So You Think You Hate Writing: Essays to Build Skills and Confidence

Students who dread writing often struggle with knowing where to start. In this fun, interactive writing class, we will dive into the world of essays in fun ways that engage even the most reluctant writers.


There are two main goals in this class. Students will, of course, learn step-by-step strategies for writing four different types of essays, but more importantly, they will learn that writing is an important form of power they possess and hopefully gain newfound confidence in their abilities. A confident writer is a comfortable and creative writer. 

In this class, students will get to:
* Write about something they love (expository writing)
* Write about something that matters to them (opinion writing)
* Write instructions for a task they know how to do well (how-to)
* Convince someone to do something (persuasive - good luck, parents!)

Each session will begin with a check-in where students can share anything interesting going on in their lives or something they learned in the past week, etc. This serves a very specific purpose in teaching students that the things they have to say are important and interesting, even if they seem fairly mundane in the grand scheme of life. It also helps students find common ground and feel comfortable sharing their writing. 

Then, we’ll transition to fun writing exercises that will vary depending on student interest. We might design ads for monsters or write dialogue between two cats or play a round of Fortunately-Unfortunately to remind students that words and storytelling can and should be fun. Along the way, students will receive feedback on their ideas and regular praise for thoughtful, brave, and creative choices. 

The rest of our time will be spent working on essay writing skills through interactive lectures and discussions that provide step-by-step strategies for tackling essays.

Students will be assigned homework that can be completed independently and they will have chances to share their finished creations with other students. Final essay length will depend on skill level when starting the class to ensure students are challenged enough to build their confidence but not so much that writing becomes onerous. 

New students can get $10 off my classes with coupon code MITROWJBJN10 until Apr 30, 2025.

IMPORTANT: My classes are safe spaces for creative students. I start every session with a reminder that writing can only thrive when students can be vulnerable. That means any comments about another student's ideas or writing must be supportive. Mean-spirited, critical comments will not be tolerated. Please remind your students to be kind to others before class starts. Thank you!

Interested, but need a different day or time? Let me know by clicking the "Request Another Time" button!