Writing classes in middle school are oriented toward academic writing, a genre of writing typically used in academic settings.
It is characterized by a formal tone, clear structure, and the use of evidence to support arguments. Academic writing often involves synthesizing information from multiple sources and formulating a well-reasoned argument or analysis based on that information. It is used to communicate research results and present arguments and perspectives in a concise and clear manner.
Course Sequencing & Specializations
Grade Level | Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
6 | Writer’s Workshop 2 (Semester 1): Focuses on advanced grammar-oriented mechanics and unit-based short-form composition. | Great Writing 3 (Semester 2): Transition to long-form writing (3+ paragraphs) across various academic genres. |
6 – Advanced | John Locke 6 (Full-Year): A specialized skill-training course designed for students preparing for the prestigious John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize. | |
7/8 | Writing with Power (Semester 1): Advanced mastery of the 5-paragraph essay and complex rhetorical modes. | Intro to Academic Writing (Semester 2): Refinement of style and technique across diverse academic disciplines. |
7/8 | Grammar for Writing (Semester): A targeted, intensive course for students needing pure grammatical reinforcement to support their composition. | |
7/8 – Advanced | John Locke 8 (Full-Year): An elite-level workshop specifically focused on producing competitive entries for the John Locke competition. Writer’s Workshop (Senior) (Full-Year): Mastery of diverse long-form genres, preparing students for the rigors of Honors, AP, and IB English. | |
Grade 6 Writing Track Comparison
There are two types of writing classes: Great Writing (GW) or Writer’s Workshop (WW). The main difference between the two is that GW is suitable for students with higher English proficiency and wants to improve academic writing skills (structure, tone, organization), while WW is for improving students’ grammar level in junior high school and is suitable for ESL students:
Feature | Writer’s Workshop 2 | Great Writing 3 |
Grammar Focus | Intensive grammar reinforcement to build a robust writing foundation. | Supplemental grammar used to fine-tune and polish academic prose. |
Primary Purpose | Improving overall English proficiency and sentence-level accuracy. | Mastery of academic writing skills, including structure, tone, and logical organization. |
Ideal Candidate | Students focusing on strengthening their grammatical core and sentence structure. | Students with English proficiency equivalent to U.S. Grade 4 or above. |
What is Writer’s Workshop 2?
There are two types of writing classes: Great Writing (GW) or Writer's Workshop (WW). The main difference between the two is that GW is suitable for students with higher English proficiency and wants to improve academic writing skills (structure, tone, organization), while WW is for improving students' grammar level in junior high school and is suitable for ESL students:
Stage | Details |
Warm-Up | Fluency-based writing practice using accessible prompts. |
Core Composition | Introduction of specific writing techniques and foundational essay structures. |
5 minute break | |
Grammar Intensive | Deep-dive into essential grammatical concepts with applied practice. |
Active Editing | Students learn the art of peer-review and self-correction, fostering a critical eye for detail. |
Teacher feedback is provided for every essay, and progress is measured through unit-based grammar assessments and consistent homework review.
What is Great Writing?
National Geographic’s “Great Writing” series is a set of English language learning textbooks that mainly help students improve their writing skills through engaging National Geographic themed content.
This series provides a series of writing activities and exercises designed to help students cope with more advanced writing tasks and effectively improve their writing skills. Each textbook covers a different aspect of writing learning, including clear explanations of writing concepts, practical exercises, and appreciation of fascinating examples of masterpieces. National Geographic offers a wealth of learning resources, including articles, photos, and videos, providing students with real-life writing examples that they can use as inspiration for their own writing.
Students taking this course will have the opportunity to learn some of the more fundamental areas of academic writing, including structure, organization, and tone.
Note: Students are required to submit writing assignments weekly.
