7/8-1
Middle School
Simplified Writing
for Middle School 1:
Foundations of Composition
Suggested Grade Level: 7th or 8th grade
Learn and understand the three types
of writing -- and learn how to create
excellent form within your academic writing...
Your Course Description
In this course, your student will learn the skills and habits of strong and clear writing — to gain the critical foundations needed for excellent high school writing. Your student will learn the purposes of writing, including expression, informing, and persuading; the effect of an audience on writing, including key considerations in writing for different audiences; and how to sculpt a piece of writing with direction, including learning the characteristics of an effective introduction, body, and conclusion. Students continue to perfect effective topic sentences, linear writing, and transitions for excellent paragraph writing, with specific writing feedback from the instructor.
Your Course Outline
Class 1: Writing for a purpose and audience: the “why” of writing
Class 2: Great word choice: how to choose the “right” word
Class 3: Strong sentences: how to write a great sentence
Class 4: Clear paragraphs: what makes a great paragraph/linear writing that makes sense to the reader
Class 5: Writing with direction: great introductions and the hook
Class 6: Writing with direction: great introductions and the thesis
Class 7: Writing with direction: the body (of your paper) and how to make it “shapely”
Class 8: Writing with direction: the conclusion
Your Course Details
Total Number of Classes: Eight (8)
Prerequisites: Because courses in the program are sequential, for your student’s success, it is recommended that your student takes the 6/7 Series courses before joining the 7/8 Series courses. If the student is unable to take the 6/7 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 [email protected] 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.
Suggested Credit: When combined with the 7/8-2 Course, this course is worth a full semester’s credit of writing.
How this course fits with your Middle School Writing courses...
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/7-1 | 6/7-2 | 6/7-3 | 6/7-4 |
| 7/8-1* | 7/8-2** | 7/8-3 | 7/8-4 |
** The 7/8-1 and 7/8-2 courses are consecutive courses. To create a full semester of Middle School Writing, sign up for the 7/8-2 course when you sign up for the 7/8-1 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 one to three hours per week, depending on your student’s skills.
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 one 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.
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, the Instructor Access instructor will grade the worksheets submitted, and there is an estimated one 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.
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 6/7 Series courses in Unlimited Access before entering the 7/8 Series courses.
Can I start the 7/8-1 course in January?
The LIVE 7/8-1 and 7/8-2 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).
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