Question about Writing and Lit in the WH guide

[Tiffini]

Carrie, after reviewing the upcoming writing for the WH guide, I see that it looks very similar to the writing that they did with the Grade 10 EIW course in the WG guide. I am wondering if there is too much repetition between the two. I know how thoroughly you research and ponder these programs and I wondered what your thoughts were about them being so similar and how it benefited your son to use them both. My daughter is already a strong writer, so I am wondering if she needs to do the Grade 11 EIW course next year or if I should go a different route with her writing.

Also, concerning the Lit portion, I always love your book choices. But since my oldest will be a junior next year and won't be able to finish all of the high school guides, I am wondering if I just follow the lit path you have laid out, will she be missing some important books and should I go a different route in order to make sure that she gets to all the books she should read in high school. Since we've used HOD since she's been in 5th grade, she has obviously read tons of great books, but I don't want to miss some of the classics that she should have. What are your thoughts on how she should cover those? Or do you have a book list that you think is important to cover for those kids that won't make it through all of your guides?

Thanks for your thoughts on these issues!

[LynnH]

I am not Carrie, but I was also comparing the 2 EIW grades and while on the surface they look similar I see that there are actually quite a few differences. The 10th grade guide appears to teach most of the basic types of essays that are required in college including a Compare/Contrast type research paper. The 11th grade guide teaches some of the same types of essay's, but I don't see this as a bad thing. The more practice they get with these types of essays on different topics the better. However it also teaches literary analysis which I know my dd has had to do in college and she is not an English or lit major. It teaches timed essays which is crucial not only for SAT/ACT, but she has these regularly on her tests in college in various subjects including history. Many of her tests are taken on the computer even though she is there on campus and they will include timed essays. These can be very challenging since you may only have 50 minutes for the entire test and that will include multiple choice/short answer questions as well as the essay. The Research Paper is not a compare/contrast research paper in this guide, instead it is a career exploration paper which will require a different style and approach I would guess. Having seen what types of papers my dd is required to write it looks like the 2 years of EIW work together very nicely to cover every type of paper that has been required.

[Tiffini]

Thanks so much for your thoughts about this, Lynn. It is really helpful to have your viewpoint with having a daughter in college. I will certainly think over the points that you made.

[Carrie]

Tiffini,

Lynn did a terrific job of answering your question about the writing and pointing out the differences between the two levels. I agree that the two levels complement each other very well and that much practice is needed in the types of essays Stephens incorporates into his programs. Learning to write each of those types of essays is by no means a one-shot deal, which is why we hit them in various writing programs throughout our guides. It is also very important to write another research paper and hone the skills that were taught in EIW Level 10 by taking it to the next level with a topic that is more personal. I have seen great gains in topic development and in becoming a very polished writer in my oldest son this year, by doing exactly the path we are recommending (doing EIW 10 followed by EIW 11). There is much fruit to be born by this path.

As far as the novels for the literature portion go, I made a point to put novels I consider especially important in the opening guides of the high school program. The novels in the World Geography guide are classics that are a tremendous stepping stone to the more difficult reading and difficult themes found in the World History guide's literature. In my opinion, many of the novels in the literature portion of the World History guide are unmatched for their quality and their themes, while still being enjoyable reading. They are memorable and timeless, lingering in the mind long after the book is completed. They have stood the test of time and remain classics today. I felt they were so important that I had my oldest son read several on that list this past year (as a senior) simply because I did not want him to exit high school without experiencing those books.

He read Ben-Hur, The Count of Monte Cristo, and Les Miserables this year (along with other novels I added for his final year of high school). They are his favorite books of this year. My husband read all 3 as well, simply because our son was so enthused about them. I cannot say enough about these titles. The life lessons to be learned as students read these books, the quotable lines of the characters, the rich language, and the allusions to the Bible in these books are amazing.

My oldest son also chose to read several sequels to The Scarlet Pimpernel, simply because he loved the first one so much! My husband enjoyed The Scarlet Pimpernel too, and my older sister (who was a high school literature teacher and has homeschooled her 7 kiddos for the last 15 years) said it was one of her favorites of all time. This makes The Scarlet Pimpernel a winner here.

Our son had read the other books on the World History literature list in previous years, with the exception of Pearl Maiden, which we included because of its terrific themes and because it is a great Haggard book (much preferred by me over Haggard's classic King Solomon's Mines, which I did not like due to its dark violence).

After watching the movie version of A Man for All Seasons, and having our pastor refer to it in a sermon, my husband and I discovered that play was such a picture into the time of Henry the VIII that it had to be included. What a classic I found it to be after I read it alongside the study of that time period. It brings up another side to Cranmer and Luther and another side to the conflict between the Church of England and the Catholic Church. This book too shows up on many classic book lists for a reason!

In my opinion, reading about the legend of King Arthur (even with the character of Merlin and the subplot of enchantment running through it), is very important. This is because the legends of Arthur are a part of understanding medieval times, because they show Britain at a time when the Christian religion was overtaking the religion of the Celtic Druids of the past. Known for his themes of bravery, honor, and love, Howard Pyle's Arthur and his noble traits illustrates the selflessness a king should have for his people. It was for these traits that Arthur is remembered in legend, and those legends show up in so many ways everywhere! Please note that this is the only version of the Arthurian legends that we recommend!

Julius Caesar is one of the "tamer" of Shakespeare's plays sexual innuendo-wise (and omits the bawdy humor that is found in other Shakespeare plays). Exploring the issue of how the thirst for power affects those who desire it is a good life lesson that comes out in Julius Caesar, plus the play draws you in with the inner-workings of who is really able to be trusted as you see the conspiracy play out (and watch its aftermath).

Animal Farm is a book that really shows socialism in a way that students will never forget. It is terrific to read along with the time period of WWII, which is where we will be including it.

The Celestial Railroad is a wonderful book to read after reading Pilgrim's Progress. This is because Hawthorne's version of travel to the Celestial City has been updated to reflect modern times. Travelers no longer have to walk to the city, but can instead travel by train. Their burdens are no longer carried on their backs but instead are stowed in the luggage compartment! When Celestial Railroad is read as students are completing Pilgrim's Progress it has a huge impact! This is the book that will end our year.

As you can see, I wouldn't want your student to miss the books on the World History literature list. I feel they are amazing classics that all students should read.

Blessings,
Carrie

[Tiffini]

This is incredibly helpful, Carrie! It gives me peace of mind as I think through my dd's last two years of high school. Since she is my oldest, I am always concerned that I will miss something important and look back wondering why I didn't catch it! Thank you for taking the time to be so thorough in why you chose these books. I can't wait to read those that I haven't read yet myself. I read the Scarlet Pimpernel last year for the first time and loved it, too! I didn't know there were sequels, so I will have to check those out!