In this flexible class, students will hone their writing skills as they learn to write a variety of different kinds of essays. Each week, I will post a video in the classroom on Sunday, along with any worksheets or other needed materials. Kids have until Wednesday to watch the video and complete the lesson and post it in the classroom. On Wednesday, I'll post another video in the classroom explaining the rest of the assignment that will be due by Saturday. 

I can set up "office hours" for video meetings throughout the class, as requested by parents and kids.

Each week, kids will write a different kind of essay. Here are the topics for each week:

Writing a Narrative Essay Part 1
This week kids will begin to plan a narrative essay. They will learn about voice, tone, and structure of a narrative essay. There will be two instructional videos, planning worksheets, and detailed instructions available in the classroom. They will also write the introduction paragraph and learn to write good hooks and thesis statements.

Writing a Narrative Essay Part 2
This week kids will write the rough draft of the narrative essay they planned in the previous week. After writing the rough draft, they will create an editing checklist and use that to write or type the final copy. There will be videos and detailed instructions in the classroom.

Writing a Descriptive Essay Part 1
This week kids will learn about the structure, voice, and elements of a descriptive essay, including how to use sensory detail words to be descriptive. There will be two videos, planning worksheets, and detailed instructions available in the classroom. 

Writing a Descriptive Essay Part 2
This week kids will write the rough draft of their descriptive essay, create an editing checklist, revise, edit, and write or type the final copy. There will be videos and detailed instructions in the classroom.

 Writing a Problem and Solution Essay Part 1
This week kids will think of a problem and plan an essay that explains the problem and offers a couple solutions. They will also find one resource to support the facts in their essay. They will take notes from that source. There will be videos, planning worksheets, and detailed instructions in the classroom.

Writing a Problem and Solution Essay Part 2
This week kids will write the rough draft of their essay, create an editing checklist, and revise and rewrite/type the final copy. They will add an in-text citation for the source they used. They will also write the full citation at the end of their essay. There will be videos and detailed instructions in the classroom.

Writing a Persuasive Essay Part 1
This week kids will learn how to use logos, ethos, and pathos to be persuasive. They will choose a topic and use a graphic organizer to answer the following questions the reader might ask about their topic:
 - Why should I trust you?
 - Why should I care about this?
 - What data and information can you give me about this?
 Kids will also learn to write their response to opposing viewpoints in their essay.
There will be videos, planning worksheets, and detailed instructions in the classroom.

 Writing a Persuasive Essay Part 2
This week kids will learn about the voice and tone of a persuasive essay. They will use what they learned the previous week to write a compelling, persuasive essay draft, edit and revise it, and then write or type the final copy. There will be videos and detailed instructions in the classroom.

Kids should be able to read and write at a 6th grade level to be successful in this class.