Courses

Essay Writing and Rhetorical Skills:
A Comprehensive Approach

Taught by Laura Morefield
ages 13+
PRE-REQUISITES*: Completion of Writing 2: Academic Paragraphs
AND/OR
Permission of the Instructor

NOTE: 1.5 hr. class - 4:00 p.m. ET END TIME
Full Year - 32 week Course

Course Description:

In this comprehensive course, students will learn the basics of essay structure, types, and elements, beginning with evaluating and critiquing essays to understand effective writing techniques. Guided by these insights, students will draft, revise, and polish their own essays, focusing on creating well-structured five-paragraph compositions.

Simultaneously, the course will delve into the fundamentals of rhetoric, teaching students to recognize and construct effective arguments. Through rhetorical analysis, they will identify logical fallacies, commonplaces, and code grooming, applying these skills to tailor their writing across various media, including essays, speeches, and advertisements.

By integrating rhetorical techniques with essay writing practice, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of constructing compelling arguments and producing polished written work. The course will culminate in a capstone project where students present a project based on their interests, showcasing their learned skills. The students will read Thank You for Arguing by Jay Heinrichs, with possible additional recommended texts as needed for your student.

 

*This is the next course recommended after Writing 2: Academic Paragraphs for those ready to progress to essay writing. It is expected that some students may require more than one year of Academic Paragraphs before proceeding to essay writing, depending on age, maturity, ability, etc. Those who are new to Elex Learning or who have not completed Writing 2: Academic Paragraphs will be required to submit a writing sample demonstrating paragraph mastery for admission to this course.

Students who wish to continue next year with Writing 4: Advanced will learn to write more complex literary response/analysis papers, research papers, timed essays, and application essays for colleges or work.

 NOTE: Upon request and where warranted by the student’s level of performance and academic achievement, the instructor may agree to provide a letter of recommendation to potential employers, colleges, etc.  All requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and should be submitted with as much advance notice as possible.

 

Schedule and Cost:

Day: Tuesday

Time: 1.5 hr class    2:30 – 4:00 p.m. ET

Course Calendar (click to download pdf)

For Tuition Fees, Code of Conduct, and all the details, see THE FINE PRINT

Required Homework:

Expect to spend an average of 2-3 hrs per week on assigned essay skill practice, essay writing, reading the chapter, and/or other activities to support critical thinking practice. 

Course Materials:

● Thank You for Arguing by Jay Heinrichs, with possible additional recommended texts as needed for your student.

● A three-ring binder divided into a couple of sections, one for instructor-provided PDF materials and one for your own writing. 

● A printer to print PDFs, student drafts and writing. 

● Writing paper and pencils/pens for PDFs, essay planning, and rough drafts if you prefer to write by hand. 

Before the beginning of the course, students and parents will be provided with a Google Classroom link to join.  Class materials and assignments will be posted directly to Classroom, and students may communicate with each other through this platform.  Students may communicate with the instructor through Classroom and student inquiries are usually addressed as quickly as possible between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. ET.  Student inquiries made on the day of class may be addressed in class instead of through Classroom.