The Writing Well strives to provide secondary students with the opportunity to expand their knowledge base while interacting with other young adults. I offer small group classes and workshops for students to develop new skills, strengthen existing talents and prepare for new academic experiences. I also offer parent workshops designed to inspire and inform you as your child's primary educators. Classes and workshops can be held at my home in Springfield, Virginia, online via Skype, or at the location of your choosing. Please see the list of scheduled and suggested courses below or contact me to develop your own.
- Summer 2010 (college essay, SAT, college and high school readiness)
- Academic Year 2010/2011 (Introduction to High School Writing, Advanced Composition)
- Literature Topics
- Writing Topics
- Parent Topics
A deposit of $60 will reserve your child's spot in the course with the remaining tuition ($60) due the first day of class.
- College Essay Writing Workshop (registration form)
In a cooperative workshop environment, students will read, evaluate and write a variety of college application essays. Emphasis will be placed on considering one’s audience, crafting and maintaining style and voice and developing an appropriate topic. Students will exit the course with a stronger understanding of writing to communicate and several finished essay drafts tailored to the student’s chosen schools. Tentative course dates are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, July 12-23 2010. Workshop Cost: $120 for 12 hours of instruction Back to top
- SAT Critical Reading and Timed Writing Workshop (registration form)
Students will review and practice a variety of strategies for the Critical Reading and Writing Section of the SAT. Emphasis will be placed on critical thinking skills applicable to stronger performance on the SAT and academic work. Special attention will be paid to the development of skills necessary for crafting a successful timed essay. Tentative course dates are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, July 27 – August 5 2010. Workshop Cost: $120 for 12 hours of instruction. Back to top
- College Transition and Readiness Seminar (registration form)
In the College Transition and Readiness Seminar, students will discuss and explore the many transitions inherent in beginning one’s higher education. Emphasis will be placed on developing skills necessary for a positive first year, including leading a moral life, time, stress and work load management, getting along with one’s roommate, integrating successfully into campus life and staying spiritually, mentally and physically healthy. Students will take part in a variety of discussions and activities and will prepare a short presentation on their chosen university. Tentative course dates are Monday, Wednesday, Friday, July 26 through August 6 2010. Workshop cost: $120 for 12 hours of instruction Back to top
-
High School Transition and Readiness Workshop (registration form)
The High School Transition and Readiness Workshop is designed for eighth grade graduates preparing for ninth grade in private or public high schools. Students will learn and practice study skills, discuss and explore the differences between middle and high school and learn to successfully navigate the new challenges inherent in the high school environment. Emphasis will be placed on staying true to oneself and one’s morals, developing positive academic habits and developing, fostering and balancing social and extracurricular interests. Tentative course dates are Wednesday and Thursday, July 7 and 8, Tuesday, Thursday July 13 through 22, 2010. Workshop cost: $120 for 12 hours of instruction. Back to top
Academic Year 2010/2011 (Introductory and Advanced Composition Courses will be taught concurrently unless enrollment warrants division):
- Introduction to High School Writing (printable course overview; registration form)
The written word’s power as a tool for communication begins with an understanding of God’s design for language. Because we as His creation are gifted with the ability to write, we must approach it respectfully and maintain full awareness of a writer’s moral obligation to the reader. The Introduction to High School Writing Course combines an understanding of Church teaching with an overview of the writing process, from the beginning stages of idea formation through the piece’s final incarnation. Students will participate in reading, writing and revision activities designed to familiarize them with the requirements of high school level research and composition. Activities will be based in each student’s own curriculum; occasional outside reading will be done in class and consist of parent-approved work by Greek and Roman philosophers, Saints, theologians and contemporary Christian writers. Back to top
Course Objectives:
- Recognize God’s gift of the written word and its impact on both writer and reader, with special attention paid to the writer’s moral and ethical responsibility to the reader.
- Develop and/or foster a genuine love of writing.
- Understand and master the writing process.
- Purposefully read and gather information.
- Understand content’s relationship to genre, form and structure.
- Become familiar with a variety of research sources, including the personal interview and scholastic citation.
- Recognize and avoid plagiarism.
- Master the use of documentation and common citation formats.
- Master effective editing and revision techniques
Cost: $525.00 per year, $52.50 per month for 10 months. First month's tuition (August 2010) due upon enrollment.
Date, time and location:
Fridays, August 28, 2010 through May 20, 2011: Queen of Apostle's Hannan Hall, Alexandria, VA; 2:00 to 3:15
TBD: Week of August 28, 2010 through week of May 20, 2011: 8215 Burning Forest Ct., Springfield, VA
- Advanced Composition (printable course overview; registration form)
One does not write in a vacuum. It is the writer’s obligation to communicate clearly and effectively with utmost attention to the dignity of the human person. The Advanced Composition Course will facilitate a solid foundation in the moral and ethical responsibilities of a writer, challenge a student’s current writing abilities and prepare him for academic discourse at the university level. Students will participate in reading, writing and revision activities designed to develop university level research and writing skills. Activities will be based in each student’s own curriculum; occasional outside reading will be done in class and consist of parent-approved work by Greek and Roman philosophers, Saints, theologians and contemporary Christian writers. Back to top
Course Objectives:
- Understand the moral and ethical responsibilities inherent in writing with regard to the Catholic understanding of the human person and a writer’s obligation to inform, persuade and entertain with a pure and charitable heart.
- Master advanced techniques of the writing process, from thesis development and brainstorming to editing and true content-driven revision.
- Explore and master a variety of advanced sentence and grammatical structures.
- Refine internal elements of a piece, such as quote integration and paragraph transition.
- Master current university documentation styles, recognition/avoidance of plagiarism.
- Develop effective upper level reading and research skills.
- Understand the role of a title; master development of effective titles.
- Craft an authentic voice and style
- Understand content’s role in structure; master blending of genres as dictated by content and purpose.
- Explore creative, unexpected techniques in nonfiction writing.
Cost: $525.00 per year, $52.50 per month for 10 months. First month's tuition (August 2010) due upon enrollment.
Date, time and location: Fridays, August 28, 2010 through May 20, 2011: Queen of Apostle's Hannan Hall, Alexandria, VA; 2:00 to 3:15
TBD: Week of August 28, 2010 through week of May 20, 2011: 8215 Burning Forest Ct., Springfield, VA
- Book Discussion Clubs: combine reading your favorite novel or series with great discussion and enrichment opportunities. Students immerse themselves in the text through hands-on activities and writing exercises from the analytical to the creative.
- Discussion clubs may cover
- American Literature (all time periods)
- British Literature (all time periods)
- Greek Mythology, Philosophy and/or Drama
- Shakespeare
- C.S. Lewis, J.R.R Tolkien, G.K. Chesterton (and others)
- The above list is certainly not exhaustive; contact me should you have a particular author or genre of literature in mind. Back to top
- Discussion clubs may cover
- Writers' Groups - strengthen your writing and share it with other young authors in a supportive, creative environment
- Creative Nonfiction Writers' Group
- Practice exciting and engaging writing techniques to craft better personal narratives, definition pieces, comparison/contrast essays, expository pieces, memoirs, biography and autobiography
- Share your work with your peers
- Experience the satisfaction of publication in a Writers' Group Anthology
- Fiction Writers' Group
- Tighten and focus your fiction writing in a workshop setting
- Find joy in the writing process through creative revision
- Share your work with your peers
- Experience the satisfaction of publication in a Writer's Group Anthology
- Poetry Circles
- Tap into your creative potential with inspiring activities and techniques
- Read a wide variety of poetry and study the techniques used, adapting them to your own writing
- Learn fun and innovative revision techniques as you tighten your poetic writing skills
- Experience the satisfaction of publication in a Poets' Anthology
- College Writing and Preparedness Workshops
- Learn about the application essay while working on your own submission
- Discuss and practice the types of writing encountered at the university level
- Learn to judge the validity of research sources and discover the best places for research
- Learn and practice MLA format - the most common style sheet on college campuses
- Discuss plagiarism and learn when and how to cite your information
- Computer-assisted Writing and Publication
- Read and study blogs, forums, wikis and podcasts to learn how they are produced
- Develop skills necessary for safe surfing and internet publishing
- Publish your own online work, including the creation of a podcast Back to top
- Creative Nonfiction Writers' Group
- Literacy at Home - learn and practice great techniques to help your family read and write as a group
- Computer-assisted Writing and Publication - learn the ins and outs of the self-publishing technologies available to your student on the world wide web Back to top
Introduction | Tutoring services | Homeschool assistance | Classes and workshops | Links
About The Writing Well | Contact The Writing Well
Last updated 1 August, 2010
thewritingwell@earthlink.net