About
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Before College Comes  Craft

Before College Comes Craft was developed in 2018 as level 3 of The Denim Beret Writing Program.  Some of the lessons and workshops were originally part of level 1 and 2, but eventually they were transferred to level 3 because of their difficulty.  New lessons were then added.  For that reason, only some of the lessons and workshops have been tested in the classroom.  

Level 3 is different from the other two levels in important ways.  First, most students will find that most of the lessons are actually easier and less intensive than level 1 and 2 lessons.  This is because in level 3 we move from a focus on logical, analytical skills (left brain) to a focus on more subjective, artistic concepts (right brain), while still staying grounded in the non-fiction genre.  Second, in level 3 students will advance to research writing skills, such as notetaking, and they will focus for the first time on the six traits of excellent writing that were introduced in level 1.  As with level 2, though, they will continue to read and discuss critically-acclaimed essays from The Seagull Reader:  Essays, by Joseph Kelly.  All students must purchase this book as part of their supplies for the course.​

Is level 3 right for your student?

Parents should be aware that while Before College Comes Craft will seem easier and lighter in some ways than either of the previous two levels, some lessons are truly challenging and will require strong mastery of the skills taught in levels 1 and 2.  Because I do not reteach or review any of these skills in level 3, students may enroll in Before College Comes Craft only by completing level 2 or by passing an entrance assessment.

Students who are ready for Before College Comes Craft...
  • can write a well-developed, multi-paragraph essay with a strong thesis statement
  • can develop a formal outline correctly
  • have strong grammar skills, including punctuation and usuage
  • are willing to revise their writing multiple times
  • have access to a library system and the internet (research writing)
  • are willing to go deeper with writing than academic essentials
  • are in 8th grade or higher

Scope-and-Sequence

(Prerequisite for all levels)  Introductory Unit:  Page One--The Very Beginning
This introductory unit is designed to lay a solid foundation for the study of writing. I have learned over the years, both in my experience as a student and as a teacher, that it is helpful for students to understand why they are asked to learn what we require of them. It is my hope that students who complete this preparatory unit will better understand the why's behind the how's of writing. This unit also covers important preliminary concepts such as how to use a writing notebook. 

1 -- Picking Up the Pen: The Academic Writing Notebook
2 -- Elbow Grease and Black Berets: The Dual Nature of Writing (​sample)
3 -- Why Writing Well Matters in the Real World (2 parts)
4 -- Good vs. Bad Writing: What's the Difference? (3 parts)
5 -- Understanding the Writing Process (or How to Write a Building in Six Steps)

Unit 1:  Learn to Write Like a Writer
This unit will move students away from the basic rules and techniques of writing to focus on more holistic, advanced writing concepts that reflect the common habits of serious writers and published authors.  We will also begin reading critically-acclaimed published essays in this unit, using The Seagull Reader:  Essays, by Joseph Kelly.  

1 -- Observing Like a Writer:  The Writer's Notebook and Active Reading
2 -- Analyzing Like a Writer:  Close Reading and Imitation (sample)
3 -- Finding Your Way Like a Writer:  The Discovery Draft
4 –- Gathering Details Like a Writer:  The Cornell Notetaking System
5 –- Finding the Facts Like a Writer:  The Formal Research Paper (3-part lesson; 6-8 weeks)
 
Unit 2:  Pursuing Excellence Like a Writer
This unit explores the fundamental traits of writing that is truly "good."  The first three are also the final steps of the prewriting process that students begin studying in level 1.  Because younger students typically struggle to master these three steps, they are reserved for level 3.  Students who master all six traits, grammar and mechanics, and the complex, analytical thinking skills taught in higher-level courses will finish high school as excellent writers who are ready for any college or business task.

6 –- The Six Traits of Excellent Writing:  Audience
7 -- The Six Traits of Excellent Writing:  Purpose
8 -- The Six Traits of Excellent Writing:  Tone
9 -- The Six Traits of Excellent Writing:  Voice  (sample)
10–- The Six Traits of Excellent Writing:  Beauty and Truth
Workshop—Working with the Six Traits

Unit 3:  Workshops on Essay Variations (optional, priced separately)
These final workshops take students deeper into research, analysis, and college exam preparation.  
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Workshop 1 -- The Timed Exam Essay (plus a spotlight on the Rule of Three)
Workshop 2 -- The Argumentative Essay (plus a spotlight on reliable sources) 
Workshop 3 -- The Problem-Solution Research Paper (plus a spotlight on MLA formatting) ​