Writing the Narrative and Informational Essay

Great writing starts with something familiar: “How to Grow Your own Mushrooms” or “The Time I Hiked Bear Infested Woods… Alone at Seven”. In Write What You Know!, students will learn how to turn their own experiences, knowledge, and interests into clear, engaging, and effective writing. This class focuses on building strong skills in both narrative and informational essays, helping students grow as confident and thoughtful writers.

Students will explore how to craft compelling personal narratives by developing voice, detail, and storytelling techniques that bring their ideas to life. At the same time, they will learn to write clear and well-structured informational essays that explain topics, present ideas logically, and support claims with evidence.

Instruction will also include focused practice in grammar, sentence structure, and paragraph analysis, giving students the tools they need to write with clarity and precision. Through guided exercises, students will learn how strong sentences and well-organized paragraphs form the foundation of effective communication.

To make writing more vivid and engaging, students will study and apply literary devices such as imagery, simile, metaphor, dialogue, and descriptive detail. They will analyze examples of strong writing and apply those techniques in their own work.

By the end of the course, students will not only understand how to organize and develop their ideas, but also how to express them in a way that is both clear and compelling—equipping them with essential writing skills for school and beyond.

Workbook TBD

TUITION: $250 per semester