Total: 8 Writing Composition Sessions

Session 1: Introduction to Writing Composition Basics

• Common purposes behind (and the importance of) writing
• Overview of essay types (argumentative, persuasive, comparative, narrative, cause and effect, etc.)
• Importance of knowing and utilizing the Writing Process
• Analyzing and understanding writing prompts
• Prewriting: Brainstorming and organizing information or opinions of an assigned essay topic
• Practice and Application

Session 2:  Drafting Essays

• Overview of essay layouts and when they are appropriate (the 5-paragraph essay, short essay, free writing, autobiographical accounts, etc.)
• Breaking down the traditional essay into easy, step-by-step goals
• Writing strong thesis statements and topic sentences
• Organization of essays (including thesis statements, topic sentences and transitional sentences) - Looking at what the teachers like
• Setting a timetable for essay completion in sections according to essay writing steps - Importance of setting mini-goals for essays and breaking the habit of waiting until the last minute
• Practice and Application

Session 3: Revising and Proofreading Essays

• Common writing composition "Do's" and "Don'ts"
• Basic grammar rules for standard English, formal writing
• Maintaining the central point of the assignment throughout the essay
• Writing objectively (when applicable) and keeping logical flow
• Publishing/Finalizing
• Practice and Application

Session 4:  Writing a Narrative or Descriptive Essay

• Determining the main purpose or function of the writing
• Brainstorming relevant ideas
• Outlining key concepts
• Importance of description in narrative composition
• Keeping the main point and logical flow throughout the essay
• Using personal voice and expression (tone and attitude of writing)
• Practice and Application

Session 5:  Writing Argumentative/Persuasive Essays

• Brainstorming pros and cons and gathering evidence
• Importance of a clear and defined thesis statement
• Outlining according to thesis statement, including logical topic sentences that clearly connect back to the thesis statement and the main purpose of the composition
• Including well-structured and appropriately-incorporated evidence to solidify argument
  
• Revising and Proofreading to ensure a strong thesis and logical flow
• Practice and Application

Session 6:  Writing Comparative Essays

• Importance of analyzing and understanding the prompt
• Knowing your facts (grasping concepts on both sides of the comparison)
• Formatting the Comparison (knowing and utilizing the methods/organizational structure that would work best for the prompt)
• Determining whether to focus on similarities, differences, or both
• Revising and proofreading to ensure a strong thesis and logical flow
• Practice and Application

Session 7:  Writing Cause-Effect Essays

• Determining whether the essay will focus primarily on cause or effect
• Gathering information and brainstorming ideas
• Outlining key concepts (again focusing on either cause or effect)
• Deciding the organization of main points
• Developing a clear and concise thesis statement that includes all of the causes or effects to be described later in detail paragraphs
• Revising and Proofreading to ensure a strong thesis and logical flow
• Practice and Application

Session 8:  Research and Analysis Essays

• Effective methods of research
• An overview of commonly available resource materials
• How to use the MLA guidelines for standard English compositions
• A look at MLA citation and plagiarism
• Brainstorming and organizing a general outline, including a clear, concise thesis of the research or research topic that will be discussed
• Revising and Proofreading to ensure  a strong thesis and logical flow
• Short essay question and in-class essay tips and strategies
• Practice and Application

*Sessions can be refined to address current classwork (research papers, class essays, etc.)