Writing and Rhetoric 5

**Year 5: Writing & Rhetoric (English Composition)** - This course serves as an advanced apprenticeship in the art of persuasive writing and rhetoric. Students, typically rising 8th-9th graders, build upon the foundation established in the preceding levels of the Writing & Rhetoric series. Over the course of the year, they delve into "Description & Impersonation" and initiate the study of the thesis essay in "Thesis Part 1". The first semester explores descriptive writing, focusing on vivid language and modes of persuasion (pathos, ethos, and logos), alongside impersonation, where students mimic the writing styles of four notable figures. The second semester introduces the thesis essay, with a preliminary exploration of the concept of beauty. Throughout the year, students enhance their reading, annotation, discussion, and composition skills, refining their command of grammar, syntax, and various rhetorical devices.