Essay Writing Essentials: How to Write Essays | Foundations of Academic Writing

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

➡️ Already mastered the foundations essays? Ready for more advanced academic writing? Join Academic Writing Essentials: https://bit.ly/academicwritingessentials

➡️ Want one-on-one help? Check out my private tutoring class: https://outschool.com/classes/private-one-on-one-writing-tutoring-ongoing-class-6f8DQvwo

➡️ Looking for a more comprehensive 16-week course? Check out our full course listing here: https://outschool.com/classes/essay-writing-essentials-how-to-write-essays-personal-feedback-Irx60p5h



MASTER THE ART OF ESSAY WRITING 

We have taught these essential writing techniques to students of all backgrounds and ability levels in grades 6-12 in classrooms to help them confidently write strong essays.

This class demystifies the writing process, making essay writing easy, fun, and accessible.

We focus on only the most essential skills--no fluff--including:

🎯 The writing process – from brainstorming to final drafts

🎯 Ideation, organization, structure, and logical coherence

🎯 Argumentative/persuasive and literary analysis essays, the most common high school assignments

By mastering these skills, students will no longer say, "I don’t know what to write next!"



WHO IS THIS CLASS FOR?

This class is perfect for:

Middle & high school students – the class is directly applicable to their writing assignments

Creative or reluctant writers – we welcome both!

Students who want to improve their ability to write strong, confident essays



WHY PARENTS AND KIDS LOVE THIS CLASS

Here's what makes this class so popular with our families:

🎯 No homework! – All writing work is completed DURING class time

🏡 Optimized for busy families – Teaching only the skills that truly matter for essay mastery

👉 Personalized feedback – Students receive direct, constructive input on their work inside their Google Doc

🏆 Proven results! – Students leave the class with clear, structured writing skills and improved confidence in their ability to craft strong essays.

We know kids have a lot on their plate, so we make sure students can practice, refine, and improve their writing in class. Of course, they’re welcome to write more outside of class if they choose.



WHAT TO EXPECT IN CLASS

📖 Each week, we teach a new proven writing strategy or method that contributes to writing compelling essays

✍️ Students have time to write from scratch, revise, or build on their writing using that week’s strategy

🤝 Students will share their work with the teacher, and sometimes in small groups or with the class in a relaxed, encouraging, and supportive environment

📝 Students get feedback in their Google doc from the teacher directly

Students who stay for multiple weeks will develop tried-and-true techniques for high school-level essay writing. By the end, they will be writing excellent essays with confidence!

In class time alone, students will complete 2-4 full essays, plus additional writing exercises such as brainstorming, paragraphs, and outlines.

Note: We do not focus on grammar. Grammar is only corrected if it interferes with clarity and communication.



TECH REQUIREMENTS

🖥️ Google Docs access required – Students should know how to use it before joining



WEEKLY SCHEDULE 
Here is the weekly schedule breakdown of the class and the subjects covered from the first date to the last. This is a condensed version of our 16-week course found here: https://outschool.com/classes/essay-writing-essentials-how-to-write-essays-personal-feedback-Irx60p5h

Outlines Overview
Essay Structure & Outline Practice
Thesis Statements
Gathering, Incorporating, & Citing Evidence
Analyzing Evidence
Introductions & Conclusions
Literary Essay — Read the Text & Outline
Literary Essay Writing
Final Round of Essays & Review

We welcome late enrollments through week 5. If you see a spot available, it means, you're welcome to join us and will do just fine as long as your child knows all the preceding skills and feels prepared to come into an essay writing class. If you'd like to know what exact week we're on, feel free to send us a message.

Sign up your child and watch them gain confidence in their writing skills. Whether your child loves writing or struggles with it, this class will equip them with the confidence and techniques to write outstanding essays.



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.

📖 MICHELLE BOWEN, Literacy and Storytelling Specialist:
Michelle is a passionate and dedicated teacher who has made her home in teaching middle and high school ELA and literature courses. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of San Diego and her Master’s in Liberal Studies: Ethics, Science, and Culture from Arizona State University. With a knack for teaching argumentation and close reading, she helps her students develop their analytical skills while fostering a love for literature. Her teaching philosophy is best summed up by quote from *On Writing* by Stephen King: “Just remember that Dumbo didn’t need the feather; the magic was in him.” She believes every student has the ability to grow into a confident reader, writer, and thinker-they just need the right support to realize it. When she’s not in the classroom, Michelle can usually be found at a film festival discussing the finer points of horror and sci-fi films or hiking the California coast.