Webinar: Teaching the Great Books

A hallmark of today’s classical education movement is teaching the Great Books.  But what is a “great book”?  How is a “great book” different from a good book or a pretty good book or a typical book?  And what is the point?  What are we trying to accomplish when we teach a Great Book?  And how, exactly, do I do that, especially when I don’t have a “Great Books” education myself?  Is it the same as teaching any other work of literature, or are there other things my students need to learn by means of these particular texts?

This three-part webinar will show you—in down-to-earth, practical ways— how to teach the Great Books, a term that can include shorter texts and primary sources.  You will learn how to identify “great” works, how to use them in teaching other subjects, and how to incorporate them in your classes at every level.

These 90 minute sessions will be led by Dr. Gene Edward Veith, a retired Literature professor and the author of over 30 books on the topics of Christianity and culture, literature, Lutheranism, and classical education. He taught at Concordia University Wisconsin and Patrick Henry College and is currently an adjunct professor at Luther Classical College.

Session 1:  Teaching the Great Books and Teaching with the Great Books (September 13 at 9am CT)

What we mean by “Great Books” and how they can help integrate a classical Christian education.  The different “canons.”  Why certain works are “great.”  How to unlock a work of literature, both for yourself and for your students.

Session 2:  Using a Great Essay to Help Us Learn How to Teach Great Books (September 20 at 9am CT)

A discussion of a short essay by C. S. Lewis entitled “On Reading Old Books.”  (I will give it to you ahead of time.  Read it and print it out for class.)

Session 3:  Examples of Teaching Great Books (Actually, Great Short  Poems & Excerpts) (September 27 at 9am CT)

I will show you what I mean by briefly teaching you some brief passages in a “Great Books” way.  We will then discuss what I did.  And, depending on the number of webinar participants, I might ask you to do the same.