Lost Tools of Writing 1A: Pre-Course with Alice, Peter, and Mole

Students in this course will experience a gentle introduction to the art of rhetoric while enjoying eight fairytales and three classic children's novels. As we work through the first four essays of Lost Tools Level 1, we will learn to consider the actions of others with care and to communicate the truth to others with clarity. Our literature studies will strengthen our ability to attend as we notice important details and make connections within and across the stories we read. In addition, we will practice the important skills necessary to succeed in our studies: completing and turning in assignments, participating in a class discussion, and communicating with a teacher.

Students will attend a live class twice per week. On Day 1, students will participate in an interactive Lost Tools of Writing lesson, while Day 2 will include picture studies, poetry readings, and literature discussions. Attendance at both live sessions is critical to the successful completion of this course.

Course Objectives

Students will be able to:

• Gather facts by asking questions using the Five Common Topics.
• Consider an Issue from both Affirmative and Negative positions.
• Organize ideas into a 5-paragraph persuasive essay with Exordium, Thesis, Proofs, and Amplification.
• Express ideas with beauty and clarity using parallelism and active, precise verbs.
• Delight in good stories through annotation and discussion.

Required Texts

• Lost Tools of Writing Level 1 Student Book
• Tales of Wonder Vol. 1
• Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll ISBN 0486416585
• Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie ISBN 04864078737
• Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame ISBN 0486407853