Essay Writing
The art of writing exists beyond graded papers and science papers; it is a conveyance of ideas, an outlet for creativity, and written conversation. It is imperative that our children can write effectively in a world that relies on written communication. The ability to write well lends itself to a successful career, activism, and powerful communicative skills.
A strong writer is a practiced writer and reader. It is only through feedback and construction that a writer is born. Our program will enable a student to strengthen their voice through learning how to formulate a nuanced argument, control their tone, work on grammar, understand the skeleton of a strong essay, and edit essays. This program thrives in a workshop-based environment, where each student will write and receive feedback on multiple essays and creative pieces.
Participants learn to:
- Develop creative writing skills
- Write a thesis statement
- Organize ideas and topics coherently
- Refute and strengthen their own argument
- Control and develop their tone
- Work on grammar
- Edit and peer-edit in a workshop-based environment
Grades: 6 - 8 :
Homework:
- Write and revise essays
- Practice concepts introduced in class
Syllabus:
- Week 1: Crafting thesis statements & formulating arguments
- Week 2: Drafting outlines: organization, topic sentences, hook, conclusions, evidence
- Week 3: Punctuation, Sentence Structure, Transition, Vocabulary
- Week 4: Editing, Peer Editing, Giving Constructive Feedback, Wordiness
- Week 5: Workshop