ALEXANDRIA TUTORIALS
integera curiositas ingeniosa sanguis humanitatis verae est
Alexandria Tutorials is an educational service providing instruction for students in subjects approached from a classical and Christian perspective. This tutorial service is designed to meet the needs of families who have a student (or students) desiring specialized study in a certain domain. In our age one constantly hears posed that greatest of philosophical questions: "How will learning this help me make money?" Alexandria Tutorials provides a learning environment that centers on a different sort of question. What is Truth? How is Truth recognized? How is it communicated?
We seek, in whatever subject studied, to accomplish several things. Our primary goal is to nurture a vigorous mind and an active intellectual curiosity that is founded upon the notion that God created the mind and that He has willed us to use it for His glory. In concert with the first aim, we underscore the belief that discovering truth in an area of inquiry is a process of pursuing God's mind on a matter. 'Faith seeking understanding' succinctly describes the foundation as well as the motive for study. Finally, we seek to place all that we learn in the context of the flow of history and see it as part of a great conversation that has been continuing throughout the ages of Western civilization.
Tutorials for Fall, 2008 -- Spring, 2009
The following tutorials are planned as year-long courses running from September, 2008, through May, 2009.
Writing The Essay
Bacon once stated that "writing maketh an exact man." This statement implies that writing is a process that changes, refines and improves the mind of the writer. It has also been said by someone who perhaps has felt the pain and agony involved in becoming an "exact man" that it takes "many years of concentrated effort to write one simple, beautiful sentence." There is an art to writing beautiful sentences. But a large part of that art comes from a study of principles and diligent practice.
Starting in September, we are planning an Essay Writing Course that will provide the student with very practical tools designed to make measurable improvement in writing. Using classics of Western Literature as launching points for writing, we will be writing several essays as well as utilizing some of the outstanding material in the Syllabus of Style produced by the Institute for Excellence in Writing. Please check the accompanying page below for more information on times, materials and registration costs.
The History of
Christianity
Even a
brief study of the Old Testament indicates the truth that God reveals Himself to
people throughout history, as well as through history itself. It is the
purpose of this tutorial to survey the works of God and His people over the
past 2000 years. From the time of Christ, to the present, we will look at
the major events, people, theological controversies, and movements that comprise
the history of Christianity. As we make this survey, we will, in effect, be
studying the major eras and people that comprise the history of Western
civilization from the birth of Christ up to the present time.
Some question the necessity of a survey of Church History for students at the secondary level. Charles C. Fennel’s words answer that concern well when he said that "the man who does not know history is a leaf who does not know he is part of a tree." This cannot be more truly spoken than when considering the progress of Christianity.
In addition to the discussion of the major eras in Church History we will include readings of primary texts essential to the development of Christianity. This class was very well-received by the high school students at UVCHS (see 'Tutor' page) and is designed for pupils of 14 years and older.
As a parent of a student, I have watched [my daughter] grow in her understanding of God's providential work as He has developed and protected His church throughout history. Fascinating lectures by the tutor and class discussions each week clarify and build upon the assigned readings . . . [the tutor] engages students in a way that sparks their interest . . . and invites lively discussion. I highly recommend it. --N. Grette
Great Books I
This marks the first year of a planned four-year sequence in which the great works of Western Culture are intently examined. The purpose for such an endeavor rests on the assumption that history has a flow to it, that God is captain of the Story of the World, and that a solid grasp of this flow—or “Great Conversation”—is a vital part of what it means for a young man or woman to gain an education. Investigating the great works is, in large part, what is meant by the phrase “classical education” today. Beginning with examples of the most pivotal literature produced by the Greek civilization, students will become acquainted with some of the crucial, early chapters in the Great Conversation. The readings will be challenging and class discussions will be designed to aid in understanding essential segments of the texts. There will also be an emphasis on learning to write essays according the models used by the Greeks and Romans.
Enrichment Tutorials for Summer, 2008
Five Weeks With
Plutarch
As the foremost biographer of the great men of Antiquity, Plutarch (46-120 A.D.) wrote his Parallel Lives for the purpose of instructing others. In the process of writing--as it often happens--he came to delight in it for his own sake, and, as he says, began using "history as a mirror and endeavoring in a manner to fashion and adorn [his] life in conformity with the virtues therein depicted." With such an express moral purpose, Plutarch's writings make directly profitable (and fascinating) reading. Each student in this class will meet and scrutinize the lives of ten influential Greeks and Romans, including among others: Romulus, Corialanus, Aristides and Marcus Cato. For details and registration, see the link below.
Mere Apologetics
In our culture, we are accustomed to associating the word "apology" with requests for forgiveness. But in the context of this course the word means something quite different. An apology, in the classical sense, is a defense offered in support of a position. And so, when we study apologetics as Christians, we are striving to provide a reasoned defense for belief in God, His Son and a whole host of ideas associated with living and thinking as a Christian. This is not to say (as many atheists assume we should) that Christians are obligated to shoulder the burden of proof in such matters. In fact, some philosophers have effectively argued that belief in God is the kind of belief that a person is justified in simply assuming and that the burden rests more properly on those who would deny God's existence or His truth. However, given that we have been called to love God with all our minds, it is profitable and fitting that we engage in thinking carefully about faith. It is also a privilege to communicate our faith to others in a reasonable and compelling fashion. For details and registration, please see the link below.
Please see the accompanying pages describing the Tutorials, the Tutor, and other matters of relevant interest. The New Student Page gives details about configuring your computer for tutorials and other necessary information. All class times listed are Pacific time.
For local students, please see the Local Homeschool Classes link for information regarding classes, registration and reading lists.
A Review of Rob Bell's Velvet
Elvis
by the Tutor
Writings
of Alexandria Students
Review
of Alexandria Tutorials in Docendo Discimus
Recommended Online Tutorial Services
What parents have written about Alexandria Tutorials:
I would highly recommend (and in fact already have recommended) this tutorial to other students and families. While distance education may not be the best format for all students, this Internet tutorial was a great match for my son. [He] especially enjoyed the discussions and the application of logic principles in writing arguments. --The Youngs
Every home educator has areas (s)he is not comfortable teaching. I liked the books you chose and I liked the fact that you gave the students papers to write on a regular basis so they could put to practice what they learned. The variety of homework was appealing to me and kept the class interesting. --The Andersons
And from a student:
Eximious! It was a great class and I enjoyed it immensely. I hope future students have as much fun as I did. I also really liked rewriting essays. It really stretched my brain.
A word about Alexandria: As one of the largest cities in modern Egypt, its name is rich in historical significance. Having been rebuilt by him in 332 B.C., it became the namesake of Alexander the Great, who had the privilege of being tutored by Aristotle, and who went on to conquer the known world. The city is best known as the home of the great library. It is said that during the Ptolemaic period, the library housed over 500,000 volumes. Later, the city became a center of Christian scholarship. The Alexandrian School held as its purpose to demonstrate the rationality of Christianity in relation to Greek and Roman philosophy and culture. This aim was not always achieved with perfect faithfulness to the Scriptures, but the teachers there were some of the great thinkers of the early church, and included such men as Clement and Origen.
The Latin phrase, integera curiositas ingeniosa sanguis humanitatis verae est, is a quote from an historian of note, which reads: disinterested intellectual curiosity is the lifeblood of true civilization.
This website is designed and maintained by Matthew Turnbull, and is frequently under construction! Refresh this page to see the latest changes.
The Tutor wishes to thank Dr. Norm Lund of Oxford Tutorial Service for his continual assistance. See his excellent offerings of courses in Shakespeare, Latin, the Great Books, Logic and Rhetoric at www.oxfordtutorials.com.
