The writing class will center around essential building blocks, beginning with a well-formed sentence. We will write various types of paragraphs, including expository, descriptive, persuasive, compare and contrast, narrative, and cause and effect. After rehearsing these types of paragraphs, we will expand them into 3 and 5-paragraph essays (next semester).
Because history is essentially a collection of stories, writing naturally falls in place behind historical study. Through a wide variety of literature and original sources, students become connected to people, places and events of times past. As they encounter heroes of old, their interest in the great ideas is piqued, often followed by an outpouring of questions.
Because history is essentially a collection of stories, writing naturally falls in place behind historical study. Through a wide variety of literature and original sources, students become connected to people, places and events of times past. As they encounter heroes of old, their interest in the great ideas is piqued, often followed by an outpouring of questions.
These questions can be a powerful springboard for many different types of writing, from simple expository essays to complex comparisons; from descriptive retelling to personal narrative; from modeling a style to discovering a personal flair. Though children often have difficulty in choosing a topic, this task is eliminated in light of the many various angles one can take on a particular subject. Additionally, while a basic writing proficiency is helpful, even inexperienced writers can benefit from motivating history-based activities.