You will be introduced to the course structure of the curriculum and the first three canons of rhetoric: Invention, Arrangement, and Elocution. We will cover: Thesis-building, proofs and substantiation, refutation, and language devices such as schemes and tropes. We will also discuss ways to structure a lesson to help the students perceive the skill expected and then assess their work. This is not a writing and editing course, though it does address weak and inconsistent verbs, which we will compare and contemplate.

Course Prerequisites:
Participants should:

• Have proficient knowledge of the eight parts of speech and their functions in a sentence
• Be able to assess complete sentences and paragraphs
• Be familiar with verb tenses
• Basic editing and formatting

A strong recommendation is for students to progress from taking Lost Tools Level 1 twice for mastery of the skills and elements before proceeding to Level II, so that all of the elements through Essay 8 are well known and easily applied in a student's composition. We will discuss and contemplate why the level of mastery is important before recommending that students proceed to LTW II.

Film to watch to prepare for this course:
Karate Kid, 1984, Director: John G. Avildsen

Course Objectives:

1. Learn about educational pedagogy
2. Learn about LTW I structure
3. Preview and discuss key skills in the curriculum
4. Discuss examples of assignments and assessments
5. Practice course elements

Curriculum Texts:

• Lost Tools of Writing, 5th Edition, Student Workbook, published by the CiRCE Institute