So....tell me more about this progymnasmata...
Hi~
My name is Marita and I just finished the Latin-Centered Curriculum (sorry, I don't know how to underline or write in italics on these forums) this past weekend.
I enjoyed it so much. I didn't think anything could ever pull me even slightly away from The Well-Trained Mind. There is so much to absorb! I don't have my book handy because my husband went out of town for the week and took my book with him.
I would like some more detailed information about progymnasmata. I know there are levels of writing assignments, but I want to know more about why it is set up that way and how to go about teaching it. Is there a source that sells an outline of some sort for this?
Any insight or comments on this would be greatly welcomed.
Thanks!
Marita
Welcome, Marita!
This page will give you an overview of what the progymnasmata consist of and how the exercises work. The short version is that they are composition exercises that prepare the student for the study of formal rhetoric later on.
There are two main modern curricula that are based on the progymnasmata model: Classical Writing and Classical Composition. Both are solid programs, but they approach composition from somewhat different angles. CW is a full language arts curriculum that incorporates grammar, spelling, etc. along with writing. CC teaches writing skills alone. Both have instructions for teachers to explain how to use the programs. Which you prefer will depend a lot on what your goals are and how you prefer to approach writing instruction. I talk about this in some detail in the book, so when you have your copy in hand again, check out pp. 110-112.
Best wishes,
Drew Campbell
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"I wonder how far I shall carry any opinion with me when I plead for active effort to revive the general use of Latin?" - Hilaire Belloc
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