The Great Conversation

Among Wilson Hill students, one consistently favorite class is The Great Conversation or TGC. The Great Conversation, which is similar to Veritas Press’ Omnibus, is an integrated study of history, literature, and theology. Each class is worth two and a half credits, as they give one history credit, one literature credit, and half of a theology credit. Each class is an hour and a half long, and two days a week. There are six levels of TGC, and they mostly correspond to certain grade levels. If you started with WHA in seventh grade, you would likely start with TGC 1, which is classical history-based. TGC 2 is medieval history, and TGC 3 is modern/American history. In tenth grade, you would then cycle back to classical history with TGC 4. Starting with TGC 4 and going through TGC 6, the classes also earn honors credit. In addition to these six courses, another option, primarily for ninth and tenth graders who are new to classical education, is TGC 1+4. This class combines the literature studied in both TGC 1 and TGC 4 (classical history) for an introduction to the TGC courses.   

When I began Wilson Hill classes in ninth grade, I decided to start with TGC 3. Following the sequence, I am now in TGC 4. Both classes are great but very different. In TGC 3, our homework consisted mainly of reading assignments and discussion boards. We had also one essay per semester. We sometimes watched history videos for homework, but other times we would watch them in class. Class times often consisted of a discussion either about a historical event, a theological concept, or a work of literature. The Great Conversation 3 focused on modern events and the worldviews that have shaped American culture. In addition to some of the founding documents, we read quite a few novels, specifically historical fiction.  

Some of my favorite Great Conversation 3 books

This year I took TGC 4. Our homework each week usually consisted of reading assignments before each class, a discussion board or thesis-driven paragraph each week, and watching an approximately 30-minute-long history lecture. With each reading assignment, we usually had a set of questions to answer, and our answers were supposed to be substantiated with the text. In class, we would talk about the questions and the answers from our home studies. Occasionally, we were supposed to come to class with our own passages to share. These were passages either that we had a question about or that we really liked. We also had two essays each semester, in addition to a short speech and creative writing assignment in the first semester. Our books were almost entirely nonfiction philosophical or historical books, with a few Greek plays and mythology mixed in. 

A small selection of Great Conversation 4 books

In all TGC classes, the primary method of participation is over the microphone, but being involved in the chat box is also very important. Many times a teacher will ask for “hands” after asking a question, meaning they want the students to raise their virtual Zoom hands to answer the question rather than typing an answer in the chat box. However, the chat box can be useful for answering quick yes-or-no questions or for making short comments. Teachers still pay attention to the chat box, and I know from experience that if you type a longer or insightful thought, you will be asked to come on mic to explain. Another great thing about all Wilson Hill classes is the ability to come on webcam. When I’ve done online classes through other schools, we usually aren’t allowed to use the webcam. But I enjoy being able to see my classmates, and I find that it tends to help me stay focused on the class when I can see other people, and I know that they can see me. It also helps foster a sense of community, which is a huge benefit in an online school.

Finally, both of the teachers I have had in TGC classes have been wonderful. They present the material in a way that makes us seek the answers rather than just passively listening to a lecture. They are also genuinely interested in the ideas that we have. They strive to make sure we understand the topics before moving on, and they are willing to spend a lot of time going down rabbit holes when we have more questions. They are truly expert teachers.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience with The Great Conversation and would highly recommend it to anyone, especially if you are looking for a course that is taught from a biblical worldview and integrates three very important topics – history, literature, and theology. These are some of the core topics of classical education and TGC is a wonderful choice.