How to Teach Writing Through Reading the Classics

About this curriculum

Learning to write is a complex process and learning to write well is not a goal that can be achieved if the learner is working without examples, some clear instruction of how and why language works as it does and then opportunities to practice are necessary. My goal in writing this manual was to provide young people with the preceding. In this manual, the basic elements of grammar and composition are laid out in a series of steps that takes the pupil from being able to identify what a word is, understand the role of that word in a sentence, create sound sentences and paragraphs of her own and eventually put all those skills together to be able to express herself clearly and meaningfully. Throughout, the pupil is provided with both opportunities to practice and play with the concepts about which she is learning and, most important, examples of superior writing drawn from a wide selection of quality classic English-language literature. It is hoped that by proceeding thus, the young person will not only become more adept at writing but also develop an appreciation for good books and pursue reading for pleasure…