Abeka Grammar 10th Grade vs 11th Grade

[Karri]

Can someone please compare Abeka Grammar & Composition for 10th grade vs. their 11th grade Handbook of Grammar & Comp.? From the description, it looks like there is a lot more emphasis on writing in 11th grade. Does the 11th grade book have lots grammar exercises as well?

Comments are much appreciated. I'm trying to figure out what to do for grammar review next year. Ds (currently in 9th grade) is working about a year ahead in the Abeka books. I don't want to quit studying grammar at this point because he still has a couple of years before taking college entrance exams.

Thanks,
Karri

[Michelle in MO]

The grammar units in the front of the book are identical, i.e., the same grammar, only perhaps more in-depth (this is from the TOC):

1. Capitalization
2. Punctuation
3. Grammar Preview
4. The Sentence
5. Verbs & Their Uses
6. Nouns & Their Uses
7. Pronouns & Their Uses
8. Adjectives & Their Uses
9. Adverbs & Their Uses
10. Prepositions, Conjunctions, & Interjections
11. Sentence Structure

The composition units in G&C IV are as follows:

12. Manuscript Form
13. The Writing Process
14. The Dictionary
15. Usage & Diction
16. Library Research
17. Making an Outline
18. Writing Paragraphs (Paragraph Development, Unity, and Coherence)
19. The Precis
20. Critical Book Reviews (this is good)
21. Expository Writing--The Essay
22. The Character Sketch and the Type Sketch
23. Improving Writing Style
24. The Research Paper

So, yes, compared to Book III, there is more emphasis on composition, especially with the addition of the precis and the critical book reviews.

We probably won't use the Workbooks A & B for next year, because she'll be taking her English at the community college. I think Abeka has overall been very helpful for their grammar; my dd excels at it. After this, though, she really doesn't need any more grammar review. I wish sometimes that Abeka would change a few things, though. The lesson plans jump back and forth between the grammar and composition exercises, and it's a little insane trying to follow what they're doing. Also, I wish Abeka would drop all grammar exercises during the research paper; I think it's enough for the kids to focus intently on doing the research paper well.

The latter comments were just my .02 cents' worth, but overall there does seem to be more emphasis on writing.

HTH!