The goal of Basic Writing is to teach writing structure and the writing process while covering mechanical as well as creative writing skills needed to communicate effectively.
Sentence Class Overview:
Sentence to Paragraph Writing begins with the basic sentence. The lessons start with reinforcing the basic construction of a sentence in the 1st lesson to quickly developing informative sentences then, writing the basic paragraph by the 5th or 6th lesson. The students then use the writing process to construct single paragraph papers with certain guidelines and the correct structure. For the last 7 lessons the students will progress to 2 paragraph papers.
Paragraph Class Overview:
Basic Paragraph Writing begins with the students writing single paragraph papers. They will write 2 single paragraph papers per week for the first semester learning different styles and techniques each week. At the end of the 1st semester they will write 2, 2-paragraph papers. The 2nd semester will continue with the students writing several more 2 paragraph papers, then 1 3-paragraph summary. They will then spend 2 weeks writing a 4-paragraph Tall Tale. Last the 5-paragraph formal essay will be introduced, dealing with 1 section per week. By the end of the year the students will write their own 5-paragraph formal essay.
Essay Class Overview:
Basic Essay Writing begins with a 3 paragraph summary of an Old Testament Bible story which is to be brainstormed, outlined then written the 1st week. The next 2 weeks deal with writing 2 paragraph compare and contrast papers. Next is a 4 paragraph editorial. After that is a 4 – 5 week review, or introduction for some, of the 5-paragraph academic or formal essay. Before Christmas the students will write 3 essays taking 2 weeks to write each one.
After Christmas break the students are introduced to how to include quotes within an essay. Next they will write a group essay to introduce them to the organized structure of 7 – 15 paragraph essays. After that they will independently write a 7 – 9 paragraph research paper taking one step per week. The rest of the year they will work on mastering timed essays to prepare them for college tests and entrance exams.