In this class, students will gain the skills that they need to excel at academic essay writing. They'll learn how to structure the three most commonly assigned 5-paragraph essay types: opinion (which often has elements of the persuasive essay type), compare-and-contrast, and literary analysis. 

They'll also learn how to properly format their papers, including essay titles, margins, titles of literary works, punctuation (including that used for quotes), and bibliographies, and cite their textual evidence using MLA guidelines. (The Modern Language Association Handbook is used almost universally in academic institutions at all levels.) Learners will be provided with several handouts containing useful information, including a list of transition words and phrases and MLA formatting tips.

Students will learn to evaluate the coherency of their sentence structures, the cohesiveness of their paragraphs, and the strength of their supporting evidence and analysis (scholarly explanations). They'll also be taught how to critically examine their diction (word choice). 

Finally, they'll be given strategies for editing and proofreading their essays (and will be taught the difference between editing and proofreading).

There will be time during each class to research, outline, and write essays. However, learners will likely have to complete their writing tasks at home between classes. During and between classes, students are encouraged to share their writing for individualized feedback and guidance.

Class 1: Introduction to Essay Elements and Thesis Statement
In this first class, students will be introduced to the basic elements (the "recipe") of a strong essay and will be taught how to formulate a thesis statement. They will also write a "mini essay," which is an abbreviated version of the 5-paragraph essay, and learn what it means to support and develop their claims.

Class 2: Personal Opinion Essay Topic Selection, Brainstorming, and Thesis Development
Students will be introduced to the personal opinion essay, which shares elements of the persuasive essay. After being given prompts (topic ideas), they'll develop a thesis statement and begin doing some research, where necessary, in order to support their positions. Then, students will begin outlining their 5-paragraph opinion essays using graphic organizers. 

Class 3: Personal Opinion Essay Outline and First Draft
In this class, students will turn their opinion essay outlines into full essays. They'll be guided toward using clear, concise language when expressing their views and ideas and will be taught how to properly cite their sources (references) using correct punctuation, formatting, and bibliographies. First drafts of the essays will be completed during the week between classes (as homework) and submitted to me prior to the next class.

Class 4: Personal Opinion Essay Editing and Proofreading, Final Draft
Students will be taught how to edit and proofread their opinion essays (and will learn the difference between these two steps in the process of polishing an essay). They'll will be given time during class to complete their final drafts. They'll also be able to share their essays with other students, if they so choose. 

Class 5: Compare-and-Contrast Essay Topic Selection, Brainstorming, and Thesis Development
Learners will be introduced to the compare-and-contrast essay. They'll learn how to structure their essays so that the points or elements being compared and/or contrasted are clearly outlined and supported with textual evidence. Students will be provided with literature to compare and/or contrast and will use graphic organizers to help them structure their essays. They'll work on completing an outline before next class. They'll brainstorm and choose their topics.

Class 6: Compare-and-Contrast Essay Outline
Learners will use this class to fill in their graphic organizers.

Class 7: Compare-and-Contrast First Draft
Students will turn their compare and contrast essay outlines into complete essays. Ample time will be given during class for writing, and guidance will be provided. They will be asked to submit drafts of their essays privately or via the classroom prior to the next class so that I can offer feedback. 

Class 8: Compare-and-Contrast Essay Editing and Proofreading, Final Draft
In this class, students will be introduced to the 5-paragraph essay with a focus on literary analysis. They'll learn about building strong opening paragraphs that offer the reader some background without retelling or summarizing the plot. (They'll be reminded that essays are not book reports.) 

Class 9: Literary Analysis Essay Topic Selection, Brainstorming, and Thesis Development
Students will be provided with literary selections. Upon reading them, they'll choose which they'd like to focus on and begin brainstorming. They will create their own thesis statements and begin outlining their 5-paragraph literary analysis essays according to the formula/structure taught. 

Class 10: Literary Analysis: Outline
Learners will spend class time filling in their graphic organizers. Their outlines should be completed before the next class. 

Class 11: Literary Analysis First Draft
Students will write their first drafts during class (and complete them during the week). Then, they'll submit them to me prior to the next class for feedback.

Class 12: Literary Analysis Essay Editing and Proofreading, Final Draft
During this last class, students will be given time to edit and proofread their literary analysis essays. They will be able to share their essays during class, if they so choose. 

Students will be provided with handouts containing graphic organizers, lists of transition words and phrases, notes from class, and articles or excerpts for analysis. Some topics will be taught using short PowerPoint presentations or screen sharing of Microsoft Word documents, which will show examples of well-structured writing and correctly cited sources.