Virtue, Faith, and the American Experiment: Edwards and Franklin
Encountering early American voices, the Oxford way: where past ideas spark today’s big questions.
Grades: 10th–12th (motivated 9th if approved)
Format: 75-min live video meetings
Schedule: 4 weeks, 1x per week
Capacity: 3–8 students
Workload: 2–4 hours per week
Credits: 0.1 Carnegie unit
What does it mean to live a good life? This exploratory tutorial pairs two of early America’s most influential figures, Jonathan Edwards and Benjamin Franklin, to explore competing visions of virtue, faith, and success in the new nation. Through guided readings and discussions, students wrestle with questions of spiritual devotion, moral philosophy, and human ambition.
Designed as a shorter, intensive experience, this course introduces students to close reading and critical discussion while preparing them for deeper study in the American Stories sequence. It’s an ideal on-ramp for students wanting to engage with the great questions of the American past.
Students Will Gain
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Insight into two foundational but contrasting American visions
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Practice reading historical texts critically and contextually
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Experience exploring big questions of faith, virtue, and success
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Tools for reflective discussion and thoughtful analysis
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A short, intensive preparation for deeper American history/literature study
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A stronger sense of how past ideas shape present challenges
Justin McGeary, homeschool graduate and founder of Trinity House Tutorials, equips Christian high school students to write well, think deeply, and engage big ideas through Oxford-style essay instruction. He holds a Master of Theology from the UK and is completing his PhD on early church theology.