Week 1
Lesson 1
Basics of a Paragraph and Common Grammar Mistakes
In class 1, we focus on the very basics of writing and developing a single paragraph. We will also cover common grammar mistakes that I frequently see in my own college classroom. This class, while covering simple material, is used to make sure all students are on the same page moving forward and that the basics of writing are perfected before moving to more advanced material. 
 Week 2
Lesson 2
Word Choice and Why it Matters
During Week 2, students will practice writing descriptions of different subjects--art, historical events, and instructional processes as a way of learning how to effectively communicate an idea and choose the most effective words for clarity and engagement. Students will have a lesson on how to write an effective description and practice 1-2 examples in class. 
 Week 3
Lesson 3
Starting a Research Paper--Brainstorming, Research Questions, and Sources
This week, we will discuss how to start putting together a research paper, including brainstorming topics and interacting with a given prompt.  We will also talk about how to find sources for a research paper and the difference between a scholarly level and non-scholarly source, determining which ones are appropriate for an academic paper. 
 Week 4
Lesson 4
Writing Summaries and Analyzing Sources
We will talk about the basics of a summary including identifying the overarching theme, main points, and how to conclude a summary. Students will also learn how to add their analysis of the meaning of the sources and its importance to their summaries, including evidence from the source to support their analysis. This is something that is asked of students frequently in exams and papers, therefore it is great to practice ahead of time, so it does not catch them by surprise! 
 Week 5
Lesson 5
Research Paper Basics 1: Thesis Statements, Intros,  and Arguments
We will begin by working on introductions and move to discuss the all-important thesis statement. Students will learn what a thesis statement is and how to write an effective one for a longer research paper. We will analyze a number of thesis statements in class and discuss what makes them good or bad. Thesis statements are crucial for developing original research at the college level and for creating a paper that is not simply a book report of facts, which is what we are trying to avoid. 
 Week 6
Lesson 6
Research Paper Basics II--Organizing and Structuring a Research Paper
In this class, students will start considering the body paragraphs of their research paper and how to elaborate on their thesis statement. First, students will discuss outlining a research paper and how to organize the main points one wants to cover within the paper itself. We will discuss the structure of a body paragraph, how to make sure there is enough evidence to support your claims, and what to do if you feel stuck and have writer's block. 
 Week 7
Lesson 7
Research Paper Basics III--Citations
In this class, students will learn how to cite their sources in their papers, which will help them to avoid plagiarism in the classroom! We will discuss the basics of citing, how frequently one must cite and why, and different tools students can use to help with their citations. For this class, MLA style citations and formatting are required, as they are the most common in academic work.  Both in-text and works cited or bibliographical citations will be discussed. 
 Week 8
Lesson 8
Research Paper Basics IV: Conclusions, Editing, and Paper Formatting
In this class, students will talk about the importance of a paper’s conclusion and how to develop their own without using “all in all,” “in conclusion,” and other similar statements. Students will also learn some great tools for self-editing their papers, including web programs and individual activities. 
 Week 9
Lesson 9
Creating a Presentation for the College Classroom
In this class, students will learn how to turn their research into a 5-minute presentation for the class. This is a very common practice in the college setting—where students are asked to give 5-10 minute presentations about their subject matter. Students will go through what makes a great presentation and how to be concise with the information they have researched because of time limits. We will walk through Google Slides, so students know how to create a slideshow for class. 
 Week 10
Lesson 10
Student Presentations and Final Paper Submissions
This week, students will give their presentations in class, sharing their research with the group. They will also submit their final papers to the instructor for review.