Essentials for Reluctant Writers I: The Basics of Academic Essays

This course has been designed for students who feel they need a solid foundation in grammar, syntax, and the basics of writing for a lifetime of writing with confidence and possible university work ahead. It is a great addition to the Where Women Write series of literature courses that I offer, but it is not required.

In this semester-long course, we will be covering:

Week 1: Nouns, Verbs, and How to Write a Paragraph
Week 2: Common Nouns, Proper Nouns, Plural Nouns, Possessive Nouns, Combining Sentences
Week 3: Adjectives, Verbs, and How to Write Uncomplicated Sentences 
Week 4: Adverbs, Choosing an Essay Topic, How to Write a Paragraph Review
Week 5: The 5-Paragraph Essay
Week 6: Writing the Essay That Goes Above and Beyond
Week 7: Nailing the Introductory Paragraph
Week 8: Nailing the Middle Paragraphs, How to Cite Your Resources
Week 9: Nailing the Conclusion
Week 10: Putting the Whole Essay Together, Writing Titles, How to Edit Your Own Work
Week 11: Improving Your Work, Writing Like a Pro
Week 12: The Personal Narrative
Week 13: Excellent Examples From Great Literature, Semester Wrap-Up 

We'll be reviewing the above basics so that we have a place from which to start and grow! We'll also write samples each week so that this first semester doesn't feel bogged down in the mechanics. What fun is just learning about the "ingredients" if we never get to make something?

Socratic discussion is an important component of the classroom courses I offer. We'll talk about what it means to write well, how to communicate through the written word and how that differs from the way we speak to each other, and methods by which we can strengthen and clarify our language. 

When the semester ends, students can opt in to Essentials for Reluctant Writers, Semester II. In the second semester of the course, we will be writing all sorts of narratives, as well as looking at important pieces of literature and excellent writing from well-known authors. Students do NOT have to complete Essentials for Reluctant Writers, Semester I before they can take Essentials for Reluctant Writers, Semester II—the semesters stand alone. 

If your learner would feel more comfortable in a one-on-one tutoring setup for this class, I'm more than happy to accommodate! You can check out my listing for Middle & High School English Language Arts Tutoring 1:1, and if you're interested, we can work together to find a day and time that suits your schedule. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.