Everything students learned in elementary language arts gets put into practice in middle school when students start writing essays. We will briefly review the basics of writing and cover other important parts of an essay before we start exploring the different types of essays. Each step of the essay writing process will be modeled and provided to the students to use as a guide. In this class, students will complete an expository (informational) essay, narrative essay, argumentative essay, and literary analysis.

This class utilizes Google Docs to provide accountability, and also to encourage students to complete each step of the essay writing process. For each essay, students receive a Google Doc to complete class activities and essays. This allows for real-time updates on revisions, edits, and feedback. It also allows guardians to check on student progress in real-time. Students will receive in-depth feedback on all essays.

At the end of the semester, students will receive a portfolio of the exercises, rough drafts, feedback, and final drafts for their records. Formal grades will be given upon request.

Topics covered will include:
- Writing a thesis statement
- Creating a strong introduction and conclusion paragraph
- Tips for research
- Effective note-taking from research
- Different ways to format an essay
- Writing an outline
- Adding voice and style to an essay
- Picking a unique topic for argumentative
- Elements of literature
- Interpreting literature

Students will receive the following resources:
- Essay planner that can be used for any essay assignment
- Detailed assignment with expectations/rubric
- How to write a good introduction
- Sample essay for each essay we write
- Sample outlines
- Outline templates

Class 1:
 Expository essay/brainstorming
Introduce the class and explain class documentation
Six types of expository essays
Class activity-
Everyone is an expert at something -- Students will spend time writing down a list of things they believe they are "experts" at or subjects they know a lot about. Students will then share (optional) their lists.
Semantic map/brainstorming -- Students will look at their expert list and choose three topics from their list. They will then brainstorm and create a semantic map to see which topics they know the most about and what they know about them.
Students will look over their expert lists and see if any of them would make a good topic for an expository essay.
We will discuss how to pick a unique angle for an essay.
HOMEWORK: Students will choose the topic for their expository essay and gather resources for their essay. Students will need to bring these resources (articles, books, magazines, etc...) to the next class.


Class 2:
Different methods of notetaking and organizing notes
Class activity- Students will read over their sources and take notes for their essays.
Finding sources - We will discuss how to find a wide variety of sources to ensure the topic is covered from all angles.
HOMEWORK: Finish writing notes


Class 3:
Qualities of a good thesis statement
Crafting an introduction 
Class activity -
Practice writing thesis statements
Work on outlines
HOMEWORK: Students need to finish their outline and write the rough draft of their essay.


Class 4:
Share - What was the most difficult part of writing the essay?
What is revision? (Adding details, eliminating excessive details, sensory images, etc...)
Class activity - Students will work together in class to revise my essay. 
Time permitting, students will have the opportunity to work on revisions and ask questions about their essays.
HOMEWORK: Work on revising your essay.


Class 5:
Introduce the argumentative essay
What is ethos, logos, and pathos?
What are the key parts of an argumentative essay?
Types of evidence
Class activity - 
Identify persuasive elements of advertisements
Brainstorm possible topics for argumentative essays
HOMEWORK: Students will need to decide on their topic and research. Students need to come to the next class with their research.


Class 6:
Review note-taking
Create a works cited page
Class activity - Practice writing citations
HOMEWORK: Finish taking notes and create the works cited page

Class 7:
Ways to outline an argumentative essay
Class activity-
Come up with claim, counter-claim, and rebuttals
Write thesis statements
Work on outline
HOMEWORK: Outline argumentative essay

Class 8:
How to turn an outline into an essay
Work together to write the beginning of an essay
Workshop: Students will have time to work on their essays in class
HOMEWORK: Write the rough draft of your essay

Class 9:
What is editing? Review basic grammar and common mistakes.
Class activity - Work on editing an essay in class.
Time permitting, students will have the opportunity to work on their own essays.
HOMEWORK: Students will make editing changes to their essay and then submit their final draft. 

Class 10:
Introduce the narrative essay - What is a biographical essay?
Class activity - Brainstorm topics
Read an example of a biographical essay
HOMEWORK: Choose a topic and start researching for your essay

Class 11:
How to outline a narrative essay
Read an example of a narrative essay
Showing, rather than telling
HOMEWORK: Outline your essay

Class 12:
How to turn an outline into an essay
Work on writing an introduction of a narrative essay
Students will have time to work on essays in class
HOMEWORK: Write the rough draft of the biographical essay

Class 13:
Common mistakes in editing
Review comma rules, spelling mistakes, etc…
Practice editing skills
HOMEWORK: Work on revising your essay

Class 14:
Practice editing essays
Students will have time to work on their essays in class