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inverarityI still be writing stuff besides teal deer book reviews.
Everything below the cut is only of interest to Alexandra Quick fans.
I am on chapter 14 of Alexandra Quick and the Stars Above. Here's a new wordle, created from the first 84K words. (Click for larger image.)
I have mentioned before that I'm a haphazard outliner. But I'm a very systematic worldbuilder. That doesn't mean my worldbuilding is necessarily good or consistent, but I have long lists of names and places and timelines and such most of which probably won't even be mentioned in the story, much less infodumped in detail.
For example, the classes Alexandra and her friends take. They get mentioned a lot (and one of the criticisms people have mentioned about the first three books is that there's not enough "school time" showing what Alexandra actually does in class), but I don't just make up a class on the spot when I need to mention where someone is. I actually have the class schedules of all the major characters written down. Not only that, but about the time I was writing book two, I worked out the curriculum at Charmbridge Academy, complete with graduation requirements.
Of course it's subject to revision as needed, but I actually consult it when deciding who's in what class and what class they will take next year.
So if you can't get enough AQ trivia, here are my notes on wizarding education at Charmbridge Academy. In most respects, it's rather similar to the Hogwarts curriculum, though of course some class names are different, as are the required courses. It's more rigid and directed than what seems to be the case at Hogwarts; I of course patterned Charmbridge after American middle and high schools.
Each semester is one unit. Some classes (like electives) are only one semester. Others are a full year but get divided into semesters (A and B).
Graduation requires 80 units. A full schedule for seven years (grades 6 to 12) would be 6 classes per semester = 6 x 2 x 7 = 84 units. So early graduation isn't possible normally, but seniors can take only 4 classes per semester (or 6 their first semester and only 2 their final semester) if they like. Most, however, continue taking 6 classes for "the full 84."
The following are also graduation requirements:
Charms: 10 units.
Transfiguration: 10 units
Alchemy: 10 units
Magical Theory: 8 units
Wizard Social Studies: 8 units
Practical Magical Exercise: 1 unit
47 units total, leaving 33 elective units to graduate (or 37 for those who take the full 84).
6th grade: 0 electives (Required: Charms, Transfiguration, Wizard Social Studies, Magical Theory, Alchemy, PME)
7th grade: 2 elective units (Required: Charms, Transfiguration, Wizard Social Studies, Magical Theory, Alchemy)
8th grade: 2 elective units (Required: Charms, Transfiguration, Wizard Social Studies, Magical Theory, Alchemy)
9th grade: 4 elective units (Required: Charms, Transfiguration, Wizard Social Studies, and at least one of Alchemy or Magical Theory, but most students take both to get their requirements out of the way)
10th grade: 8 elective units (Required: Charms, Transfiguration)
11th and 12th grade: All units are electives (unless they had to repeat classes or otherwise are finishing up requirements not fulfilled earlier).
10 units required.
Basic Charms A and B (grade 6)
Charms 1A-1B (grade 7)
Charms 2A-2B (grade 8)
Charms 3A-3B (grade 9)
Charms 4A-4B (grade 10)
After this, Charms become an elective:
Advanced Charms I and II
10 units required.
Basic Transfiguration A and B (grade 6)
Transfiguration 1A-1B (grade 7)
Transfiguration 2A-2B (grade 8)
Transfiguration 3A-3B (grade 9)
Transfiguration 4A-4B (grade 10)
After this, Transfiguration become an elective:
Advanced Transfiguration I and II
10 units required.
Basic Alchemy A and B (grade 6)
Alchemy 1A-1B (grade 7)
Alchemy 2A-2B (grade 8)
After this, Alchemy becomes more specialized, and students must take a total of at least four more units:
Advanced Alchemy I, II, III, and IV
Potions I, II, III, and IV
Herbology I, II, III, and IV
8 units required.
Basic Principles of Magic A and B (grade 6)
Basic Magical Theory 1A-1B (grade 7)
Intermediate Magical Theory 1A-1B (grade 8)
Advanced Magical Theory 1A-1B (grade 9)
After this, Magical Theory becomes an elective:
Advanced Magical Theory II, III, IV
8 units required.
Wizarding World History (grade 6)
Wizarding Social Studies (grades 6-7)
American History of Magic (grade 8)
Confederation Citizenship (grade 9)
Not necessarily a complete list. Most electives have prerequisites.
Practical Magical Exercise (required for sixth graders; thereafter an elective, but required for JROC students and anyone on a sports team or other extracurricular group, such as the Magic Band)
Arithmancy I, II, III, IV
Geomancy I, II, III, IV
Magical Ecology
Magizoology
Magibotany
Magical Animal Husbandry
Magical Breeding (Reqs: Magical Animal Husbandry and completion of the Transfiguration and Alchemy tracks)
Muggle Studies
Beings Studies
Astronomy & Astrology
Oaths and Bindings (Reqs: Advanced Charms and Advanced Magical Theory or concurrent enrollment)
Artificing (Reqs: Advanced Transfiguration and Advanced Alchemy or concurrent enrollment, completion of the Magical Theory track)
Enchantments (Reqs: Advanced Charms and Transfiguration or concurrent enrollment, completion of the Magical Theory track)
Healing (Reqs: Completion of the Charms and Alchemy tracks with at least 2 units each of Potions and Herbology)
Beginning Wandlore (Reqs: Advanced Charms, Transfiguration, and Magical Theory, or concurrent enrollment)
Animorphmagus Workshop (Reqs: At least 2 units of Advanced Transfiguration and Advanced Magical Theory and special permission from the Dean and the Department of Magical Education)
Countercurses (Reqs: Completion of Charms, Alchemy, and Magical Theory tracks)
Curse-Breaking (Reqs: Advanced Charms and Advanced Magical Theory or concurrent enrollment, completion of the Alchemy track, and at least 2 units of Arithmancy)
Apparition (Reqs: Juniors and Seniors only, approval of Dean)
Special Studies: Catch-all for students pursuing individual studies, with approval of the Dean and supervising teachers.)
These assume no skipping levels or being held back/having to repeat a level. For example, in eighth grade, Alexandra took Intermediate Magical Theory, but Anna and the Pritchards, thanks to their grades and SPAWN scores, jumped ahead to Advanced Magical Theory 1.
Sixth Grade
Basic Charms
Basic Transfiguration
Basic Alchemy
Basic Principles of Magic
Wizarding World History
Practical Magical Exercise
Seventh Grade
Charms 1
Transfiguration 1
Alchemy 1
Basic Magical Theory
Wizarding Social Studies
(one elective)
Eighth Grade
Charms 2
Transfiguration 2
Alchemy 2
Intermediate Magical Theory
American History of Magic
(one elective)
Ninth Grade
Charms 3
Transfiguration 3
Wizard Citizenship
Advanced Alchemy 1, Potions 1, or Herbology 1
Advanced Magical Theory 1
(one elective)
Tenth Grade
Charms 4
Transfiguration 4
(four electives)
Eleventh/Twelfth Grade
(six electives)
Most 10th-12th graders continue taking the core tracks (Charms, Transfiguration, Alchemy, and Magical Theory) every year, so a typical senior's schedule would be:
Advanced Charms 2
Advanced Transfiguration 2
Advanced Alchemy 4, Potions 4, or Herbology 4
Advanced Magical Theory 4
(two electives)
Everything below the cut is only of interest to Alexandra Quick fans.
I am on chapter 14 of Alexandra Quick and the Stars Above. Here's a new wordle, created from the first 84K words. (Click for larger image.)
I have mentioned before that I'm a haphazard outliner. But I'm a very systematic worldbuilder. That doesn't mean my worldbuilding is necessarily good or consistent, but I have long lists of names and places and timelines and such most of which probably won't even be mentioned in the story, much less infodumped in detail.
For example, the classes Alexandra and her friends take. They get mentioned a lot (and one of the criticisms people have mentioned about the first three books is that there's not enough "school time" showing what Alexandra actually does in class), but I don't just make up a class on the spot when I need to mention where someone is. I actually have the class schedules of all the major characters written down. Not only that, but about the time I was writing book two, I worked out the curriculum at Charmbridge Academy, complete with graduation requirements.
Of course it's subject to revision as needed, but I actually consult it when deciding who's in what class and what class they will take next year.
So if you can't get enough AQ trivia, here are my notes on wizarding education at Charmbridge Academy. In most respects, it's rather similar to the Hogwarts curriculum, though of course some class names are different, as are the required courses. It's more rigid and directed than what seems to be the case at Hogwarts; I of course patterned Charmbridge after American middle and high schools.
Classes at Charmbridge Academy
Each semester is one unit. Some classes (like electives) are only one semester. Others are a full year but get divided into semesters (A and B).
Graduation requires 80 units. A full schedule for seven years (grades 6 to 12) would be 6 classes per semester = 6 x 2 x 7 = 84 units. So early graduation isn't possible normally, but seniors can take only 4 classes per semester (or 6 their first semester and only 2 their final semester) if they like. Most, however, continue taking 6 classes for "the full 84."
The following are also graduation requirements:
Charms: 10 units.
Transfiguration: 10 units
Alchemy: 10 units
Magical Theory: 8 units
Wizard Social Studies: 8 units
Practical Magical Exercise: 1 unit
47 units total, leaving 33 elective units to graduate (or 37 for those who take the full 84).
6th grade: 0 electives (Required: Charms, Transfiguration, Wizard Social Studies, Magical Theory, Alchemy, PME)
7th grade: 2 elective units (Required: Charms, Transfiguration, Wizard Social Studies, Magical Theory, Alchemy)
8th grade: 2 elective units (Required: Charms, Transfiguration, Wizard Social Studies, Magical Theory, Alchemy)
9th grade: 4 elective units (Required: Charms, Transfiguration, Wizard Social Studies, and at least one of Alchemy or Magical Theory, but most students take both to get their requirements out of the way)
10th grade: 8 elective units (Required: Charms, Transfiguration)
11th and 12th grade: All units are electives (unless they had to repeat classes or otherwise are finishing up requirements not fulfilled earlier).
Charms Track
10 units required.
Basic Charms A and B (grade 6)
Charms 1A-1B (grade 7)
Charms 2A-2B (grade 8)
Charms 3A-3B (grade 9)
Charms 4A-4B (grade 10)
After this, Charms become an elective:
Advanced Charms I and II
Transfiguration Track
10 units required.
Basic Transfiguration A and B (grade 6)
Transfiguration 1A-1B (grade 7)
Transfiguration 2A-2B (grade 8)
Transfiguration 3A-3B (grade 9)
Transfiguration 4A-4B (grade 10)
After this, Transfiguration become an elective:
Advanced Transfiguration I and II
Alchemy Track
10 units required.
Basic Alchemy A and B (grade 6)
Alchemy 1A-1B (grade 7)
Alchemy 2A-2B (grade 8)
After this, Alchemy becomes more specialized, and students must take a total of at least four more units:
Advanced Alchemy I, II, III, and IV
Potions I, II, III, and IV
Herbology I, II, III, and IV
Magical Theory Track
8 units required.
Basic Principles of Magic A and B (grade 6)
Basic Magical Theory 1A-1B (grade 7)
Intermediate Magical Theory 1A-1B (grade 8)
Advanced Magical Theory 1A-1B (grade 9)
After this, Magical Theory becomes an elective:
Advanced Magical Theory II, III, IV
Social Studies Track
8 units required.
Wizarding World History (grade 6)
Wizarding Social Studies (grades 6-7)
American History of Magic (grade 8)
Confederation Citizenship (grade 9)
Electives
Not necessarily a complete list. Most electives have prerequisites.
Practical Magical Exercise (required for sixth graders; thereafter an elective, but required for JROC students and anyone on a sports team or other extracurricular group, such as the Magic Band)
Arithmancy I, II, III, IV
Geomancy I, II, III, IV
Magical Ecology
Magizoology
Magibotany
Magical Animal Husbandry
Magical Breeding (Reqs: Magical Animal Husbandry and completion of the Transfiguration and Alchemy tracks)
Muggle Studies
Beings Studies
Astronomy & Astrology
Oaths and Bindings (Reqs: Advanced Charms and Advanced Magical Theory or concurrent enrollment)
Artificing (Reqs: Advanced Transfiguration and Advanced Alchemy or concurrent enrollment, completion of the Magical Theory track)
Enchantments (Reqs: Advanced Charms and Transfiguration or concurrent enrollment, completion of the Magical Theory track)
Healing (Reqs: Completion of the Charms and Alchemy tracks with at least 2 units each of Potions and Herbology)
Beginning Wandlore (Reqs: Advanced Charms, Transfiguration, and Magical Theory, or concurrent enrollment)
Animorphmagus Workshop (Reqs: At least 2 units of Advanced Transfiguration and Advanced Magical Theory and special permission from the Dean and the Department of Magical Education)
Countercurses (Reqs: Completion of Charms, Alchemy, and Magical Theory tracks)
Curse-Breaking (Reqs: Advanced Charms and Advanced Magical Theory or concurrent enrollment, completion of the Alchemy track, and at least 2 units of Arithmancy)
Apparition (Reqs: Juniors and Seniors only, approval of Dean)
Special Studies: Catch-all for students pursuing individual studies, with approval of the Dean and supervising teachers.)
Typical Schedules
These assume no skipping levels or being held back/having to repeat a level. For example, in eighth grade, Alexandra took Intermediate Magical Theory, but Anna and the Pritchards, thanks to their grades and SPAWN scores, jumped ahead to Advanced Magical Theory 1.
Sixth Grade
Basic Charms
Basic Transfiguration
Basic Alchemy
Basic Principles of Magic
Wizarding World History
Practical Magical Exercise
Seventh Grade
Charms 1
Transfiguration 1
Alchemy 1
Basic Magical Theory
Wizarding Social Studies
(one elective)
Eighth Grade
Charms 2
Transfiguration 2
Alchemy 2
Intermediate Magical Theory
American History of Magic
(one elective)
Ninth Grade
Charms 3
Transfiguration 3
Wizard Citizenship
Advanced Alchemy 1, Potions 1, or Herbology 1
Advanced Magical Theory 1
(one elective)
Tenth Grade
Charms 4
Transfiguration 4
(four electives)
Eleventh/Twelfth Grade
(six electives)
Most 10th-12th graders continue taking the core tracks (Charms, Transfiguration, Alchemy, and Magical Theory) every year, so a typical senior's schedule would be:
Advanced Charms 2
Advanced Transfiguration 2
Advanced Alchemy 4, Potions 4, or Herbology 4
Advanced Magical Theory 4
(two electives)
