An inviting, informative and just plain fun writing course designed to support your child in mastering powerful persuasive and argument writing strategies.  The class demonstrates methodologies and exemplars for structuring essays and paragraphs that have a focused thesis, relevant evidence and insightful analysis to support the thesis, and a conclusion that synthesizes the argument.  Students will be provided with tools to help evaluate and interrogate their evidence, improve the organization of the essay, increase the depth of analysis, and build their reader’s understanding.  It will be taught using a road-tested, proven, writing instruction methodology.  

Students will leave the class with knowledge of writing frameworks; craft moves to establish a claim, and create compelling openings and endings; and how to select best evidence and strengthen the reasoning.  Writing will become easier for them, and quality will improve.

Techniques will be practiced with high-interest content, homework will consist of applying the writing lessons to regular school homework and turning in for feedback.  

Curriculum:

Weeks 1-4

• Writing process 

• Structure of a persuasive paragraph

• Techniques for each step of the writing process

• Create compelling openings and endings

• Select best evidence

Weeks 5-8 

• Establish a claim, supported by evidence

• Interrogate claim for strength

• Counter-claim evidence

• Strengthen logical reasoning

• Fine tune word choice, transitions and coherence

Weeks 9-11

• Practical repeated application of techniques

• Feedback and goal setting

See a typical class format for more detail

Advanced Creative Writing Techniques

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Creativity connects writers with readers.

Creativity is the “special sauce” that leaves a reader thinking about a piece long after finishing.

Creativity transforms a B paper to an A paper.

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In this class, students will explore how some of today’s renowned young adult poets, novelists, and essayists connect with readers.  We will examine what their writing accomplishes, how it makes us feel, and why it make us feel that way. We will practice using ingredients of their creative writing alchemy, elements such as:

• sequence

• dialog

• pacing

• theme

• character development

• word choice

• plot

• conclusions

The activities will stimulate student’s writing appetites and help them experiment with new creative writing styles.

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Students will be asked to bring in writing assignments from school, and we will apply what we’ve learned about creative writing to those “boring” homework assignments to make the task more interesting and the results more compelling.

Peer review is an integral part of the creative writing process and will be used throughout the class.  Students are more engaged and invested when receiving feedback from someone close to their level, as they believe the feedback is obtainable.  Students will learn how to speak with critical voices that are compassionate and substantive. They will learn to value critique of their own work because they understand that real engagements with their writing is a gift from their peers.  Both the creative writing process and the peer review process teaches students about themselves as it asks them to develop true empathy for others.

The curriculum will be guided by the below syllabus, with flexibility based on student interests.

Weeks 1-3: Poetry

• Creative techniques examined in-depth: word choice and economy, white space and pacing, the hook

• Students write, peer review, and revise a piece of poetry

• Writing process skill development: strategies for brainstorming and drafting

Weeks 4-6: Fiction

• Creative techniques examined in-depth: beginnings and endings, sentence variety, clarifying and raising the stakes

• Students write, peer review, and revise part of a short story

• Writing process skill development:strategies for active, responsive reading, “copying” mentor texts, and revision

Weeks 7-9: Narrative Essays

• Creative techniques examined in-depth: What is narrative?  Non-Fiction? How do we translate lived experience and close observation into writing? If research is needed, where do we start?

• Students write, peer review, and revise a short narrative essay

• Writing process skill development: picking a main idea, planning, outlining

Weeks 10-12: Applying the Skills

• Application: What does all this have to do with school?  How do we apply creative writing skills to history, English, and even science papers?

• Students will bring in current writing assignments, and we will discuss how to use their new skills to approach the assignments.

• Students will write, peer review, and revise an assignment for school.

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Taught be Kerri Majors.  

Kerri Majors is the founder of an award winning literary magazine of Young Adult (YA) literature YARN and has helped mentor many young writers to publication and literary contest placements.  She has a Masters of Fine Arts in Fiction from Columbia University, where she also taught University Writing to freshmen. For many years before moving to Massachusetts and starting a family, she taught composition and creative writing at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Her passion for writing is evident from her published memoir about why the writing life is worth living, This Is Not A Writing Manual. In 2018, she published her first novel under the name Kerri Maher, The Kennedy Debutante, and is now at work on a novel about Grace Kelly. She is very excited to share her love of reading and writing with Write Ahead students.

An inviting, informative and just plain fun writing course designed to support your child in mastering powerful persuasive and argument writing strategies.  The class demonstrates methodologies and exemplars for structuring essays and paragraphs that have a focused thesis, relevant evidence and insightful analysis to support the thesis, and a conclusion that synthesizes the argument.  Students will be provided with tools to help evaluate and interrogate their evidence, improve the organization of the essay, increase the depth of analysis, and build their reader’s understanding.  It will be taught using a road-tested, proven, writing instruction methodology.  

Students will leave the class with knowledge of writing frameworks; craft moves to establish a claim, and create compelling openings and endings; and how to select best evidence and strengthen the reasoning.  Writing will become easier for them, and quality will improve.

Techniques will be practiced with high-interest content, homework will consist of applying the writing lessons to regular school homework and turning in for feedback.  

Curriculum:

Weeks 1-4

• Writing process 

• Structure of a persuasive paragraph

• Techniques for each step of the writing process

• Create compelling openings and endings

• Select best evidence

Weeks 5-8 

• Establish a claim, supported by evidence

• Interrogate claim for strength

• Counter-claim evidence

• Strengthen logical reasoning

• Fine tune word choice, transitions and coherence

Weeks 9

• Practice, fedback and goal setting

See a typical class format for more detail

A one week long class for private school students who are interested in continuing to improve their writing skills.  This class will focus on powerful persuasive and argument writing strategies.  Students will learn to create a focused and insightful thesis that will support a complex argument, pick relevant evidence and develop insightful analysis to support the thesis, and craft a conclusion that synthesizes and extends the argument.  Students will be provided with tools to help evaluate and interrogate their evidence, improve the organization of the essay, increase the depth of analysis, and build their reader’s understanding.  It will be taught using a road-tested, proven, writing instruction methodology.  

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Topics may include if The Twilight Zone preys upon basic human fear, whether Elon Musk will transform the automotive industry as Henry Ford did 100 years earlier, why Coca Cola commercials are persuasive, and how humorous articles use word choice, punctuation, figurative language and sentence variation to engage readers.  Summer reading books can be incorporated, dependent upon student appetite.  There will be interactive group activities, in-class debates and peer review to improve written clarity.  
 

Students will leave the class with knowledge of writing frameworks; craft moves to establish a meaningful claim; and process to select best evidence and strengthen the reasoning.  Writing will become easier for them, and quality will improve.

​

Curriculum:​

• Establish a claim/develop an insightful thesis

• The Writing Process

• Interrogate claim for strength & depth

• Select best evidence & strengthen logical reasoning

• Fine tune word choice, transitions and coherence

Please see a typical class format for more detail

This class will focus on powerful persuasive and argument writing strategies.  Students will learn to create a focused and insightful thesis that will support a complex argument, pick relevant evidence and develop insightful analysis to support the thesis, and craft a conclusion that synthesizes and extends the argument.  Students will be provided with tools to help evaluate and interrogate their evidence, improve the organization of the essay, increase the depth of analysis, and build their reader’s understanding.  It will be taught using a road-tested, proven, writing instruction methodology.  

​

Topics may include if The Twilight Zone preys upon basic human fear, whether Elon Musk will transform the automotive industry as Henry Ford did 100 years earlier, why Coca Cola commercials are persuasive, and how humorous articles use word choice, punctuation, figurative language and sentence variation to engage readers.  Homework will consist of applying the writing strategies to summer reading assignments and topics students will cover in 5th & 6th grade history.  There will be interactive group activities, in-class debates and peer review to improve written clarity.  
 

Students will leave the class with knowledge of writing frameworks; craft moves to establish a meaningful claim; and process to select best evidence and strengthen the reasoning.  Writing will become easier for them, and quality will improve.

​

Curriculum:​

• Establish a claim/develop an insightful thesis

• The Writing Process

• Interrogate claim for strength & depth

• Select best evidence & strengthen logical reasoning

• Counter-claim evidence

• Revision and editing strategies

• Fine tune word choice, transitions, sentence variety and coherence

​

See a typical class format for more detail

This class will focus on powerful persuasive and argument writing strategies.  Students will learn to create a focused and insightful thesis that will support a complex argument, pick relevant evidence and develop insightful analysis to support the thesis, and craft a conclusion that synthesizes and extends the argument.  Students will be provided with tools to help evaluate and interrogate their evidence, improve the organization of the essay, increase the depth of analysis, and build their reader’s understanding.  It will be taught using a road-tested, proven, writing instruction methodology.  

​

Topics may include if The Twilight Zone preys upon basic human fear, whether Elon Musk will transform the automotive industry as Henry Ford did 100 years earlier, why Coca Cola commercials are persuasive, and how humorous articles use word choice, punctuation, figurative language and sentence variation to engage readers.  Homework will consist of applying the writing strategies to summer reading assignments and topics students will cover in 5th & 6th grade history.  There will be interactive group activities, in-class debates and peer review to improve written clarity.  
 

Students will leave the class with knowledge of writing frameworks; craft moves to establish a meaningful claim; and process to select best evidence and strengthen the reasoning.  Writing will become easier for them, and quality will improve.

​

Curriculum:​

• Establish a claim/develop an insightful thesis

• The Writing Process

• Interrogate claim for strength & depth

• Select best evidence & strengthen logical reasoning

• Counter-claim evidence

• Revision and editing strategies

• Fine tune word choice, transitions, sentence variety and coherence

​

See a typical class format for more detail

These one-week sessions will focus on reinforcing fundamental and advanced argument and persuasive writing strategies, covering both the components of an argumentative essay (thesis, evidence, conclusion, etc.) as well as the writing process (planning, outlines, revising, etc.).  They are designed to be attended either for one week, 2 weeks, or for all 3 weeks, as lessons will be structured to complement each other and no topics will be duplicated.  

Students will learn strategies to create a focused and insightful thesis that will support a meaningful argument, to pick relevant evidence and develop analysis to support the thesis, and craft a conclusion that synthesizes and extends the argument.  They will be provided with tools to interrogate and strengthen their argument, improve the organization of the essay, increase the depth of analysis, and build their reader’s understanding, all while utilizing the full writing process.  Exemplars will be studied to learn how other students applied the strategies.  The class will be taught using evidence-based (proven) writing instruction methodology that is backed by over 100 empirical studies.

Topics will incorporate excerpts from summer reading requirements as well as history topics likely to be seen during the following school year.  They may also include engaging content such as if The Twilight Zone preys upon basic human fear, whether Elon Musk will transform the automotive industry as Henry Ford did 100 years earlier, why Coca Cola commercials are persuasive, and how humorous articles use word choice, punctuation, figurative language and sentence variation to engage readers. 
 

Homework: there will be optional homework each evening which involves practicing the day’s writing strategies.  This can be applied to a topic provided by Write Ahead or to the student’s summer reading. 
 

Classes include interactive group activities, in-class debates and peer review to improve written clarity.  As the writing strategies are applied to school work, writing will become easier for students, and quality will improve.  Summer classes will include a 30 minute walk at the mid-point.  

Curriculum:​

• Establish insightful thesis

• The Writing Process (POWRE - Plan, Organize, Write, Revise, Edit)

• Interrogate claim to stregthen argument

• Select best evidence to support and prove the thesis

• Revision and editing strategies

• Fine tune word choice, transitions, sentence variety and coherence

​

See a typical class format for more detail

These one-week sessions will focus on reinforcing advanced argument and literary analysis writing strategies, covering both the components of an argumentative literary essay (thesis, evidence, conclusion, etc.) as well as the writing process (planning, outlines, revising, etc.).  They are designed to be attended either for one week, 2 weeks, or for all 3 weeks, as lessons will be structured to complement each other and no topics will be duplicated.  

Students will learn strategies to create an insightful thesis that will support a meaningful argument, to pick relevant evidence and develop analysis to support the thesis, and craft a conclusion that synthesizes and extends the argument.  They will be provided with tools to interrogate and strengthen their argument, improve the organization of the essay, increase the depth of analysis, and build their reader’s understanding, all while utilizing the full writing process.  Exemplars will be studied to learn how other students applied the strategies.  The class will be taught using evidence-based (proven) writing instruction methodology that is backed by over 100 empirical studies.

Topics will incorporate excerpts from summer reading requirements, classic literature they are likely to encounter in school, as well as history topics likely to be seen during the following school year.  They may also include engaging content such as if The Twilight Zone preys upon basic human fear, whether Elon Musk will transform the automotive industry as Henry Ford did 100 years earlier, why Coca Cola commercials are persuasive, and how humorous articles use word choice, punctuation, figurative language and sentence variation to engage readers. 
 

Homework: there will be optional homework each evening which involves practicing the day’s writing strategies.  This can be applied to a topic provided by Write Ahead or to the student’s summer reading. 
 

Classes include interactive group activities, in-class debates and peer review to improve written clarity.  As the writing strategies are applied to school work, writing will become easier for students, and quality will improve.  Summer classes will include a 30 minute walk at the mid-point.  

Curriculum:​

• Establish insightful thesis

• The Writing Process (POWRE - Plan, Organize, Write, Revise, Edit)

• Interrogate claim to stregthen argument

• Select best evidence to support and prove the thesis

• Revision and editing strategies

• Fine tune word choice, transitions, sentence variety and coherence

​

See a typical class format for more detail

This class guides rising juniors and seniors through the process of developing a story, based on a personal experience, that could be a submission for one or more of the The Common Application essays.  It focuses on analyzing exemplary college essays for how they captivated their readers while also revealing insights into the author’s personality, passions, ambitions or abilities, and then guides students through a formal study, and application, of the craft elements of creative narrative writing.

Professor Gortera, a creative writing professor at UNI presents an example of insightful story-telling.  Below are two 45 word openings which both tell the reader what career the author desires:

“I am honored to apply for the Master of Library Science program at the University of Okoboji because as long as I can remember I have had a love affair with books. Since I was eleven I have known I wanted to be a librarian.”

“When I was eleven, my great-aunt Gretchen passed away and left me something that changed my life: a library of five thousand books. Some of my best days were spent curating and reading her books. Since then, I have wanted to be a librarian.”

The second example above tells the admissions committee about the author’s almost life-long passion not just for books but for taking care of books. When the committee starts to discuss their “best picks,” don’t you think they’ll remember the 2nd as “the young woman who had her own library”? This class will help guide students to not just say, but to demonstrate through a story, their passion and make a connection with the reader.  More specifically this class guides students to:

• Brainstorm representative personal experiences and learn how to draw out their meanings

• Review models - study stand-out application essays and examine how they transformed a personal experience into a compelling story, how they provided insights into the author’s personality, strengths, interests, ambitions or vision, and how they demonstrated the writer’s ability to think critically, forge relationships, take risks or have an impact

• Transition to a formal study of the elements of a story arc (context, character development, conflict, rising action, climax, resolution, etc.)

• Define the elements of their story

• Draft their story

• Study through mini-lessons, and apply to their story the crafts of narrative writing such as weaving in exposition, selecting dialogue, using sensory details and figurative language, pacing to add drama and prevent drag, or varying sentence variety to enrapt

• Collect feedback through peer review

• Revise

A captivating story is one of the things that makes human beings extraordinary. It’s how we connect to each other, and, with college admission officers.  This class is structured to help students apply creative models to their essay and incorporate narrative techniques to captivate their readers and tell Their Story.  

An inviting, informative and just plain fun writing course designed to support your child in mastering powerful paragraph strategies.  This class will emphasize foundational writing techniques and persuasive paragraphs. It will be taught using a road-tested, proven, writing instruction methodology.  Students will leave the class with knowledge of writing frameworks; craft moves to establish a claim, and create compelling openings and endings; and how to select best evidence and strengthen the reasoning.  Writing will become easier for them, and quality will improve.

​

Techniques will be practiced with fun and high-interest content, plus content that supports topics learned in school.

​

Curriculum:

Weeks 1-4

• Writing process 

• Structure of a persuasive paragraph

• Techniques for each step of the writing process

• Create compelling openings and endings

• Select best evidence

Weeks 5-8 

• Establish a claim, supported by evidence

• Interrogate claim for strength

• Counter-claim evidence

• Strengthen logical reasoning

• Fine tune word choice, transitions and coherence

Weeks 9-12

• Practical repeated application of techniques

• Feedback and goal setting

See a typical class format for more detail