rhetoric Book 10: Thesis Part 1 (consumable student edition), students will write well-crafted persuasive thesis essays with narrative, descriptive, expository, and comparative elements. The thesis essay is perhaps the most important form of academic writing. In fact, in every major in college, successful exams and term papers depend on excellent thesis writing. Each composition requires strong critical thinking skills, an understanding of audiences and how to “hook” them, and a logical progression of ideas and evidence. The thesis exercise employs all of the skills students have gained in their study of the progymnasmata and adds something more: the consideration and rebuttal of counterarguments. By thinking through opposition to their main ideas, students grow in their ability to think flexibly and to defend their position. In addition, the thesis essay will help students to examine and sustain ideas, two skills much needed in today’s public discourse.

Teacher’s Edition Features:

The Writing & Rhetoric Book 10: Thesis Part 1 Teacher’s Edition includes the complete student text, as well as answer keys, teacher’s notes, and explanations. This teacher’s edition also contains descriptions and examples of what excellent student writing should be like for every writing assignment, providing the teacher with meaningful and concrete guidance.

Suggested Schedule (PDF)
Scope & Sequence (PDF)

Thesis Part 1 Rubrics (PDF)

New Online Features:

Our new Writing & Rhetoric web pages feature free online content that supplements the curriculum, including:

• Teacher training with author Paul Kortepeter and Writing & Rhetoric educators
• Writing & Rhetoric series overview
• Extra videos and articles on the study of writing

Companion Products

Writing & Rhetoric Book 9: Description & Impersonation
Writing & Rhetoric Book 9: Description & Impersonation, Teacher’s Edition
Writing & Rhetoric Book 9: Description & Impersonation, Audio CD

The post Writing and Rhetoric: Book 10 – Thesis: Part 1 (Teacher Edition) appeared first on Classical Education Books.

Think of the progymnasmata as a step-by-step apprenticeship in the art of writing and rhetoric. In the award-winning Writing & Rhetoric series, author Paul Kortepeter has recovered this proven method of teaching writing in conjunction with critical thinking and speaking. This is the tenth in a series of 12 books that will train students over 6 years.

In Writing & Rhetoric Book 10: Thesis Part 1 (consumable student edition), students will write well-crafted persuasive thesis essays with narrative, descriptive, expository, and comparative elements. The thesis essay is perhaps the most important form of academic writing. In fact, in every major in college, successful exams and term papers depend on excellent thesis writing. Each composition requires strong critical thinking skills, an understanding of audiences and how to “hook” them, and a logical progression of ideas and evidence. The thesis exercise employs all of the skills students have gained in their study of the progymnasmata and adds something more: the consideration and rebuttal of counterarguments. By thinking through opposition to their main ideas, students grow in their ability to think flexibly and to defend their position. In addition, the thesis essay will help students to examine and sustain ideas, two skills much needed in today’s public discourse.

Student Edition Features:

A 1-semester course for grades 7 or 8 and up

In this book, students will learn to:

• create complex thesis statements
• write thesis essays with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion
• sustain arguments for 6 paragraphs
• use topic sentences for organizing paragraphs and information
• incorporate supportive facts and details, including quotations, paraphrases, and allusions
• understand audiences better, “hook” their attention, and consider the purpose for reaching them
• appeal to readers though credibility (ethos) and logic (logos)
• build copiousness
• improve essays using speaking as an aid to revision
• revise essays for redundancies, padded writing, informal tone, dangling modifiers, and faulty predication
• analyze literature excerpts for theme
• annotate texts and narrate them both orally and in summary form
• work on delivery in public speaking—volume, pacing, and inflection

Suggested Schedule (PDF)
Scope & Sequence (PDF)

Thesis Part 1 Rubrics (PDF)

New Online Features:

Our new Writing & Rhetoric web pages feature free online content that supplements the curriculum, including:

• Teacher training with author Paul Kortepeter and Writing & Rhetoric educators
• Writing & Rhetoric series overview
• Extra videos and articles on the study of writing

Companion Products

Writing & Rhetoric Book 9: Description & Impersonation
Writing & Rhetoric Book 9: Description & Impersonation, Teacher’s Edition
Writing & Rhetoric Book 9: Description & Impersonation, Audio CD

The post Writing and Rhetoric: Book 10 – Thesis: Part 1 appeared first on Classical Education Books.

The senior thesis is a capstone project, the crowning achievement in a student’s academic journey. In completing the thesis, students bring all that they’ve learned—reading, writing, and arguing—to bear on one issue. They learn the background of the topic, analyze other people’s arguments, and synthesize their findings and discoveries, putting it all together to form a true, good, and beautiful whole.

Through the use of workshops, assignments, and presentation practices, the Rhetoric Alive! Senior Thesis workbook walks students step-by-step through the process of writing and then delivering a thesis. Students will gradually draft the six parts of the thesis—introduction (exordium), statement of facts (narratio), thesis statement (partitio), argument (confirmatio), counterargument (refutatio), and conclusion (peroratio)—as they are taken through the thesis process from start to finish, from choosing a topic to crafting a snappy title, and everything in between.

Versatile and straightforward, this text can be used by students who are only writing a thesis paper, only delivering a spoken address, or doing both. Additionally, the genius of Rhetoric Alive! Senior Thesis is that it can be utilized by students using any rhetoric curriculum and even by strong students who have not yet studied rhetoric.

Rhetoric Alive! Senior Thesis is an all-in-one resource—journal/scratch pad/research notebook and rough-draft-to-final-copy writing guide—that will equip students to create a strong, compelling, and well-crafted senior thesis.

Rhetoric Alive! Senior Thesis Teacher’s Edition includes the complete student text, as well as sample answers and extra teacher’s notes and explanations.

To learn more about the value of the senior thesis, read Dr. Alyssan Barnes’s blog post, “From Sophomore to Senior: Why Students Need the Senior Thesis,” here.

Companion Products:

Rhetoric Alive! Senior Thesis Student Workbook

The post Rhetoric Alive! Senior Thesis – Teacher’s Edition appeared first on Classical Education Books.

The senior thesis is a capstone project, the crowning achievement in a student’s academic journey. In completing the thesis, students bring all that they’ve learned—reading, writing, and arguing—to bear on one issue. They learn the background of the topic, analyze other people’s arguments, and synthesize their findings and discoveries, putting it all together to form a true, good, and beautiful whole.

Through the use of workshops, assignments, and presentation practices, the Rhetoric Alive! Senior Thesis workbook walks students step-by-step through the process of writing and then delivering a thesis. Students will gradually draft the six parts of the thesis—introduction (exordium), statement of facts (narratio), thesis statement (partitio), argument (confirmatio), counterargument (refutatio), and conclusion (peroratio)—as they are taken through the thesis process from start to finish, from choosing a topic to crafting a snappy title, and everything in between.

Versatile and straightforward, this text can be used by students who are only writing a thesis paper, only delivering a spoken address, or doing both. Additionally, the genius of Rhetoric Alive! Senior Thesis is that it can be utilized by students using any rhetoric curriculum and even by strong students who have not yet studied rhetoric.

Rhetoric Alive! Senior Thesis is an all-in-one resource—journal/scratch pad/research notebook and rough-draft-to-final-copy writing guide—that will equip students to create a strong, compelling, and well-crafted senior thesis. The text is spiral bound so that students can easily draft portions of their theses and take notes in the workbook, either in class or at home.

To learn more about the value of the senior thesis, read Dr. Alyssan Barnes’s blog post, “From Sophomore to Senior: Why Students Need the Senior Thesis,” here.

Companion Products:

Rhetoric Alive! Senior Thesis Teacher’s Edition

The post Rhetoric Alive! Senior Thesis – Student Workbook appeared first on Classical Education Books.