The Elegant Essay: Crafting Descriptive and Narrative Essays for Power and Punch
Cindy Frank
Star Educator
Popular
Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(587)
In this 8-week multi-day course students will learn to craft essays with creativity for a lifetime of confidence and skill. ESL friendly, CEFR level C1, C2 (Advanced). #academic
Class experience
US Grade 7 - 10
Advanced Level
Kindly note: This is an ESL friendly class, CEFR level — C1, C2 (Advanced) Please feel free to write me via Outschool email with questions. *** WRITE TO THE TOP! Each of us has our own strong opinions. Each of us has our own singular voice. What we need is what all writers need: the precise skills and the hard won confidence to communicate via the written word clearly and coherently, to write with passion, persuasion and power. The Elegant Essay is the first in a series of classes to...
8 lessons//8 Weeks
Week 1Lesson 1Strategies for Reading and Responding to What You ReadIn class essay to consider: Holy the Firm (also known as Death of a Moth) by Annie Dillard Homework: Annie Dillard Descriptive assignment (due by Class #2); Sentence Composing for College, essay to read for class #2: The Miss Dennis School of Writing by Alice SteinbachWeek 2Lesson 2Considering One's Purpose and AudienceIn class essay to consider: The Miss Dennis School of Writing by Alice Steinbach Homework: Sentence Composing for College, essay to read for class #3: Joyas Voladoras by Brian Doyle At home essay to write due before class #3, Profile of Teacher inspired by SteinbachWeek 3Lesson 3How to Come Up With A Subject and Brainstorm EffectivelyIn class essay to consider: Joyas Voladoras by Brian Doyle Homework: Imitative Writing Assignment (due by Class #4) Sentence Composing for College, essay to read for class #4 Bracken County, Northern Kentucky by Grace WelteWeek 4Lesson 4Organizing and DraftingIn class essay to consider: Bracken County, Northern Kentucky by Grace Welte Homework: essay to read for class #5: In Case You Ever Want to Go Home Again by Barbara Kingsolver, At home essay to write after class 4, due before class #5, Descriptive Essay inspired by Joyas Voladoras by Brian Doyle, grammar assignmentWeek 5Lesson 5How To Revise With SkillIn class essay to consider: In Case You Ever Want to Go Home Again by Barbara Kingsolver homework: Essay to read for class #6: Orange Crush by Yiyuan Li, Mini-Narrative writing assignment due before class #6.Week 6Lesson 6How to Edit and ProofreadIn class essay to consider: Orange Crush by Yiyuan Li Homework: essay to read for class #7: The Sanctuary of School by Lynda Barry, At home essay to write due before class #7, Coming of Age Narrative essay inspired by Orange Crush by Yiyuan Li., Glossary Terms assignment.Week 7Lesson 7How to Write Cogent and Clear ParagraphsIn class essay to consider: The Sanctuary of School by Lynda Barry. Homework: Essay to read before class #8: Toni Morrison’s Nobel Acceptance Speech. At home essay to write due before class #8, Narrative essay inspired by The Sanctuary of School by Lynda Barry, SAT Word List.Week 8Lesson 8How to Develop Your Own Individual Writing StyleIn class essay to consider: Toni Morrison’s Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech. At home work: 40 Great Essays, Suggested AP reading lists. Essays on writing.
*To gain confidence in both creativity and organization for the essay format *Understand all the basic ideas of communication through essay * To communicate effectively, think adroitly and respond fluently in writing * Improve memory retention and organizational skills in crafting essays * Expand vocabulary and word usage and phrasing *To gain deeper understanding of the nuances of literature and the essay format *To Improve basic grammar
In my longtime work as both tutor and teacher of both middle and high school students, and as a former book publishing professional, I have guided writers of all ages and abilities to give each communicator the skills to think deeply, to cultivate an individual voice and style, and ultimately to discover true confidence to write well now and for always.
Homework Offered
Each week students will read a minimum of two essays to give background to the type of essay being taught for the week. Students will complete one to two short writing assignments per week to support the classroom work and also craft an essay per week. All work will be formally assessed with a nuanced written response and returned to students in a timely manner. Additionally, there will be optional assignments in grammar.2 - 4 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
All student work will be formally assessed with written comments for maximum understanding and growth. Student work will always be returned in a timely manner prior to the next class so students will be able to absorb information to benefit their work and progress on the upcoming assignments.Grades Offered
3 files available upon enrollmentA syllabus with listing of all lectures/assignments will be provided at the first session. No book purchase is necessary for this class-- all reading assignments will be sent via either link or pdf prior to each session.
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Possible essays for use in this class include: Holy the Firm by Annie Dillard, How I Wrote the Moth Essay--and Why by Annie Dillard, The Miss Dennis School of Writing by Alice Steinbach, Joyas Voladoras by Brian Doyle, Once More to the Lake by E.B. White, Bracken County, Northern Kentucky by Grace Welte, In Case You Ever Want to Go Home Again by Barbara Kingsolver, Orange Crush by Yiyuan Li, The Back of the Bus by Mary Melbane and The Sanctuary of School by Lynda Barry. All of these essays are aimed at sophisticated readers, special note for the Once More to the Lake by E.B. White which touches on mortality, Back of the Bus by Mary Melbane which deals with race relations, The Sanctuary of School by Lynda Barry which is based on on the subject of child neglect. Sensitive questions that may arise from the issues presented will be explained as literary devices essential to the overall understanding and meaning of the essay. If you have questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to me.
The Norton Sampler: Short Essays for Composition by Thomas Cooley 8th Edition One Hundred Great Essays ed by Robert DiYanni Dreyer's English by Benjamin Dreyer Sentence Composing for College by Don Killgallon Sentence Composing for High School by Don Killgallon THESE BOOKS DO NOT NEED TO BE PURCHASED FOR CLASS.
Star Educator
Popular
Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(587)
Hello, Everyone, I'm Cindy Frank! *Proud ACE Educator and INDEPENDENT TEACHER *Classes limited to 6 students--all have a voice in the classroom * All classes taught, written, and created by me for my learners *Each session a full 55 minutes of...
Group Class
$225
for 8 classes1x per week, 8 weeks
55 min
Completed by 64 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-17
2-6 learners per class
