Questions for anyone using thegreatbooksDOTcom

[AuntieM]

This looks like just the thing for us, it has the titles I was planning to cover (Ancients this year) and I love the way worldview selections are folded into the mix. These are my questions:

How exactly do you use it? I imagine myself using the resources listed and blending them with the WTM method to create a History through Literature approach (for which I would expect to be able to give a full credit in Literature, a full credit in history, and just maybe a partial credit in worldview studies at the end of the course). Does that sound reasonable?

Could SWB's History of the Ancient World be used as a spine for the history?

Do you find the greatbooks site provides what you need to accomplish this course, or do you use many outside resources?

Thanks!

[Luann in ID]

We've used this for two years and are going on our third. The first year we used Modernity, last year was Ancient, and this coming year will be Medieval. (We actually didn't quite finish last year, so we'll start with Athanasius in a week or so and won't really be behind because they've all already read the first book on the Medieval list.) I like that so many of the books on the lists are also on the WTM lists. We use it exactly as you are suggesting, blending them with the WTM method. Each year, I give a full credit in literature, full credit in history, and plan to give a half credit in Philosophy at the end of the studies, so yes, your plan sounds reasonable.

You could use SWB's History of the Ancient World as a spine, but we did not. I would have liked them to read it, but instead I just offered it as a resource for their context papers and they occasionally used it. Often though, they copped out and used the encyclopedia or internet for their research. This year I will be a lot stricter about their sources.

I did find that the greatbooks site, along with WTM, provided what I needed to accomplish the course. I didn't use outside resources much at all.

ETA: There have been some recent discussions about thegreatbooks.com on this board. You might want to check into them. Best wishes!

If you have any other questions, I would be happy to help.

[AuntieM]

That is the reassurance I needed! I will now start to gather my things and work on a schedule to make sure the time we need is carved out. I am really looking forward to this. We have had an eventful couple of years and there are a number of things I am outsourcing for my kids this year, but this subject - history through literature - is mine, all mine!

Thanks again, I will probably have more questions as the year progresses!