(cross-posting) If you've used CAP Writing and Rhetoric, can you tell me what you liked about it? -did it help your student write better -did you feel you had to supplement with another program -do you feel it is complete -are you able to apply it to modern writing i.e. 5 paragraph essay We are currently using Classical Writing, we'll be in Chreia next year. I do think it is a thorough Progym program, however, the way it is laid out, I've had a hard time getting the rhythm and flow of it that our year looked "choppy." If there are already threads to this, please let me know!

(The original thread from 2013-2014 can be found here.) Please share your child's compositions here! We are new to this program. My 10yo son just completed the first lesson and is LOVING it. Here is his own fable from lesson 1: The Mouse and the Bee A Mouse lay in the warmth of the sun, dozing near an old barn. A Bee was lazily busing around, and lighted on the tip of the Mouse's nose. The Mouse's eyes popped open. One moment, all the Bee saw here two round, beady eyes staring straight at him. The next moment, he was within the Mouse's grasp. No matter how much he writhed and twisted, he could neither free himself nor sting the Mouse. The Bee decided to try to reason with the gray furry giant. "What can you hope to gain from killing me? I have done nothing to you. Let me go, and someday I will repay you." The Mouse smirked. "You amuse me. I'm too tired to kill you, anyway." He loosened his grip on the Bee, and went back to sleep. Months passed. The leaves turned color, and the Mouse forgot all about his encounter with the Bee. The Bee, however, did not. He worked steadily in his hive, awaiting the day he would hold true to his promise to the Mouse. He got his chance. The Bee was buzzing around in his usual way, when he saw an Owl swoop past, uttering a loud and fearful "WHO-WHO!" as if he were stalking his prey. "WHO dares to enter my domain? WHO?" Curious, the Bee followed him. Soon he found what the Owl was looking for: He recognized the Mouse, who was lying asleep. Then the Bee saw what the Owl was doing. It was about to pounce. The Mouse woke up. The Bee expected him to scurry away, but he was too afraid. He stood there, riveted to the spot. Realizing that he had to act fast, the Bee rushed to the Owl and stung it. The Owl let out a terrible screech and started chasing the bee, mad with pain. The Bee flew around for a minute and then disappeared into a knothole. When the Owl had left, the Bee came out and landed next to the Mouse. "Are you still amused?" The Mouse shook his head. "Amazed would be more like it," he said.

Again, I'm in the midst of scope & sequence preparation; this time, writing. I posted here on the high school board because I approach S&S formulation from the top down, i.e. whatever we want our graduate to know must begin in the lower grades. That said, materials must be classroom-friendly. While I homeschooled from twenty years, I found lots of great material perfect for a homeschool situation but difficult to use in a traditional classroom without more changes than it was worth. Unfortunately, progymnasmata materials were just beginning to become available as I finished my hs journey. From what I've read and the little bit I've used, I really believe this is the way to go. So, I have been surveying curricula available and would like to hear your opinions of stuff you have found works. Please add to this developing list of progym materials: Classical Composition (Selby) Writing Tales (Olsen) Classical Writing (Jaqua/Gustilo) Imitation in Writing (Whitling/Logos Press) Institute for Excellence in Writing (Muller) Thanks!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this forum but I'm so glad to have found it! I am a home school graduate and currently in grad school. Our family discovered classical education a little bit too late, but I absolutely love the educational philosophy and teaching methods, not to mention subject material (I'm a Classics major). I receive a lot of requests from parents who ask me to tutor their children in writing. Does anyone have any experience with teaching classical writing to public school children (mostly Junior High age)? Is it possible to teach through the progymnasmata if I only tutor the students once a week for an hour? Thanks for the input!

I just got through listening to SWB's audios on writing, and heard her say that while D'Angelo offers great explanations of the progym exercises, the models/examples he uses are awful. If you're using this book, what are you using as the models for some of your historical narratives? Would it be enough to just pull out bits of my children's current history reading materials, or shall I focus on shorter excerpts from primary sources? And does it even matter what we use, provided we're approaching the exercises properly? TIA!

Hi There:-) I have a step-daughter who is in 12th grade, very motivated and wants a writing program that will stretch her. I would have loved for her to follow a progymnasmata writing plan, but only have had her for a few classes. I would like a writing program that she can go through herself, and one that is "Classical" in nature. Who has some ideas for me? I'm going to Exodus Books, and hope to find something that is recommended... there. Also, if there is a writing class that she can join at this point, I would have around $200 or so to spend on that. Ideas?? Thanks!

Has anyone used the Composition in the Classical Tradition by Frank J. D'Angelo? My 12th grader would like to tackle a progymnasmata type writing course. I read a bit about it and it looks like you're guided through various writing assignments. If you've used this, I'd love to have a review... If not, I'd love to have your ideas for a student led book to write/do. My dad is willing to help with this, and it an author by trade. (and college/seminary prof) Suggestions?? Thanks!! Carrie :D

Can anyone tell me why classical education does not emphasize process writing? I mean brainstorming, pre-writing, outlining, writing, editing, re-writing, etc. What is the rationale in classical education for choosing to teach writing differently (copywork, narration, dictation)? I am thinking this through philosophically, as it seems to me that one of the major complaints about homeschoolers from educators when they enter community college, university or if they take any classes at public school, is that they are "behind" in writing because they have taken a classical approach and not done 6-trait or process writing. I understand the argument that you must learn from the best and have something to write about, which is why we study the classical authors, however, so much of society is about organizing our thoughts in written form, and I'm not sure that just by teaching kids to organize their writing or brainstorm it will ruin their ability to write. If someone had done all the classical work, and knew how to organize and edit skillfully, wouldn't that make them an even better writer, rather than a worse one? I guess I am just wondering if this is one area where modern research and modern scholarship takes precedence over classical training? Can someone clarify the classical education stance for me?

the Classical model of writing and why it is superior to modern methods? I don't even know what modern methods are.

And is there really a need for these huge words? I have a feeling it means something that can be expressed through a much simpler term.