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HIGH SCHOOL COURSES

February 28, 2020 By Leave a Comment

Essential Punctuation & Grammar 1

9-1

HIGH SCHOOL

Essential Writing 1:
Punctuation & Grammar 1

Suggested Grade Level: 9th to 11th grade

Gain confidence & skill mastering commas, tense, colons, semicolons, dashes, ellipses, and more…

Your Course Description

This is an essential writing course for all high school students, to solidify the use of upper-level punctuation and grammar—including mastering commas, tense, colons, semicolons, dashes, ellipses, and more. Keep your student from struggle with the foundations this course gives, to master punctuation and grammar details that may be holding your student back. Sentence constructions move from simple to complex, to prepare your student for upper high school and college courses.

Your Course Outline

Class 1: Mastering commas in a series and commas with conjunctions using complex sentences
Class 2: Mastering commas and clauses and tough constructions, including multiple ideas, connectors, and transitions
Class 3: Mastering tense, competing punctuation, quotations, dashes, and ellipses
Class 4: Sticky-pair sentence construction (if-then, not only-but also) and tough grammar in upper-level constructions
Class 5: Mastering colons and semicolons with leading sentence constructions
Class 6: Mastering tricky punctuation details, end punctuation, and the most common grammar challenges

Your Course Details

Total Number of Classes: Six (6)
Prerequisites: None
Suggested Grade Level: 9th – 12th grade
Duration: 55 minutes
Suggested Credit: When combined with the 9-2 Course, this course is worth a full semester’s credit of writing.
Required Materials: 

  • All documents are turned in as Microsoft Word documents. If you do not own Microsoft Word 2007 or a later version, you can use a system such as Google Docs that converts to Word documents FREE. Please email us if you need assistance.
  • Purchase the book, Simplified Writing 101: Top Secrets for College Success, by Erin Brown Conroy
    • Buy the hard copy of the book here: http://amzn.to/2FMCose
    • OR, buy the Kindle version of the book here (Download the FREE Kindle app to easily read on your computer, tablet, or mobile device): https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/fd/kcp

Homework: Weekly quizzes are graded automatically by the computer for immediate student feedback. There is an estimated two to four hours per week for homework outside of class time, depending on the student’s ability.

How this course fits with your other High School Writing courses…

Fall Semester Spring Semester
9-1*9-2**9-39-4
10-110-2
11-12311-457
12-112-2
* This is your first High School Writing course — and your first 9-Series course.
** The 9-1 and 9-2 courses are consecutive courses. To create a full semester of High School Writing, be sure to sign up for the 9-2 course when you sign up for the 9-1 course.

Your Instructors

Live, Interactive Courses

During the week, multiple course sections, times, and instructors are offered for this course. Sign up for the time and the instructor that best meets your needs. Click here to see the days and instructors for the LIVE course offerings — and to sign up for a LIVE course.

Recorded, Independent-Learning Course

When you sign up for Unlimited Access and take this recorded course, your instructor is the designer and Director of Aquinas Writing Advantage, Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA (aka author EB Conroy/Erin Brown Conroy).

Three Sign Up Options (Choose One)

1. Live, Interactive Course

Students attend a LIVE class in a virtual classroom on a specific day, at a specific time. After class (during the week), the student independently completes the coursework and weekly quizzes; the quizzes are graded automatically by the computer for instant feedback. Your instructor is available for communication outside of class via email, to help answer questions. Homework time outside of class is estimated to be two to three hours per week.

Sign up for a LIVE class here

2. Unlimited Access: Recorded, Independent-Learning Course

When you take the Recorded course, you will independently view the recorded video lesson and complete the coursework in the learning management system. The homework’s weekly quizzes are graded automatically by the computer for instant feedback. With in-system grading provided, parents do not need to grade any work. There is an estimated two to three hours of homework/coursework per week outside of watching the weekly video lecture.

When you get “Unlimited Access,” you get 24/7 access to ALL of the writing courses — AND access to 400+ middle and high school courses, in all subject areas, for only $34.97 a month.

Sign up for Unlimited Access here to get this course

3. Unlimited Access with Instructor Access Grading Services

Instructor Access is an optional service for an additional fee that accompanies Unlimited Access. When you sign up for one-on-one tutoring with Instructor Access in the Punctuation and Grammar course, in addition to the weekly quizzes that are graded automatically by the computer for instant feedback, your student will receive multiple additional worksheets each week for extra practice. This is an excellent chance for your student to get one-on-one help to master punctuation and grammar. The Instructor Access instructor will grade the worksheets submitted, and there is an estimated two to three hours per week for homework for your student outside of watching the video lecture. If you’d like Instructor Access, once you sign up for Unlimited Access, you’ll receive email instructions on how to sign up.

Sign up for Unlimited Access here to get this course

Specific Course FAQs

Is this course required? Can I skip this course?

This course is a required foundational course for all high school students. Because the content in this program is sequential, for your student to be successful and not miss any prerequisite content, it is requested that he or she take this course LIVE or watch the videos and take the quizzes in Unlimited Access before entering any other high school course.

Can I start the 9-1 course in January?

The LIVE 9-1 and 9-2 courses are held in the Fall Semester only. If you are beginning in January (or any other time of year), simply take this course in Unlimited Access as a recorded course (with or without Instructor Access grading services).

Sign up for a LIVE class here...
Sign up for Unlimited Access here to get this recorded course…

Filed Under: HIGH SCHOOL COURSES, Popular Courses

February 27, 2020 By Leave a Comment

Simplified Writing 1: Strong Foundational Writing Skills

9-2

HIGH SCHOOL

Simplified Writing 1:
Strong Foundational Writing Skills

Suggested Grade Level: 9th grade

Make your writing strong & clear
with the foundations needed to
master high school writing…

Your Course Description

In this foundational course, you can gain the skills that make writing strong and clear, lacking nothing—to articulate ideas well in writing for all of high-school level work. The most important foundations of high school writing are introduced and discussed, and students learn the keys to perfecting strong sentences and paragraphs; learn nine basic forms of rhetoric; focus on linear academic writing for a purpose; practice transitions and connectives, parallelism, paraphrasing, and summary; review punctuation as it influences excellence in writing (comma, semicolon, colon, and dash use); learn how to recognize and correct common grammar struggles; understand the characteristics of an effective introduction, body, and conclusion; learn prewriting, drafting, and editing skills; and practice sculpting a piece of writing with direction, receiving specific feedback from the instructor.

Your Course Outline

Class 1: Audience, purpose, and word choice
Class 2: Perfecting strong sentence and paragraph construction
Class 3: Nine forms of rhetoric (and what they have to do with great writing)
Class 4: Linear writing for a purpose; more how-to’s for crafting strong sentences and paragraphs
Class 5: How to use transitions, connectives, and parallelism to make writing cohesive
Class 6: Punctuation and excellent writing: the comma, colon, semicolon, and dash; conquering common punctuation struggles
Class 7: Key components of an essay/paper; the introduction, body, conclusion, hook, and thesis; prewriting for success
Class 8: Drafting for success; editing and polishing your writing

Your Course Details

Total Number of Classes: Eight (8)
Prerequisites: Because courses in the program are sequential, for your student’s success, it is required that your student take the 9-1 course before enrolling in this course. If your student is unable to take the previous courses LIVE, then at a minimum, he or she can watch the recordings on Unlimited Access before taking this course. Special permission may be granted for attending this course without prerequisites, and a passing score on the Aquinas Writing Advantage Writing Assessment allows you to begin high school writing courses with this course. Please contact homeschoolconnections@gmail.com for any questions on permissions.
Suggested Grade Level: 9th – 12th grade
Duration: 55 minutes
Suggested Credit: When combined with the 9-1 Course, this course is worth a full semester’s credit of writing.
Required Materials:

  • All documents are turned in as Microsoft Word documents. If you do not own Microsoft Word 2007 or a later version, you can use a system such as Google Docs that converts to Word documents FREE. Please email us if you need assistance.
  • Purchase the book, Simplified Writing 101: Top Secrets for College Success, by Erin Brown Conroy
    • Buy the hard copy of the book here: http://amzn.to/2FMCose
    • OR, buy the Kindle version of the book here (Download the FREE Kindle app to easily read on your computer, tablet, or mobile device): https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/fd/kcp

Homework: There is an estimated one to four hours per week for homework outside of class time, depending on the student’s ability.

How this course fits with your other High School Writing courses...

Fall Semester Spring Semester
9-1**9-2*9-39-4
10-110-2
11-12311-457
12-112-2
This is your second High School Writing course — and your second 9-Series course. Take the four courses in the 9-Series to create a full year of high school writing (9-1, 9-2, 9-2, and 9-4).
** The 9-1 and 9-2 courses are consecutive courses. To create a full semester of High School Writing, sign up for the 9-1 course when you sign up for 9-2, and look ahead/sign up to complete the series with the 9-3 and 9-4 courses.

Your Instructors

Live, Interactive Courses

During the week, multiple course sections, times, and instructors are offered for this course. Sign up for the time and the instructor that best meets your needs. Click here to see the days and instructors for the LIVE course offerings — and to sign up for a LIVE course.

Recorded, Independent-Learning Course

When you sign up for Unlimited Access and take this recorded course, your instructor is the designer and Director of Aquinas Writing Advantage, Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA (aka author EB Conroy/Erin Brown Conroy).

Three Sign Up Options (Choose One)

1. Live, Interactive Course

Students attend a LIVE class in a virtual classroom on a specific day, at a specific time. After class (during the week), the student independently completes the coursework that includes readings, activities, and weekly quizzes. Quizzes are graded automatically by the computer for instant feedback. Written assignments are graded with feedback by the instructor. Your instructor is also available for communication outside of class via email, to help answer questions. Homework time outside of class is estimated to be two to three hours per week.

Sign up for a LIVE class here

2. Unlimited Access: Recorded, Independent-Learning Course

When you take the Recorded course, you will independently view the recorded video lesson and complete the coursework in the learning management system. Quizzes in the course are graded automatically by the computer for instant feedback. If choosing to not use Instructor Access, grading with feedback is provided by the parent; however, Instructor Access grading is available (see below). There is an estimated two to three hours of homework/coursework per week outside of watching the weekly video lecture.

When you get “Unlimited Access,” you get 24/7 access to ALL of the writing courses — AND access to 400+ middle and high school courses, in all subject areas, for only $34.97 a month.

Sign up for Unlimited Access here to get this course

3. Unlimited Access with Instructor Access Grading Services

Instructor Access is an optional service, for an additional fee, that accompanies Unlimited Access. When you sign up for one-on-one tutoring with Instructor Access, the Instructor Access instructor will grade your student’s work, and there is an estimated one to four hours per week for homework for your student outside of watching the video lecture. If you’d like Instructor Access, once you sign up for Unlimited Access, you’ll receive email instructions on how to sign up.

Sign up for Unlimited Access here to get this course

Specific Course FAQs

Is this course required? Can I skip this course?

Because the content in this program is sequential, for your student to be successful and not miss any prerequisite content, it is requested that he or she watch the videos of the previous 9-Series courses before taking this course.

Can I start the 9-2 course in the Spring Semester?

The LIVE 9-1 and 9-2 courses are held in the Fall Semester only. If you are beginning in January (or any other time of year), simply take the recorded course in Unlimited Access (with or without Instructor Access grading services).

Sign up for a LIVE class here...
Sign up for Unlimited Access here to get this recorded course…

Filed Under: HIGH SCHOOL COURSES, Popular Courses

February 26, 2020 By Leave a Comment

Essential Writing 2: Excellent Paragraph & Essay Writing

9-3

HIGH SCHOOL

Essential Writing 2:
Excellent Paragraph & Essay Writing

Suggested Grade Level: 9th grade

Master the details holding your student back from writing well—and perfect the essential tools of high school writing…

Your Course Description

This is an essential writing course for all high school students, to make sure that your student has critical high school essay writing foundations in place. Give your high school student exactly what’s needed for writing well-crafted sentences and paragraphs—including the absolute “must-have” knowledge, review, and practice for the use of nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions and prepositional phrases, and compound sentence structures. Learn to use transitions and connectives to make your paragraphs smooth; the use of quoted material to support your ideas; and the use of summary and paraphrase that’s required in all academic writing. Even if your student has learned foundational concepts before, the approach in his class is to use high school vocabulary and structures that are more complex and needed for upper-level writing. From mastering the details that are holding your student back to providing much-needed practice, help your student perfect the essential tools for high school writing with this course.

Your Course Outline

Class 1: Using strong nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in well-constructed sentences
Class 2: Perfecting higher-level capitalization, punctuation, and the use of quotation marks in dialogue in academic writing
Class 3: Perfecting linear writing, transitions, and connectives in sentence and paragraph writing
Class 4: Writing with summary and paraphrase
Class 5: Answering essay questions: structure, form, and content I
Class 6: Answering essay questions: structure, form, and content II

Your Course Details

Total Number of Classes: Six (6)
Prerequisites: Because courses in the program are sequential, for your student’s success, it is required that your student take the 9-Series courses before enrolling in this course. If your student is unable to take the previous courses LIVE, then he or she can watch the recordings on Unlimited Access before taking this course. Special permission may be granted for attending this course without prerequisites, and a passing score on the Aquinas Writing Advantage Writing Assessment allows you to begin high school writing courses with this course. Please contact homeschoolconnections@gmail.com for any questions on permissions.
Suggested Grade Level: 9th – 12th grade
Duration: 55 minutes
Suggested Credit: When combined with the 9-4 Course, this course is worth a full semester’s credit of writing.
Required Materials: All documents are turned in as Microsoft Word documents. If you do not own Microsoft Word 2007 or a later version, you can use a system such as Google Docs that converts to Word documents FREE. All other learning materials are provided FREE.
Homework: There is an estimated one to four hours per week for homework outside of class time, depending on the student’s ability.

How this course fits with your other High School Writing courses...

Fall Semester Spring Semester
9-19-29-3*9-4**
10-110-2
11-12311-457
12-112-2
* If enrolling in the entire High School Writing program, this is your third High School Writing course — and your third 9-Series course.
** The 9-3 and 9-4 courses are consecutive courses, and together the courses give your student a full semester of English and writing. To create the full semester of High School Writing, sign up for the 9-4 course when you sign up for the 9-3 course.

Your Instructors

Live, Interactive Courses

During the week, multiple course sections, times, and instructors are offered for this course. Sign up for the time and the instructor that best meets your needs. Click here to see the days and instructors for the LIVE course offerings — and to sign up for a LIVE course.

Recorded, Independent-Learning Course

When you sign up for Unlimited Access and take this recorded course, your instructor is the designer and Director of Aquinas Writing Advantage, Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA (aka author EB Conroy/Erin Brown Conroy).

Three Sign Up Options (Choose One)

1. Live, Interactive Course

Students attend a LIVE class in a virtual classroom on a specific day, at a specific time. After class (during the week), the student independently completes the coursework that includes readings, activities, and weekly quizzes. Quizzes are graded automatically by the computer for instant feedback. Written assignments are graded with feedback by the instructor. Your instructor is also available for communication outside of class via email, to help answer questions. Homework time outside of class is estimated to be two to three hours per week.

Sign up for a LIVE class here

2. Unlimited Access: Recorded, Independent-Learning Course

When you take the Recorded course, you will independently view the recorded video lesson and complete the coursework in the learning management system. Quizzes in the course are graded automatically by the computer for instant feedback. If choosing to not use Instructor Access, grading with feedback is provided by the parent; however, Instructor Access grading is available (see below) where a writing teacher will grade and give feedback for your student’s work. There is an estimated two to three hours of homework/coursework per week outside of watching the weekly video lecture.

When you get “Unlimited Access,” you get 24/7 access to ALL of the writing courses — AND access to 400+ middle and high school courses, in all subject areas, for only $34.97 a month.

Sign up for Unlimited Access here to get this course

3. Unlimited Access with Instructor Access Grading Services

Instructor Access is an optional service, for an additional fee, that accompanies Unlimited Access. When you sign up for one-on-one tutoring with Instructor Access, in addition to the weekly quizzes that are graded automatically by the computer for instant feedback, your student will receive one-on-one help via email with the professional writing instructor. The Instructor Access instructor will grade the course work submitted, and there is an estimated one to four hours per week of homework for your student outside of watching the video lecture. If you’d like Instructor Access, once you sign up for Unlimited Access, you’ll receive email instructions on how to sign up.

Sign up for Unlimited Access here to get this course

Specific Course FAQs

Is this course required? Can I skip this course?

Because the content in this program is sequential, for your student to be successful and not miss any prerequisite content, it is requested that he or she watch the videos of the previous 9-Series courses before taking this course.

Can I start the 9-3 course in the Fall Semester?

The LIVE 9-1 and 9-2 courses are held in the Fall Semester only; the LIVE 9-3 and 9-4 courses are held in the Spring Semester only. If you would like to take this course outside of the LIVE course schedule, then simply take the recorded course in Unlimited Access (with or without Instructor Access grading services).

Sign up for a LIVE class here...
Sign up for Unlimited Access here to get this recorded course…

Filed Under: HIGH SCHOOL COURSES

February 25, 2020 By Leave a Comment

Simplified Writing 2: Beyond the Five-Paragraph Essay

9-4

HIGH SCHOOL

Simplified Writing 2:
Beyond the Five-Paragraph Essay

Suggested Grade Level: 9th grade

Go beyond writing standard essays to the secrets of advanced essay writing… learn more…

Your Course Description

The Five Paragraph Essay has been the standard for essay writing for years. This course helps your student understand and practice writing essays in the Five Paragraph Essay form – as well as going beyond the typical form to learning what makes an essay exceptional. Students will craft essay assignments and practice becoming comfortable with thinking quickly in creating, drafting, and polishing essays. Special attention will be paid to how to write essays that capture the attention and flow from beginning to end, with meaning.

Your Course Outline

Class 1: Essay types and differences, and where you’ll write them
Class 2: The traditional Five Paragraph Essay
Class 3: What makes an essay great: researching an essay and brainstorming with the “then what?” question; taking your thoughts “to the end of the line”
Class 4: What makes an essay great: examples and analysis of form, parallelism, and rhythm in an essay
Class 5: What makes an essay great: Transitional tricks, answering the reader’s questions, making cohesive decisions, and bookending
Class 6: What makes an essay great: Research, storytelling, and creative elements
Class 7: What makes an essay great: Analyzing three essays
Class 8: Revising and editing your essays

Your Course Details

Total Number of Classes: Eight (8)
Prerequisites: Because courses in the program are sequential, for your student’s success, it is required that your student take the 9-Series courses before enrolling in this course. If your student is unable to take the previous courses LIVE, then he or she can watch the recordings on Unlimited Access before taking this course. Special permission may be granted for attending this course without prerequisites, and a passing score on the Aquinas Writing Advantage Writing Assessment may allow you to begin with this course. Please contact homeschoolconnections@gmail.com for any questions on permissions.
Required Materials: All documents are turned in as Microsoft Word documents. If you do not own Microsoft Word 2007 or a later version, you can use a system such as Google Docs that converts to Word documents FREE. All other learning materials are provided FREE.
Suggested Credit: When combined with the 9-3 Course, this course is worth a full semester’s credit of high school writing.

How this course fits with your other High School Writing courses…

Fall Semester Spring Semester
9-19-29-3**9-4*
10-110-2
11-12311-457
12-112-2
* If enrolling in the entire High School Writing program, this is your fourth and final High School Writing course in the 9-Series courses.
** The 9-3 and 9-4 courses are consecutive courses. To create a full semester of High School Writing, sign up for the 9-4 course when you sign up for 9-3, to complete the 9-Series courses

Your Instructors

Live, Interactive Courses

During the week, multiple course sections, times, and instructors are offered for this course. Sign up for the time and the instructor that best meets your needs. Click here to see the days and instructors for the LIVE course offerings — and to sign up for a LIVE course.

Recorded, Independent-Learning Course

When you sign up for Unlimited Access and take this recorded course, your instructor is the designer and Director of Aquinas Writing Advantage, Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA (aka author EB Conroy/Erin Brown Conroy).

Three Sign Up Options (Choose One)

1. Live, Interactive Course

Students attend a LIVE class in a virtual classroom on a specific day, at a specific time. After class (during the week), the student independently completes the coursework that includes readings, activities, and weekly quizzes. Quizzes are graded automatically by the computer for instant feedback. Written assignments are graded with feedback by the instructor. Your instructor is also available for communication outside of class via email, to help answer questions. Homework time outside of class is estimated to be two to three hours per week.

Sign up for a LIVE class here

2. Unlimited Access: Recorded, Independent-Learning Course

When you take the Recorded course, you will independently view the recorded video lesson and complete the coursework in the learning management system. Quizzes in the course are graded automatically by the computer for instant feedback. If choosing to not use Instructor Access, grading with feedback is provided by the parent; however, Instructor Access grading is available (see below). There is an estimated two to three hours of homework/coursework per week outside of watching the weekly video lecture.

When you get “Unlimited Access,” you get 24/7 access to ALL of the writing courses — AND access to 400+ middle and high school courses, in all subject areas, for only $34.97 a month.

Sign up for Unlimited Access here to get this course

3. Unlimited Access with Instructor Access Grading Services

Instructor Access is an optional service, for an additional fee, that accompanies Unlimited Access. When you sign up for one-on-one tutoring with Instructor Access, in addition to the weekly quizzes that are graded automatically by the computer for instant feedback, your student will receive one-on-one help via email with the professional writing instructor. The Instructor Access instructor will grade the work submitted, and there is an estimated three to four hours per week for homework for your student outside of watching the video lecture. If you’d like Instructor Access, once you sign up for Unlimited Access, you’ll receive email instructions on how to sign up.

Sign up for Unlimited Access here to get this course

Specific Course FAQs

Is this course required? Can I skip this course?

Because the content in this program is sequential, for your student to be successful and not miss any prerequisite content, it is requested that he or she watch the videos of the previous 9-Series courses before taking this course. Because the Aquinas Writing Advantage program covers specific material that is above and beyond a typical 9th grade English and writing course, taking this course without the previous 9-Series courses completed creates a handicap for your student. Please make sure that your student has (at least) watched the previous 9-Series courses first, before enrolling in this course.

Can I start the 9-3 course in the Fall Semester?

The LIVE 9-1 and 9-2 courses are held in the Fall Semester only; the LIVE 9-3 and 9-4 courses are held in the Spring Semester only. If you would like to take this course outside of the LIVE course schedule, then simply take the recorded course in Unlimited Access (with or without Instructor Access grading services).

Sign up for a LIVE class here...
Sign up for Unlimited Access here to get this recorded course…

Filed Under: HIGH SCHOOL COURSES

February 24, 2020 By fuzatinew Leave a Comment

Essential Vocabulary & Writing, Part One

10-1

HIGH SCHOOL

Essential
Vocabulary & Writing, Part One

Suggested Grade Level: 10th grade

Hone your writing and study skills while mastering
over 350 words from critical ACT, SAT, and
Advanced Placement (AP) writing…

Your Course Description

In this course (the first of two successive courses), your student will learn to use the upper-level vocabulary words related to writing that are needed for high school advanced writing, Advanced Placement (AP) English Language and Composition courses, the ACT and SAT, advanced writing courses, and all of college writing—and an introduction to the concepts associated with the terms. Over 350 words will be learned and practiced this semester. Coursework will be simple yet critical to your student’s future success. Because vocabulary is the #1 indicator of success on college entrance testing, if you want your student to not only score well on testing but also be able to be prepared for college writing and vocabulary, this course is for you.

Your Course Outline

Class 1: Writing for a Purpose and Audience
Class 2: Worldview, Critical Thinking, & Passive/Active Voice
Class 3: Writing Effective Sentences; Diction & Syntax
Class 4: Writing Effective Paragraphs: Structure; Linear Writing; Active writing; Transitions and Connectives
Class 5: Punctuation and its Effect on Writing
Class 6: Grammar, Usage, & Mechanics for Clarity
Class 7: Types of Writing
Class 8: Point of View, Tone, & Voice
Class 9: Style
Class 10: Techniques & Devices of Organization for Coherence
Class 11: More Techniques & Devices of Organization
Class 12: Composing Methods
Class 13: Characteristics of an Effective Argument
Class 14: Research Methods

Your Course Details

Total Number of Classes: Fourteen (14)
Prerequisites: Required: WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Essential Punctuation and Grammar I (HS 9-1). Recommended: HIGH SCHOOL SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational Writing Skills (HS 9-2) and the 9-3 and 9-4 Essay Writing courses. Prerequisites can be taken either LIVE or through Unlimited Access. Your student will also need Word 2007 or later version or the ability to convert a document to a Word-compatible document. If the student is unable to take the previous courses LIVE, then it is acceptable to (at a minimum) watch the recordings on Unlimited Access. Special permission may be granted for attending this course without prerequisites. Please contact homeschoolconnections@gmail.com to discuss permissions.
Required Materials:

  • All documents are turned in as Microsoft Word documents. If you do not own
    Microsoft Word 2007 or a later version, you can use a system such as Google Docs that converts to Word documents FREE.
  • Required Book: EB Conroy’s Simplified Vocabulary Guide may be ordered at
    http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000430970/EB-Conroys-Simplified-Vocabulary-Guide.aspx

    or
    http://amzn.to/2FKGXDC

Suggested Credit: One (1) full semester of Vocabulary & Writing, Writing, or English.

How this course fits with your other High School Writing courses...

Fall Semester Spring Semester
9-19-29-39-4
10-1*10-2**
11-12311-457
12-112-2
* This is your first part of a two-part, year-long Vocabulary and Writing curriculum.
** The 10-1 and 10-2 courses are consecutive courses. To create a full year of High School Writing at the 10th grade level, sign up for the 10-2 course when you sign up for the 10-1 course.

Your Instructors

Live, Interactive Courses

During the week, multiple course sections, times, and instructors are offered for this course. Sign up for the time and the instructor that best meets your needs. Click here to see the days and instructors for the LIVE course offerings — and to sign up for a LIVE course.

Recorded, Independent-Learning Course

When you sign up for Unlimited Access and take this recorded course, your instructor is the designer and Director of Aquinas Writing Advantage, Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA (aka author EB Conroy/Erin Brown Conroy).

Three Sign Up Options (Choose One)

1. Live, Interactive Course

Students attend a LIVE class in a virtual classroom on a specific day, at a specific time. After class (during the week), the student independently completes the coursework that includes readings, activities, and weekly quizzes. Quizzes are graded automatically by the computer for instant feedback. Written assignments are graded with feedback by the instructor. Your instructor is also available for communication outside of class via email, to help answer questions. Homework time outside of class is estimated to be two to three hours per week.

Sign up for a LIVE class here

2. Unlimited Access: Recorded, Independent-Learning Course

When you take the Recorded course, you will independently view the recorded video lesson and complete the coursework in the learning management system. Quizzes in the course are graded automatically by the computer for instant feedback. If choosing to not use Instructor Access, grading with feedback is provided by the parent; however, Instructor Access grading is available (see below). There is an estimated two to three hours of homework/coursework per week outside of watching the weekly video lecture.

When you get “Unlimited Access,” you get 24/7 access to ALL of the writing courses — AND access to 400+ middle and high school courses, in all subject areas, for only $34.97 a month.

Sign up for Unlimited Access here to get this course

3. Unlimited Access with Instructor Access Grading Services

Instructor Access is an optional service, for an additional fee, that accompanies Unlimited Access. When you sign up for one-on-one tutoring with Instructor Access, in addition to the weekly quizzes that are graded automatically by the computer for instant feedback, your student will receive one-on-one help via email with the professional writing instructor. The Instructor Access instructor will grade the work submitted, and there is an estimated three to four hours per week for homework for your student outside of watching the video lecture. If you’d like Instructor Access, once you sign up for Unlimited Access, you’ll receive email instructions on how to sign up.

Sign up for Unlimited Access here to get this course

Specific Course FAQs

Is this course required? Can I skip this course?

Combined with the 10-2 course, this course allows your student to solidify over 750 vocabulary words that have been designated as vocabulary that can lead to success, particularly in college. If your student begins the Aquinas Writing Advantage program at grade 10 or later, please contact homeschoolconnections@gmail.com to help determine how to best fit the high school writing courses together for your student’s success.

Can I start the 10-1 course in the Spring Semester?

The LIVE 10-1 course is only offered in the Fall Semester; the LIVE 10-2 course is only offered in the Spring Semester. Using Unlimited Access, you can begin either 10-1 or 10-2 at any time of year. Special attention is given to study habits for vocabulary success in the 10-1 course. For that reason, it would be helpful to begin the series of the two courses with 10-1.

Is this a writing course or a vocabulary course?

YES! This course is both — combining the learning (and practice) of over 300 vocabulary words… AND your student gets short but meaningful weekly writing exercises, to increase your student’s writing skills. The course also includes significant study skills guidance and the learning/practice of critical thinking skills as they pertain to prewriting, drafting, and creating final versions of the student’s writing.

Sign up for a LIVE class here...
Sign up for Unlimited Access here to get this recorded course…

Filed Under: HIGH SCHOOL COURSES, Popular Courses

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