Writing & Rhetoric: Commonplace

Writing & Rhetoric Book 6: Commonplace is a one semester course for grades 5 or 6 and up. It is the sixth of twelve one-semester books in the Writing & Rhetoric series, a creative approach to the classical progymnasmata. This level continues the development of the art of persuasive writing and oration. Students will learn to create six-paragraph essays that are arguments against the common vices of people and arguments in favor of common virtues. For example, cowardice and boasting are criticized while courage and humility are commended.

In addition to practicing skills they learned in earlier books, students will learn to:
Write six-paragraph essays
Support a thesis statement
Argue against certain vices
Argue for certain virtues
Use comparison and contrast
Introduce and conclude an essay
Use a rhetorical device known as the contrary
Invent soliloquies to support an argument
Deliver writing orally
Revise writing

What is the progymnasmata? Think of it as a step-by-step apprenticeship in the art of writing and rhetoric. In the Writing & Rhetoric series, author Paul Kortepeter has recovered this proven method of teaching writing in conjunction with critical thinking and speaking.