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College Preparation Writing for High School--Semester I: Research and Writing Basics

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Molly McGill, M.A.
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Average rating:4.9Number of reviews:(839)
Learn everything you will need to know for writing successfully in college including grammar basics, writing a summary, research papers, analyzing sources, and more--all from a college professor! Great for hesitant writers! #academic

Class experience

US Grade 9 - 12
Beginner Level
10 lessons//10 Weeks
 Week 1
Lesson 1
Basics of a Paragraph and Common Grammar Mistakes
In class 1, we focus on the very basics of writing and developing a single paragraph. We will also cover common grammar mistakes that I frequently see in my own college classroom. This class, while covering simple material, is used to make sure all students are on the same page moving forward and that the basics of writing are perfected before moving to more advanced material.
 Week 2
Lesson 2
Word Choice and Why it Matters
During Week 2, students will practice writing descriptions of different subjects--art, historical events, and instructional processes as a way of learning how to effectively communicate an idea and choose the most effective words for clarity and engagement. Students will have a lesson on how to write an effective description and practice 1-2 examples in class.
 Week 3
Lesson 3
Starting a Research Paper--Brainstorming, Research Questions, and Sources
This week, we will discuss how to start putting together a research paper, including brainstorming topics and interacting with a given prompt. We will also talk about how to find sources for a research paper and the difference between a scholarly level and non-scholarly source, determining which ones are appropriate for an academic paper.
 Week 4
Lesson 4
Writing Summaries and Analyzing Sources
We will talk about the basics of a summary including identifying the overarching theme, main points, and how to conclude a summary. Students will also learn how to add their analysis of the meaning of the sources and its importance to their summaries, including evidence from the source to support their analysis. This is something that is asked of students frequently in exams and papers, therefore it is great to practice ahead of time, so it does not catch them by surprise!
 Week 5
Lesson 5
Research Paper Basics 1: Thesis Statements, Intros, and Arguments
We will begin by working on introductions and move to discuss the all-important thesis statement. Students will learn what a thesis statement is and how to write an effective one for a longer research paper. We will analyze a number of thesis statements in class and discuss what makes them good or bad. Thesis statements are crucial for developing original research at the college level and for creating a paper that is not simply a book report of facts, which is what we are trying to avoid.
 Week 6
Lesson 6
Research Paper Basics II--Organizing and Structuring a Research Paper
In this class, students will start considering the body paragraphs of their research paper and how to elaborate on their thesis statement. First, students will discuss outlining a research paper and how to organize the main points one wants to cover within the paper itself. We will discuss the structure of a body paragraph, how to make sure there is enough evidence to support your claims, and what to do if you feel stuck and have writer's block.
 Week 7
Lesson 7
Research Paper Basics III--Citations
In this class, students will learn how to cite their sources in their papers, which will help them to avoid plagiarism in the classroom! We will discuss the basics of citing, how frequently one must cite and why, and different tools students can use to help with their citations. For this class, MLA style citations and formatting are required, as they are the most common in academic work. Both in-text and works cited or bibliographical citations will be discussed.
 Week 8
Lesson 8
Research Paper Basics IV: Conclusions, Editing, and Paper Formatting
In this class, students will talk about the importance of a paper’s conclusion and how to develop their own without using “all in all,” “in conclusion,” and other similar statements. Students will also learn some great tools for self-editing their papers, including web programs and individual activities.
 Week 9
Lesson 9
Creating a Presentation for the College Classroom
In this class, students will learn how to turn their research into a 5-minute presentation for the class. This is a very common practice in the college setting—where students are asked to give 5-10 minute presentations about their subject matter. Students will go through what makes a great presentation and how to be concise with the information they have researched because of time limits. We will walk through Google Slides, so students know how to create a slideshow for class.
 Week 10
Lesson 10
Student Presentations and Final Paper Submissions
This week, students will give their presentations in class, sharing their research with the group. They will also submit their final papers to the instructor for review.
Over the course of the ten weeks, students will engage with different writing styles and methods as a way of developing their own writing skills. Students will learn how to form basic summaries, descriptions, and analyses of various types of information. Students will engage with critical thinking skills when developing their research paper and discerning what is a credible source and synthesizing the information on their own. Students will also learn technical writing skills from grammar to formatting to editing and revision skills. The purpose of this course is to allow students to take a step closer to being successful college level writers when their day in the classroom comes! 
I have been teaching at the university level for several years, and have graded and edited hundreds of papers from college freshmen. I hope to help develop writing skills in high school aged children in this class to prevent many of the common errors I see in university papers! 
Homework Offered
Students are expected to participate in weekly assignments that will be submitted to the instructor and feedback will be given for each and every assignment. Each assignment is submitted through Google Classroom, and feedback is personalized based on the students strengths and weaknesses. Each week students will get suggestions on how to further improve and be told what they are doing well. Parents can request grades at any time.
2 - 4 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
At the end of the course, parents are welcome to request a full assessment of the students' progress over the 10 weeks if they would like. Further, grades are optional but available. Students will be assessed based on how they have grown as writers in the course and assessments will include what they have done well with end areas that need improving. For those receiving grades, a rubric will be distributed to parents so they can see where all of the points are coming from in the final grade.
Grades Offered
Letter grades available upon request.
Due to the slow-building nature of this course, it is ideal for students with Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Neurodivergent learners, or hesitant writers. Each week, students will build on their longer writing project 1-3 paragraphs at a time.
It is recommended that students are familiar with a five-paragraph essay, but it is not required. 
All homework assignments and prompts are provided. Students are expected to submit work through Google Classroom for easy submission and revisions.
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Students are expected to participate in activities in class. While I do not require cameras, students will be expected to use their microphones to participate vocally in class several times. If this is an issue for your student, please do not hesitate to reach out so we can make other arrangements! Please keep in mind, per Outschool policy, students will have to turn their cameras on once on the first day of class for learner verification. 
Star Educator
Popular
Average rating:4.9Number of reviews:(839)
Profile
Hello Outschool families! My name is Molly McGill and I am so excited to be teaching on the Outschool platform and sharing what I love with students from all over the world. I earned my Masters in art history from the University of Colorado, where... 
Group Class

$285

for 10 classes
1x per week, 10 weeks
50 min

Completed by 1119 learners
Live video meetings
Ages 13-18
5-9 learners per class

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