Essays Writing Strategies to Elevate Paragraphs! Full Year Curriculum

In this class, students will expand on their writing skills through a targeted approach that emphasizes detailed paragraphs, sentence variety, and different styles or forms of writing. For learners who can write simple paragraphs, this is the next step to strengthening their writing and eventually writing multi-paragraphs.
The skills learned in this class will be transferable and applicable to various forms of writing, even in creative writing. Students will be given writing prompts in these forms: persuasive, narrative, and expository. Depending on the form, specific skills will be emphasized. 

Each week we will focus on one strategy for a different form, and we will be rotating between the above-mentioned essays every three weeks. Some strategies include expanding on topic sentences to add relevant details, varying sentence starters, smooth transitions between different parts of an essay, impactful language, and much more. 

Classes will be very action-based, meaning we practice forming topic sentences, expanding on the body of a paragraph, and creating concluding sentences. Students will have access to multiple examples in differing forms and be able to implement the various strategies into their essays.

The goal is for learners to evolve from writing simple paragraphs to well-developed paragraphs with eloquence. This will bolster their confidence in their writing abilities as they pursue various subjects. Since this class is focused on strengthening paragraphs, learners should be able to write a basic paragraph. Both hesitant and budding writers are welcome in this class. Class sizes will be kept small to allow for extra support.



☘️ Please note, that feedback from both teachers and peers is an essential part of developing their writing.  To turn in work, learners must edit their work to the best of their ability.  Learners will need to continue working on their essays outside of class and submit them for feedback. Depending on the class size, we may be able to read in class each week or rotate, to give everyone a chance. I aim to return feedback between Mondays and Thursdays.

~ EXTRAS- If there is time at the end of the class, we may head over to KAHOOT or GIMKIT for some extra activities- Extra take-home sheets will also be provided.


August
Week 5: Persuasive writing- Survival writing writing prompt+ sentence run-ons
Week 6: Persuasive- Technology writing prompt
Week 7: Persuasive- Inspiring Characters writing prompt
Week 8: Refresher break.

September
Week 9: a little break to refresh
Week 10: Cause and Effect- Inspiring Kids 
Week 11: Cause and Effect- No screens
Week 12: Opinion Essay- Invisibility


October
Oct 6th: Opinion essay- explanatory
Oct 13th: Fantasy writing prompt + Irony
Oct 20th:Fantasy writing prompt+ Dramatic Irony
Oct 27th: Historical fiction+P.O.V of a Character

November
Nov 3rd: Persuasive: Technology Prompt & Expanding on Subtopics
Nov 10: Persuasive: Languages Prompt & Complex Sentences
Nov 17: Persuasive: Class Choice & Compound complex sentences
Nov 24 Expository: Definition Essay& Constructing a thesis statement.

Dec 1: Expository: Cause& Effect Essays & transition sentences
Dec 7: Expository: Process Essay & Transition Essay
Dec 15: break
Dec 30: Personal Narrative Essay+ Literary Plotline

Jan 5: Personal Narrative Essay + compound sentences
Jan 13: Personal Narrative Essay + complex sentences
Jan 20: Personal Narrative Essay + compound-complex sentences
Jan 26:Persuasive Essay

Feb 2nd: Persuasive Essay
Feb 9th: Persuasive Essay
Feb 16th: Persuasive Essay
Feb 23rd: Expository Essays

March 2nd: Expository Essays
March 9th: Expository Essays
March 16th: Personal Narrative Prompts
March 23rd: Personal Narrative Prompts
March 30th: Personal Narrative Prompts




Lesson Structure
0:00-3:00 mins: welcome and introduction to topic/writing prompt
3:00-7:00 mins: mini writing exercise
7:00- 25:00 mins: Brainstorming & discussion
25:00-50:00 mins: writing, sharing feedback
Beyond writing: Publishing on recommended sites


Welcome and, I look forward to seeing your learners!