Logic

The objective of this course is to bring clarity and understanding to some of the things students learned in prior logic classes. Here, students move from the certainty of deductive logic to the probability of inductive logic. As they do this, they learn to build a strong argument and recognize the fallacies of a weak argument. Students will also be gathering information and building skills throughout the year for a formal debate that will take place during the fourth quarter. At the end of the year, students should feel well-equipped to articulate their convictions and give a “reason for the hope” that is in them.

Composition and
Grammar

Building on the foundation of prior years, students at the Dialectic level shift their focus to the content and development of their writing. Different types of writing assignments allow them to continue to mature in their ability to express their ideas in a logical fashion while challenging them to increase the complexity of their compositions. Integrating the grammar concepts of the Dialectic level while cementing the foundation of basic knowledge will be accomplished through assignments in Write Source Book 7. Literature reading provides additional sources for composition assignments while enriching the student’s understanding of their history studies.

History

Beginning with creation and ending with the fall of Rome, students examine world history chronologically adding to the framework begun in the Grammar years. Students explore civilizations by labeling maps and learning key vocabulary enabling them to compare and contrast various cultures. Students read literature recounting historical events and legends to bring these ancient civilizations to life.

Biology

From biochemistry through a detailed study of cellular structure, function, and energy, we enter a study of life and its complicated, meticulous, and intricate design. The details of growth, division, genetic expression and coding lead us into our exploration of Creation versus the Theory of Macroevolution. As we explore unicellular organisms of prokaryotes and viruses to multicellular organisms of protists and fungi, we learn that there is no such thing as a simple organism. As we delve into the ecosystem and Ecology, we enter our study of plants then vertebrates and invertebrates. An observational year-long study of our watershed with a MWEE project and concluding presentation teaches our students, both how to perform this type of study, as well as how to be stewards of our delicate ecosystem. With weekly labs including dissections, we learn hands on experiments to enhance our understanding and to perfect our ability to write proper lab reports with a concluding discussion written in proper scientific language. Our field trips including ecological studies, scavenger hunt hikes, and a concluding trip to a zoological park bring "Life to life"! At the end of the content-intense year, students will not only have detailed understanding of life, they will also have a great appreciation of its complexity and perfect design.