Write On! Essay Writing - Ongoing - for Beginners (Ages 10-13)

Essay writing. Just the mere mention can send waves of fear through a student. The reason? Confusion over how to actually write an essay.
This course will cover the basics of how to plan the skeleton of an argumentative essay, how to develop a thesis and support it, and how to edit the essay to maximize its points. I will work with the students on both group and individual levels through each step of the essay-writing process. For students who have different learning styles or difficulties, I will try to gear the process to their own mode of learning.
THIS CLASS WILL CYCLE EVERY TWO (2) WEEKS, according to the following outline:

Week 1 (tentative start, 11/01/2021):
Day 1: a. The point of essays  b. Generating essay topics c. What is a thesis? 
          d. Structure of an essay (with example) & how to remember for essays big and small  
*Will be writing short essay together as class, both sides of argument
          e. Work on group (voted) essay topic outline, both sides. 
          f. Homework: come to class with thesis topic (ie. pick a side) and 2 reasons
Day 2: a. Share thesis topics, reasons  b. Finding "evidence" for outline; real-life quotes, quoting a text  
           c. Work as group to fill out outline for both sides of argument  
           d. Homework: come to next class with "evidence" to support your reasons for your thesis - emailed to me ahead of time preferred

Week 2 (tentative, continuation of Week 1)
Day 1: a. Review essay structure. b. Share "evidence" and input into shared essay organizer (both sides)
           c. Explaining what "evidence" means in terms of reasons, tying back to thesis
           d. Turning outline into full writing: staying concise, sticking to topic
Day 2:
           e. Introduction: write as class, both sides
           f. Body: write first paragraph as class, both sides
           f. Homework: write one paragraph of body
Week 3:
Day 1: a. Share body paragraphs, input into class essay. Continue writing more body paragraphs.
           b. Conclusion structure: homework = come to class with written conclusion
Day 2: 
           a. Share conclusions from homework. Create one main conclusion
           b. Transitional words between paragraphs for effect: what are these? 
               Go-to list of openers, transitional words (list will be available for download)
           c. Share, which are most effective?
           d. Editing: rubric - what is this? (will be available for download) 
              * Importance of "just writing rough copy first" and saving spelling, punctuation for last
           e. Discuss anything that should be changed to make essay better
           f. Final class-generated essays will be available for download

Weeks following: should this class be a private session, or students continue on past Week 3 and no other students have joined, we can work on improving writing practice and editing.