7/8-4
Middle School
Writing Essentials 4:
Writing Form and Style
Suggested Grade Level: 7th or 8th grade
Learn the keys to nonfiction, fiction, informing,
journalism, description, reviews, speeches,
Biblical writing, & more…

Your Course Description
In this course, your student will learn the many types of non-fiction and fiction writing, including descriptive writing, reviews, how-to articles and instructions, news articles and journalistic reporting, types of business writing, speeches, creative/expressive story writing (songs, plays, and other forms of story), and the kinds of writing found in the bible (epistles/letters, genealogical writing, historical narratives, laws and statutory writing, parables, poetry, and proverbial writing). Special emphasis will be placed on knowing the characteristics of each kind of writing and how to identify different types of writing. Your student will also experiment with and practice writing within most of the forms. Your student will use all of the skills of writing learned to this point in the Essentials and Simplified Writing courses for middle school students.
Your Course Outline
Class 1: Types of Writing Overview, Purpose and Audience, Nonfiction and Fiction Writing
Class 2: How-to Writing and Instructional Writing
Class 3: An introduction to Journalism and News Reporting
Class 4: Expressive Writing – Forms of Story and Expression
Class 5: Descriptive Writing
Class 6: Business Writing
Class 7: Writing Reviews and Speeches
Class 8: Forms of Writing in the Bible
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 and the 7/8-1, 7/8-2, and 7/8-3 courses before joining the final 7/8 Series course. 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 [email protected] to discuss permissions.
Required Materials: 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 7/8-3 Course, this course is worth a full semester’s credit of middle school 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 7/8-3 and 7/8-4 courses are consecutive courses. To create a full semester of Middle School Writing, sign up for the 7/8-4 course when you sign up for 7/8-3, to complete the 7/8 series of 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 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. 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 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, 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 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 all of the courses’ content in the writing program is sequential, the 6/7 Series and the 7/8-1, 7/8-2, and 7/8-3 courses are prerequisites for the 7/8-4 course. For your student’s success, please take the prerequisite courses (LIVE or watching the recordings of the classes in Unlimited Access) before signing up for this course. If your student is in 8th grade, you may watch the 6/7-series courses on video in Unlimited Access to meet the requirement. Special permission may be granted for attending this course without prerequisites. Please contact [email protected] to discuss permissions.
Can I start the 7/8-4 course in the Fall Semester?
The LIVE 7/8-3 and 7/8-4 courses are held in the Spring Semester only; Spring Semester courses begin in January. If you are beginning this course in September (or at any other time of the year besides January), simply take this course in Unlimited Access (with or without Instructor Access grading services).
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