Online Programs

What we'll do

Each week, students will read a lesson on literary concepts and/or writing techniques followed by a selection of several chapters from the course texts. Students will then apply this knowledge in a reading comprehension quiz that will test their critical reading skills, discuss the book in writing with peers in asynchronous discussion forums, and produce a longer piece of writing that will challenge them to apply analytical, argumentative, and creative writing skills. Units are broken up by week with a Sunday night deadline. Each week, instructors will also provide written feedback that students will apply to their own writing.

What we’ll learn

• Critical reading and comprehension skills
• How to analyze and discuss literature in writing
• Writing techniques for fiction (e.g., short stories/poems)
• Writing techniques for nonfiction (e.g., persuasive/informative essays)

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Demonstrate comprehension of key textual details by using them as evidence in summaries and when drawing inferences
• Construct effective narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events, using effective technique, relevant descriptive details from the text, and well-structured event sequences
• Construct informative pieces to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content
• Use technology, including the Internet, to engage in written discourse and interact and collaborate with others
• Construct effective persuasive writing pieces that support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence
• Identify textual examples and interpret the meaning of figurative language and nuances in word meanings
• Analyze how a variety of informational and literary texts develop overarching themes, topics, and events, providing evidence as support

How we'll measure learning

Instructors evaluate student work using rubrics and provide constructive feedback on writing assignments. The course is aligned to ELA Common Core standards for grades 4-5.