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EIW™ Level 8 is a homeschool writing curriculum that features a slow, systematic approach for students aged 13-14 who want to learn how to write well. The step-by-step approach allows students to focus on small, daily assignments, so they don’t feel overwhelmed.
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Homeschool students will learn to apply parts of speech and different sentence structures as well as use them as tools for effective communication. They will address common problems in writing, including sentence errors, pronouns and antecedents, subject/verb agreement, homophones, unclear subjects, paraphrasing, and summarizing. They will practice crafting compositions including paragraphs, a narrative, a business letter, essays, and a research project. Students will explore expository, descriptive, persuasive, compare, and contrast writing.
The general age for students completing Level 8 is 13 or 14 years old. The age can vary depending on if a child has started school early, on time, or is repeating a grade. The age of the student does not delegate if a child can complete this writing course. Instead, we recommend that students have a basic understanding of spelling, grammar, sentences, composition, and the skills taught in the upper elementary levels before beginning.
Level 8 will teach students to apply parts of speech and sentence structures to produce more complex, purposeful writing and explores more advanced grammatical concepts such as gerunds and appositives, as well as advanced sentence structures like compound-complex sentences. Activities also provide practice for valuable skills in paraphrasing and summarizing. Composition activities in Level 8 reinforce the writing process for expository, persuasive, descriptive, narrative, and research writing. Students will gain familiarity with the business letter format and the mechanics of dialogue and continue to learn techniques that will allow them to write with greater clarity and development, such as thesis statement development and organizing compositions.
In homeschool, 8th grade writing curriculum consists of online video lessons, a student textbook/workbook, and an answer key. Parents use this homeschool writing curriculum to guide their students through grammar and writing for the 8th grade. Eighth grade students should already have a basic understanding of grammar, how to write sentences and a basic paragraph, and the basic concept of beginning, middle, and end in writing.
Essentials in Writing is an excellent choice for homeschool curriculum because it is not parent intensive, and each composition follows a step-by-step process (The Writing Process) broken down into small chunks of information with the act of modeling provided by the teacher, Mr. Stephens, on video.
Many parents and teachers use this program for the children and students as a middle school writing tutor. Because each composition follows a step-by-step process (The Writing Process) broken down into small chunks of information with the act of modeling provided by the teacher, Mr. Stephens, on video, students learn to write well with ease. Additionally, given the fact that the lessons are short, and compositions are written over several days rather than in one sitting, Essentials in Writing is an easy add to a student’s school day, like an after-school tutoring program. Most lessons are a maximum of 30 minutes each day, including the time students spend watching the teacher on video and working on the assignment.
8th Grade Writing Workbook
8th Grade Writing Assessment (A) / Resource (R) Book
The Assessment/Resource Book will provide students the opportunity to show what information they are retaining. Although some parents/teachers use the assessments as actual evaluations, others use them as extra practice. The point values are included to help parents/teachers track and evaluate the student’s progress, though some parents may not use them. The additional word lists and graphics are valuable in improving student vocabulary and remind the student of important writing techniques.
Additional 8th grade writing workbooks can be purchased to provide a workbook for another child/student. The workbook does not have additional information and is just another core workbook for another student so that each student has their own workbook to use.
Students completing their 8th grade year should have mastered a number of skills and writing techniques.
Unit One covers grammar instruction with activities where students learn to apply parts of speech, to identify and correct common problems in writing, to use parts of speech along with a variety of sentence structures and vivid language as tools for effective communication, and to effectively paraphrase and summarize content.
Unit Two covers the writing process for multiple compositions as well as how to communicate effectively in written language through a variety of styles and formats by applying effective writing tools. The unit ends with a research project.
Both units are included in the 8th grade writing curriculum Workbook/Textbook. This book contains instructional content as well as worksheet activities related to both units (grammar and composition). An Assessment/Resource Book is available for purchase to accompany the Workbook/Textbook and includes a variety of assessments in different formats as well as additional resources such as graphic organizers and resource word lists.
Each level of Essentials in Writing includes a 34-week suggested, yet optional, lesson planner.
The time needed to complete the 8th level writing curriculum is a typical academic year (34 weeks). If students follow the 34-week plan included, they will complete individual lessons and activities during the week; however, because the lessons are broken up into small, daily mini-lessons, students can double up on some lessons and activities and complete the entire course sooner. Each day, students will spend 15-30 minutes on writing.
Yes. Essentials in Writing provides both scoring checklists and rubrics for your convenience with sample compositions for comparison purposes.
Some parents, however, choose to use The Essentials in Writing Scoring Service. This service is an optional add-on that takes the scoring burden off the parent/teacher and places it on the scoring team! Our Scoring Team includes a variety of qualified individuals including long-time educators, librarians, and professionals with Bachelor’s degrees in English.
Parents of students completing Levels 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 of Essentials in Writing are eligible to purchase this service. Offered from September 1 to June 15 of each school year, one composition for each EIW composition assignment may be submitted for scoring. If purchased after the September 1 start date, services still expire on June 15 of the following year.
The scoring system includes:
The online version of the curriculum includes all of the required materials for completing a level of Essentials in Writing or Essentials in Literature, but in a digital format. With the online version, all of your materials are in one spot within the member’s dashboard for you to view and print!
The required online materials include:
For EIW Levels 1-10, you can get a digital Assessment/Resource Booklet as well!
How does this compare to the print version? The print version of the curriculum includes all the online access to the digital materials AND the printed, physical, tangible version of the textbooks. The printed books are great for students who prefer to complete their assignments directly within an organized, bound book.
It simply comes down to personal preference. Now, families have the added convenience of being able to access their materials in different formats.
(Additional Workbook is compatible only with second edition Essentials in Writing video instruction)
This is only a Student Workbook for an ADDITIONAL student using the same level of video instruction. Please note that the Workbook is not functional without the related video instruction.
Let Essentials in Writing take the scoring burden off your mind! Our Scoring Team includes a variety of qualified individuals, including long-time educators, librarians, and professionals with Bachelor’s degrees in English, and they are ready to take the burden of grading compositions away from you.
Parents of students completing levels 6*, 7*, 8*, 9, 10, 11 or 12 of Essentials in Writing are eligible to purchase this service. (*Second Editions only.) Offered from September 1 to June 15 of each school year, one composition for each EIW assignment may be submitted for scoring. If purchased after September 1 start date, services still expire on June 15 the following year.
PLEASE NOTE: Scoring services are for Essentials in Writing only and are not eligible for unconditional money back guarantee.
(Assessment/Resource Booklet is compatible only with second edition Essentials in Writing curriculum)
Assessment/Resource Booklet
Analyzing fiction, nonfiction, novel, and poetry/figurative language.
Essentials in Literature Level 8 breaks down into four units with each unit focusing on a different aspect of literature. Unit One uses short story fiction to explain fiction terms and includes six short stories (application) and one summative assessment. Unit Two uses short nonfiction works to define terms and includes six nonfiction works (application) and one summative assessment. Unit Three centers around one novel (literary analysis application) with one summative assessment and one major writing activity. Unit Four is the Figurative Language/Poetry Unit with a full explanation of terms, six units of up to eight literary works (application), and one summative assessment.
Scoring is for Essentials in Writing only, and there is no scoring for Essentials in Literature. The literature curriculum provides parents with scoring guides found in the answer key that include sample answers for each activity.
The Essentials in Literature follows the same 34-week timeline as Essentials in Writing, but students can work faster than the intended timeline to finish the course sooner. Each day, students will spend 15-40 minutes on literature.
Essentials in Literature Level 8 includes a 34-week suggested, yet optional, lesson planner geared for middle school level learning.
Shorter works for Units One, Two, and Four can be found online. Instructions are given in the Parent/Teacher Handbook. The chosen novel for Unit Three is included with the purchase of Essentials in Literature Level 8.
The bundle for Level 8 includes both Essentials in Writing and Essentials in Literature. The textbook, workbook, and video content are included in the bundle price.
Essentials in Writing textbook/workbook is the writing component whereas Essentials in Literature textbook/workbook is the literary analysis component in order to earn an English credit at the middle school level.
The online version of the curriculum includes all of the required materials for completing a level of Essentials in Writing or Essentials in Literature, but in a digital format. With the online version, all of your materials are in one spot within the member’s dashboard for you to view and print!
The required online materials include:
For EIW Levels 1-8, you can get a digital Assessment/Resource Booklet as well!
How does this compare to the print version? The print version of the curriculum includes all the online access to the digital materials AND the printed, physical, tangible version of the textbooks. The printed books are great for students who prefer to complete their assignments directly within an organized, bound book.
It simply comes down to personal preference. Now, families have the added convenience of being able to access their materials in different formats.
This is only a Student Textbook/Workbook for an ADDITIONAL student using the same level of video instruction. Please note that this Workbook is not functional without the related video instruction.
Scoring Services are for Essentials in Writing only.
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Not sure which level is right for your student? Use the level wizard.
Not sure which level is right for your student? Use the level wizard.