Rhetoric 1 (Ages 14+) — Independent Scholar (The Agenda)

About Course
See our 2026–2027 Academic Calendar for all important dates.
Rhetoric 1 Books & Materials
Everything your student uses this year — designed for ages 14+, built on trusted classical curriculum.
Look for the badge on each book — we cover some, you provide others.

The Lost Tools of Writing — Persuasive
ISBN 978-0986325717
Family provides

The Lost Tools of Writing — Comparison
ISBN 978-0999146699
Family provides

The Riot and the Dance
ISBN 978-1591281238
Family provides

Everyday Debate
ISBN 978-1600512933
Family provides

The Discovery of Deduction
ISBN 978-1600510335
Family provides

Socratic Logic
ISBN 978-1587318085
Optional

Lost Tools of Writing — Level I Teacher’s Edition
ISBN 978-0986325700
Optional

Self-Reliance & Other Essays
ISBN 978-0486277905
Family provides

Starship Troopers
ISBN 978-0441014101
Family provides

The Call of the Wild
ISBN 978-0486264721
Family provides

The Giver
ISBN 978-0385732550
Family provides

The Gold-Bug and Other Tales
ISBN 978-0486268750
Family provides

The Hunger Games
ISBN 978-0439023528
Family provides

The Old Man and the Sea
ISBN 978-0684801223
Family provides

The Witch of Blackbird Pond
ISBN 978-0440995777
Family provides

Through Gates of Splendor
ISBN 978-0842371520
Family provides

To Kill a Mockingbird
ISBN 978-0060935467
Family provides

Something Beautiful for God
ISBN 978-0060660437
Family provides

Up From Slavery
ISBN 978-0486287386
Family provides
Want this year’s book list?
Download the Rhetoric 1 book list — every title, author, and purchase link for this level, in one place.
Rhetoric 2 advances into more sophisticated persuasive writing, deeper literature, and personal finance.
What Will You Learn?
- Master formal deductive logic, learning to test whether an argument truly holds, with The Discovery of Deduction and Socratic Logic
- Write clear, well organized essays, both persuasive and comparison, with the Lost Tools of Writing
- Reason inductively with the common topics, and build sound arguments from real evidence
- Develop a strong thesis and defend it with well ordered reasoning
- Debate real questions with skill and confidence, using Everyday Debate
- Read and discuss great literature, including To Kill a Mockingbird, The Call of the Wild, The Giver, and The Hunger Games
- Study biology through hands on labs, lab reports, and scientific drawings, guided by The Riot and the Dance
- Analyze theme, character, and argument in guided class discussion