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!).

Instructor Access (optional grading support) is available for Unlimited Access or Single Access. 
See the sidebar to the left for signup information!

NOTICE: This is an older course recorded with Adobe Connect and/or Vimeo recordings. We are currently working to replace the recordings with new Zoom recordings.  Please don't hesitate to email us at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com with any questions.

Total Classes: 14

Prerequisites:

• 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 of Vocabulary & Writing, Writing, or English

Instructor: Erin M. Brown (AKA Erin Brown Conroy / EB Conroy)

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, and Plagiarism

• Class 2: Research

• Class 3: Critical Reading; Literary Forms and Genres I

• Class 4: Literary Forms and Genres II

• Class 5: Themes in Writing

• Class 6: Rhetoric and 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 and Contrast in Writing

• Class 13: Process Analysis and Context

• Class 14: Division and Classification; Writing Cogent, Organized Essays

Course Materials: Required Book: EB Conroy's Simplified Vocabulary Guide may be ordered at the following link: https://amzn.to/3idf8fF

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: LIVE course and Instructor Access students will have weekly writing assignments with grading and direct feedback from the instructor. Recorded course students will complete the same work, and parents not using Instructor Access will grade the Recorded course students' work. There is an estimated four (4) to five (5) hours per week for homework outside of class time that includes reading, activities, writing assignment(s), studying for the quizzes, and responding to instructor feedback.