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Writing an Informative / Explanatory Research Essay

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Martha Jackson, English Language Arts and Writing
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Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(496)
In this six week FLEX writing course, middle school students will learn how to write a complete informative (or explanatory) research essay. Research, outlines, thesis statements, rough drafts, revising, and citations are covered.

Class experience

US Grade 6 - 8
Beginner - Intermediate Level
6 lessons//6 Weeks
 Week 1
Lesson 1
Prewriting
Research (how to select credible sources, annotating, close reading, etc); selecting a topic
 Week 2
Lesson 2
Prewriting
Thesis Statements and Outlines (submit for teacher feedback)
 Week 3
Lesson 3
Rough Draft
Body Paragraphs, Transition Sentences, In-text citations (parenthetical references)
 Week 4
Lesson 4
Rough Draft
Writing Introductions
 Week 5
Lesson 5
Rough Draft
Writing Conclusions and Works Cited (submit rough draft for feedback)
 Week 6
Lesson 6
Final Draft
Revising and Editing Strategies (submit final draft for feedback)
Over this course students will learn how to write an informative research paper, from selecting a topic to correctly formatting a works cited page.  A complete paper will be written by each learner during the course, and students will learn skills that can be applied to any future essay writing.   

I have a Bachelor of Arts in English, and held a Professional Teaching Certificate in Florida to teach English in grades 6-12.  For the past several years I have taught small group classes on essay writing, including how to write informative / explanatory essays.  
Homework Offered
Assessments Offered
Students will have the option of completing activities and posting them to the classroom. Student homework will be done on a shared google document where I will provide weekly feedback before students move on to the next task. There are no set deadlines for this class. I am happy to provide feedback on work whenever it is completed. Learners and parents have the option of receiving a letter grade at the end of the class on their final paper. A grading rubric will be provided at the beginning of class for these students.
Grades Offered
Students need to be able to easily write paragraphs to do well in this class. No experience with essays is required, but it is helpful. 
-- a non-black ink pen (blue, red, green) (for weeks 1 and 6)
-- pencil and paper
-- a folder to keep track of handouts and work
-- handouts will be provided before each class and will need to be printed before class begins. 

-- learners will need internet / library access to complete research on a topic of their choosing, as well as to view videos for this course
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
None. However, because students are able to select their own topic for their research essay, parents / guardians should ensure that it fits within what they feel is appropriate for their learner.  
none
Star Educator
Popular
Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(496)
Profile
Hi!  My name is Martha Jackson. I mainly teach writing and literature, and I absolutely love it.

My classes focus on breaking down complex ideas into bite-size pieces, giving students concrete tools to grow in specific areas (conducting research,... 
Flex Class

$72

for 6 weeks
6 weeks

Completed by 65 learners
No live video meetings
Ages 11-14

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