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Hi! I have some questions about the literature and composition within the World History guide. How is the Essentials in Writing 11 different from the Essentials in Writing 10? I have seen the table of contents and I know that 11 includes a lit response essay, timed essay, etc (which grade 10 does not include). My question is in regards to the topics that are repeated in grade 11 that were already taught in grade 10... expositiory, persuasive, compare/contrast essay, etc. Are those topics taught in a different way within the EIW 11th grade guide or is it redundant? Or does the way it is scheduled/assigned in the HOD guide make it different? I also have a question about the literature within the guide. Are there literature "papers" or is there any type of formal writing required in response to novels that are read? I cannot tell what the student does after finishing a novel because the "week at a glance" is the 1st unit. I do see that the students does journal entries, annotates, etc, but I am curious if the formal writing within the composition portion of the guide is tied to the literature at all. Does that make sense? I am probably being clear as mud! Everything planned within this guide looks amazing, however I am just leary of having my dd go through another formal composition course. She knows the steps of writing for all those types of essays. I just want her to write... and particulary in response to the literature she reads. From what I have experienced with HOD, Carrie has a very good reason for everything she plans in a guide. I would just love a bit more info on how the lit/comp sections flesh out throughout the year.
Thanks!
Katie

For the literature explanation go to Carrie's response in this thread viewtopic.php?f=6&t=15799

Ok edited to add that Carrie talks a little bit about the writing in this thread viewtopic.php?f=6&t=15084

Also make sure to check out the week in review posts by My3sons(Julie) to see the long literary responses they give to the living library books.

Thank you so much for those links! They were really helpful. And I also didn't think about reading the week in review posts by Julie. What a gift those are! They really help others see what is required of a student from week to week. Thank you!
Katie

Katie,

The links that Lynn posted really do a great job of answering your questions! So, I'll just share one more quick thing that comes to mind in addition to what has already been shared. As you look at the type of writing your child will be needing to do, both in college and life-long as an adult, it is good to ponder how best to prepare your child for that overall need.

While often as parents, and as teachers, we lean toward training students to write literary response/critique type essays and timed essays, it is good to note that is only one type of written response needed among many. Literature classes and written responses to literature reflect only a small portion of the writing that kiddos will be expected to produce throughout their college years and in their life. Writing is much more eclectic than just one area, and focusing too much on one area will leave kiddos "wanting" in the broader writing spectrum. This is why it actually makes sense to do writing as a separate course from literature study to give kiddos exposure to the broader spectrum of writing (while also writing within the literature area and many other areas across the curriculum as well). If you ask yourself how much of your college writing, and now your lifetime writing, dealt/deals with literary response or timed essay situations, what would your response be? I know that mine would be, "Very little." While it is true that preparation in these areas is needed, it needs to balanced with future writing needs as well. So, in our HOD guides, we seek to prepare kiddos for a broader spectrum of writing requirements, so they are ready to write no matter what the task at hand may be.

Blessings,
Carrie

Thanks, Carrie. That makes a lot of sense!