Lost Tools of Writing I & Literature

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE IN START DATE TO MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH​​​​​

Course Description:

Discover the art of thinking and writing with Lost Tools of Writing (LTW), a dynamic curriculum developed by the Circe Institute. Rooted in Aristotle’s Canons of Rhetoric—invention, arrangement, and elocution—LTW 1 teaches students to deeply contemplate ideas, organize their thoughts, and persuasively express them through writing. Focused on the persuasive essay, this course equips students to analyze whether characters in literature should have taken specific actions, fostering skills that extend to expository and comparison writing.

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In this joint literature and writing class, students will explore Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game (please see note below) and Virgil’s Aeneid to examine decision-making: who makes choices, why, and what consequences follow. Over the 32 week course, students will write nine essays, drawing directly from the literature to practice persuasive writing with clarity and eloquence. (Second semester literature TBA)

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​​​Course Details:

• Duration: 32 weeks, 90 minutes per session

• Schedule: Mondays, beginning SEPT 8th, 11:00 - 12:30

• Location: Eucatastrophe Coffee and Used Books, Lynden, WA

• Cost: $500 (Scholarships, sibling discounts, and payment plans available)

• Focus: Persuasive essay writing, rhetorical skills, and literary analysis

Learning Outcomes:

• Master the three canons of rhetoric to craft compelling arguments.

• Develop critical thinking through analyzing actions and consequences in literature.

• Write nine persuasive essays with clarity, structure, and persuasive appeal.

• Gain transferable skills for various essay formats and thoughtful communication.

Join us for a transformative year of wrestling with ideas, sharpening logic, and expressing thoughts winsomely through the lens of timeless literature.

Washington State high school graduation credit alignment: 2 Language Arts

Note's on Ender's Game:

Violence: Moderate, with intense moments. Includes battle simulations (non-lethal but painful), two physical fights where Ender causes serious harm (implied deaths, not graphic), and large-scale space battles with abstract depictions of destruction, including genocide. The focus is on psychological impact, like Ender’s trauma and guilt.

Language: Mild to moderate, with occasional “damn,” “hell,” or “bastard” and adolescent insults. Some outdated or offensive terms (e.g., “buggers” for aliens) may need context. No strong profanity.Parent Notes: Suitable for mature high schoolers (14+), with themes of ethics and leadership that can spark discussion. Violence is emotionally heavy but not gory. Check Common Sense Media for more parent reviews if needed.