My husband has Asperberger's Syndrome and he sees in pictures. He is extremely successful in his work, but school was a bomb for him. He will be 50 next month. We know a lot more now about these different kinds of thinking/learning. Brilliant guy in the areas he has knowledge. He has a very formal way of talking with lots of vocab words, but he doesn't not like to read fiction, only technical material. My son, though, he struggles with vocab in exactly the way you describe. Don't have a lot to help, but just know that these "problems" don't have to mean failure.

Yep, I think that is exactly what it is...a mini research paper...really something like what I would have written as a journalist for topical magazine piece. And it relaxed me immediately to see it that way. And ask me what years of being a journalist did to MY handwriting. Thank you, Lord, for word processing.

We're both the wiser for it, then. I'm just glad to know there are people on this board that don't know everything, because it sometimes feels like I am hanging out here with people much, much smarter than I qualify to be with.

Funny timing! Over the weekend a friend of ds who goes to a prestigious public high school was just talking about this kind of essay. And I was thinking...what? What's a synthesis essay? I asked around here and got some help, and I really appreciate your links. I was freaked out, a bit. Lots of different kinds of writing out there than I remember being asked to do in the 1980s. Thanks muc!

Okay, checking the AP syllabi, but not seeing too much of textbooks. Will keep looking. And I'll dip into IEW Yahoo. Thanks!

A friend of my son's was over last night, and he was talking about the different kinds of essays he had to write at a pretty prestigious public high school. He mentioned the synthesis essay, analytical, and the persuasive. I know how to teach the persuasive, but the other two...well I understood the analytical, understood the point of both, but there seemed to be a very precise structure he was being taught. I've been reviewing a high school history textbook and had noticed what I understand now is the synthesis, where you are given three or four primary source passages and are required to do something with them. Also, this young man was telling me that to do analytical issue you were required to mention what "devices" the writer was using. When I went to school a hundred years ago, we were never given any such writing assignments. We had maybe three essay forms, and they were very basic. I feel a little defensive here and want to say that writing was my strength and I got a fabulous journalist education and practiced as a journalist for several years. But lately, I feel like I don't even know what people are talking about when it comes to academic writing. My point: Are there high school resources that teach these "new" essay forms and their structures? If so, what are they? Are they found in IEW's materials, or other frequently mentioned resources here? I've listened to SWB's writing tapes, and I didn't hear her mention different varieties of essays -- just persuasive thesis. I've done a little web-searching and have discovered some helps, but nothing I can see myself translating well. Forgive me if I am just decades "out of it." Help me out, please.

Well, cool! Thanks! A hearty thumbs up is always good to hear!

If I wanted to knock out a "Computer Applications" course, could I use this resource for a semester for Microsoft Office 2010? Has anyone used the professor's tutorials? Please review, if you could.

What is the course you are using, could I ask? Sounds very comprehensive.

Sometimes I just don't seem to ask the right search keywords. Thanks for linking me.

I'm doing a short unit on Ecosystems using God's Design materials, but I'm looking for supplementary materials, websites, etc. I have a good reader, so nonfiction library books at adult level might work as well. I've done a little searching online, but I am not a science thinker, so could probably use help with this. Thanks~

I just discovered a world civilizations syllabus site by Brians that was very comprehensive, and I'm using some of his projects and classroom resources to design my own world history, using a different spine. I noticed he mentioned this Reading About the World resource a couple of times in the links he provides on this syllabus. So it may give you a sense of the writer and where he comes from, though I don't think this tells you anything more about the books then what you found at your link. Here's the syllabus link: http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~wldciv/brians_syllabus/

Okay, I'll keep that in mind. I think it's going to be a while before this son knows what he wants to study in college, let alone where he will go. It will be challenging building a high school plan for him. We know the field, I think, but it's a big field.

I completely forgot that American History could be done in one semester! I'm just now thinking in high school mode, and community college mode is different, isn't it. Thanks!

Okay. How about my question regarding ACT/SAT preparedness. Do I need to move U.S. History earlier in my sequence for that reason? I did want to leave room for one of the "ologies" because I think he would enjoy them more than traditional history. But I don't think I'll be able to persuade him to do two social studies courses in one year. But maybe... My biggest concern is that World History is just done so shallowly if you try to stuff it all in one year.

I'm planning a high school history sequence. What I want to do is a World History 1 up through the American revolution, freshmen year. Grade 10, American Government 1st semester, with a eye toward the presidential election, and an Econ course second sem. I know these are usually left for the upper grades, but I think my son will be able to benefit from them. Then I want to do a World History 2 for his 11th grade and an elective the senior year that will probably be Sociology or Psychology or a specific war period...this is what he seems inclined to be interested in at the moment. Two concerns: If I don't do an in-depth on American History, will this leave him completely unprepared for the ACT or SAT? Secondly, I know most colleges want to see that American History on the transcript. So does my plan undermine us completely? I'm not sure that we will be able to afford a public university anyway...we may be doing community college, then transfer. I appreciate any thoughts. Thanks!

Appreciate the ideas. I'm exploring them all!

I am teaching different forms of essays, particularly persuasive, and I'm trying to find examples for ds to review and analyze. Want to give him practice finding the thesis statement, picking out the structure, supporting examples, etc. I've tried the city paper, but the columns/editorials are often on topics too complex for him yet. Anyone know a website or even a general blog that might consistently offer material we could study? I've also tried NPR's "I believe" essays, but those aren't written well, oddly enough. Thanks for any ideas!

Thanks for those leads, all of you!

I'm looking for recommendations for compelling footage, not necessarily deep analysis. This is one unit I think can be dramatically reinforced with pictures (it didn't happen all that long ago and that's what I want to communicate). Looking especially for retelling/dramatization or actual TV footage about desegregation events, schools, sit-ins. Thanks for any ideas you can share!

I think it was called The Fisher King, it might qualify, though it was a little weird and harsh.

Thanks for sharing this...definitely have felt that been-there-done-that...this angle will work for us, too, I think.

I'm thinking of using this (2000 version) and wondering if anyone lesson plans, ideas to supplement, any leads on resources that go with it? Google search hasn't uncovered anything for me. Thanks!

This is a lil' test. yay. (-_-)zzzzZZZZZ(°_°)*