AP

Full Year courses

• Below is the newly revised course description beginning with classes for 2011-12. 

• NOTE: Writing Foundations 1/2, 1 and 2 offers several sections of the same course, some on different days.  Students should register for ONLY ONE section, ONLY ONE DAY and ONLY ONE TIME SLOT  

Class Description:

In some ways, this program approaches writing as an art to be imitated and shaped by the author. In other ways, Writing Foundations reduces writing to simple building blocks that empower young writers to mast written language where they may have struggled before.  Based on the elements of the Institute for Excellence in Writing, students will experience and practice the structure and style of Quality written work. Although it is not a substitute for separate lessons, naturally and purposefully, participants will gain strength in basic skills such as handwriting, spelling, punctuation and grammar. 

THREE LEVELS of Writing Foundations Classes: Starting at the elementary level, students need as many years of writing practice as possible before proceeding to advanced high school and PSEO courses where good writing skills are an expected medium for learning.  It takes time and repeated practice to digest effective writing skills, and students must start with small bites and gradually work to greater challenges.

Thus, Writing Foundations offers three levels: Level 1/2 for grades 5-7, Level 1 for grades 7-9, and Level 2 for grades 8-10 (PQ: successful completion of Level 1). These courses provide time for meaningful practice, growing competence, and significant refinement of individual style.

Only students who have successfully--with independent competence--completed Level 1 should proceed to Level 2.  May students repeat Level 1/2 and Level 1 before moving on to the next level. 

• Parental Involvement: Parents must function as "narration Listener" and as "Personal Proofreader" on a weekly basis for rough and revised drafts of various assignments. 

While Ms. B. edits and offers points for each assignment, parents are responsible for all record keeping and cumulative course grading of their student's work. 

To better nurture, reinforce and benefit from these skills, parents are enthusiastically encouraged to attend classes with their students. (Space constraints do not allow for siblings not in the class, however.)

• TEXT: ALL Levels: The Synonym Finder by J.I. Rodale, or a college-level dictionary. 
• Tutor provided materials include: Portfolio cover, weekly course handouts that create a comprehensive writing handbook.
• Students must provide: 3-ring binder (2" minimum), 12 dividers, loose leaf paper (please avoid spiral bound notebooks), pens and different colored fine tipped markers or colored pencils: yellow, orange, red, pink, green, blue, purple, brown, black. (Or students may use a color printer for printing colors from the computer.  Go to www.writingfoundations.com to download color coding handouts and directions for setting up dividers.)

NOTE: 

• Pre-requisites: A student may take only fall semester of Level 1, but may not proceed to Level 2 without a full year of Level 1. 
• Regardless of past WFD history, no mid-year entry is allowed.  Students must take Fall and Spring semesters of each level within the same academic and calendar school year.
• Students should repeat WFD Level 1/2 and Level I until they are ready to move on.  WFD offers new assignments in each class every year.
• Taking a break between Levels 1 and 2 is NOT recommended.  It is best to take WFD every year until the student has successfully completed Levels 1 and 2 consecutively
• Level 1/2 is not required, but it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED before Level 1.

WRITING FOUNDATIONS 1/2 

Grade Level:     5th-7th

Prerequisite:     none

Course content: note taking, outlining, narrating, journaling, drafting, editing, revising, fables, narratives, summaries, short essays, stylistic techniques, vocabulary, grammar lessons, year-end portfolio project and presentation. 

WRITING FOUNDATIONS 1

Grade Level:     7th-9th

Prerequisite: none.

Course content: note taking, outlining, narrating, journaling, drafting, editing, revising, stylistic techniques, fables, narratives, summaries, citations and bibliographies, 5-paragraph essays, SAT-style timed essays, grammar lessons, vocabulary and quizzes, year-end portfolio project and presentation.

WRITING FOUNDATIONS 2

Grade Level:     8th-10th

Prerequisite: Satisfactory Completion of Writing Foundations 1 during the previous school year. 

Course content: note taking, outlining, narrating, journaling, drafting, editing, revising, stylistic techniques, flashbacks, summaries, citations and bibliographies, multi-source reports, research report, persuasive essay, ACT-style timed essays, grammar lessons, vocabulary and quizzes, year-end portfolio project and presentation.