74Heaven Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 Hi, my children seem weak on essay writing (all kinds) despite a lot of writing instruction and I think we need to teach essay writing first thing in the fall. It might be a review part of a new curriculum, it might be an "only" essay curriculum. It might be videos? Please give me advice on what I can purchase or find to help me solidify this important skill. One student (11th) is particularily prone to general, non factual, weak and/or vague supporting statements. We've done IEW the past 2 years or so, incl the SWI-C. Thank you for all advice. I have a 9th grader and an 11th grader. Lisaj mom to 5 (posts as 74Heaven) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen in VA Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 My favorite book for teaching essay writing is The Lively Art of Writing. It is inexpensive but thorough and excellent. It is in the Veritas Press Catalog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly on the prairie Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Last year we used IEW and the history supplemental pack that went with Trisms. The kids wrote a paper a week following the IEW outline. They learned the most they have ever learned about their writing. Also, because of the sheer volume of papers they were handing in, I was able to really, accurately assess them without their feelings getting hurt. In a way, IEW/History Supplementals turned the process into an assembly line of writing. I know now that I could assign a paper and there wouldn't be so much as a flinch from either one. They both have things they need to work on, but they understand very clearly and clinically what those things are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyinNNV Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Hi, my children seem weak on essay writing (all kinds) despite a lot of writing instruction and I think we need to teach essay writing first thing in the fall. It might be a review part of a new curriculum, it might be an "only" essay curriculum. It might be videos? Please give me advice on what I can purchase or find to help me solidify this important skill. One student (11th) is particularily prone to general, non factual, weak and/or vague supporting statements. We've done IEW the past 2 years or so, incl the SWI-C. Thank you for all advice. I have a 9th grader and an 11th grader. Lisaj mom to 5 (posts as 74Heaven) Since you are already familiar with IEW, I'd go with that. There are two different essay programs on the website. While I've never used either essay program, I have taught IEW at a co-op for several years and used lots of their materials. I've always been pleased. Holly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Wisc Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 I really struggled to teach my oldest child to write an essay. Format Writing seemed to be the stepping off point to where she could understand what I needed from her. It is not a perfectly wonderful book--some people point out how plain it is, how boring, or how poor the examples are. At the same time, I've heard so many say this little book has made all the difference in their kids' writing. It's not expensive. Jean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanga Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 I really struggled to teach my oldest child to write an essay. Format Writing seemed to be the stepping off point to where she could understand what I needed from her. It is not a perfectly wonderful book--some people point out how plain it is, how boring, or how poor the examples are. At the same time, I've heard so many say this little book has made all the difference in their kids' writing. It's not expensive. Jean We used Format Writing as well. It is plain and boring, but it clearly and concisely explains how to write different types of essays. My dc have responded well to this book because there is not any busy work. The examples leave something to be desired, but the kids get the point. I keep a running list of essay ideas to supplement this book. The other day my ds was discussing the differences between Greek and Norse Mythology, so I wrote that down as a possible topic when he does a compare and contrast essay next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
74Heaven Posted June 27, 2008 Author Share Posted June 27, 2008 We used Format Writing as well. It is plain and boring, but it clearly and concisely explains how to write different types of essays. My dc have responded well to this book because there is not any busy work. this book. The other day my ds was QUOTE] Jensen's is the only Format Writing I am familiar with? Can you tell more about this curriculum, how it works, how long, how easy it is to use for hte teacher? Thanks Lisaj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LearnFromHome Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Here's another option...Robin Finley from analytical grammar has a workshop, Teaching the Essay, is a complete step-by-step guide for parents showing them how to teach their homeschoolers to master this essential kind of writing. She shows parents how to teach their children to write the classic five-paragraph literary essay, the basis upon which all expository (non-creative) writing is based. Hope that helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandmama Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Have you looked at The Elegant Essay? It's by IEW, but it seems to pull everything together, focusing on the structure of an essay starting with the thesis statement and each paragraph. It covers the expository, narrative and persuasive essay. It's designed to be a 10 wk course (or more if you want), so it's to the point, and IMO looks easy to teach (they can mostly do it on their own). We'll be using this in the fall for my highschoolers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 I second The Lively Art of Writing. It's a small book you can purchase used for about $5. Write@Home uses it in their essay workshops (we went with WAH because I'm hopeless at correcting ds' writing, and it was a painless way for him to learn.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Format Writing. It does the job. You can always make it more interesting by having the subject of an essay be a topic the kid is interested in, or that covers another subject being studied, as long as the format being studied (persuasive, analytical, whatever) remains the same. I did this with ds in 8th grade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooooom Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Part 2 is only essays, and they definitely cover many different kinds (how many kinds of essays there are, I don't know). It is easy to adapt to subjects you are currently studying to use for topics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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