1. Recognize structure and literary devices of fictional narratives and poetry.
2. Recognize structure and literary devices of nonfiction.
3. Use the writing process to produce final drafts of writing (brainstorm/plan; draft; revise/edit/proofread; final draft).
4. Write a short narrative that includes elements of plot, a strong opening, dialogue, and sophisticated word choice.
5. Write a poem using appropriate poetry structure and literary devices.
6. Write a literary analysis essay that demonstrates critical thinking skills, proper essay structure, text evidence, elaboration, and transitions.
7. Write an essay in response to nonfiction that demonstrates critical thinking skills, proper essay structure, text evidence, elaboration, and transitions.
8. Write a persuasive essay that makes a claim and supports the claim with evidence, addresses the opposing point of view (counterclaim), and contains proper essay structure, elaboration, and transitions.

Instructional Specialty: Writing Structure & Composition and State Standardized ELA Assessments; Bachelor's Degree in English Language & Literature, Rutgers University; Public School Reading & Writing Teacher, 10 years, grades 6-10; Online Tutor & Course Instructor, 2+ years, grades pre-k through grade 11; Extensive Experience with ELA State Testing Requirements; experience with homeschool curricula

Homework Offered
Learners will receive weekly reading and/or writing homework that should take approximately one hour to complete before the next session.
1 - 2 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
In-session feedback will be provided each session. Final drafts submitted by learners will be scored by the instructor outside of session time according to a rubric. Feedback will be provided for further revisions.
Grades Offered

Learners do not need to purchase texts separately. The instructor will provide copies of texts from the following sources:

* Age-appropriate poetry by classic authors like Langston Hughes, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Edgar Allen Poe, etc. 
* Modern poetry and short narratives from the anthology for middle-schoolers Flying Lessons and Other Stories, edited by Ellen Oh  
* Short narratives from the anthology for middle-schoolers The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities: New Stories about Mythic Heroes, by Rick Riordan (author of The Lightning Thief)
* Age appropriate samples from the anthology of Shirley Jackson's classic stories titled, The Lottery and Other Stories

For the response to nonfiction and persuasive essay weeks, we will read about and discuss current event topics in science and history that will include topics such as ocean pollution, space exploration, recent discoveries of ancient civilization sites, the animal world, etc. Material from the websites Time4Kids and Science News Explores will be provided.