Get rid of punctuation and grammar struggles and learn the must-have writing skills for mastering commas, tense, colons, semicolons, dashes, ellipses, and more – and overcome punctuation and grammar mistakes for good.
Take this course with the 9-2 course with this course and gain a full semester’s credit for writing! 

Instructor Access (optional grading support) is available for Unlimited Access or Single Access. 
See the sidebar to the left for signup information! Scroll down to read the biography of each instructor.  

Special Notes: This is the first of a four-part series. Continue with the HS 9 series (9-2, 9-3, and 9-4) for a full year’s credit for writing.

Total Classes: 6

Prerequisite: none

Suggested Grade Level: 9th grade; however, all high school students are welcome.
Suggested Credit: One-half (½) of a semester’s credit for Writing or English

Combine with High School Simplified Writing 1: Strong Foundational Writing Skills (HS 9-2) for one (1) full semester’s credit. When combined with the 9-2 course, this course is worth one (1) full semester’s credit for writing.

Instructor: Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA

Instructor Email: ebconroy@homeschoolconnections.com

Course Description: This is an essential writing course for all high school students, to solidify the use of upper-level punctuation and grammar—including mastering commas, tense, colons, semicolons, dashes, ellipses, and more. With this course, you can help your student avoid everyday writing struggles and master punctuation and grammar details that may be holding your student back. Sentence constructions move from simple to complex, to prepare your student for upper high school and college courses. Take the 9-2 course with this course and gain a full semester’s credit for writing.

Course Outline:

Class 1: Mastering commas in a series and commas with conjunctions using complex sentences

Class 2: Mastering commas and clauses and tough constructions, including multiple ideas, connectors, and transitions

Class 3: Mastering tense, competing punctuation, quotations, dashes, and ellipses

Class 4: Sticky-pair sentence construction (if-then, not only-but also) and tough grammar in upper-level constructions

Class 5: Mastering colons and semicolons with leading sentence constructions

Class 6: Mastering tricky punctuation details, end punctuation, and the most common grammar challenges

Course Materials: Simplified Writing 101: Top Secrets for College Success, by Erin Brown Conroy: Buy the hard copy of the book here: http://amzn.to/2FMCose OR, buy the Kindle version of the book here (Download the FREE Kindle app to easily read on your computer, tablet, or mobile device): www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00B7AB90W/catholictreas-20
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 and Instructor Access students will have weekly writing assignments with grading and direct feedback from the instructor (parents will grade Recorded students’ work). Estimated two (2) to three (3) hours per week for homework outside of class time, depending on the student’s ability.