Essay Writing Workshop

Essay Writing Workshop is an 8-week immersion in the writing process for high school students. In a supportive, collaborative environment, students craft one essay from Step A to Step Z, learning key concepts in grammar, style, and citation along the way.

Overview

Course Description

Essay Writing Workshop is an 8-week immersion in the writing process for high school students. In a supportive, collaborative environment, students craft one essay from Step A to Step Z, learning key concepts in grammar, style, and citation along the way. Teacher feedback and class teamwork help build confidence for any level of high school!

Prerequisites

Students should be able to read and write at a 9th grade level, and should be able to meet deadlines and work independently. Please visit our Academic Readiness page for more information.

Students Will Learn

In the Essay Writing Workshop, students will learn about:

Basic grammar and sentence mechanics
Beating writer’s block
Planning and outlining
Crafting a strong thesis
Good essay structure
Citation and style guides for MLA, Chicago, and APA
Writing style
Editing papers

Please note, the Essay Writing Workshop is not a replacement for a yearlong high school course. It should function as a supplement to a full year of English instruction. Looking for yearlong English courses? HSLDA Online Academy offers English courses for students in grades 9–12.

Live Class Sections

Only open sections are posted below. Sign up for one of the available class sections. All sections cover the same material, so pick the time that best fits your schedule. Don't worry if none of the live times work for you! You can still register for a section and watch the recordings of the live classes at your convenience.
Level 100 sections are for rising 9th and 10th grade students. (Mr. Mangrobang & Mrs. Mueller)
Level 200 sections are for rising 11th and 12th grade students. (Mr. Jackson)

Essay Writing Workshop is a summer course. Registration opens in late February.

What to Expect Weekly

We estimate that students will spend 3–5 hours per week on this course.

Every week, students will:

Attend a Live Class Session
Watch a pre-recorded lecture
Complete one or two quizzes
Advance a step in the writing process

By the end of the course, students will:

Draft and edit a short essay
Edit peer essays
Learn style guide basics for MLA, Chicago, and APA

Course Materials

Books & materials are finalized before registration opens. In rare situations, however, they may change due to external circumstances.

n/a

More Details

There are no required books for the Essay Writing Workshop course. All required resources will be provided within the course website after the course begins.

Master Teacher

Graham Jackson

M.Ed, Gordon College

BA, Patrick Henry College

Graham Jackson earned his BA in literature from Patrick Henry College. Born and raised in a little town north of Boston, Massachusetts, he has loved reading and writing stories from an early age. He enjoys analyzing and discussing the enduring stories of the p... View full bio »