Lost Tools of Writing
Level 1
(The Persuasive Essay)

The Lost Tools of Writing
Level 1
(The Persuasive Essay)

Students must be at least 13 years old OR have completed at least one year of Writing with Skill at Paisano Tutoring to be eligible to take this class.

2025-26 School Year:
TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS:
BOYS: 12:30 - 1:30 PM
GIRLS: 2:30 - 3:30 PM
August 19, 2025 - May 28, 2026
71 Sessions (71 Hours)

All materials are provided.
Writing book: Lost Tools of Writing, Level 1, Student Workbook
Literature: Faviola and the Church of the Catacombs*
and The Way of a Pilgrim*

Recommended Add-On Course:
Grammar for the Well-Trained Mind
BOYS: Group A (2nd year students): Tuesdays 1:30-2:30 PM
BOYS: Group B (1st Year Students): Thursdays 1:30-2:30 PM
GIRLS: Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:30-4:00 PM

*About the literature selected for this course:
Regarding Faviola & the Church of the Catacombs, Saint Joseph the Hesychast advised Gerondissa Makrina of blessed memory to give this book to her younger nuns to read because “it will teach them to love Christ.”
Regarding The Way of a Pilgrim, Saint Joseph the Hesychast advised one of his spiritual children to acquire copies of this book and distribute them to Christians, that they might benefit spiritually (Monastic Wisdom, Letter 78).

Lost Tools of Writing, Level 1
Coursework for 2025-26:

  • Tuesday, Aug. 19 (in class): Introduction to the Canons of classical composition

  • Tuesday, Aug. 19 (in class): Essay 1: Invention: Introduction of the “ANI” Chart (Faviola Chapter 1 issue)

  • Homework due at the beginning of class (Thurs.) Aug. 21: Complete the ANI Chart (Faviola Chapter 1 issue) and re-read the first 5 chapters of Faviola & the Church of the Catacombs. (Students who have not yet finished reading Faviola & the Church of the Catacombs, need to make an effort to finish reading the book by the end of August.)

  • Tuesday, Aug. 21 (in class): Essay 1: Arrangement (Outline) & Elocution (Writing the Essay)

  • Homework due at the beginning of class (Tues.) Aug. 26: Create an ANI Chart for Essay 1: Type 2 (Faviola Chapter 3 issue).

  • Tuesday, Aug. 26 (in class): Review Canons of classical composition for late-start students; Go over the ANI chart for Essay 1: Type 2 (Faviola Chapter 3 issue); Begin Essay 1/Type 2: Arrangement (Outline) & Elocution (Writing the Essay).

  • Homework due at the beginning of class (Thurs.) Aug. 28: For everyone (including late-start students): Finish ANI and Essay for both Type 1 (Issue 1/Chapter 1) and Type 2 (Issue 2/Chapter 3). Re-read chapters 5-10 of Faviola. For students who have not yet finished the book, please try to finish the book by September 2, rather than just reading it as we go through the class. Knowing what happens later in the book will help you have more responses on your ANI charts and will help you see a bigger picture when choosing sides on issues.

  • Thursday, Aug. 28 (in class): Review Essay 1: Arrangement (Outline) & Elocution (Writing the Essay). Discuss Essay 1/Type 3, which is taken from Chrysostom’s homily on the Creation of the Universe that was read aloud the first day of Earth Science class (for Earth Science & Astronomy students only). All late-start students should be caught up by this time. Begin Essay 2.

  • Homework due at the beginning of class (Tues.) Sept. 2: Complete Essay 2 (Type 1) ANI chart. ANI charts must have 15 items in each column! Finish reading the entire book, Faviola & the Church of the Catacombs, if you have not already. For students also enrolled in Earth Science & Astronomy, complete Essay 1/Type 3 on Chrysostom’s homily on the Creation of the Universe (Invention, Arrangement, and Elocution).

  • Tuesday, Sept 2 (in class): Essay 2: Arrangement