Writing With Skill, Level 1: Student Workbook (The Complete Writer)

Writing with Skill Student Workbook Level 1 is authored by Susan Wise Bauer. She is the co-author of The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home. Writing with Skill Level 1 is a companion to Bauer's text Writing with Ease: Strong Fundamentals. Please see my review of The Complete Writer: Writing with Ease: Strong Fundamentals for a comprehensive overview of the curriculum.Writing with Skill Student Workbook Level 1 is comprised of the following components:IntroductionOverview of the Year's SequenceGeneral InstructionsPart 1: Basic SkillsWeek 1: Narrative SummariesWeek 2: One-Level OutlinesWeek 3: Using a ThesaurusPart 2: Building Blocks for CompositionWeek 4: Chronological Narrative of a Past EventWeek 5: Chronological Narrative of a Scientific DiscoveryWeek 6: Chronological Narrative of a Past EventWeek 7: Chronological Narrative of a Scientific DiscoveryWeek 8: Description of a PlaceWeek 9: Description of a PlaceWeek 10: Description of a PlaceWeek 11: Combining Chronological Narrative of a Past Event and Description of a PlaceWeek 12: Scientific DescriptionWeek 13: Scientific DescriptionWeek 14: Scientific DescriptionWeek 15: Combining Chronological Narrative of a Scientific Discovery and Scientific DescriptionPart III: Sentence SkillsWeek 16: Description of a PersonWeek 17: Description of a PersonWeek 18: Using a Metaphor to Organize a Character DescriptionWeek 19: Biographical SketchWeek 20: Biographical SketchWeek 21: Sequence: Natural ProcessWeek 22: Sequence Natural ProcessPart IV: Beginning Literary Criticism: ProseWeek 23: Hero/Villain, Protagonist/AntagonistWeek 24: Hero/Villain, Protagonist/AntagonistWeek 25: Supporting CharactersWeek 26: Idea StoriesPart V: ResearchWeek 27: Two-Level OutliningWeek 28: DocumentationWeek 29: Writing from Notes: Chronological Narrative of a Past Event, Description of a Person, Description of a PlaceWeek 30: Writing from Notes: Sequence: Natural Process, Scientific DescriptionWeek 31: Writing from Notes: Biographical Sketch, Description of a PersonPart VI: Beginning Literary Criticism: PoetryWeek 32: SoundWeek 33: MeterWeek 34: NarrativePart VII: Final ProjectWeek 35: Finding and Researching Your TopicWeek 36: Writing Your Final CompositionAppendix I: Time and Sequence, Space and Distance Words/PhrasesAppendix II: Points of ViewAppendix III: LiteratureAppendix IV: PoetryWorks CitedPermissionsFirst and foremost, of all the writing curricula I have perused as a homeschooling parent, the Writing with Ease: Strong Fundamentals series is superlative. The purpose of the curriculum is to prepare students for advanced work in rhetoric and composition. In theory, the curriculum is student directed, but in reality it is teacher directed. In addition to the student workbook, you will need to purchase a copy of the instructor text. The length of time for each lesson will vary based upon the student's as well as the parent's writing skills. As a gentle reminder, the purpose of curriculum is to serve the student and teaching parent. The author states the following in the curriculum introduction: You should feel free to adapt the assignments and pace to fit your student.Before attempting Writing with Skill Level 1, I would highly recommend the following language arts sequence from the Well-Trained Mind Press:First Language Lessons Grades 1-4Writing with Ease Grades 5-8Writing with Skill Grades 9-12Overall, we have been pleased with Ms. Bauer's logical approach to writing instruction. Our child has transformed from being a reluctant writer into a confident writer.

Bought this for our 8th grader in homeschool. When I got the book it was thicker than I thought it would be. When I read through it I think it is alot of material but written to the student in a way that breaks everything down into daily lessons. Lessons are a page or 2 long (sometimes 3) but directions are easy. The book is written as kind of "transitional" from parent-directed to student-directed and I liked that. YOU WANT TO PURCHASE THE TEACHER BOOK WITH IT to easily understand the text but it's written as a "helper guide" not as how to teach it. I really think we'll enjoy this book and it could be stretched over 2 years with all the material they give you. Definetely what I was looking for to be middle school grade level to continue to work on the skills she has and stretch her understanding in new skills. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

I love the quality and the thoroughness of the workbook. However we are eclectic homeschoolers and not hardcore Classical training so keep that in mind. Personally I see this as a great way to progress from the Harcourt Family Learning Reading Comprehension workbooks. From the feel of this it is appropriate to start with if your child is at competent middle school grade reading level. It is designed for daily exercises (4 assignments per week) with mostly long passages and then step by step guidance to help your child acquire valuable writing skills. If you are more laid back you could do a day's lesson probably once a week. Not always exciting but one that will stay on my shelf because of the well written structure.

This is an excellent series for children who are not intuitive writers. Bauer is incredibly perceptive about writing and breaks down the steps explicitly, providing practice for each skill in isolation. She argues that the strategy of teaching kids to write by having them write more is not working; we are only giving them more opportunities to write badly. Bauer's writing books provide very specific, concentrated practice in individuals skills. My son has thrived on them and is now in the 5th grade book.The Writing with Skill series is a continuation of what began with the Writing With Ease books. It introduces outlining. It also introduces a concept that I had never come across before: Topoi. A topos is a a specific way of approaching a topic. Examples include: a chronological narrative of a past event, a description of a place, cause & effect argument, or a description of a scientific discovery. There are many more, and Bauer gives very specific instruction on how to write the topos in the most natural, logical and captivating way possible. Her instruction is not vague or general; it is very helpful and meaty. I think, perhaps, she is even improving my own writing.My reluctant writer has so many focused opportunities for success that his self-image as a writer has sky-rocketed.

A Susan Bauer é uma escritora brilhante, e com bastante caridade nos conduz neste caminho. Os exercícios são direcionados à jovens que estão sendo iniciados na arte de escrever. Porém, como vítima do sistema de educação brasileiro busco de maneira independente corrigir muitas das falhas que consigo identificar em minha escrita. Susan tem sido minha guia neste processo.

excellent + thank you