CRITICAL READING (CRR-A)

St. Thomas Aquinas Academy

COURSE OVERVIEW

18-week course plan:  Analytical reading and note taking with How to Read a Book.  Typically offered in Roman Studies II, A Track following the completion of Essay Writing A.

ORDERING INFORMATION

Basic information about the books and materials for this course follows; see your Academic Packet or STAA Study Guide for full ordering details and commentary about each resource.

A portion of every purchase made on Amazon after following the links here goes to help support St. Thomas Aquinas Academy's work. Thank you so very much for thinking of STAA when placing your book and general Amazon orders.

Semester 2: Roman Studies IIA Study Guide

  • Author: St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
  • ISBN:        
  • Supplier: St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
Student study guides and course plans for the second semester of the Roman Studies, A Track cycle. Designed to work in conjunction with STAA advisor support, our live classes, or the "Independent Study with Online Support" option, the STAA Study Guides include weekly reading plans, assignment directions, reflection topics, and gradebooks for the semester and help prepare students for the weekly, graded online quizzes. This guide includes multiple subjects. To further personalize your student's plan, single-subject study guides are available at www.shop.staahomeschool.com.

How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading

  • Author: Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren
  • Publisher/Copyright:
  • ISBN: 0671212095        978-0671212094
  • Supplier: Rainbow Resource
426 pages

Writing Handbook

  • Author: Michael P. Kammer and Charles W. Mulligan
  • Publisher/Copyright: Loyola University Press, 1953. Print.
  • ISBN:        
  • Supplier: Our Lady of Victory School
Hardcover, 592 pages. Originally published by Loyola University Press in 1953, and now by Lepanto Press, this is a reference manual to accompany the practice of grammar, punctuation, composition, and essay writing. Topics include parts of speech, syntax, punctuation, spelling rules, diagraming, sentences, paragraphs, expository writing, and much more. This is a decidedly Catholic text, with a delightful section dedicated to explaining the capitalization rules for religious terms such as the names of God, the Blessed Virgin, and papacy as well as religious, military, and social titles. St. Thomas Aquinas Academy looks to "Writing Handbook" as the in-house writing style handbook. "Warriner's English Grammar and Composition" by John Warriner or "A Writer's Reference with MLA Update" by Diana Hacker are also fine manuals for grammar and writing style. "Writing Handbook" is a non-consumable manual, one copy per household is sufficient. Order the Lepanto Press reprint from Our Lady of Victory School or look on Amazon for a used copy of any printing from 1953 to the last Loyola University Press printing which is, we believe, 1991.

Jensen’s Grammar (Textbook, Tests and Answers)

  • Author: Frode Jensen
  • Publisher/Copyright: Master Books, 2017. Print Workbook.
  • ISBN: 0890519935        978-0890519936
  • Supplier: Rainbow Resource
352 pages; 75 lessons; worksheet format; 5 student charts. Entire workbook completed over the course of six semesters.

Jensen's Punctuation: A Complete Guide to All Your Punctuation Needs

  • Author: Frode Jensen
  • Publisher/Copyright: Master Books, 2016. Print Workbook.
  • ISBN: 1886061262        9781886061262
  • Supplier: Rainbow Resource
234 pages; worksheets, spiral reviews and final exams; answer key included in text; Grades 6-12. The page numbers, not the content, changed between the 2000 and 2016 editions of "Jensen's Punctuation." The 2000 edition page numbers are listed in the STAA Study Guide followed by brackets with the 2016 edition page numbers.

General Punctuation Rules Reference (GPR)

  • Author: St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
  • Publisher/Copyright: St. Thomas Aquinas Academy, 2022. PDF.
  • ISBN:        
  • Supplier: St. Thomas Aquinas Academy Student Zone
Print and keep handy the "General Punctuation Rules Reference (GPR)." This reference is based on the punctuation rules from "Jensen's Punctuation" that we study and memorize throughout high school. This resource is available in the APPENDIX OF FORMS and is linked to at the top of every Language Arts course page on the STAA Student Zone.

STAA Student Zone

  • Author: St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
  • Publisher/Copyright:
  • ISBN: n/a        
  • Supplier: St. Thomas Aquinas Academy Student Zone
There are online resources such as weekly reading quizzes, special downloads, advisor support through the Q & A forum, occasional slide shows or videos, and more for this course. To activate your student's online access, 1) submit the Course Registration form after your annual planning appointment, 2) register for the live class, or 3) register for the "Independent Study with Online Support Option." After completing one of the registration options, students (and teaching-parents) may use their usernames and passwords to sign into the member site. The STAA Student Zone is available each school year from August 1 to July 15.

OPTIONAL RESOURCE

Spring Live Class: Critical Reading

  • Author: St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
  • ISBN:        
  • Supplier: St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
Small-group, advisor-led live online class for students in Grades 10 through 12 that meets every academic week of the second semester. Advisor grading of writing assignments and English Mechanics exercises included for all students for students registered for this live class.



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