Bit & Rudder

Homeschool Writing Made Easy

homeschool high school writing

Episode #24 How to Write a Personal Narrative Essay

· ·

Click to Share

Episode #24 How to Write a Personal Narrative Essay

Have you noticed that stories are everywhere? Everyone loves a good story. Stories aren’t just for entertainment though. They also help us connect with people and make sense out of the world. Today’s topic is about the personal narrative—narrative is just another word for story—why it’s important for your student to learn to write this kind of essay and the practical steps for teaching it. 

In this episode, I discuss

✅how a personal narrative is different from fictional storytelling

✅the tried-and-true formula that you can use for most narrative essays

✅the importance of descriptive language in narrative writing and a simple strategy for helping students prioritize it

✅where to go to find 500 narrative prompts and sample narrative essays

✅Plus, details on how to join me and my AP students for National Novel Writing Month


Links Mentioned:
Nanowrimo Young Writers Program

Western Technical College: List of Narrative Essay Samples

Oregan State University: 500 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing

Illustration of Descriptive Writing (Essay A, Essay B)

Click to Share

Episode #22 Why Writing Is Important

· ·

Click to Share

Have you ever been so busy getting things done that you lose sight of why those things matter in the first place? It’s easy to get caught on the hamster wheel of life and forget our purpose for running. So in this week’s episode, I’m taking a few minutes to reflect and catch my breath and remember the reasons that writing is so important.?

In this episode, I discuss 

✅How good writing skills are essential for academic success even if you’re not a liberal arts major

✅How being a strong writer can help you land your dream job

✅The value of writing in day-to-day life

✅How writing can help you improve your vocabulary and become a better speaker

Plus much more, including suggestions for helping your student to focus on writing.

This episode will inspire you to make writing a top priority in your homeschool classroom.

If you are looking for some tools to help you with writing, then head over to my website, where you’ll find lots of free resources, including the thesis statement workshop which will walk you through the process of creating that crucial thesis statement, a skill that is fundamental to good writing. 

The thesis statement workshop has plenty of examples and places for students to practice writing their own thesis statements. Plus an answer key for you. It’s a really great resource, so please take advantage of that.

Links for sources referenced in this episode:

How to Write Anything, by Laura Brown

2016 Study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers

Help Your Homeschooler Become a Confident Writer

Thesis Statement Workshop

Click to Share

Episode #21

· ·

Click to Share

Ep #21 Top 10 Mistakes Students Make in Their Writing

When you’ve read thousands of student essays as I have during my 20+ years of teaching, you don’t have to be a great detective to notice that the same mistakes keep cropping up.?️‍♀️? ?

Usually, I wait until after I’ve graded the first essay to begin addressing these mistakes, but this year, I’m getting in front of it and discussing these common errors before students hand in that first paper.

Now I know that me talking to students in advance is not going to magically prevent all the mistakes—they will surely need reminders—but I do think it will reduce the number of mistakes—and provide reinforcement of information that they’ve been taught previously. 

In this week’s episode, I am sharing with you my Top 10 List of the mistakes I see students make in their writing. Being aware of these potential pitfalls can give you an edge in knowing what to look for in essays, and it a can also help you know what to focus on even before students write their first essay of the year.?

In this episode, I discuss 

✅How having a strong thesis statement is the single best thing you can do for your paper. If you get that right, everything else falls into place. It is the cornerstone, the linchpin, the anchor, the backbone. Without it, the paper falls apart. (If you’re wondering how you teach students to write this crucial element, I’ve got you covered. Click here to get the Thesis Statement Workshop—it’s free!)

✅The parts of their grammar book students need to review before they write their first essay

✅When (if ever) you are allowed to use first person (I, We) or second person (you) in academic writing

✅How one pesky pronoun problem has been solved by a new pronoun rule

Plus so much more, including information about the new Thesis Statement Workshop which you can get your hands on right now for free! Just click on the button below, and I’ll send you the PDF. In it, you will find

  • a step-by-step guide for teaching students to write a thesis statement
  • plenty of examples
  • a workbook area for students to practice writing thesis statements
  • a sample answer sheet so you know they are on the right track

 Links
Thesis Statement Workshop Free PDF Download

Click to Share

Connect with me