Please note: There must be at least 2 learners enrolled in order to run this class. Sections with fewer learners will be cancelled or asked to transfer.

📣 Get $5 off your first class: Coupon code CONNO9TIBC5

🌟 General 🌟 
In this ongoing class, students will practice writing in the four main types of academic writing that will be expected of them throughout middle school, high school, college, and beyond. 

Over the course of the year, we cover persuasive, expository, literary analysis, and narrative writing, homing in on one particular topic within each writing type each week. 

In each session, students will learn one concept, skill, or skill set. After the lesson, students have time to practice these skills through writing. We first practice with smaller exercises, then I send students to write a paragraph that uses the concept or skill of the day. Please note that we do not always finish the paragraph-writing portion in class. However, students are encouraged to finish for homework and submit to me for feedback. Students will also have the opportunity to share their writing at the end of each class for feedback. 

Students will also have the opportunity to share their writing each class for feedback. They are encouraged to post or send their writing to me after class for written feedback as well.

At the end of each writing unit, students will be assigned an essay prompt that allows them to apply all the skills they've learned in that unit. Students are highly encouraged to write and submit for feedback.

Although there are several sessions that cover one overall topic - persuasive writing, for example - each session is distinct and no prior attendance is necessary. That said, attending for an entire series or year will have the greatest impact on your learner’s writing. 

This course is great for students who:
✅ want to supplement their ELA classes
✅ are looking for homeschool full year writing curriculum
✅ are ESL or ELL students looking for writing lessons from experienced ELA teacher with TEFL certification
✅ want to strengthen their writing skills
✅ want to strengthen their overall understanding of writing in different contexts
✅ want opportunities to receive feedback on their written work
✅ neurodivergent learners who seek a safe space to learn with peers
✅ are looking for a welcoming and inclusive space to interact with peers

At the end of this course, students will be able to:
✅ understand the difference between the four major academic writing types
✅ understand and apply the techniques, standards, and rules for each type or academic writing
✅ apply specific writing skills to strengthen purpose, clarity, argumentation, and creativity in writing
✅ write specific types of pieces within each of the four academic writing types, such as cause and effect expository writing, or theme development literary analysis.

🌟 Weekly Breakdown 🌟 

🍁 Fall Semester 2022

Persuasive Writing:
1. September 5 - September 11: Ethos, Pathos Logos
2. September 12 - September 18: Persuasive writing techniques
3. September 19 - September 25: More persuasive writing techniques
4. September 26 - October 2: Persuasion in advertising

5. October 3 - October 9: Persuasion in propaganda
[🍂October 10 - October 16**NO CLASSES]
6. October 17 - October 23: Claims
7. October 24 - October 30: Counterclaims
8. October 31 - November 6: Rebuttals
9. November 7 - November 13: Putting it all together (thesis statements & outlines)

Expository Writing:
10.  November 14 - November 20: Introduction to expository writing: Reporting
[🦃 November 21 - November 27 Thanksgiving Break **NO CLASSES]
11. November 28 - December 4: Defining
12. December 5 - December 11: Writing about sequence, procedures, and processes 
13. December 12 - December 18:  Writing about classification 
14. December 19 - December 25: Describing & descriptive writing

[☃️ December 25 - January 1: Winter Break **NO CLASSES]

🌸 Spring Semester 2023
15. January 2 - January 8: Comparison writing: Comparing 
16. January 9 - January 15: Comparison writing: Contrasting 
17. January 16 - January 22: Writing about cause & effect 
18. January 23 - January 29: Writing about problems & solutions
19. January 30 - February 5: Personal Reflection 
20. February 6 - February 12: Putting it all together

Literary Analysis Writing
21. February 13 - February 19: Writing about characters & crafting thesis statements ("Fish Cheeks" by Amy Tan)
22. February 20 - February 26: Writing about characters cont. & choosing and using evidence ("Rules of the Game" by Amy Tan)
23. February 27 - March 5: Writing about setting & embedding quotes ("Rules of the Game" by Amy Tan)
24. March 6 - March 12: Writing about tone, & analyzing evidence ("Messy Room" by Shel Silverstein) 
25. March 13 - March 19: Writing about theme & continued skills practice ("The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe)
26. March 20 - March 26: Writing about motifs & continued skills practice ("Identity" by Julio Noblao Polanco)
27. March 27 - April 2: Writing about symbols & continued skills practice (“Identity" by Julio Noblao Polanco)
28. April 3 - April 9: Comparing literature & continued skills practice ("Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman & "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin)
29. April 10 - April 16: Putting it all together

Narrative Writing
30. April 17 - April 23: Nonfiction narratives - Personal statements
31. April 24 - April 30: Nonfiction narratives - Finding your voice (style & tone)
32. May 1 - May 7: Nonfiction narratives - Wit, humor, & irony
33. May 8 - May 14: How to show v. tell
34. May 15 - May 21: Fiction narratives - using imagery
35. May 22 - May 28: Fiction narratives - using figurative language
36. May 29 - June 4: Fiction narratives - setting the scene
37. June 5 - June 11: Fiction narratives - writing dialogue
38. June 12 - June 18: Fiction narratives - writing the climax
39. June 19 - June 25: TBD!

Schedule subject to change based on student interest

🌟 Class Structure 🌟 
- After introductions, we start with a mini-lesson on the day’s writing topic
- Then, if applicable that day, we complete a few exercises where we apply skills from the mini-lesson 
- After that, students complete tasks that require them to apply the skill or content taught in the mini-lesson 
- Lastly, we write a longer paragraph that applies the skills and share out optionally before signing off. Students are encouraged to finish their paragraphs and post/send them to me for feedback.

🌟 Teaching Methods 🌟 
This writing class is centered around direct instruction and skills practice. I strive to incorporate lots of encouragement and support while still maintaining high expectations and rigor. 

🌟 Interaction 🌟 
Students will collaborate to build understanding of the topic through questions and collaborative skills practice.

🌟 Prior Knowledge 🌟 
Students don’t need any specific prior knowledge. However, they should be at the appropriate grade level where they are ready to study the writing topics.

🌟 About the Teacher 🌟 
Meg Connolly is a certified teacher with bachelors degrees in literature and philosophy. She has masters degrees in teaching ELA, grades 7-12, and in teaching students with disabilities. In addition to her masters, she is TESOL certified and experienced in working with ESL students. She has nine years of teaching experience both in the US public school system and online. She also writes her own fictional short stories for podcasts. Check out her teacher profile for more info.

🌟 Meet and Greet 🌟
If you or your learner are hesitant to sign up before meeting me (understandably!), feel free to book a meet and greet here: https://outschool.com/classes/meet-greet-15-minute-session-MGpwi3mP#usXSuDFS3Z