Essays and Creative Writing for Upper Elementary

In this comprehensive writing course, learners will engage in a diverse range of writing tasks, spanning from personal narratives to formal essays and persuasive writing. They will produce a total of three essays, three creative writing pieces, one book report, and one formal letter, allowing them to explore various genres and hone their writing skills across different formats. Additionally, students will delve into reading comprehension through the analysis of three short stories and one text of their choice for the book report, providing a well-rounded literacy experience.

𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧:
Module 1 – Writing the Personal Narrative
Assignment: Personal Narrative

Module 2 – Dialogue and Literary Devices
Assignment: Copy That Assignment; Worksheet

Module 3 – Creative Writing Prompt
Assignment: In class write and share

Module 4 – How to Write an Essay
Assignment: Write an informative essay (formal)

Module 5 – Formal Writing
Assignment: Friendly Letters

Module 6 – Compare and Contrast
Assignment: Essay writing

Module 7 – The Art of Persuasion
Assignment: Ethos, Logos, Pathos; Write a persuasive essay

Module 8 – Hero’s Journey
Assignment: Book Reports

Module 9 – Presentations and Review
Assignment: Show and Share
Learners may present their work through video and/or a classroom post.

Each class session will be carefully structured to guide students through specific writing techniques and assignments. Class assignments will include activities such as crafting personal narratives, exploring dialogue and literary devices, responding to creative writing prompts, and mastering the art of essay writing. Through a combination writing exercises and independent work, students will develop their writing proficiency.

Throughout the course, students can expect timely feedback on their written work from the instructor, with turnaround times of 24-48 hours. This feedback will offer constructive criticism and guidance to help students refine their writing skills and improve their craft.

The teaching style for this course is interactive and hands-on, with a focus on active student participation and engagement. The instructor will employ a variety of teaching methods, including lectures and multimedia presentations, to cater to diverse learning styles and enhance student comprehension. By providing clear instruction, valuable feedback, and ample opportunities for practice, the instructor aims to empower students to become confident and proficient writers.

(Standards taken from Common Core; however, the objectives tend to remain the same across curriculum. More areas than listed will be covered throughout this course).

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 4 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.