Why Writing with Style? 

Because students need to be able to express themselves well through writing! 

Ahhh, the dreaded personal essay. Ask any eighth grader applying to private high school or high school senior applying to college, and they'll tell you that writing about themselves is last thing they want to do. 

They wonder: "Do I have anything to say?," "Where do I start?," "Will I sound too full of myself?"

Over-thinking leads to procrastination and paralysis, and students end up with less-than-stellar writing that is rushed and doesn't reflect who they truly are. 

In Writing with Style, students will enjoy the process of finding their unique writing voice and personal style, while also learning essential writing techniques that will generalize to academics and daily life.

  • We'll explore various essay topics that ask students to share their point of view and perspective on their lives, interests, and current events, so when it's time for them to write or talk about themselves in any capacity, they'll be able to do so confidently!

  • Students will also learn technical writing fundamentals such as how to compose strong paragraphs, twelve-sentence paragraphs, and 4 and 5-paragraph essays while incorporating literary devices to make for a compelling read.

In this course, students will:

  • Learn how to answer thought-provoking essay prompts found in top-tier college applications.

  • Practice sound writing techniques that support simplicity, clarity, and authentic voice.

  • Focus on grammar and editing techniques that give the reader what they need without rambling or going astray.

  • Incorporate fundamental literary devices and grammatical techniques, while they increase their writing stamina and proficiency.

  • Examine life experiences to peel back the layers and reveal lessons learned, growth, wisdom, and maturity.

Meeting Info 

This course will meet once a week over 10 weeks on Tuesday nights from 7:30-8:30 PM Pacific Time. 

  • Our first meeting will be Tuesday, January 31, 2023, and our last meeting will be on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.
  • Class dates: Jan. 31, Feb. 7, 14, 28, Mar. 7, 14, 21, Apr. 4, 11, 18.  No Class on 2/21, 3/28


Weekly meetings take place live online via Zoom and are facilitated by me, Penny Kostaras, Wise Student Founder and Academic & Life Skills Coach. 

Purchase Options

Your student is ready to write with confidence! Make a one-time payment with PayPal or credit card, or choose a monthly payment plan, credit card only.  

FAQ

  • Who is this course for?

    This course is for 7th. 8th, 9th, 10th, & 11th graders who are ready to improve their personal writing style and find their unique voice through personal essay exploration.

  • How do I enroll my student?

    Once you select a purchase option, you'll be prompted to create a new account with the student's first name, last name, email, and password. Please make sure to enter the student's first & last name and email in these main fields so that the proper name appears on the course site. There are also optional fields where you can add a parent or guardian's name and email address to receive emails from Wise Student founder, Penny Kostaras.

  • How do meetings work with Zoom?

    Weekly meetings take place via Zoom every Tuesday evening. You'll need to download the Zoom driver to your computer first to connect to the meeting via a link that you can access once you sign up. Download the program a few days before the first meeting to make sure it works.

  • Will students be able to ask questions?

    Yes! All students will be able to ask questions and we will go at a pace that suits all writers. If students would like to review any part of the class, they can always go back to the recording and re-watch and pause the video.

  • What if my student has to miss a meeting?

    If students have to miss a meeting, a video recording will be available within 24 hours after the live session. Recordings will be saved and filed by date within the course.

  • Can I do this course with another Wise Student course simultaneously?

    Students are welcome to enroll in Wise Student 101 or any other course. It's always helpful to have a proven organizational system and dedicated time to focus on planning for the week ahead when you're a busy student.