Should the Little Mermaid have left the sea? Should Jack have climbed the beanstalk? Should Goldilocks have eaten the porridge? We'll answer such questions through thoughtful but fun essays in this three-week course. 

Writing an essay -- especially a literary essay -- can be daunting, but this course aims to make it easier by using a familiar and fun topic: Fairy tales! Prior to the first class, students should read at least two of the fairy tales linked in the Classroom. Each student will focus on one fairy tale of their choice and analyze the actions of a character in a five-paragraph essay. 

In the first class, we will learn what an essay is, what it looks like, and how to write the various parts. The homework for that week will be to decide on a question (Should Simpleton, from The Golden Goose, have shared his food with the little grey man? Should Cinderella have gone to the ball?) and create a chart of yes/no reasons for each side (affirmatives and negatives). 

Parents, please note that many classic fairy tales have drastically different endings than the Disney versions, and many contain violence. Cinderella's stepsisters chop off their toes, and the Little Mermaid never marries her prince. Parents should preview all linked fairytales for appropriateness for their learner. 

In the second class, students will decide which side of the question they want to argue and compose a three-pronged thesis. Using information from their charts, they will create an essay outline in class. For homework, they will write their three body paragraphs that should be submitted to the instructor for feedback. 

In the final class, students will write the introduction and conclusion for the essay. All essays submitted to the instructor will receive a full evaluation.