Superb Sentences & Dazzling Descriptions
In this self-paced (video-based) course on basic writing, we'll move from basic to advanced concepts by breaking sentences down into simple subjects and predicates.... and then building them up (the right way!) into stunning creations!
Dana Lorelle, Writing, Vocabulary, Essays
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5.0
Number of reviews:(1,271)
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What's included
4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentHomework
1 hour per week. Students will have several worksheets and Nearpod exercises as optional work.Class Experience
US Grade 2 - 5
Beginner Level
Sentences might seem simple, but they're not! Help your child avoid the two biggest pitfalls of sentence construction in this engaging self-paced class -- and then help them soar to new writing heights by learning how to add on to the basics to create dazzling descriptions! This class consists of four videos. Each video includes a warm-up activity, lessons on the particular topic, and activities (students can pause the video as necessary). Three of the lessons also include a Nearpod activity, and worksheets are supplied for practice. Students are welcome to turn the worksheets in for instructor feedback. Despite this being a video-based class, I am always open for questions and feedback! Students are welcome to turn in their writing to me, and I'll send back a scan and either written comments or video feedback. The first lessons help students understand the concept of a sentence and subject/predicate pairs. Later lessons move toward refining adjective use and strengthening sentences through conjunctions. For a lesson-by-lesson breakdown, please refer to the syllabus.
Learning Goals
Students will improve both in mechanics and content of basic writing.
Syllabus
4 Lessons
over 4 WeeksLesson 1:
Subjects & predicates
We'll cover subjects, predicates, and the idea that a sentence has to make sense (although we might have a sentence about an old brown cow rowing a boat, so "make sense" doesn't mean we won't have fun!). Lesson 2:
Conjunctions
We've covered how to write a complete sentence. But what about writing longer sentences? We'll work on using conjunctions to join thoughts... and then we'll examine how to correct sentences that are just way too long by identifying run-on sentences and devising strategies to fix them. Lesson 3:
Adjectives, adverbs, and dependent clauses
Now that we know how to write grammatically correct sentences, we need to transform these "stick-figure sentences" into "painting sentences"! We'll add adjectives, adverbs, and dependent clauses to fashion some truly superb sentences. Lesson 4:
Descriptive writing
Now that we've learned the steps to writing strong sentences, we'll add to that knowledge by focusing on how to write descriptively. An apple isn't just red: it's juicy, crunchy, sweet, and possibly wormy. Using pictures, we will start with basic sentences and build them up to dazzling descriptions that are full of sensory details. Other Details
Parental Guidance
Three of the lessons include an optional Nearpod activity, which requires parental approval.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined February, 2019
5.0
1271reviews
Star Educator
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Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
My passion -- as well as my professional background -- is writing. Professionally, I hold a B.A. in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and I've been published in numerous newspapers and magazines. I've also taught writing and literature classes to students of all ages and abilities. This FLEX class is a similar version of the very popular live class Superb Sentences.
On a personal note, I have homeschooled all five of my children and taught them all to read and write... and with each it has been a different experience! What's easy for one child is not easy for another. When I teach online, I always remember that it's important to keep learning fun and to incorporate different methods of teaching to reach all my students. Reviews
Self-Paced Course
$13
weekly or $50 for all content4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks of teacher support
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1 year of access to the content
Completed by 244 learners
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Ages: 7-11
