Writing Courses
Our writing, grammar, and cursive courses help students with their writing, whether for academics or for creativity.
Writing Courses
Essay Writing
This writing course is designed for students in middle and high school who are looking to enhance their writing skills. The program offers a comprehensive curriculum that will teach students the fundamental skills needed to successfully write an essay. The course places a specific emphasis on the five-paragraph essay format, which is widely recognized as the standard for academic writing. Starting with prewriting strategies, students will gain strategies for formulating their ideas before they start writing the actual essay. In addition, students will learn techniques for constructing a strong thesis statement, different methodologies for crafting the introduction and conclusion, proper citation techniques, and proofreading strategies. By completing this program, students will gain the confidence and essential skills needed to excel in their writing assignments and assessments.
8 week course (Grades 6-8 or 9-12)
Research 101
This comprehensive and in-depth course is particularly tailored to cater to the needs of advanced middle and high school students desiring to strengthen their research and writing capabilities. The class is thoughtfully designed to guide students through each stage of crafting a well-rounded research paper, from selecting an appropriate topic to presenting a cohesive narrative with a clear, concise thesis statement. Students will also be equipped with valuable research skills, including online and library research proficiency, the ability to identify reliable sources, and the necessary steps to avoid plagiarism. Additionally, the course fosters writing skills and teaches students how to effectively communicate their ideas to ensure that their research paper is coherent and structured. Overall, students can expect to emerge confident and well-equipped, ready to tackle any research project.
8 week course (Grades 9-12)
Literary Analysis
Created to help students move from writing a book report or summary to thinking more critically about what they read, our literary analysis course provides students the opportunity to analyze and write about various types of literary works, including poetry, short stories, and a novel. Using classic literature as a backdrop, students will come away with the ability to identify literary devices, such as simile, onomatopoeia, and foreshadowing, to name a few. In addition, literary elements such as mood, tone, and motif are explored in the assigned writings. The course also includes how to identify theme, which serves as the backbone of most literary analysis. Through identifying elements such as exposition, rising action, climax, and resolution, students will be better equipped to not only write about literature but also think more deeply about any medium of storytelling, including film.
8 week course (Grades 6-8 or 9-12)
Creative Writing
This writing course specializes in creative writing, one of the most exciting and captivating forms of writing that not only draws people in, but makes them emotionally invested in the story. This writing course is designed for high school students and is structured around the art of storytelling. Aimed at aspiring writers, the course will cover Aristotle's poetics and introduce your child to contemporary storytelling experts whose advice and guidance will help your high schooler learn and master the techniques involved in creative writing. By following the step-by-step instructions, your child will gain a clear understanding of how to craft a powerful narrative, write a compelling story, and create intriguing characters that will capture readers' imaginations. This course may also include variations such as writing for film or television and writing a novel.
8 week course (Grades 9-12)
Grammar Courses
Grammar 101
Grammar 101 is a foundational grammar course designed to help students in grades 4-8 establish a solid understanding of the English language's fundamental rules and structures. In this course, students will embark on an exciting journey to explore the building blocks of grammar. They will learn how to construct clear and effective sentences while gaining confidence in their writing and communication skills. In Grammar 101, students will begin by diving into the world of parts of speech, where they'll discover the roles nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs play in constructing sentences. They'll learn the secrets of sentence structure and punctuation, exploring subjects, predicates, commas, periods, question marks, and more. Throughout the course, students will identify and rectify common grammatical errors, ensuring that their writing is clear and polished. Subject-verb agreement and tense consistency will become second nature, and they'll even venture into basic sentence diagramming to visualize their newfound knowledge. By the end of this course, students will have mastered writing conventions and proper usage, equipping them with essential grammar skills for a lifetime of effective communication.
8 week course (Grades 4-12)
Advanced Grammar
Advanced Grammar is an enriching course designed for students in grades 4-8 who have a solid grasp of fundamental grammar concepts and are eager to delve deeper into the nuances of the English language. In this course, students will explore advanced grammatical topics that will elevate their writing, speaking, and critical thinking abilities to a higher level. In this course, students will delve into complex sentence structures, learning how to craft compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences that add depth and sophistication to their writing. Advanced verb tenses and moods will be explored, giving students the tools to express conditional statements and nuanced ideas. The course will also cover active and passive voice, offering insights into when to use each for maximum impact. Punctuation will become an art form with semicolons, colons, and dashes. Students will tackle agreement in tricky situations, such as collective nouns and indefinite pronouns. As a creative and analytical challenge, they'll engage in stylistic elements like parallelism and varied sentence structure. Throughout the course, students will apply their advanced grammar skills in practical and imaginative ways.
8 week course (Grades 6-12)
Cursive Course
Cursive
Cursive writing, a practice that was once a common skill among children, is now considered a lost art. However, it is a skill that offers numerous benefits, especially for young learners. Several studies have shown that introducing cursive writing to children, even before printing, can significantly reduce the incidence of reading and writing disorders such as dyslexia and dysgraphia. Moreover, students of all ages can reap the benefits of learning cursive writing as it supports various areas of cognitive function. These advantages include enhanced focus, better retention of information, and an altogether different approach to building cognitive function than typing. This course spans four weeks and can be repeated for those who desire to achieve proficiency.
4 week course (Grades 2-8)
Request a course
All of our courses are on-demand. If you would like to have us teach a course for your child or a small group, please fill out the form below. We will get back to you about scheduling and start date right away. Also note if you are interested if you are interested in joining another group course.
Pricing
Course Size | Writing 8-week course | Grammar 101 8-week course | Advanced Grammar 8-week course | Cursive 4-week course |
Private | $500 | $200 | $250 | $75 |
2-3 Students | $250 | $100 | $125 | $40 |
4-6 Students | $150 | $50 | $65 | $25 |