Disclosure: I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew.
Many pieces of literature have layers of depth to be discovered. Other classics are written with a more diverse vocabulary than what we use today. Some literature is just plain tough. That’s where Progeny Press study guides come in! The mission of Progeny Press is “to teach our children to think clearly, to understand literature, and to rely on the scripture for truth and values, and enjoy themselves while they do it!”
Progeny Press produces novel study guides that focus on the critical analysis and reading comprehension of literature from a Christian perspective. The study guides are available as printed books, CD-ROM, or as downloadable PDF files. They have a huge number of guides from different genres and themes in literature, and are available for all grade levels. I received a digital PDF eGuide of Frankenstein to look over for an informative review.
About Progeny Press Study Guides
Most of the study guides follow a similar format. Students will learn the following:
- Author Biography
- Background Information
- Before-You-Read Activities
- Vocabulary words used in the novel
- Literary Techniques
- Moral Lessons and Character Values
- Activities and Writing Assignments
- Suggestions for Further Reading
The study guides are divided up to cover groups of chapters at a time. Most middle and high school guides are intended to be completed over 8-10 weeks. The guides also come with an answer key for the teacher.
I’m one who usually prefers hard copies of everything, but Progeny Press eGuides are an exception. The eGuides are available instantly upon purchase, and are Interactive. The Interactive guides use the free Adobe Reader (that most people already have), and what’s really cool is the students can enter their answers directly on the computer and save their work. This is completely optional, just a cool feature teens may prefer. You certainly have the option to print if you’re a paper collector like me.
Inside a Literature Guide
The format may vary slightly from one study guide to another. To use the guide, students will need the named book, a dictionary, thesaurus, and a Bible. A sample of what’s inside Frankenstein includes a synopsis and background information about the novel and author. The novel is not included but can be purchased through Progeny Press, or check it out at your local library. Pre-reading activities include other readings from poems and plays, the Bible, and mapwork. Studies are divided up to cover groups of chapters at a time. The questions go far beyond simple answers. Each study section also has a variety of vocabulary activities, comprehension, and analysis. At higher levels, digging deeper, discussion, and a writing assignment are also part of each chapter section. Four guides are recommended per year and count toward one full high school literature credit.
My Thoughts on Progeny Press Study Guides
I read a short novel myself over the summer, and although it was a good story, I didn’t read deep enough to really appreciate what the author had written. I know that just by checking out the sample pages of that particular study guide. If you are looking to dive deep into the pages, Progeny Press is a winner. I like how they incorporate passages from the Bible and how it may relate to certain areas of the story. This is a solid literature study that you can customize by allowing your student to choose the books they would like to read for the year. These are challenging studies that some will devour, and others may not.
Other members of the Crew reviewed this one, as well as different levels of Progeny Press study guides. Click the banner below to read their thoughts.
Great review! I agree this guide really makes you dig deep into the novel.
Thank you – They really do!