How to Create and Support a Solid Argument, Grades 7-8
8 class sessions, 1.5 hours per class (12 hours of instruction)
October 4 - November 29 (No class Thanksgiving week)
Wednesdays, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. PST
Course Description:
Great writers need great strategies to communicate their ideas effectively. In this class we will be exploring a variety of topics to strengthen your writing. We will start with crafting a strong thesis to accurately convey your ideas. Then, we will move into building well supported paragraphs to defend that thesis! We know that you have a lot to say and I want to help you discover your voice! Other topics we will cover include:
Instructor Biography:
Stephanie T. Keefer has a B.A. in Theater and an M.A. in English from U.C., Irvine, and is a fellow of the U.C.I. Writing Project. She taught English and re-established the Theater Department at Santa Ana High School, writing standards based curriculum for theater across all grade levels for the district. She worked closely with U.C., Irvine’s humanities program Humanities Out There, which focuses on developing reading and writing skills in secondary and elementary students and was also a teacher sponsor in U.C., Irvine’s program Arts Bridge. Working with these two programs, Stephanie edited and published a play written by her theater students titled Life as Me. Stephanie taught acting at Fullerton College for eight years, and currently teaches writing and literature at Santa Ana College. Stephanie continues to write and produce productions for the stage and for film.
Great writers need great strategies to communicate their ideas effectively. In this class we will be exploring a variety of topics to strengthen your writing. We will start with crafting a strong thesis to accurately convey your ideas. Then, we will move into building well supported paragraphs to defend that thesis! We know that you have a lot to say and I want to help you discover your voice! Other topics we will cover include:
- How can you create a strong paragraph structure in your essay?
- What is the difference between analysis and summary?
- How can you strengthen your ability to analyze text and put those thoughts into writing?
- What are strong research practices, and how do I handle my sources in my research paper?
- We will also cover basic comma use because very few people actually know what they are doing with commas, which are actually quite important to writing.
Instructor Biography:
Stephanie T. Keefer has a B.A. in Theater and an M.A. in English from U.C., Irvine, and is a fellow of the U.C.I. Writing Project. She taught English and re-established the Theater Department at Santa Ana High School, writing standards based curriculum for theater across all grade levels for the district. She worked closely with U.C., Irvine’s humanities program Humanities Out There, which focuses on developing reading and writing skills in secondary and elementary students and was also a teacher sponsor in U.C., Irvine’s program Arts Bridge. Working with these two programs, Stephanie edited and published a play written by her theater students titled Life as Me. Stephanie taught acting at Fullerton College for eight years, and currently teaches writing and literature at Santa Ana College. Stephanie continues to write and produce productions for the stage and for film.