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Writing Lab
Imagine a writing program designed to fit seamlessly into your schedule, while still delivering meaningful, personalized growth. Our workshop offers a structured, self-paced experience where students tackle weekly writing assignments and receive in-depth, tailored feedback from an experienced instructor. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your child's grammar, enhance their creativity, or polish their overall writing style, this workshop will guide them step-by-step through planning, drafting, revising, and editing. With the flexibility to work at their own pace, ongoing support, and continuous feedback, this is their chance to elevate their writing skills to the next level.
Key Features
Schedule Flexibility
Students can work at their own pace each week. They will be submitting assignments by set deadlines.
Personalized Guidance
Detailed, customized feedback from the instructor helps students refine their skills at their level.
Continuous Learning
Each week builds on the previous one, ensuring consistent improvement over time.
Project-Based Learning
Every 8-weeks, the unit concludes with a polished final piece students can add to their portfolio.
Program Structure
What Will the Program Look Like?
- Weekly Assignments:
This is a fully asynchronous program. Each week, students will be guided through the writing process using online instructions & videos. Students will submit their work through an online platform. - Feedback Process:
After each submission, the instructor will review the work and provide constructive feedback, focusing on different aspects such as organization, language use, grammar, creativity, and idea development.
Students revise their drafts based on the feedback and can resubmit them for further review.
The feedback loop continues weekly, ensuring students can see tangible improvements in their writing. - Progress Tracking:
A writing portfolio is created for each student, showing their drafts, revisions, and final pieces to track growth and improvement over time.
At the end of each unit, students receive a personalized summary of their strengths and areas for further growth. - Resources:
Students will have access to downloadable resources, including grammar tips, writing guides, and video tutorials on specific skills (e.g., crafting strong leads, building characters, using dialogue).
Workshop Structure
Duration
Each unit will be approx. 8-weeks long. Each unit will focus on different writing styles / themes.
Format
Ongoing communication between students and an instructor through a feedback loop. No live teaching.
Goal
To improve writing skills and build confidence in writing through practice and personalized feedback.
Unit Details
Unit 1
Descriptive Mastery
Unit 2
Storytelling 101
Unit 3
Personal Narrative Writing
Unit 4
Argumentative Writing
Unit 5
Poetry & Creative Expression
Unit 1
Descriptive Mastery: Painting Pictures with Words
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Descriptive Writingrming | Showing, Not Telling | Painting Vivid Characters | Describing Actions with Precision |
| Understand the importance of sensory details in descriptive writing. | Learn the difference between showing and telling and why showing is more engaging. | Learn how to describe characters in ways that reveal personality and emotion. | Practice writing action scenes with clear and vivid details. |
| Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 |
| Creating Atmosphere and Mood | Metaphors and Similes | Descriptive Revisions | Final Descriptive Piece |
| Learn how to use description to establish atmosphere and mood in writing. | Understand how to use figurative language (metaphors and similes) to enhance descriptions. | Revise a previous piece with a focus on enhancing descriptive details and language. | Write a final, polished descriptive scene that incorporates sensory detail, figurative language, and mood-setting. |
Unit 2
Storytelling 101: Crafting Compelling Narratives
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Narrative Writing | Plot Structure & Conflict | Building Strong Characters | Setting and World-Building |
| Understand the basic elements of storytelling (plot, character, setting). | Learn about story structure (beginning, middle, end) and the role of conflict in driving a narrative. | Understand how to develop multi-dimensional characters with goals, motivations, and conflicts. | Learn to create immersive settings that enhance the mood and theme of a story. |
| Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 |
| Dialogue that Drives the Plot | Narrative Point of View | Revising for Clarity and Engagement | Final Story Submission |
| Master the art of using dialogue to reveal character and advance the plot. | Explore different points of view (first-person, third-person limited, omniscient) and how they impact storytelling. | Learn the importance of revising stories to improve clarity, pacing, and overall engagement. | Apply everything learned to create a well-rounded, compelling short story. |
Unit 3
Personal Narrative Writing
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction & Brainstorming | Planning the Narrative (Story Arc) | First Draft (Beginning Focus) | First Draft (Middle Focus) |
| Introduction to concept of a personal narrative. Students reflect on a significant life event or memory that taught them something important. | Submit a basic outline of their story, focusing on the narrative arc (Beginning, Middle, and End) & identifying key moments in the story. | Write the beginning of their personal narrative, focusing on the setup and the introduction of the central conflict or memory. | Students write the middle of their story, focusing on the main events or turning point in the narrative. |
| Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 |
| First Draft (Ending Focus) | Full Draft Submission & Initial Feedback | Revision Week | Final Submission & Reflection |
| Students complete the ending of their narrative, focusing on the resolution and the reflection or lesson they learned from the experience. | Students submit their full first draft of the personal narrative, incorporating any feedback from the previous weeks. | Students revise their narrative based on the comprehensive feedback, improving the areas suggested (structure, clarity, detail, reflection). | Students submit their final, polished version of their personal narrative. |
Unit 4
Argumentative Writing: Building Strong Cases
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Argumentative Writing | Building a Strong Argument | Addressing Counterarguments | Crafting a Strong Conclusion |
| Understand the structure of an argumentative essay (claim, evidence, counterargument, conclusion). | Learn how to present evidence to support an argument. | Learn how to acknowledge and refute counterarguments. | Understand how to write a compelling conclusion that reinforces the argument. |
| Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 |
| Rhetorical Devices | Persuasive Techniques | Revising for Clarity and Impact | Final Argumentative Essay Submission |
| Learn how to use rhetorical devices (e.g., ethos, pathos, logos) to strengthen an argument. | Explore persuasive writing techniques (e.g., emotional appeal, logic, credibility). | Revise an argumentative essay to improve clarity, logic, and impact. | Submit a final, polished argumentative essay that presents a strong case with well-supported evidence and persuasive techniques. |
Unit 5
Poetry and Creative Expression
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Poetry | Imagery in Poetry | Exploring Metaphor and Simile | Free Verse and Experimental Poetry |
| Understand basic poetry forms and techniques (rhyme, rhythm, meter). | Learn how to use imagery to create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind. | Understand how to use metaphor and simile in poetry for creative expression. | Explore free verse poetry and how to break traditional rules for creative effect. |
| Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 |
| Sound Devices in Poetry | Theme and Emotion | Revising Poems for Impact | Final Poetry Portfolio Submission |
| Learn about sound devices (alliteration, assonance, consonance) and how to use them in poetry. | Understand how to express deep emotions and themes through poetry. | Revise a poem to enhance its emotional and thematic depth. | Compile a small poetry portfolio demonstrating various techniques learned. |
Continuous Editing Process
Submission Deadline
Students submit work at the beginning of each week.
Mid-Week Feedback
The teacher reviews and provides feedback within a few days.
Revision Time
Students incorporate feedback & resubmit or move to the next part of the process.
Register
Pricing (per 4 weeks)
$50 per month
See Registration Page for applicable discounts. All new students get a 2 week money back guarantee.
Thinking Feet’s main learning center is located in the Ballantyne area in Mecklenburg county. We are just minutes away from nearby Blakeney, Weddington, Marvin, Waxhaw, Pineville, Matthews, Wesley Chapel, Piper Glen and Fort Mill, SC.