Who will benefit the most from Who Said What? (WSW?)
The greatest beneficiary is anyone who wishes to know how to perform and cite accurate and truthful sources. This is especially helpful to young writers faced with the new challenges presented in the Internet Age, when every idea--no matter whether it is accurate or true--can be promoted. WSW? teaches the student to apply critical reasoning skills to measure and evaluate, and then cite the information gained from their research across multiple platforms.
What ages/grades is this for?
Age 12 (Grade 6) through College
Is this required, or optional for use with Well-Trained Mind or other writing curricula? Optional, but very useful for any student or writer who is doing research and wants to find truthful and accurate sources and cite then correctly.
If I already have Writing With Skill, do I also need Who Said What?
Yes. Writing With Skill (WWS) is a complete writing program. However, when students get into writing essays or other works which require citation, Who Said What? teaches them the skills needed to decide whether their sources are truthful and accurate, and then how to correctly cite them in their own work. WSW? expands on WWS.
Is this part of a bundle with other Well-Trained Mind Press curricula?
This is not currently part of a WTM bundle because it integrates well with any writing curriculum.
What formats is this available in?
On the Well-Trained Mind store, it’s available in paperback and PDF. On Amazon and at other stores, it’s available in paperback and as an ebook.
How is this different from a style guide, like the Chicago Manual of Style? What is its value-add?
While this title walks the reader through properly citing material using the Chicago Manual of Style and other popular reference styles, it also details how to research:
- Learning how to tell if a source is reliable and applicable
- Learning what plagiarism is and how to avoid it
- Learning how to take notes on sources you’re reading for research
- Learning how to turn those notes into an outline and first draft
WSW? takes the reader through the entire research and citing process. WSW? lets the style guides tell whether or not to write out a number or to abbreviate FBI with or without periods. WSW? teaches the student how to do research, how to evaluate the usefulness and truthfulness of various sources, and then how to cite them.
Which level of Writing With Skill introduces the topics in Who Said What? Who Said What? specifically focuses on how to research and cite sources. It uses materials from across the three years of the Writing With Skill series, starting in week 28 of Year 1 (7/9ths of the way through the year), but it can be used to help with any research projects and alongside any curriculum involving research--writing, science, history, etc. WSW? expands on the writing instruction in Writing With Skill.
Is this a lifelong reference, or a short-term instruction book? Much of what is covered in Who Said What? will benefit the reader well into college and even adulthood. This is particularly true for adults who are doing any writing or research.
Is there a class in the Well-Trained Mind Academy that teaches these skills? Yes, and you can look at their offerings here: Well-Trained Mind Academy
Can Schools and co-ops get a license to distribute this? We will offer licenses if demand requires it. Please email support@welltrainedmind.com if your school or co-op is interested in licensing.