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Shortly after my family and I joined a local Christian speech and debate club, I was offered a chance to review Fitting Words Classical Rhetoric (complete program) by Roman Roads Media.Yes, I did just say "I".
Although Fitting Words Classical Rhetoric is meant for high school students, I wanted to review it for my own edification and so that I could better assist with our local speech and debate club. For, although I have a strong background in drama and education - and even made a living as a public speaker at one point - I have little background in logic and debate and felt Fitting Words Classical Rhetoric would help me step up my game.
That it doing! So far, I'm only partially into Fitting Words Classical Rhetoric's 30 lessons and already thoroughly impressed with what an informative, robust, yet digestible rhetoric curriculum it is! Moreover, I love that it takes an unashamedly Christian worldview.
The complete curriculum surely s helping me hone my understanding of how to be informative in truth, powerful through moving others towards goodness and virtue, and elegant by using delightful verbal beauty. Surely, this understanding will help me help the students in our local speech and debate club, too.
They Aren't Kidding When They Say "Complete Program"
Fitting Words Classical Rhetoric (complete program) is just that - complete!
It consisted of:
- a thick hardcover textbook: This meaty text is close to 400 pages with 30 lessons, spread over 7 units with introductory materials, an appendix of speech texts, an appendix of speeches within the Bible, a Glossary-Index, and Works Cited included. That may seem almost too hefty, but trust me, it the layout is user-friendly and the content excellent!
Wide margins with images, Key Concepts, Famous Orator highlights, etc. make the text visually appealing. Sections in each chapter for "Thinking deeper", "Developing Memory", "Reading Further", and "Notes" encourage depth. And, well-written, clear, and relatively concise text explains everything you need to understand Rhetoric.
- a spiral bound, soft-cover workbook: Details. Details. Details. Not only does the workbook help you hone into details with clear though and no fill-in-the-blank filler, but the design of the workbook includes two favorite details I appreciate in such materials: spiral-binding and plenty of white space! As you write out answers to each exercise, you do not have to fuss with trying to keep the workbook open since it is spiral bounce and lays flat beautifully. You also have plenty of lined spaces for writing answers and wide margins for any notes you might want to add. The workbook also includes speech judging sheets.
- a regular bound softcover answer key: This contains optional one-and two-year course schedules, answers to all the exercises in the student workbook, and answers to the exams. It also stands above many other answer keys I have seen, because it provides ideal answers for every question from the workbook. There are no "answers will vary" - just good, solid, complete-sentence answer examples!
- a shrink-wrapped exam-pack: This handy stack of nine pre-preprinted loose 3-hole punched exams would come in handy for anyone taking thi course for credit that does not want to deal with printing and punching papers
- a 4-disc video course: Clear, crisp video with eloquent presenters make this 18-hour video course an appealing component that compliments the text and workbook. There are tow videos for each lesson from the text - one "lesson" and one "application video", like this:
There are also nine pre-exam videos to ad with studying. It is recommended that student watch the video lessons before reading text lessons. I found it worked well for me either way around. I could read the text while out and about and view videos when I had quiet time, with one reinforcing the other no matter which order I was able to use them in.
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| Fitting Words Classical Rhetoric |
It is also recommended that you keep a commonplace book of quotes.
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| Roman Roads Media |
Traditional in its approach, thoughtful in its design, and wholly pointing to what is true and beautiful, Fitting Words Classical Rhetoric truly is a complete program!
Would I Recommend It? You Bet!
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My elementary and middle-school aged children are not yet ready to to glean all the benefits of this Rhetoric program, but as I make my way through the classical art it teaches, I cannot wait until they are old enough to learn directly from the program. Until then, I a happy to be learning myself, so I can sprinkle bits of knowledge here and practical tips there. I have no doubt that going through the program materials myself will help me be a better speech and debate mom! I also have already found myself recommending the program to local parents of high school students.
By the time you finish the program, you will have prepared and delivered 5 speeches:
- one designed to produce a particular emotion in listeners
- a forensic speech of accusation or defense
- a political speech urging hearers to do or not to do a course of action
- a speech of praise
- a free choice final topic
You will also develop a comprehensive and practical understanding of rhetoric, having studied examples from some of the greatest speeches in history and Scripture and focused on theory, imitation, and practice of persuasive speech. Further, you will do all this from the a Christian worldview, grounding yourself in truth and beauty as you practice a timeless art that you can use to affect change.
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Without question, I consider Fitting Words Classical RhetoricI I would also be interested in checking out more of the Classical curricula they offer as highlighted here:
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