THE WRITTEN VOICE - A 10 week journey into great writing

The Written Voice is a 10 week writing course for middle school and early high school students. It is designed with a few things in mind. Firstly, what skills set up students for success in academic settings. Secondly, what skills do they need to be successful in communication through writing in the long term. And finally, how to get students to enjoy writing more than they currently do. We address this in 5 units spanning over the course of 10 weeks where students get to explore and understand writing in a collaborative environment, in class guidance, and weekly assignments for practice. BATCH 1 - OCTOBER 6 - DECEMBER 15 EVERY TUESDAY 5:30-6:30 PM BATCH 2 - OCTOBER 8 - DECEMBER 17 EVERY THURSDAY 5:00-6:00 PM BREAK - THANKSGIVING WEEK **UNIT 1: ELEMENTS OF WRITING** **Purpose**: Understand writing on a fundamental level so that these skills can be applied across different areas beyond just this course. Provides an understanding of the basic elements that shape writing s that students are not lost in school settings. **1. What is good writing, and what should you do before you start writing?** a. Understanding purpose, audience, and context b. Brainstorming and organizing ideas c. Developing a clear central idea before drafting **2. Elements of language that elevate writing** a. Diction and word choice b. Sentence structure and variety c. Tone and voice d. Transitions and flow e. Specificity vs. vagueness **3. The difference between academic and creative writing** a. How purpose changes writing b. Differences in structure, diction, tone, and expectations c. When to prioritize clarity vs. creativity **Unit 2: NARRATIVE WRITTING/STORYTELLING** **Purpose:** Often Needed in English Classes throughout Middle School. Great for learning the basics of creative writing, especially for students who intend to participate in any future competitions. Helps students convey ideas and events in an interesting and engaging manner. **1. How to write narratives and make them interesting** a. Story structure b. Character, setting, and conflict c. Pacing d. Dialogue e. Creating a compelling opening **2. How to use elements of writing for effective description and making implicit points** a. Sensory details b. Showing vs. telling c. Diction and imagery d. Using details to communicate ideas without explicitly stating them e. Developing voice and atmosphere **Unit 3: INFORMATIVE/ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING** **Purpose**: Very important for middle school and high school english classes. Argumentation is a big aspect of the school English curriculum and knowledge in this area can help students thrive in school settings for middle school as well as in high school in the future. **1. How to make persuasive points using Claim–Warrant–Impact structure** a. Developing a clear claim b. Supporting claims with evidence c. Explaining how reasoning connects claims to impacts d. Addressing opposing perspectives and refuting e. Understanding the difference between making a point and proving a point f. Answering the “so what” question and making readers care about the argument **2. How to convey ideas clearly and succinctly using word economy** a. Use critical thinking to make nuanced points b. Avoiding logical fallacies c. Choosing precise language d. Organizing information logically e. Balancing depth with concise wording **Unit 4: LITERARY ANALYSIS** **Purpose:** The most crucial skill for a school setting. Most English classes starting middle school and throughout high school rely heavily on a student's ability to analyse and understand text. Essays, socratic seminars, annotations, and presentations are often graded off of the quality of their understanding of text. This unit helps build these skills beforehand so students are well equipped for classroom settings. **1. Analyzing literature and answering prompts based on it** a. Understanding what a prompt is actually asking b. Identifying relevant evidence c. Moving from summary to analysis d. Developing a defensible interpretation **2.Interpreting excerpts and prompts beyond the surface level** a. Looking for implications b. Identifying themes and patterns c. Connecting details to larger ideas d. Understanding why an author made a particular choice e. Identifying foreshadowing **3. Understanding the purpose and meaning of literary elements used in text** a. Figurative language b. Symbolism c. Imagery d. Characterization e. Tone and diction f. How literary choices contribute to meaning **UNIT 5: WRITING IN THE REAL WORLD** **Purpose:** The importance of creating a good relationship with writing is often overlooked. If students stop disliking writing they are more likely to explore more in writing. This doesn't just help in class, but also helps students express themselves articulately in the long term. **1. Writing for presentations and speeches** a. Writing for the ear rather than just the eye b. Structuring a speech and making it flow smoothly c. Using natural but professional language d. Writing with an audience in mind **2. Learning to incorporate personality into written work** a. Developing an authentic voice b. Using humor, storytelling, and personal perspective appropriately c. Making writing memorable without sacrificing clarity **3. Creating a positive relationship with writing** a. Overcoming the idea that writing has to be “perfect”. b. Developing confidence in your own style c. Drills and practice in a low stakes no pressure setting. d. Understanding that different types of writing can be enjoyable **COACH** a Junior at Seven lakes high school and has gained regional recognition in writing. He received the silver key award for his poetry piece. He is also involved deeply in Speech and Debate and competes at the National level. He has received numerous awards such as the National Speech & Debate Association Speaking and Service Award that is only given to fewer than 1% of students, quarterfinal at the Barkley Forum Tournament. He is passionate about teaching and is excited to work on many forms of writing with his students! **COACH** - junior at The Emery/Weiner School who loves competition. More importantly, he loves bringing these opportunities to his community. He has taught 100+ students face-to-face and over 400 more virtually across speech and debate, economics writing competitions, business and ethical case studies. In his free time, he loves to sew, cook and spend time with friends!