Challenged by the elusive arguable thesis of modern writing curricula, we’re more successful with our Early Greek costume making.
Meanwhile our dreaded history curriculum that I keep returning to, and abandoning, completely abandoned us.
LOST AT SEA
Recently venturing into the history curriculum’s writing program, I saw for myself that it gave little more direction than the gobs of other curricula on the market for homeschoolers, that are nearly identical to that used in public schools.
Directionless, helpless, and agonizing.
Thus, I was side struck by a sudden ill-fated wind when I naively assigned literary analysis essays on The Odyssey to my kids.
Last year my daughter easily wrote four different literary analysis essays from different angles of literary content, with many thanks to the incredible curriculum, Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW).
However, this assignment from the history and their companion writing curriculum left us in an abyss.
Like Odysseus, we felt lost and doomed.
I have spent the week of internet research at twenty different colleges trying to understand the language for the history curriculum’s concept of writing a literary analysis.
Although all agree that a literary analysis requires a strong arguable thesis, none define what that is and how to do it.
IEW TO THE RESCUE
Finally, I asked my Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) yahoo loop about the arguable thesis, and we’ve gotten a lot of ideas!
From handy resource files, to moms using IEW with their kids, to certified IEW instructors, everyone had clear direction that restored our path.
MY DAUGHTHER’S ARGUABLE THESIS
With that help, my daughter said that Penelope instigated the trouble with the suitors.
I told her that is definitely arguable, but could she prove it?
Scanning through her Norton anthology, she listed the evidence that she could use in her paper.
MY SON HIT A ROCK WITH HIS ARGUABLE THESIS
Meanwhile my son and I continued to struggle with an argument about Odysseus’ wit.
Another idea came to me, to check the files of my IEW yahoo group where a quick skim led me to the words I’ve been looking for all my life.
The key to forming an arguable thesis is to look for something in the story that left a question, a doubt, a puzzle.
That is potential for an argument! That made sense!
My son and I both analyze things all the time!
I asked my son if there was something about the whit of Odysseus he didn’t quite agree with or left him puzzled.
He said that he never thought that Odysseus came up with all those ideas himself.
Instead, he took other people’s advice.
That is definitely arguable! But can he prove it with documentation from the text?
He easily replied with an example. Okay, looks like we’re on to something.
MY WONDERFUL LITERARY FRIEND
My other wonderful source has turned out to be a good friend who has an amazing literature resume, which includes having studied 19th century literature at Oxford.
Not wanting to take advantage of her time, I was grateful when she offered her services.
She patiently read my kids’ literary analysis pieces and sent comments, both positive and constructive, that my kids happily embraced.
Wow! I owe you friend!
JOURNEYING HOME WITH THE RIGHT CURRICULA
Being shipwrecked provides an opportunity to learn.
At least now we know how to approach future literary works more properly.
While struggling with how to tackle this literary analysis, I have learned the value of literary analysis, the value of writing with an arguable thesis, and the beginnings of how to form one.
This will revolutionize how we read books, literature, and approach essays.
I am also considering purchasing IEW’s Windows to the World, which I’ve been told will help us through this shipwreck.
Perhaps I can become as witty as Odysseus, so that I can find my way out of this latest deluge and find my way home.
And where is home?
Home is our next history presentation which has been out of reach while managing the double shipwreck of pursuing literary analysis and tying up loose ends of our history lessons.
The plan was to have the history presentation Saturday (tomorrow).
Like Odysseus, life is a journey and time will tell when we arrive home.
COMMENTS FROM MY OLD BLOG
Rebecca January 7, 2011 at 6:07 PM – I love that last paragraph. 🙂 Good luck to you all with the celebration (whenever it may turn out to be!) and I’ll eagerly await your account of it!
Epilogue 2012
IEW’s Windows to the World was indeed the best curriculum I have found to learn how to write a persuasive paper with an arguable thesis.
Stay tuned for that review!
