Writing Under Pressure: Timed Writing Practice (Ongoing)

The goal of these classes is for learners to be confident in how to "attack" a prompt quickly and efficiently so as to get words on paper within a set time frame.  Learners will be guided in organizing their ideas into a cohesive paragraph and/or multi-paragraph response while maintaining a firm handle on grammar, mechanics, and sentence structure.  Additionally, learners will be encouraged to strengthen their writing through expanding their vocabulary and by using logical connectors.  

Due to the nature of this class, it is essential that students arrive ON TIME for class.  Writing pointers and directions will be given by the teacher within the first five to ten minutes of class time and then students will have the majority of class time to write.  The instructor will guide learners during the writing time period, letting them know what minute mark they are at and where they should be in regards to their written responses.  Editing and responses to learners' writing will occur in the last five to ten minutes of class, and, if additional feedback is needed, learners who share an unrestricted Google doc link of their writing will receive further comments after the class time.  

Learners will be encouraged and expected to participate when called upon, either orally or via the chat.  They will also be encouraged to share their writing, if comfortable, either orally or via screen sharing with the class.  Learners must share their writing with the instructor, preferably during class via an unrestricted Google document link that is privately shared with the instructor, or immediately at the close of class via a PDF, Word document, or scanned picture of written work that would then be posted in the classroom teacher area (directly to teacher).  

This course will rotate through the following writing areas with each class period having a different prompt:

COURSE LAY-OUT:
1. Week 1: Narrative & Descriptive Writing = Creative Adventure
Focus:  Quickly brainstorming; consistency in voice (1st or 3rd person) and in verb tense; sentence and word variety
2. Week 2: Narrative & Descriptive Writing = Hypothetical Imaginative 
Focus:  Quickly brainstorming; using prompt to form first sentence; conditional sentence structure and verb tense; organizing with logical connectors of addition
3. Week 3: Narrative & Descriptive Writing = Personal Reflection* 
Focus: Quickly brainstorming; using prompt to form first sentence; consistent verb tense; sentence and word variety; organization with logical connectors for examples 
4. Week 4: Narrative Writing = Autobiographical Response*
Focus:  Quickly brainstorming; using prompt to form first sentence; sentence and word variety; organization with logical connectors of addition and example

*Note that the personal reflection and autobiographical response classes are especially helpful for students preparing for special programs (e.g., honor organizations, study abroad, or work internships) or applications (e.g., scholarships or colleges).

Learners can come in at any time as each class is a stand-alone class, providing an opportunity to learn, review, practice, and receive feedback.

All writing will occur in class; however, learners may be given optional resource materials and/or recommendations of helpful websites to cover outside of class.

Note:  If extensive revisions are deemed necessary or it becomes apparent that a learner needs additional fundamental writing assistance, learners may be referred to a separate tutoring section to take alongside this course in order to make maximum progress.  Additional tutoring is always optional and involves enrolling in a separate class specifically for one-on-one tutoring.