Writing Class: 200 Words a Week

This ongoing weekly class is designed to offer students a guided writing environment with in-class assignments that focus both on output and grammar/style. It is suitable for tweens and young teens who are already comfortable with writing and want weekly opportunities to write about interesting topics, as well as for students who might be more reluctant to write and need more direction and focus.  

The goals of this class are 1) give students a weekly time for focused writing, 2) introduce them to/ remind them of grammatical and literary elements that are elements of being strong writers, and 3) give them weekly practice in self-expression for an audience. 

The goal of 200 words is to give students a concrete goal. Writing more is fine! 

A typical class will involve a brief warm-up followed by an instructor presentation and discussion on a particular aspect of writing. This might be the use of -ly adverbs, the use of a dependent clause, alliteration, parallelism, or other devices. Then, the students will use time in class to practice this device by drawing on images, their imaginations, and prompts. Finally, they will put this knowledge to work on a longer in-class assignment. 

Grammatical and style topics will range from the expected (do not start any sentences with subject-verb openers… replace weak verbs with strong verbs…) to the more unexpected (use at least five examples of alliteration… use 10 three-syllable words…). 

The prompts and assignments will differ each week and rotate between descriptive, expository, persuasive, narrative, and creative writing. 

Week 1 (Nov. 4-8): Descriptive Writing with Adjectives & Adverbs
Focus: Using vivid adjectives and adverbs to enhance descriptions.
Prompt: Describe a mysterious place you’ve never been to but can imagine vividly (e.g., an enchanted forest, a futuristic city). Use at least five -ly adverbs and ten strong adjectives to bring it to life.

Week 2: (Nov. 11-15): Narrative Writing with Dependent Clauses
Focus: Creating complex sentences with dependent clauses.
Prompt: Write a short story that begins with the phrase "Even though I knew it was risky, I..." Use at least three sentences that include dependent clauses to add depth to your narrative.

Week 3 (Nov. 18-22): Persuasive Writing with Strong Verbs
Focus: Replacing weak verbs with stronger, more dynamic ones.
Prompt: Write a persuasive letter. Replace weak verbs like “is” or “was” with more impactful alternatives.

Week 4 (Dec. 2-6): Creative Writing with Alliteration
Focus: Using alliteration to enhance rhythm and interest.
Prompt: Write a story or poem where you describe a busy place. Use at least five examples of alliteration to make your writing playful and musical.

Week 5 (Dec. 9-15): Expository Writing with Parallelism
Focus: Using parallelism for clarity and impact.
Prompt: Write a "how-to" guide on a fun activity (e.g., building a fort, baking a cake). Use parallel sentence structures to create a clear and engaging flow.

Week 6 (Dec. 16-20): Descriptive Writing with Sensory Details
Focus: Engaging the senses in writing.
Prompt: Describe your favorite meal using all five senses. What does it look, smell, taste, feel, and sound like when you eat it?