The Writer’s Toolkit: Grammar, Style, and Expression

Do you have great ideas but struggle to express them in writing? Are weak grammar skills holding you back? In this course, we'll explore the advanced mechanics of English grammar and learn how to craft precise, polished sentences. We'll dive into topics such as sentence elements, voice, clauses, phrases, parallelism, and sentence variety; and discover how grammar choices influence meaning and style. We will examine how grammatical rules evolve through diverse examples from literature, media, and everyday language. Through collaborative discussions, writing challenges, and instructor feedback, you'll learn to write with clarity, confidence, and creativity while thinking critically about how language reflects culture, identity, and inclusion. Time commitment: 2.5-3.5 hours per week (1.5 hours of class time, 1-2 hours of independent work). Course will include 6 sessions over 6 weeks. Course Overview Learning Objectives: Identify and address patterns of grammatical error in your writing Analyze sentence elements and constructions in diverse texts Apply grammatical and rhetorical concepts to enhance writing style Determine the meaning and significance of a word or phrase from the context About Advanced Enrichment Courses These courses offer above-grade-level material that is presented in a novel context, explored with other advanced learners, and guided by a CTY educator to help prepare students for higher-order thinking and college-style academic challenges. The content in The Writer's Toolkit: Grammar, Style, and Expression overlaps with the CTY course From Structure to Style. Students who have already taken From Structure to Style may wish to consult with an enrollment advisor before enrolling in this course.