This course is the second course of four (4) in the 7/8-Series of Simplified Writing courses for middle school students. Take all four of the 7/8-Series courses to gain one full year of credit (28 weeks total).

Simplified Writing for Middle School 1: Foundations of Composition I (MS 7/8-1). 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. An alternative to the prerequisite: a passing assessment from the Aquinas Writing Advantage Assessment service. Please contact homeschoolconnections@gmail.com for any questions on permissions.

Course Outline:

• Class 1: Writing structure and skill: practicing the introduction, hook, and thesis

• Class 2: Writing structure and skill: practicing outlines and the conclusion/concluding statements

• Class 3: Writing an essay: rough drafts

• Class 4: Writing a paper: five types of papers & practicing the introduction, hook, and thesis

• Class 5: Writing a paper: practicing outlines and concluding statements; revising an essay

• Class 6: Writing a paper: rough drafts; editing an essay

• Class 7: Revising a Paper

• Class 8: Editing and formatting final papers

• Course materials are included free. Microsoft Word or the ability to convert a document to a Word-compatible document is required, as all assignments are submitted in Word. If you do not own Microsoft Word, you can use a system such as Google Docs that converts to Word documents FREE.

LIVE and Instructor Access students will have weekly writing assignments with grading and direct feedback from the instructor (parents will grade Recorded students’ work). Estimated three (3) to four (4) hours per week for homework outside of class time, depending on the student's ability.

Note: Parents, please make sure that 100% of the student's work is his or her own writing. Help your student to understand not to copy content from online or another source unless told to do so on an assignment as a quote or evidence to support an idea. If using outside materials, always cite where the information came from. Students copying work without citation (and quotation marks) earn a zero on the assignment, and repeat or intentional plagiarism will result in not passing the course. Plagiarism is taken seriously, so please help your student understand plagiarism. Thank you. 

Fee: $159 if you register on or before July 15. $179 after July 15 for all 6 classes. if you register after July 15. (Registration closes one week before the first day of class. After that date, registrations are not guaranteed. There is a $25 surcharge for late enrollments after the course is closed.)