Students will learn a five-step process for developing a thoughtful thesis statement that interacts with the great conversation of ideas. By attending to sources and engaging in group discussion, students will be able to find their own voice as they search for the truth through their reading and writing. Incorporating both report-style and descriptive writing, students will learn the structure and style of a compelling essay. An intensive overview of style elements will assist students in developing vivid vocabulary and sophisticated sentence variety. This class is ideal for students with previous experience writing multiple-paragraph compositions who are ready to advance to the thesis essay. Because we have only five days together, students will practice developing a thesis argument within the five-paragraph essay structure, but we will also discuss how to adapt the basic essay structure to various lengths and purposes.
To receive the full benefit of the writing camp, students will need sufficient time and a handful of supplies. In addition to the three hours of class time, students should plan to spend another two or three hours each day completing homework. One or two weeks before the start of camp, enrolled students will receive an electronic packet of poems and articles to read in preparation. The reading level of the packet is challenging, so students may want to plan ahead to get the most out of their reading experience. Discussing the reading material with family and friends may also aid comprehension and enjoyment as students head into the camp week.
Students should secure the following supplies before the start of class:
- Dictionary & Thesaurus—Consider apps such as the Merriam-Webster Dictionary and the English Thesaurus.
- Pack of 6 different colored pencils: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, & purple—Preferably erasable!
- Pens/Pencils
- 3-ring binder with 5 or more dividers and lined notebook paper
- Composition book
Students in the Thesis Essay camp will also need to be able to type, print, and email assignments using a sharable word processing program such as Microsoft Word.
Camp tuition is $250/student. Enrollment will be confirmed and your spot reserved once payment is received.
This class will be offered if a minimum of ten students are enrolled by July 15. Full refunds will be made for any classes that are cancelled due to low enrollment.
ENROLLMENT UPDATE: This camp has met the minimum enrollment and is a go!
Enroll today before seats fill up!
Note: This camp may be a good next step for middleschool and highschool students who have previously participated in the Basic Essay camp and are ready to take their essay writing up another level.