Writing is a key to success in every part of life. Beyond the practical use of writing that requires professional tone and style, the process of writing an analytical composition and the argumentative essay is pivotal to student success in high school and college. Sometimes, even students who are well-read and good writers struggle with forming an effective claim and can benefit from expanding their “toolbox” of techniques. This course focuses on developing the set of skills needed in analyzing, writing, and revising. While the class does have reading assignments to provide media for analysis, there is no formal study of a list of novels, so English 3 Confident Composition is ideal for students who wish to focus primarily on writing while pursuing study of literature separately. Students will engage with multiple writing forms to practice how to research and critique sources, critically analyze information, form clear and persuasive arguments, and compose compelling academic essays with proper organization and formatting. From a stylistic perspective, students will learn the characteristics of meaningful writing through a focus on sentence fluency and vocabulary. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to excel in all steps of the writing process: brainstorming, writing, reviewing, and editing while simultaneously building confidence and developing style of their own writer’s voice.
Note: This course is for grade 9 or higher students whose writing is less developed due to a late start or earlier lack of direct instruction. It is suited for students from a literature-based humanities (e.g., “classical”) background who want to develop their writing with an expert teacher. It is also suited for reluctant writers who have basic skills but lack confidence. It is not suited for younger students seeking to accelerate their writing development.
Note: The Confident Comp courses are not a complete English Language Arts course. Students seeking a complete English Language Arts course should enroll in the appropriate level TPS English Lit Analysis and Comp course instead of the Confident Comp course.
Note: To get an additional boost in writing improvement, students are encouraged to take TPS Writing for Early High School in the summer before this course.