Writing & Rhetoric - Refutation & Confirmation

A one semester course for grades 5 or 6 and up. This is the fifth in a series of twelve books that will train students over six years. A refutation is a short essay that attacks certain parts of a narrative. In this book, students will learn to identify and refute, or criticize, parts of a narrative that are unbelievable, improbable, unclear, or improper. A confirmation is a short essay that defends certain parts of a narrative. When students see parts of a narrative that are believable, probable, clear, or proper, they will confirm them. After learning to identify the parts of a story that can be attacked or defended, students will practice writing refutations or confirmations using sound arguments to explain their opinions. Be assured that this exercise of refutation and confirmation is not about taking the magic out of stories. On the contrary, it is designed to help students love truly good stories even more because they will think about them more deeply. As students practice refutation and confirmation in this book, they will not only learn to form arguments and express their opinions, but also to find delight in the stories they read. Students will learn to -Write four-paragraph essays-Outline-Refute or confirm parts of stories-Understand comparison and contrast-Introduce and conclude an essay-Use narrative to further the purpose of exposition-Use direct quotes to support an argument-Deliver writing orally-Revise writing What is the Progymnasmata? Think of the Progymnasmata 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. Writing & Rhetoric: Refutation & Confirmation provides students with forms and models of excellent writing that they will imitate as they progress down the path to masterful writing.

I wanted to thank you all for putting your Writing and Rhetoric curriculum together. My fifth and third grader have just finished up Narrative 1 and I am impressed with how painlessly their writing has improved. I'm also impressed with how they have naturally taken on the voice of the stories they are imitating and how they have merged stories together. My youngest three will definitely be using it all the way through. I wish it had been around for my older kids. It s been awhile since I have been so pleased with a curriculum. Thanks! --Brandie

My [students] love Writing & Rhetoric. The stories are wonderful and engaging and we have had so much fun with it. They are making great progress and have moved from dreading their writing assignments to eagerly anticipating them each week. Thanks so much! --Teren, Cottage School Director

First, I d like to let you know that I have loved every purchase I have made from your company. Second, I'd like to share with you the impact my son's studies are having on him....he is currently working through Writing & Rhetoric Book 1. When we started this program, he was producing sentences like: the silly girl laughed a lot. But in our last lesson, he wrote: The dark shaggy monster rose from under the bed, and in a dreadfully fearsome voice started to growl. Now THAT'S a sentence! He completed the Fox and the Grapes fable a while back, and he is still pointing out characters in other stories or even tv shows that are displaying an attitude of sour grapes. What an awesome conversation opportunity! I love it! Thank you for your quality, make-a-difference materials! --Cindy