Writing Curriculum
Does your student need help with writing? Do you want a program that breaks down instruction in a way that is clear, simple, and effective? Inkwell’s Writing Wraps series meets these needs and more!
Writing Wraps
The Writing Wraps series teaches academic writing systematically, incrementally, and cyclically. Concepts are always presented in groups of three, making them clear and manageable. Writing tasks are scaffolded until students have mastered tools and principles, developing their own voices that are effective and unique. Each concept is taught in isolation, practiced, and then applied. A recommended book to pair with Wraps is the appropriate level of Inkwell’s Chartbook.
Wraps lessons use charts, graphic organizers, slide presentations, fun activities, electronic exercises, and rubrics for student success. Most importantly, they are taught by a teacher trained in how to deliver the lesson to meet students’ individual writing needs and goals.
Lessons are organized by the magic number three. A no-frills collection of how-to posters and charts, each book presents bits of knowledge in groups of three – three parts of a topic, three things to know, three choices to consider, three mistakes to avoid. Eventually students understand the threesomes so well that they no longer need to refer to the charts. Using rubrics, students evaluate their own responses to writing prompts before submission for teacher assessment.
The vision is for the series to advance students from their early formative years, when they are just beginning to write sentences, all the way through their typical high school assignments. If they complete the entire program, they will be well prepared for any and all kinds of writing they will be tasked with in college. And they will be competent and confident in their skills!
I continue to develop Wraps instructional programs and learning tools. Schedule a consultation if you are interested in hearing more.
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Sentence to Paragraph
Solidify your sentence-writing skills and learn how to combine sentences into simple paragraphs. Various narrative and informational assignments about your daily life engage you in the writing process.
This level is currently projected for development in 2025.
Level 1
Available Now
Patterned Paragraph
Expand your knowledge of basic paragraph structure. Learn how to support a claim with reasons, points, and examples. Ten units take you on a journey through the writing process –from draft and three stages of revision to final proofread copy.
You are made aware of style and encouraged to develop your own unique voice. Each unit contains three lessons, and each lesson has an exercise that practices the concepts taught. A review ends each unit, followed by a writing assignment and a corresponding rubric. On-demand videos and electronic exercises supplement the book.
Level 2
Paragraph to Essay
Use the paragraph-writing skills you’ve mastered to write various types of topic sentences, wrap-up sentences, and paragraphs — like advantage-disadvantage, cause-effect, comparison-contrast, description, process, and short answer response. Lessons include model paragraphs to illustrate each type. Once you learn to write introductions and conclusions, you begin to expand on your ideas in essays of 3 or more paragraphs.
Each type of paragraph has a corresponding graphic organizer for students to plan their ideas. A rubric helps them meet all requirements of an assignment.
Email inkwelledu@gmail.com to order.
Level 3
Argumentation
The task of argumentation involves logic and other means of persuasion to assert a claim. In Art of Argument, you learn how to formulate a thesis and develop a supporting defense of a claim, defending it in an essay of 5-7 paragraphs. The first page of each lesson is an overview chart followed by a list of key terms to know, questions about the lesson’s concepts, a graphic organizer when appropriate, and assignments to complete. Other helpful charts and rubrics for self-evaluation are included.
Email inkwelledu@gmail.com to order.
Level 4
Rhetorical Analysis
The task of analysis involves critical thinking and evaluation to develop an opinion about a published article. In Rhetorical Analysis, you learn to read actively and study the classical canons of rhetoric. You take notes on an article, recognize the methods of persuasion used, evaluate the effectiveness of its argument, and write a paper critiquing the author’s craft.
An excellent followup to Art of Argument, the book includes a thesis generator, explanation of how to integrate textual evidence to support ideas, an essay template, and a glossary of rhetorical and persuasive devices.
Email inkwelledu@gmail.com to order.
Level 5
Literary Analysis
The task of analysis involves critical thinking and evaluation to develop an opinion about a work of literature. In Literary Analysis, you learn about the elements of literary genres and then write essays critiquing an author’s craft.
Currently, a book is not available, but all of our materials for analyzing short stories and poems are accessible electronically. Lessons include online texts, handouts, worksheets, rubrics, and graphic organizers.
Email inkwelledu@gmail.com to order.
Level 5