Headed to college? Take this must-have course to master the skills of essay
writing for tests in a timed setting -- and be completely prepared for college-level essay tests.

Instructor Access (optional grading support) is available for Unlimited Access or Single Access.  

How to get the most out of Essay Test Mastery for College-Bound Students (COLL-1):

1. Carefully read the course details.

2. Watch the class recording and take notes as you watch it. You may also review the PowerPoint file.

3. Complete the homework in the order that it is listed on the page.

4. Submit assignments for Grading.  Give your assignment to your parent for grading. You may also sign up for Instructor Access. Click the link on this page to enroll in one-on-one mentoring, feedback, and grading via Instructor Access

5. Complete all the classes at your own pace, but it’s recommended that you complete this 8-week course within 10 weeks.

6. Print the Certificate of Completion at the end of the course.
   Fill in the document for your records. You may also copy and paste the descriptive content of the course (located at the top section of the page). Make sure to record your grades; HSC does not provide record-keeping.

Total Classes: 8

Duration: 55 minutes

Prerequisite:

Required: High School Essential Writing 1-4 (HS 9-1, 9-2, 9-3, & 9-4).

This is an advanced course. Prior to taking this course, students must have mastered the key writing foundations (mechanics, grammar, punctuation) and advanced writing skills (sentence structure, paragraphs, word usage) specifically taught in the Aquinas Writing Advantage (AWA) courses 9-1 through 9-4.  Students may take the prerequisites in Unlimited Access recording or LIVE.

As an alternative to the prerequisite, students may have a passing assessment from the Aquinas Writing Advantage Assessment service. Please contact homeschoolconnections@gmail.com for any questions on permissions.

Suggested Grade Level: 9th to 12th grade

Instructor: Maureen Ryan
Instructor Email: maureen.ryanhsc@gmail.com

Course Description: Master in-class essay tests with this how-to course with practical, prescriptive, clear direction on how to decipher a prompt, think and process the instructions clearly, quickly brainstorm an answer, and write an essay in a linear format with few errors -- to “show the teacher what you know” with style. Mrs. Ryan will teach you essay writing secrets based on Professor Erin Brown’s 20 years of college-level teaching and college writing course curriculum development at three universities. Come prepared to write -- and to enjoy writing!

Course Outline:

• Class 1:  The Timed Essay Writing Process: The Goal of an Essay, Types of Essays, and What’s So Special About Timed Essays?

• Class 2: Analyzing and Using the Prompt: The Set-Up, Question, and Action

• Class 3: Analyzing and Using the Prompt: Using Keywords and “Diamond Words”

• Class 4: The Writing Process: Brainstorming with “The Big 10” When You Have to Work Fast (How to Brainstorm Quality Content)

  Class 5: The Writing Process: Arranging and Ordering Content for Clarity and Power

• Class 6: Writing Essays about Course Content (texts, readings, class materials, and experiences) Tips on Studying and Remembering Content for Essay Questions

• Class 7: Writing Essays About (and With) New Ideas: Synthesis

• Class 8: Writing Essays for College Entrance Exams: The Dynamic Narrative Essay; Must-Do Essay Tips for Success

Course Materials: All materials are provided FREE by the instructor. Students must have the ability to turn in assignments in Microsoft Word format (either through purchasing Word or using Google Docs or another format, then downloading the document into Word format before uploading it into the grading system).

Homework: LIVE and Instructor Access students will have weekly writing assignments with grading and direct feedback from the instructor (parents will grade Recorded students’ work). Expect an estimated two (2) to five (5) hours per week for homework (including both brainstorming and writing time) outside of class time, depending on the student’s ability; homework includes reading, writing, and responding to feedback.

Technical Help: If you have any technical trouble or questions about course content, please email us at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com.

©2024 Homeschool Connections and Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA (aka author EB Conroy/Erin Brown Conroy). All rights reserved. This course is designed by Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA (aka author EB Conroy/Erin Brown Conroy).

• This material is only to be used for its intended purpose by active subscribers of Homeschool Connections. Any other use without explicit permission is in violation of the seventh commandment (yes, the 7th commandment) and in violation of US and International copyright laws.

• You may print or download to local hard disk extracts for your personal homeschool and non-commercial use only. This is not to be used for homeschool co-ops without express written permission from Homeschool Connections.