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The Age of Reason (Live)
In this semester-long live course, students will get an overview of early modern history. They will read segments of texts from the renaissance and enlightenment eras and we will discuss them using the Socratic method during class meetings.
Class Experience
US Grade 5 - 8
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum
Course Description: In this sixteen-week class, students will read and discuss a variety of historical texts and events from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment era, and colonial America. Class meetings will utilize a Socratic format where the instructor facilitates a discussion using guided questions. This enables students to interact with each other, the instructor, and the content more actively than in a traditional lecture-style course. Please note that this course will...
16 lessons//16 Weeks
Week 1Lesson 1The Medieval ChurchStudents will read a segment from Eusebius' "The History of the Church." We will go over the reading in class and the instructor will contextualize it in the events of the period. Then we will have a Socratic discussion based on guided reading questions. There will also be an optional written assignment.Week 2Lesson 2Medieval FranceStudents will read a segment from Gregory of Tours' "The History of the Franks." We will go over the reading in class and the instructor will contextualize it in the events of the period. Then we will have a Socratic discussion based on guided reading questions. There will also be an optional written assignment.Week 3Lesson 3Medieval BritainStudents will read a segment from Bede's "Ecclesiastical History of the English People." We will go over the reading in class and the instructor will contextualize it in the events of the period. Then we will have a Socratic discussion based on guided reading questions. There will also be an optional written assignment.Week 4Lesson 4ExplorationStudents will read a segment from Marco Polo's "The Travels." We will go over the reading in class and the instructor will contextualize it in the events of the period. Then we will have a Socratic discussion based on guided reading questions. There will also be an optional written assignment.Week 5Lesson 5The Italian RenaissanceStudents will read a segment from Jacob Burckhardt's "The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy." We will go over the reading in class and the instructor will contextualize it in the events of the period. Then we will have a Socratic discussion based on guided reading questions. There will also be an optional written assignment.Week 6Lesson 6PowerStudents will read a segment from Niccolo Machiavelli's "The Prince." We will go over the reading in class and the instructor will contextualize it in the events of the period. Then we will have a Socratic discussion based on guided reading questions. There will also be an optional written assignment.Week 7Lesson 7SchismStudents will read a segment from Francis Bacon's "The History of the Reign of King Henry VIII." We will go over the reading in class and the instructor will contextualize it in the events of the period. Then we will have a Socratic discussion based on guided reading questions. There will also be an optional written assignment.Week 8Lesson 8UtopiaStudents will read a segment from Thomas More's "Utopia." We will go over the reading in class and the instructor will contextualize it in the events of the period. Then we will have a Socratic discussion based on guided reading questions. There will also be an optional written assignment.Week 9Lesson 9TolerationStudents will read a segment from John Locke's "A Third Letter Concerning Toleration" We will go over the reading in class and the instructor will contextualize it in the events of the period. Then we will have a Socratic discussion based on guided reading questions. There will also be an optional written assignment.Week 10Lesson 10Human NatureStudents will read a segment from David Hume's "A Treatise of Human Nature." We will go over the reading in class and the instructor will contextualize it in the events of the period. Then we will have a Socratic discussion based on guided reading questions. There will also be an optional written assignment.Week 11Lesson 11SuperstitionStudents will read a segment from Voltaire's "Treatise on Toleration." We will go over the reading in class and the instructor will contextualize it in the events of the period. Then we will have a Socratic discussion based on guided reading questions. There will also be an optional written assignment.Week 12Lesson 12Colonial AmericaStudents will read a segment from Benjamin Franklin's autobiography. We will go over the reading in class and the instructor will contextualize it in the events of the period. Then we will have a Socratic discussion based on guided reading questions. There will also be an optional written assignment.Week 13Lesson 13The American RevolutionStudents will read a segment from Thomas Paine's "Common Sense." We will go over the reading in class and the instructor will contextualize it in the events of the period. Then we will have a Socratic discussion based on guided reading questions. There will also be an optional written assignment.Week 14Lesson 14American DemocracyStudents will read a segment from "The Federalist Papers." We will go over the reading in class and the instructor will contextualize it in the events of the period. Then we will have a Socratic discussion based on guided reading questions. There will also be an optional written assignment.Week 15Lesson 15The French RevolutionStudents will read a segment from Alexis de Tocqueville's "The Ancien Regime and the Revolution." We will go over the reading in class and the instructor will contextualize it in the events of the period. Then we will have a Socratic discussion based on guided reading questions. There will also be an optional written assignment.Week 16Lesson 16TraditionStudents will read a segment from Edmund Burke's "Reflections on the Revolution in France." We will go over the reading in class and the instructor will contextualize it in the events of the period. Then we will have a Socratic discussion based on guided reading questions. There will also be an optional written assignment.
This class is taught in English.
- Students will hone their critical thinking and analytical skills, practice actively participating in group discussions, and gain a better cultural and historical understanding of their world.
- Students will come away having read portions of a variety of texts that give them a better understanding of the people, events, and ideas that led to modern civilization.
- Students will develop a greater understanding of history, thought, and culture over time.
- Students will gain the opportunity to read dense texts in small, age-appropriate chunks, which enables them to develop their reading comprehension and analytical skills in a meaningful way.
I have a BA in Philosophy with minors in Political Science and Greek and Roman Studies, as well as an MA in Philosophy with a concentration in Ethics and Political Philosophy. I’m the head coach of a competitive high school debate team and teach the liberal arts at a classical school. I’m also a professional creative writer and journalist. I love helping students of all ages understand and interpret difficult subjects and learn how to crystallize their thoughts in writing and oral communication. I believe studying historical primary sources is a wonderful way to facilitate this kind of growth and learning.
1 - 2 hours per week outside of class
Assignments
Frequency: includedFeedback: includedDetails: Short but dense reading assignments will be required prior to each class meeting. Weekly optional writing assignments of around 250 words will also be offered. I will provide grading and feedback on these assignments if it is desired. In order to receive a grade for the course, students must complete at least four of these assignments. They can complete another assignment to replace a grade if they wish, for up to sixteen completed assignments. A student who only completes two assignments may receive a certificate of completion for the course if they so choose. Written assignments are entirely optional. The only requirement for the course is reading and participating in class discussions.Letter Grade
Frequency: includedDetails: Letter grades will be offered as an option for students who complete at least four written assignments.Certificate of Completion
Frequency: includedDetails: A certificate of completion will be offered as an option for students who complete at least two written assignments.
If your student wishes to read more than the assigned portions of each text, or if you prefer to have physical copies of the books themselves, below is a comprehensive list of the editions we will be using in this course: The American Founding: Core Documents. Edited by George Lloyd. Ashland: Ashbrook Center, 2017. Bacon, Francis. The History of the Reign of King Henry VIII. Edited by Brian Vickers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998. Bacon, Francis, Thomas More, and Henry Neville. Edited by Susan Bruce. Three Early Modern Utopias: Utopia, New Atlantis, and The Isle of Pines. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999. Bede. Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Translated by DH Farmer, RE Latham, and Leo Sherley-Price. New York: Penguin Classics, 1990. Burckhardt, Jacob. The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy. Translated by SGC Middlemore. New York: Penguin Classics, 1990. Burke, Edmund. Reflections on the Revolution in France. Edited by JGA Pocock. Indianapolis: Hackett. 1987. de Tocqueville, Alexis. The Ancien Regime and the Revolution. Edited and translated by Gerald Bevan. New York: Penguin Classics, 2008. Eusebius. The History of the Church. Edited by Andrew Louth. Translated by GA Williamson. New York: Penguin Classics, 1989. Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography and Other Writings. Edited by L. Jesse Lemich. New York: Signet Classics, 2014. Gregory of Tours. The History of the Franks. Translated by Lewis Thorpe. New York: Penguin Classics, 1976. Hume, David. A Treatise of Human Nature. Edited by Ernest C. Mossner. New York: Penguin Classics, 1986. Locke, John. The Reasonableness of Christianity with A Discourse of Miracles and part of A Third Letter Concerning Toleration. Edited by IT Ramsey. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1958. Machiavelli, Niccolo. Translated by George Bull. New York: Penguin Classics, 2003. Paine, Thomas. Common Sense, Rights of Man, and Other Essential Writings of Thomas Paine. New York: Signet Classics, 2003. Polo, Marco. The Travels. Translated by Ronald Latham. New York: Penguin Classics, 1958. Voltaire. Treatise on Toleration. Translated by Desmond M. Clarke. New York: Penguin Classics, 2017.
Please note that this course will explore a variety of potentially difficult topics, ideas, and events from divergent perspectives. It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to review the syllabus in order to determine if they wish their child to analyze and discuss this content. I’m happy to answer any questions you may have.
The American Founding: Core Documents. Edited by George Lloyd. Ashland: Ashbrook Center, 2017. Bacon, Francis. The History of the Reign of King Henry VIII. Edited by Brian Vickers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998. Bacon, Francis, Thomas More, and Henry Neville. Edited by Susan Bruce. Three Early Modern Utopias: Utopia, New Atlantis, and The Isle of Pines. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999. Bede. Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Translated by DH Farmer, RE Latham, and Leo Sherley-Price. New York: Penguin Classics, 1990. Burckhardt, Jacob. The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy. Translated by SGC Middlemore. New York: Penguin Classics, 1990. Burke, Edmund. Reflections on the Revolution in France. Edited by JGA Pocock. Indianapolis: Hackett. 1987. de Tocqueville, Alexis. The Ancien Regime and the Revolution. Edited and translated by Gerald Bevan. New York: Penguin Classics, 2008. Eusebius. The History of the Church. Edited by Andrew Louth. Translated by GA Williamson. New York: Penguin Classics, 1989. Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography and Other Writings. Edited by L. Jesse Lemich. New York: Signet Classics, 2014. Gregory of Tours. The History of the Franks. Translated by Lewis Thorpe. New York: Penguin Classics, 1976. Hume, David. A Treatise of Human Nature. Edited by Ernest C. Mossner. New York: Penguin Classics, 1986. Locke, John. The Reasonableness of Christianity with A Discourse of Miracles and part of A Third Letter Concerning Toleration. Edited by IT Ramsey. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1958. Machiavelli, Niccolo. Translated by George Bull. New York: Penguin Classics, 2003. Paine, Thomas. Common Sense, Rights of Man, and Other Essential Writings of Thomas Paine. New York: Signet Classics, 2003. Polo, Marco. The Travels. Translated by Ronald Latham. New York: Penguin Classics, 1958. Voltaire. Treatise on Toleration. Translated by Desmond M. Clarke. New York: Penguin Classics, 2017.
Joined June, 2024
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in Philosophy from Northern Illinois University
Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy from Illinois Wesleyan University
I have a BA in Philosophy with minors in Political Science and Greek and Roman Studies, as well as an MA in Philosophy with a concentration in Ethics and Political Philosophy. I’m the head coach of a competitive high school debate team and teach...
Reviews
Group Class
$30
weekly or $480 for 16 classes1x per week, 16 weeks
55 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-14
1-18 learners per class
