Week One: On Sunday, students will have access to a prerecorded video that explains how to craft a clear and effective thesis statement. The students should pick a topic to use in class that they plan to write about in the future or that interests them. I will post videos on different essay types (narrative, persuasive, compare and contrast, rhetorical analysis, and literary analysis) and ask the students to post a thesis statement based off their chosen topic for each essay type. Students will have access to a short Kahoot quiz. Students should also post a full introduction paragraph on the topic they've chosen to receive constructive feedback. 

Week Two: This video will cover topic sentences for the paper's body paragraphs. Students will post one topic sentence from their Week One thesis statement to use in their first body paragraph. Students will post one piece of relevant research (a paraphrased sentence, idea, quote, or statistic) that supports their topic sentence and can be used in their first body paragraph. Students can access to their second weekly Kahoot! and should post their full body paragraph for review. 

Weeks Three and Four: Students will work on the topic sentences for the second and third body paragraphs of their essay. The structure and expectations for these weeks will look similar to Week Two. Students can refer back to Week Two's video or post any questions in the classroom for further explanation and discussion. By the end of Week Four, students will have completed four weekly Kahoots! and all three body paragraphs of their essay. 

Week Five: Sunday's video will explain the conclusion of an essay. We will discuss the importance of this final paragraph and how to restate the paper's information in a new and unique way. Students will practice restating their thesis statement, the three topic sentences from their body paragraphs, and one final overall summary statement for their conclusion. They will receive their final Kahoot! and post their conclusion for their final round of feedback.  

When I was a tutor, I spent most of my time reading and editing essays (often from college students!). Now, as an adjunct English professor, I realize there is a real, ongoing need for this type of class. I use straightforward tips to demystify essay writing. My goal is to make a potentially stressful assignment as simple as possible. While earning my Master's degree in Creative Writing, I was anxious about my own 30 page extended critical essay. Luckily I had a wonderful teacher who gave me invaluable advice. I was able to turn a stressful situation into an enjoyable experience. I hope to carry on that legacy and pay it forward with the next generation. 

Homework Offered
Students have one weekly video to watch and small writing tasks assigned each day. They should write one paragraph of their essay each week and complete a short weekly Kahoot quiz. 
1 - 2 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
The weekly Kahoot quiz is a great way to gauge the learner's understanding of each weekly topic. I will give feedback on each paragraph the student posts, so by the end of class, the student will have received feedback on their entire essay. 
Grades Offered
Please let me know if you require a grade for this class.