Hone your writing and critical thinking while mastering over 350 vocabulary words from college and graduate word lists and Advanced Placement (AP) writing, and learn top study skills for remembering vocabulary (and more!).

Special Notes: This course is scheduled during several different slots in the spring semester.

This is Part Two of a 2-part course. Students are welcome to join us midyear if there are open seats and they have the prerequisite.

Total Classes: 14

Class Dates and Starting Time:

Tuesdays, January 7 to April 22, 2025. No class February 11 (mid-semester break) & April 15 (Holy Week)

10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Central; 7:00 Mountain)

Duration per class: 55 minutes

Prerequisite: Required: High School Essential Writing 1: Punctuation and Grammar I (HS 9-1) and High School Simplified Writing 1: Strong Foundational Writing Skills (HS 9-2).

Recommended: High School Essential Writing 2: Excellent Paragraph and Essay Writing (HS 9-3) and High School Simplified Writing 2: Beyond the Five-Paragraph Essay (HS 9-4).

Prerequisites can also be taken as a recorded course through Unlimited Access. Alternative prerequisite: a passing Punctuation & Grammar Assessment (only) from the Aquinas Writing Advantage Assessment service.

Suggested Grade Level: 10th grade or high school students who meet the prerequisite requirements.

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

Fee: For all 14 classes: $257 if you register on or before November 15, $277 if you register after Nov. 15. (Registration closes one week before the first day of class. After that date, registrations are not guaranteed. There is a $20 surcharge for late enrollments after the course is closed.)

Instructor:

Maureen Ryan, BA (Tuesdays 10:00 AM ET)

Course Description: In this second (Part 2) of two successive courses, you’ll continue learning advanced concepts associated with over 350 more upper-level vocabulary words necessary for success in all high school writing and literature courses, Advanced Placement (AP) English Language courses, and college-level writing. Coursework will be focused on the critical thinking and writing practice needed for your future success, and each week, you’ll learn tips and how-to’s for learning the words with comprehension and memory, as well as use the words in writing. Because vocabulary is an indicator of success in college and for the best communication practices in adult life, if you want to be prepared for college courses and beyond, this course is for you.

Course Outline:

Class 1: Persuasion; Sources, Citations, & Plagiarism

Class 2: Research

Class 3: Critical Reading; Literary Forms & Genres I

Class 4: Literary Forms and Genres II

Class 5: Themes in Writing

Class 6: Rhetoric & Literary Techniques

Class 7: Rhetoric, Figures of Speech, and Devices I

Class 8: Rhetoric, Figures of Speech, and Devices II

Class 9: Narration; Dissecting Passages of Text I

Class 10: Description; Dissecting Passages of Text II

Class 11: Illustration, Exemplification, and Highly Effective Essays

Class 12: Comparison & Contrast in Writing

Class 13: Process Analysis & Context

Class 14: Division & Classification; Writing Cogent, Organized Essays

Course Materials: Required Book: EB Conroy’s Simplified Vocabulary Guide may be ordered at http://amzn.to/2FKGXDC. Microsoft Word or the ability to convert a document to a Word-compatible document is required. If you do not own Microsoft Word, you can use a system such as Google Docs that converts to Word documents FREE.

Homework: Studying for tests on vocabulary words, for identification and use. Students will take weekly in-system quizzes (graded automatically) and complete weekly writing assignments that make your writing stronger and use the new vocabulary (graded by the instructor).