At Sheridan Christian Classical Academy, the study of Literature and Composition is far more than a sequence of language arts skills. It is a transformative journey into the great conversation of humanity, where students encounter the most profound ideas, wrestle with timeless questions, and hone their ability to articulate truth with wisdom and eloquence. Rooted in the classical tradition and guided by a biblical worldview, our approach cultivates not just competent readers and writers, but discerning thinkers and virtuous souls who understand that words have the power to shape culture and reflect the image of God. From the earliest fables and fairy tales to the epics of Homer and the essays of Chesterton, every text and every assignment is an invitation to grow in knowledge, understanding, and love.
The Classical Vision for Language Arts
Classical education rests on the conviction that language is the foundation of all learning. In the grammar stage (roughly grades K-6), students absorb the building blocks of language—phonics, vocabulary, spelling, and the mechanics of sentences. They memorize poetry and Scripture, storing up a treasury of beautiful words and patterns. In the logic stage (grades 7-9), they begin to analyze texts, question arguments, and organize their own thoughts with clarity. Finally, in the rhetoric stage (grades 10-12), they learn to present their ideas persuasively, drawing on a deep well of literary and historical knowledge. This progression, borrowed from the medieval trivium, aligns with the natural development of a child's mind and ensures that by graduation, students possess both a rich interior library and the expressive tools to share it.
Unlike modern English curricula that often compartmentalize reading, writing, grammar, and speech, our literature and composition courses weave them into a seamless whole. A student who studies Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, for instance, not only reads and discusses the play but also writes analytical essays, crafts imitative speeches, and maybe even recites a passage. This integration mirrors real communication and deepens comprehension. It also respects the interconnectedness of knowledge, a hallmark of classical education.
Great Books: The Heart of Our Literature Studies
Our literature curriculum is built around the great books of Western civilization, complemented by select works from other traditions. Students read chronologically, beginning with ancient myths, the Bible as literature, and the epics of Homer, progressing through Dante, Shakespeare, Austen, Dostoevsky, and into the 20th century. This historical sequence helps them see the unfolding story of ideas and grasp the cultural contexts that shaped each work. More importantly, they encounter enduring questions about justice, beauty, suffering, and redemption—questions that the Christian faith uniquely equips them to answer.
At every level, teachers guide discussions using the Socratic method, asking open-ended questions that lead students to discover insights rather than passively receive interpretations. This approach fosters active reading and critical thinking. Students learn to identify themes, trace character development, recognize literary devices, and evaluate an author's worldview. They come to appreciate not just what a text says but how it says it, and why it matters for today.
Composition: The Craft of Eloquent Expression
Writing is taught as an art that requires both skill and inspiration. Following the classical model of the progymnasmata, students begin with simple exercises such as fable and narrative retelling, gradually advancing to persuasive essays, research papers, and creative pieces. Early on, they engage in careful imitation of master writers—replicating sentence structures, rhetorical figures, and elegant phrasing. This apprenticeship in style builds confidence and fluency before they develop their own voice.
Grammar and logic are not separate subjects but integral components of the writing process. Students learn to diagram intricate sentences, understand parallel structure and modifiers, and master the conventions of punctuation. In the dialectic years, they focus on constructing sound arguments, avoiding logical fallacies, and structuring essays with a clear thesis and supporting evidence. By the time they reach the rhetoric stage, they are equipped to write with sophistication and conviction across a range of genres, from literary analysis to personal reflection to public address.
In addition to frequent papers, students maintain a commonplace book—a journal where they record striking quotations, reflections on readings, and ideas for future writing. This practice, cherished by thinkers from John Locke to Thomas Jefferson, fosters a habit of attentive reading and serves as a wellspring of inspiration.
Integrating Faith and Literature
At Sheridan CCA, we view all literature through the lens of a Christian worldview. This does not mean we read only overtly Christian books. On the contrary, we believe that all truth is God's truth, wherever it is found. We read pagan authors like Plato and Virgil because they ask questions that only the Gospel answers fully. We read works by non-believers because they reflect the struggles and longings of a fallen world in need of redemption. Our goal is to teach students to "take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5), not by isolating them from the culture, but by equipping them to engage it critically and compassionately.
In class discussions, teachers consistently point students back to Scripture, helping them compare and contrast the moral vision of a novel with biblical ethics. This practice deepens their understanding of both literature and faith, reinforcing that Christianity is not a private devotion but a comprehensive framework for interpreting all of life. Similarly, in composition, students learn to write from a biblical worldview, crafting arguments that honor Christ in content and tone.
From Classroom to Life: The Lasting Impact
The skills cultivated in Literature and Composition extend into every area of life. A Sheridan CCA graduate enters college not only able to write a stellar term paper but also ready to lead seminars, engage in civil debate, and communicate effectively in any career. More fundamentally, he or she can read the daily news with discernment, appreciate a film or a poem with depth, and articulate the reason for the hope that is in them (1 Peter 3:15).
"We read to know we are not alone." —C.S. Lewis
Parents often remark on the transformation they witness: a quiet seventh-grader who finds his voice through writing, a skeptical teenager who falls in love with Dostoevsky, a student who learns empathy by walking in the shoes of a character very different from herself. These are not mere academic achievements; they are signposts of moral and spiritual growth. The literature classroom becomes a training ground for life, where students practice the art of being human.
Literature & Composition in the Classical Curriculum
To understand the place of Literature and Composition at Sheridan CCA, one must see the curriculum as a whole. These subjects are intimately connected with Biblical Studies, where students learn the grand narrative of Scripture that infuses our literary tradition. They overlap with history, as texts are studied in the context of the period that produced them. They even intersect with science and mathematics, as students read naturalists like John Muir or tackle the logic of Euclid's prose. The Curriculum Overview provides a detailed map of this integrated journey from Primary Programs through Intermediate Programs and into Secondary & Adult Ed.
For families considering our school, visiting a literature class often dispels preconceptions. One does not see desks in rows and students looking bored. Instead, you might find a circle of eighth-graders passionately debating the motivations of Lady Macbeth, or a group of fourth-graders reciting Robert Frost in unison. The energy is palpable because the material matters. These great works speak for themselves, and our students are given the tools to hear them.
A Lifelong Journey Begins Here
The study of Literature and Composition at Sheridan CCA is not an end in itself but a beginning. We aim to instill a lifelong love for reading and a habit of writing that serves both personal reflection and public dialogue. Our graduates often report that their classical training set them apart in college and career—not just for the skills but for the inner resources it built. In a world saturated with fleeting information and shallow soundbites, the ability to engage deeply with a complex text, to weigh arguments, and to express oneself with grace is invaluable.
As a Christian school, our ultimate goal is to cultivate lovers of the Word—both the written word that reflects God's creativity and the living Word who is Christ. Our literature and composition courses are one vital means by which we disciple students to think, to love, and to serve for the glory of God. In the words of John Milton, "A complete and generous education fits a man to perform justly, skillfully, and magnanimously all the offices, both private and public, of peace and war." At Sheridan CCA, that education begins with the page and the pen, and it never really ends.