As outlined in the authors’ notes, Classical Writing (www.classicalwriting.com) is a comprehensive, multi-year course using as a basis the 14 progressive writing and speaking levels of the Greek Progymnasmata. Pupils work through the stages in succession, using the various writing patterns or outlines, which show how to put thought together and arrange them for a given rhetorical purpose. They begin, for all pupils, with the simple retelling of fables and short narrative stories.
From there, the pupil gradually moves on to exercises in simple explanation and persuasion. Each exercise features a fixed outline and carefully specified subject matter. The most advanced exercises of the progymnasmata combine the elements of the earlier exercises to create increasingly complex, effective compositions. By the time the pupil has reached the most advanced progymnasmata, he has developed good writing habits, has learned a variety of techniques, persuasive, expository and creative, and is given the freedom to compose his own original work.
This course of study concentrates primarily on developing the good expository writing abilities and tools necessary for all writers to learn, especially in the early years. Purely creative writing, on the other hand, will be taught in a separate class (although there are certain elements and opportunities for this existing within the Classical Writing program) since, in the words of Susan Wise Bauer again, not all pupils have the desire and ability (or the necessity) to write creatively, however, they should all be able to write, and write well.
Placement into higher levels of this program, without having taken the preceding course(s), will need to be determined individually with the tutors and board, but please do not hesitate to ask about the possibility!
Intro to Classical Writing – Aesop
Classical Writing I – Homer (A) – co-requisite: Grammar I
Classical Writing II – Homer (B) – co-requisite: Grammar II
Classical Writing III – Diogenes (Maxim) – co-requisite: Grammar III
Classical Writing IV – Diogenes (Chriea) – co-requisite: Grammar IV
Classical Writing V – Herodutus – prerequisite: Grammar IV or equivalent
Classical Writing VI – Plutarch – prerequisite: Grammar IV or equivalent
Classical Writing VII – Demosthenes – prerequisite: Grammar IV or equivalent
