weekly

or for 8 classes

Essay Live Lab: Build Strong Prompts-Based Writing Skills | Write From the Heart

New class

Ages 12-16

Live Group Course

In this live, interactive 8-week course, students learn to tackle essay prompts with confidence through guided lessons, group discussion, and real-time feedback. Learn to write clearly, organize ideas, and fully answer prompts.

Write from the Heart

Average rating:

5.0

Number of reviews:

(1 reviews)

Live video meetings

1x per week, 8 weeks

1-5 learners per class

45 min

About Learning Overview Teacher Reviews

What's included

8 live meetings

6 in-class hours

Assignments

1 hour per week. 3-6 throughout the class

Letter Grade

1 after class completion

Class Experience

US Grade 6 - 9

Beginner Level

This live class helps students confidently respond to essay prompts in an engaging way. Whether it’s a school assignment, standardized test, or application, prompts-based writing asks students to break down a question and respond with a clear, well-developed essay. In this 8-week course, students will meet weekly to walk through the writing process together—from brainstorming to outlining to writing—with a focus on thesis development, engaged voice, and effective organization.

Each session includes guided instruction, small-group discussion, and opportunities to write and revise in a supportive setting. Students will explore how to make their writing sound natural while still answering the prompt fully. 

At Write from the Heart, we believe your voice comes first. Structure, grammar, and organization are tools—not rules—to help students express what they truly think and believe. In this class, students will learn how to use those tools to write essays that are thoughtful, confident, and authentic.

This course covers:

    Brainstorming
    Thesis Statements
    Outlining & Organizing
    Answering Prompts
    Fully Developing Essays
    Timed Essays

This live version includes:

    >Real-time group lessons and discussion

    >Collaborative brainstorming and peer support

    >Teacher feedback while learning

    >Weekly check-ins for accountability and encouragement

**Prefer to work independently on your own schedule? Try our self-paced version with more in-depth personalized feedback and flexible access!  Click here: https://outschool.com/classes/unlocking-essay-writing-step-by-step-skills-for-teens-McsILvdI **

Learning Goals

Students will develop the ability to craft clear and compelling thesis statements.

Students will learn to organize essays effectively, ensuring logical flow and coherence.

Syllabus

Curriculum

Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum

8 Lessons

over 8 Weeks

Lesson 1:

Successful Essay Skills

 This lesson introduces the idea of an essay prompt and the skills that are needed to do well on them, including understanding directional words and development.

45 mins online live lesson

Lesson 2:

Thesis Statements

 This lesson looks at thesis statements: how to write them and the part they play in the overall essay.

45 mins online live lesson

Lesson 3:

Brainstorming

 In this lesson, we discuss different ways to brainstorm for an essay prompt and start planning well.

45 mins online live lesson

Lesson 4:

Writing an Introduction

 Introductions are the key to quickly engage your reader and set your essay apart.  We will work on finding our voices and expressing them in our introductions!

45 mins online live lesson

Other Details

Learning Needs

Please communicate with the instructor if accommodations or modifications are needed. Write from the Heart teachers are trained and educated on how to meet unique learning needs and classes can be adjusted as needed.

Pre-Requisites

Students should know how to write a paragraph and have a basic understanding of grammar.

External Resources

Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.

Sources

All materials were created by Write from the Heart.

Offered by

Write from the Heart

Joined November, 2024

5.0

1reviews

Profile

Teacher expertise and credentials

1 teacher has a Graduate degree

Master's Degree in Film/Cinema/Video Studies from University of Pittsburgh

Veldorah Rice

2 teachers have a Bachelor's degree

Bachelor's Degree in English Language and Literature from Grove City College

Jodi Tahsler

Bachelor's Degree in English Language and Literature from Grove City College

Veldorah Rice

At Write from the Heart, our goal is to help students find their voices and grow in writing and critical thinking skills. Above all, we believe that education is a personal journey of discovery. It is shaped by the personality of the child, the beliefs and values of the child’s family, and the experiences that the child encounters. It should never be undervalued. We desire to come alongside parents in helping each child through that personal journey.

Veldorah Rice, who is the director of Write from the Heart, as a BA in English, History, and Communication and a MA in English and Film Studies.  She oversees the classes and enjoys creating new curriculum and tools for student writers. She has worked at both the high school and collegiate level. Additionally, Veldorah enjoys speaking at homeschool and teacher conferences about writing and helping students find their voices. In her free time, she loves knitting, watching bad movies with her husband and three children, and blogging for the Write from the Heart community.

Veldorah has been a teacher for over 25 years, focusing on cultivating critical thinking skills within the act of writing.  She has worked at both the high school and collegiate level.