Writing for College is a college preparatory writing course that is taught through the lens of direct writing and instruction, and literature. This course will equip students with critical thinking and writing skills to achieve success in writing at the college level. Students will grow as readers, writers, and learners. Students will learn to read actively, make careful observations of textual detail, establish connections among observations, and make interpretive conclusions about meaning and value. They will learn to critically think, analyze, synthesize, evaluate, and persuade through lecture, discussion, reading, writing, and debate. In this way, students will come to take ownership of their growth as lifetime learners in preparation for the broader community of college and beyond. As this is a college preparatory course, students need to approach it as such. Expectations and requirements will be at the senior high school level, so it is imperative that students are committed to diligence and excellence in all reading, discussing, and writing. Students should expect to be in each class session as each is vital to understanding the material and instruction. Additionally, students should expect to spend approximately three hours a week on homework assignments, sometimes more in advance of a formal essay or substantial reading assignment. Major essays: 1) Analysis 2) Compare & Contrast 3) Research 4) Persuasive 5) Reflection
*Texts: 1) Prentice Hall Guide to Writing for College 2) Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein 3) Leo Tolstoy’s Death of Ivan Ilych 4) Current Issues and Enduring Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking and Argument 5) various poetry supplied by instructor
* Not all texts will need to be purchased for the class. Necessary purchases will be emailed to parents on August 1.
KEYS HS level English or Comp, or adequate completion of the KEYS English placement evaluation
Parents are responsible for purchasing all textbooks and supplies before the first day of class.
Supply fees are due to each teacher on the first day of class. This fee covers materials, lab supplies, and other expenses incurred by the teacher. They are a one-time fee.
Please note the grade level for this class. Students younger than the recommended grade levels need special permission before signing up for the class. Please contact the office for more information.
What happens if a class is full? You may email administration@keysofva.org to be waitlisted.