Sebastian (a lady) Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 I was reading some political commentary this morning and thinking that there were interesting examples of style that I wanted to point out to my kids, since they'd just spent two weeks writing an essay for a contest. It occured to me that while my kids read a lot, they probably don't get a lot of persuassive essay reading. Even the big chunks of non-fiction they get is probably mostly narrative. So I'm wondering if I need to start directing them to more essays to read so they better understand the style. Do your kids read much in the styles that you're teaching them to write? What are some good sources for well written essays? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 This is one of the nice things about taking a Bravewriter class that includes essay writing. Kids see examples of different types of essays, and also get to read all of the essays and feedback of all the kids in the class. It points out something that I had never noticed--that essays tend to be composed and written in relative isolation compared with fiction, since very few people ever read them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OregonNative Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Yes. My DD reads them in Advantage Grammar and has to make corrections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 My dd read Common Sense this year. She struggled with it at first, but it was a good experience for her. We're starting logic soon, then we will start reading more. There are a lot of opportunites in American history for essay reading - especially during the Revolutionary War and into the writing of the Constitution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 DS read lots of on-line political commentaries, which are, essentially, essays. He started this fascination with politics 8th or 9th grade. It probably helped that he was actually interested in it. Oddly enough, when he got his PSAT results, one of their standard recommendations was to read political articles. He had fairly good critical reading scores, in spite of having read relatively little in the way of real books. (He was a WTM drop out. :glare:) I didn't think he read or wrote enough, not anywhere near the WTM recommendations. It seemed to work out though. He must have gotten a lot more out of them than I thought. He's a freshman now at USAFA and is doing fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaT Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Yes, we read essays. I have found a good selection just looking through the HEO booklists on Ambleside Online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebastian (a lady) Posted February 3, 2011 Author Share Posted February 3, 2011 DS read lots of on-line political commentaries, which are, essentially, essays. He started this fascination with politics 8th or 9th grade. It probably helped that he was actually interested in it. Oddly enough, when he got his PSAT results, one of their standard recommendations was to read political articles. He had fairly good critical reading scores, in spite of having read relatively little in the way of real books. (He was a WTM drop out. :glare:) I didn't think he read or wrote enough, not anywhere near the WTM recommendations. It seemed to work out though. He must have gotten a lot more out of them than I thought. He's a freshman now at USAFA and is doing fine. Where did he read the political commentaries? One of my sons is really interested in economics. And I've found that the other one was actually readng the entire paper, not just the comics, when he would sneak it off to his bedroom (I used to find several days worth next to his bed). I find that often political commentary has so much vitriol or is in need of critical thinking and fact checking. On the other hand, wide reading would seem to provide an antidote to this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 I'll have to ask him. His two favorite subjects (politics and computers) didn't interest me at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 He used to read: CNN Foxnews But says he now reads a lot of: Politico He says CNN and Foxnews has the news and Politico is more analysis and reactions to the news Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebastian (a lady) Posted February 3, 2011 Author Share Posted February 3, 2011 He used to read: CNN Foxnews But says he now reads a lot of: Politico He says CNN and Foxnews has the news and Politico is more analysis and reactions to the news Thanks. I noticed a couple essays today that I thought had good flow and writing. I had the kids read them, just for form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruth in NC Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 I have picked up used copies of The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2008(or whenever) and the Best Am Travel Writing 20?? and shared some of the essays with my teens. There is a sports one and a general essay one as well. Also we read magazines such as The Economist, Discover, the Atlantic. Ruth in NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt_Uhura Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 My library has those! And I'm on my way there in a couple of hours! Thanks for the recs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruth in NC Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 If you are picking up the Best Am Travel Writing 20?? or the sports essay book, you may want to pre-read or at least scan the essays. These were written for adults. I have seen essays in the travel book that mention brothels and sex in ways that I would not choose to expose my young teens. YMMV but I did want to point that out. Ruth in NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt_Uhura Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 Thanks! I picked up the Science and Nature book from 2002. This is for me to read and then I'll see if there is something DS would be interested in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebastian (a lady) Posted February 9, 2011 Author Share Posted February 9, 2011 If you are picking up the Best Am Travel Writing 20?? or the sports essay book, you may want to pre-read or at least scan the essays. These were written for adults. I have seen essays in the travel book that mention brothels and sex in ways that I would not choose to expose my young teens. YMMV but I did want to point that out. Ruth in NC I'm hesitant to get a subscription to Outside magazine for similar reasons. Someday probably. But not yet. On the other hand, I am reminded of a great book of essays by E. B. White that I found at the library months ago. DH was reading them and thought they were really good. I'll have to dig these out for the kids. My main purpose is to try to put more vivid, short pieces in front of them. Maybe I'll make a binder with some samples that I find useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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