My goal for students who aren't confident about their writing skills is that they will finish this course with the necessary tools to boldly tackle writing assignments that will inevitably come their way throughout high school and college. 


CCSS
W.8.4
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS
W.8.5
With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.
CCSS
W.8.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
CCSS
W.8.10
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
CCSS
W.9-10.4
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS
W.9-10.5
Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.
W.9-10.10
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.
CCSS
W.11-12.4
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS
W.11-12.5
Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.
CCSS
W.11-12.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
CCSS
W.11-12.10
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.

I have been teaching English Language Arts for over 20 years. Some of my students have been natural writers who innately understand the process and the "sound" of good writing, while others have struggled to get their great ideas out of their heads and onto paper. I enjoy the process with both and encourage strengths as well as support weaknesses. 

As someone who loves to write, I've also had the privilege of writing and publishing four books (both self-published and traditionally published). I am a professional copyeditor, working on everything from full-length novels to non-fiction to website copy to dissertations. 

Homework Offered
Weekly homework typically includes a worksheet to practice what we've learned as well as a writing assignment, which will vary in length from week to week. Full essays will be developed from inception to completion. 
1 - 2 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Weekly worksheets will be reviewed in class. Essays and other assigned writing will be read, returned to the learner, and include my suggested edits and notes. My goal in assessment is growth, not criticism. 
Grades Offered