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Essay Writing Essentials: Academic Writing Class & Personalized Feedback

Your child learns how to master essays in one hour a week without stress or overwhelm so that they can write with confidence. From thesis statements to citing evidence--I cover it all! Students also receive personalized feedback.
Curious Together Arts and Humanities
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(570)
Popular
Class

What's included

14 live meetings
12 hrs 50 mins in-class hours
Assignments
1 hour per week. Feedback is given on student Google Docs and/or in class every week. All work is completed in class, and feedback is provided outside of class.
Assessment
informal verbal feedback in class written feedback in Google Docs There are no letter grades assigned in this class--the focus is on mastery of material with in-depth written feedback provided for the student every week to help them grow as writers

Class Experience

US Grade 6 - 9
🗓️ Looking for more schedule options? Check out our more comprehensive 16-week version of this course: https://bit.ly/3WO86iV

➡️ Don't see a time that works for you? Take our Flex on-demand version of this and still get personalized feedback every week!: https://bit.ly/essayflex

➡️ Not ready to learn essays? Still need help with paragraphs? Join Paragraph Writing Essentials: https://bit.ly/paragraphwritingessentials

➡️ Already mastered essays? Ready for more advanced academic writing? Join Academic Writing Essentials: https://bit.ly/academicwritingessentials
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We have taught these essential writing techniques to students of all backgrounds and ability levels in grades 6-12 in classrooms to help them write master essays with confidence. Students will find the class directly applicable to their middle school and high school writing assignments. 

This is a great class for students who are either highly creative or reluctant writers (or both!). 

If students stay for multiple weeks, they will walk away with tried and true writing techniques that help them write essays with confidence. If students stick around, they will be writing excellent high school level essays. 

This class demystifies the writing process and makes essay writing easy, fun, and accessible. We will cover mostly argumentative/persuasive and literary analysis essays, as these make up most assignments in high school writing programs.

The focus of this class is the writing process, ideation, organization, structure, and logical coherence. When these skills are learned, students no longer say, "I don't know what to write next."

We do not address much grammar, and grammar is only corrected when it interferes with the student's writing or communication. 

We begin class with a short reading, prompt, discussion, or model essay for inspiration. Every week, I teach a certain writing strategy and students have time to write from scratch, revise their writing, or add on to it, using the day's strategy. 

Students should be ready to share their writing, in small groups or with the class. We create a relaxed, encouraging, and affirming class to help students feel comfortable sharing. 

Students should have access to Google Docs and know how to use it before joining this class. We will leave personalized feedback in their documents.


If you want one-on-one help looking at an essay, check out my private tutoring class: https://outschool.com/classes/private-one-on-one-writing-tutoring-ongoing-class-6f8DQvwo

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS

YOUR INSTRUCTOR:

📓 DERRICK HEISEY, Writer and Teacher: Since 2015, Derrick has taught every grade level from Kindergarten to 12th. He is a licensed Special Education teacher with a degree in English Creative Writing from the University of New Mexico and a minor in Philosophy. He's published short stories and poetry, and produces a podcast where he reads his original fiction. According to him, mastering the written word is one of the most empowering journeys a person can pursue, and nothing brings him as much joy as sharing that passion with students. Everyone has something important to say; they just need to find the right words, and Derrick can’t wait to help his students discover their voices. When he isn’t teaching, you can find him in his garden inspecting tomatoes, scribbling in a notebook, or reading a book with his dachshund Charlie Marlow curled up on his lap.
Learning Goals
Compose Well-Organized Essays
Students learn to structure essays with clear introductions, body paragraphs, and conclusions, following a logical flow that boosts confidence in organizing ideas.
Support Claims with Strong Evidence
Students practice writing effective thesis statements and supporting arguments with evidence, gaining skills to select sources and integrate quotations for persuasive writing.
learning goal

Syllabus

Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum
Standards
Aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS)
14 Lessons
over 14 Weeks
Lesson 1:
Outlines for Essays
55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Essay Structure
55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Putting It All Together
55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Thesis Statements
55 mins online live lesson

Other Details

Supply List
Students should have access to Google Docs and know how to use it.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined December, 2020
4.9
570reviews
Popular
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Massachusetts Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
Chris Hurley
Maryland Teaching Certificate
RJ Sterling
Washington Teaching Certificate in Special Education
Derrick Heisey
North Carolina Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Daniel Grissom, M.A.
Master's Degree from University of Massachusetts
Chris Hurley
Master's Degree in English from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Joanna Gallagher
Master's Degree in Education from Maryland Institute Collage of Art
RJ Sterling
Master's Degree in Education from Teachers College at Columbia University
Daniel Grissom, M.A.
Bachelor's Degree in History from Westfield State College
Chris Hurley
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from Rochester Institute of Technology
Maggie Wehler
Bachelor's Degree in Art and Design from Rowan University
Mike Jasorka, Comics Pro
Bachelor's Degree in History from Bryan College
Joanna Gallagher
Bachelor's Degree in English from Bryan College
Joanna Gallagher
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from San Francisco State University
Kevin Anthony Catalan
Bachelor's Degree in English Language and Literature from The University of New Mexico
Derrick Heisey
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from California State University, Fresno
Kaitlyn Sydelle, Anime Comic Artist
Bachelor's Degree in Fine/Studio Arts from UW-Whitewater
Jes Sudbrink
Bachelor's Degree from North Carolina State University
Daniel Grissom, M.A.
Bachelor's Degree in Foreign Language from North Carolina State University
Daniel Grissom, M.A.
State Certified ELA teacher
Master's degree in English Education
14 years of experience as public and private school teacher

Reviews

Live Group Course
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$29

weekly or $397 for 14 classes
1x per week, 14 weeks
55 min

Live video meetings
Ages: 11-16
1-8 learners per class

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