WRITING WITHOUT FEAR:
PRODUCING GOOD WRITERS AT HOME, K-12
Susan Wise Bauer Copyright 1999 by the author.  Please do not reproduce.  Some of this material is adapted from The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home.

 I. Overall goals:
 Elementary grades (1-4): learning basic grammar and style, basic sentence structure, and paragraph structure through grammar, copying, and dictation;
 Middle grades (5-8): learning how to organize sentences into arguments that prove specific points, through constant short compositions and the study of logic;
 High school (9-12): learning how to argue original points and ideas

II. Elementary Grade Students
 A. Basic skills.
  1. Systematic grammar and punctuation.
  2. Writing: Copying, dictation
  First grade: Copy sentences every day from good writers
  Second grade Write single sentences from dictation
  Third grade: Write two to three sentences at a time from dictation
  Fourth grade: Write paragraphs from dictation: descriptions, dialogue, news stories, etc.
 B. Programs and schedules.
 1. Ruth Beechick, A Strong Start in Language (Arrow Press, 1993)
 2.  Hyde, Mary F. and Cynthia A. Shearer.  English for the Thoughtful Child (Greenleaf Press, 1990).  Order from Greenleaf, 800-311-1508.
 3. Grammar: A Beka Book (begin with second or third grade book) or G.U.M. (starting with Level A, Grade 3; order from Zaner Bloser, 800-421-3018)
 4.  Writing Strands.  Start with Book 2 (National Writing Institute, 800-688-5375)

  Monday: Grammar and dictation  A Beka Book
 Tuesday Grammar and writing program A Beka and Writing Strands
 Wednesday Grammar and dictation  A Beka
 Thursday Grammar and writing program A Beka and Writing Strands
 Friday  Grammar (and writing or dictation) -- flex day

 C. Across the curriculum:
 First and second grade:
 Literature: Copy/dictation a sentence from reading as part of the grammar lesson
 Science: Copy/dictation of an important fact or observation from the science lesson, one sentence
 History: Same thing, one day of the week.

 Third and fourth grade:
 Brief summary, once a week, in each major subject.

III.  Middle grade students
 A. Basic skills
 1. Grammar: A Beka or GUM followed by Stewart English Program (order from EPS, 800-225-5750)
  a. Diagramming
  b. Outlining.
First level: I.
  II.
  III.
Second level: I.
   A.
   B.
Third level: A.
   1.
   2.

 2. Logic
 Fifth grade: Critical Thinking Press Cranium Crackers series (800-458-4849)
 Sixth and seventh grade: Canon Press Introductory Logic and Intermediate Logic (Canon
 Press, 800-488-2034)
 Eighth grade: Anthony Weston's Rulebook for Arguments (2d ed., Hackett Press, 1992; order from Greenleaf Press)

 3. Writing.
 Fifth grade: Dictation and Writing Strands program
 Sixth grade: Writing Strands and outlining
 Seventh and eighth grades: Writing Strands, outlining and rewriting passages.

 B. Programs and schedules
 Fifth grade: Grammar (A Beka or GUM), Writing Strands, dictation once per week
 Sixth grade: Grammar (A Beka or GUM), Writing Strands, outlines of other writing once per week
 Seventh grade: Grammar (A Beka or Stewart), Writing Strands, rewrite other works once every 2-3 weeks (or  every week if not using Writing Strands)
 Eighth grade: Same

 C.  Across the curriculum.
 History: Outlining sections, once per week; writing brief summaries from that outline
 Science: Outline sections, write brief summaries.
 Reading: Half-page reports: summary, character analysis, criticism

IV.  HIGH SCHOOL

 A.  Basic skills
  1. Systematic grammar.  A Beka or Holt and Winston series (800-225-5425)
  2. Writing skills
   a.  Learn how to formulate and support a thesis statement.
    A proposition that you can defend
    A statement that you can either prove or disprove
    An assertion that has to be supported by evidence.
   b.  Use techniques of rhetoric to support your thesis statement.
    Writing Strands, "Writing Exposition" (National Writing Institute)
    Anthony Weston, Rulebook for Arguments
    Aristotle, The Art of Rhetoric (order from Greenleaf)
 B. Programs and schedules
  Ninth grade: Grammar (Beka or Holt), Writing Strands, rewrite an essay every 2-3 weeks
  Tenth grade: same
  Eleventh grade: Grammar (Beka or Holt), Writing Strands, short research paper
  Twelfth grade: Grammar (Beka or Holt), Writing Strands, longer research paper

 C. Across the curriculum
  History: 1-page papers, explaining the cause of a particular historical event, the connection between  two historical events, the character of a historical personage.
  Science: 1-page papers explaining scientific concepts or discoveries.
  Reading: 1-page papers arguing for a particular interpretation of the book.

Back to Convention Handouts page
Back to The Well-Trained Mind page