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Maybe there is introductory material that I didn't read, so please refer me to something I might have overlooked!

With Medieval Writing lessons, is the goal to use the key word outline to write the paragraph in the same order as the original and with the same number of sentences? Or is it (the KWO) more of an overall guide for the paragraph? How close to the original should it be?

For those familiar with the first assignment, this is what my son ended up with (rough draft):
"The Middle Ages were not glorious times. These days of the crumbling Roman Empire are more appropriately named the Dark Ages. In the 400-500s, barbaric tribes and warriors seized many parts of the Roman Empire. These massive tribes of Barbarians were not civilized, not bathing, eating raw meat, and living in tents. The tribes set up smaller kingdoms. They had no interest in the arts or in learning. The Romans' love for law and art were slowly and painfully lost. Thus began the Dark Ages. Though we may think of this age as the days of knights, kings, and castles, this was truly and age of dilapidation. Though interesting to study, these ages were not extraordinary times."

Obviously this is not in the order of the original (and would need editing). Just wondering what goal we should be shooting for with the final product.

Thanks!!
tollhousemom

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Toll house can you give us the guide your working from?

Yep...we are working in RTR. Thanks!

We are working on this right now. I don't know the "technical" answer, but I like it that your child put the sentences in his own order. I see the adjectives they are looking for and the vocabulary words--even more than one! I think you are definately on the right track.

We are just finishing up this guide and have enjoyed the Medieval History Based Writing Lessons. Later on, the kids learn how to choose the most pertinent information from a source. So, Yes, at the beginning, we outlined every sentence and wrote a narrative with each of her outlined sentences. I felt the priority at the beginning was learning to use strong verbs, vocab words, and leaving out the banned words. Your sons writing sounds great! He did a great job!

Enjoy your time with RTR! We did!

Jess

I guess I missed the whole point of this exercise. My son wrote a paragraph that he made up on his own using some of the descriptive words and new vocabulary that he learned. He wasn't "re-writing" the original paragraph at all. Should I make him redo it, or start doing it right from where we are (unit 3)? Or should I just allow him to make up his own paragraphs? (which is what he's hoping for)

Well, I guess for us, my daughter is such a creative writer that I felt she needed to learn how to write from a source, preparing for future essays in highschool and college. She didn't like having to write from an outline at first, but now she is doing much better. I think it is a combo of the kids' taking the information they have learned and outlined and using their own words to write the paragraph. (these are just my opinions and my experience with one child--I could be way off here so please take it all with 'a grain of salt').

Here was her first paragraph:

'In the Middle Ages, there were courageous knights, kings, and immense castles. But, sadly, they were not exactly happy times. The Middle Ages started with the dilapidated Western Roman Empire. Lots of different tribes of horrifying warriors incaded Europe and grabbed different parts of it. Living in tents, never bathing, and eating their food raw, showed how uncivilized they were. They absolutely had no love, or interest for arts, and for learning. They set up small kingdoms when they took over the Roman lands. The Roman Culture, with its art, love of learning, and law was completely lost. Some people call these times in the Middle Ages: The Dark Ages.'

As for making your son re-write it, I wouldn't do that, but for us, my dd really needed to learn to write this way. She was hoping to just do her own thing and as she does a lot of creative writing in her free time, i decided she could learn the way I was interpreting IEW goals. I hope all of this rambling helps---and if you have any more questions just write!!

Blessings to you today,
JEss

I am interpreting the instructions the same as Jess. I think it is important for them to learn to write from a source using an outline since the majority of high school writing is this type of writing. I also remember that when Carrie talked about the different writing programs she has chosen for each program that she picked the Creative writing one for Rev. to Rev. because RTR used the more formula style writing and then next year the focus is on creative writing.

Our dd's was very similar to Jess's dd's writing, although she isn't naturally a writing-lover!
Her rough draft was actually a little TOO formulaic at first, but I showed her a few revisions which made it more like the one Jess shared!

I'm so glad that tollhousemom asked this question because who knows when I would have caught on! Thanks Jess and Lynn, now I see why it's important to write from the source. I had him follow the formula yesterday and this is how it turned out. (rough draft)

The brave Roman Empire was under attack by brutal Barbarians. The Eastern Roman Empire withstood many dangerous attacks. This was the Byzantine Empire. The Romans retained their land of Constantinople. In time a great Emperor rose to power. His name was Justinian. He longed to rejuvenate Rome to it's old power. He assembled a massive army and acquired all of old Rome that he could. Justinian advanced through the whole empire gathering laws. These laws were called the Justinian code. Some of these laws are used today.

Not sure if that follows it too closely or not...

Sounds great! Enjoy the Writing Lessons, it was probably one of 'my' faves for watching the growth my daughter made this year. And best of all, it spilled over into her free writing.

Blessings,
JEss

What an excellent discussion! I agree that the purpose is to write from a source, using a key word outline, in order to rewrite a piece in a way that follows a style that uses a particular formula. My ds got better and better at this throughout his year in RTR. What I noticed is that at first, he learned to do a key word outline well. Then, he learned to add more and more "dress-ups", and last he was able to use the formula to create his own style of writing. I think it helped him to be able to first emulate the style of writing he was studying via the outline and the paraphrase. This then helped him learn to use those steps to write a well-formulated piece of writing that incorporated his own style. I wouldn't redo a lesson if it didn't follow the intended format, as this would be a discouragement, but rather I agree it is a good idea to move on to the next lesson with fresh perspective and enjoy the results.

In Christ,
Julie