Writing Course (Fables)

Service Description

Description: This Australian course delves into the foundational principles of writing, drawing its inspiration from the ancient 'progymnasmata' system. Comprising the initial stage of a comprehensive 14-stage programme, it extends the legacy of Greco-Roman traditions in preparing students to excel in both writing and oratory skills. The programme is centred around utilising eminent works from Western literary canon as exemplars for writing. Each lesson commences with an in-depth examination of a fable, employing precise annotation techniques for analysis. Students will learn to restructure, amplify, and rewrite the fable. They will aim for mastery of variation of words and phrases. Additionally, the course emphasises the refinement of drafting and editing capabilities. Beyond the written word, the programme fosters the development of oral skills through evocative fable retellings and the art of poetry recitation. Student evaluation rests on active participation and the completion of a final assessment project. Prerequisites: Students should have spelling capabilities at a grade level and be able to write sentences with basic sentence syntax. This course is recommended for students in Grade 3 or 4. This course is also suitable for older students who have not commenced a formal writing program. In class, students need to be able to follow teacher-led workbook completion and record answers during class. They need to be able to answer questions when called on in a group setting. At this age, students will need parental support in submitting assignments and keeping abreast of homework and due dates. Required Materials: Students must purchase the Australian Progymnasmata (Fable) student text from Via Classica. They should also have an exercise book for additional notes. Students will also need a USB headset microphone (built-in microphones also work). Students will use Microsoft Teams for online sessions. Course sessions: This course will commence in week starting February 3. There are two one-hour sessions each week. These sessions will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2 pm (AEDT/AEST). There will be a term break from April 14 until April 25. Classes resume in the week commencing April 28. The final week of classes for this course will be held during the week commencing June 23. There are no classes on March 19 (Feast of St. Joseph) and June 9 (King’s Birthday). Instructor: Mrs. Madeline Dugdale