High School Composition I

Description: Classical Composition is a fourteen-stage writing program that prepares students for university-level writing. The program is based on the “progymnasmata,” a system of writing instruction that was the primary method of teaching and learning writing for most of the history of Western civilization. This class is the first of four, in a fast-paced, condensed series intended to take the high school age student all the way through the progymnasmata in three and a half years. This year students will complete stages I-III: Fable, Narrative, Chreia, and Maxim. Expectations for writing complexity, quick learning, and style are substantially higher in this course, given that students are older than the age typical students who come into the curriculum, and final essays are due weekly. Students who are younger or have more than 4 years left in school should take Fable/Narrative instead of High School Composition I. Students will need to devote approximately 60 minutes per day for this class. The grade is based on attendance, participation, quizzes, and final drafts. This class is worth 1 high school credit in English, Language Arts, Writing, or Composition.

Grade Level: 9-12 (ages 14-18)

Prerequisites and Grammar:  Students taking this class should be relatively proficient with English grammar, be able to write grammatically complete sentences, construct paragraphs, and edit their work. The course requires attention to detail in all of the stages. Students who naturally find writing challenging or who require more time and practice to master a specific skill should consider taking the Foundations for English and the Fable & Narrative class.

Required Materials: Fable, Narrative, and Chreia/Maxim Student books. Teacher Guides are not required, but recommended. Students will also need a USB headset microphone (built-in microphones also work).