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High School Essay Writing (Full-Curriculum Semester Course)

In this 14-week course, learners will embark on an exciting journey to master the art of essay writing. The focus will be on crafting three compelling essays about topics that spark their interests. Writing should be fun!
Daysha Rae, M.Ed
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(530)
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What's included

14 live meetings
11 hrs 40 mins in-class hours
Homework
1 hour per week. Homework may be assigned outside of class, depending on the progress made during class time. I will provide written and sometimes video feedback at every step of the writing process. To receive this individualized feedback, learners need to submit their work to me.
Letter Grade
I will provide enrichment activities for the first three weeks of the course. After that, each essay will be graded using a rubric, which will serve as feedback on the final essays. If you would like a formal grade report at the end of the course, please let me know, and I will be happy to provide one!

Class Experience

US Grade 9 - 12
Welcome!

The course will start with the basics and move from smaller essays to the final, culminating essay, which is the argument essay. This class is also a mixture of mini-lessons, in-class practice, and independent work.  Learners will have a lot of guidance, super helpful handouts, and many examples view. I write each essay alongside them, so they can see the process first-hand. "I do, we do, you do" is my teaching motto.

🎓 Expert Guidance:
As an experienced high school teacher and writing professor, I am committed to supporting each learner’s unique writing journey. I aim to build confidence and pride in their writing abilities, providing detailed attention and feedback both in class and outside. I use grading rubrics and allow as many revisions as learners need to feel confident in their essays.

Course Highlights:
🌟 Engaging and Relevant Topics: Learners will learn to brainstorm and choose topics that resonate with them.
🔍 Research Skills: Learners will discover how to find and cite credible sources, focusing on MLA formatting for in-text and parenthetical citations.
📚 Writing Essentials: From crafting attention-grabbing introductions and thesis statements to developing well-supported claims and counterclaims, this class has it all.
🖋 Structure and Style: Learners will master the skills of writing effective topic and concluding sentences, and composing impactful introductions and conclusions.
📖 Literary Analysis: Learners will dig into literature, analyzing and interpreting texts.
💻 Technical Skills: Learning the ins and outs of setting up a Word document or Google Doc using MLA formatting is essential to this course and an essay-writing course.
✏️ Editing and Revising: Learners will develop the critical skill of refining and improving their writing.
🔄 Feedback and Growth: I provide regular feedback using rubrics, written, and verbal commentary, tailored to each learner’s pace and style.

Syllabus Summary (click on Syllabus to get a breakdown of each week's topics):
The course begins with an introduction to formal writing styles and brainstorming techniques, followed by research basics and identifying credible sources. Teens will learn my special and effective note-taking processes as well! The course covers MLA formatting, including citing sources and creating a Works Cited page. Learners will write an expository essay. The course also includes reading and analyzing literature, writing a literary analysis, and drafting an argument essay with claims and counterclaims. The final weeks involve reviewing MLA formatting and wrapping up the course.

What Learners Will Gain:
📈 Confidence in Formal Writing: Feel confident in tackling high school and college-level writing tasks.
🧠 Enhanced Research and Analysis Skills: Become adept at handling complex literary and research materials.
💬 Articulate Expression: Cultivate a powerful writing voice that clearly communicates ideas.

🚀 Come Join the Writing Journey:
This course goes beyond basic essay writing; it's about empowering learners with the skills to articulate their thoughts compellingly and confidently. Let me help your teen turn writing into a rewarding journey!

👀Looking for a self-paced option with teacher feedback?
Master High School Essay Writing Self-Paced Course: https://outschool.com/classes/master-high-school-essay-writing-jxqeFq0m?usid=tIZqRxp9&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link

Advanced Essay Writing Preparing for College-Level Writing Self-Paced Course: https://outschool.com/classes/advanced-essay-writing-preparing-for-college-level-writing-tcSAD8kD?usid=tIZqRxp9&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link
Learning Goals
Teens will learn the writing process and compose three high school-level essays, adhering to MLA formatting and citation rules.
learning goal

Syllabus

Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum
14 Lessons
over 14 Weeks
Lesson 1:
Introduction to Formal Essay Writing
 This lesson covers what formal essay writing is and isn’t, along with the steps to the essay writing process. 
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Writing a Solid Thesis Statement and Topic Sentences
 After choosing a topic, the first step of the writing process is building the perfect thesis statement. 
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
MLA Crash Course
 Most people who write essays don’t understand that there is a specific, universal way of citing evidence and formatting essays. This is called MLA, and this crash course is a guide through the process of properly citing and formatting an essay. 
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Introduction to the Expository Essay
 This lesson describes what expository writing is, what types of topics one can write about, and a demonstration of how to set up the notes document. 
50 mins online live lesson

Other Details

Supply List
Learners need to have access to either Google Docs (preferred) or Microsoft Word for this course. Handouts will be provided to the learners in the Classroom.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined June, 2020
4.9
530reviews
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Teacher expertise and credentials
North Dakota Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Master's Degree in Education from College of St. Scholastica
Bachelor's Degree in Music from Jamestown College
Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education from Jamestown College
Bachelor's Degree in Finance from Jamestown College
Bachelor's Degree in English Language and Literature from Jamestown College
I am a veteran high school English teacher (over 20 years experience) with a Master's in Education and a current college writing professor.  One of the most exciting parts of teaching for me is helping students improve their writing skills and guiding students through the writing and research processes.

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Live Group Course
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$280

for 14 classes
1x per week, 14 weeks
50 min

Completed by 238 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-17
4-15 learners per class

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