Master the Essay
Half Year Course – Fall; 90 minutes
This course aims to improve writing and written communication skills for upper-level high school students preparing for college writing or aspiring towards an immediate career. Students heading to CSM or other colleges will be prepared for an entry-level college writing course. Students aiming towards work or a career will hone written communication skills using the essay form.
Students will attain understanding and competency in writing essays, focusing on expository essays with an introduction to the persuasive essay. The course teaches a five-stage writing process that practices choosing appropriate topics, developing ideas, organizing their thoughts using graphic organizers and outlines, conducting research, and editing their writing.
Students will regularly share their ideas and writing work in small group activities. The tutor will provide feedback on content, mechanics, and style at various checkpoints in the five-stage writing process.
Since academic writing requires appropriately quoted, summarized, and cited sources, students will progressively learn and integrate the MLA 9th citation format and a process to avoid plagiarism.
Homework:
HOMEWORK:
- This course requires at least 30 minutes, four to five days a week, for the student to keep up with the assignments.
- Most weeks include multiple assignments, including some due midweek, i.e., Thursday, Friday, or Monday.
- Since class is devoted to instruction and practice activities, most of the student’s writing work must occur at home.
- FAQ – Will students be required to read aloud or write on the board during class? Students will have the opportunity to read completed essays aloud to the class for extra credit, but it is not mandatory.
Prerequisite(s):
- By July 1 or soon after summer enrollment, submit a short writing sample demonstrating readiness for this course. Email Mrs. Graessle at cgraessle@cctmd.org to receive step-by-step instructions for the Student Writing Sample prompt and Word document template.
- Recommended: Completion of a 10th grade level writing course or equivalent with a C or better. For example, at the 10th grade, C-level writing would be a competent multi-paragraph report or narrative/story focusing on a single topic.
- Students can create a double-spaced, typed document in Microsoft Word.
Required Text(s):
- MLA the Easy Way: Updated for the 9th Edition by Peggy M. Houghton and Timothy J Houghton – ISBN: 978-17330079-6-2. The cost for a new book on Amazon is typically $11. Used copies are acceptable. However, LIKE NEW or GOOD are highly recommended to ensure clean pages without markings.
Required Resources:
- Students will upload and submit assignments as Word document files into their CCT student ThinkWave account. Mrs. Graessle will demonstrate how to do this the first week of class.
- Ability to PRINT assignments each week for use in class.
- Access to the Internet for recommended websites and online review activities (Kahoot, Quizlet).
- Some assignments will be typed into ThinkWave.
Required Materials:
- 1” to 1.5” 3-ring binder with six tabs
- 10-20 pieces of lined paper in the binder
- Blue/black ink pen
- Set of 6 color highlighters (yellow, pink, blue, green, orange, purple)
- Two or three colors of medium-sized sticky notes
- Optional: A laptop computer, as students will occasionally share screens for demonstrations or short in-class activities
Additional Fee: $35 fee materials and online practice activities (Kahoot & Quizlet). The fee includes $5 for a customized “How to Use” MLA booklet printed by Mrs. Graessle that works with the required textbook.
Other: While the pace of this class is rigorous, even students who find writing challenging will earn an ‘A’ if they submit assignments on time and complete them to the best of their ability.
Students need not be “good writers” or “like writing” to succeed in this class. The tutor teaches a structured process to build confidence in writing. Regardless of one’s current writing level, diligent students will grow and mature their writing ability by the end of the semester.
Instructor: Carolyn Graessle
Revised: 11 April 2025