Heartland Charter School A-G Writing Electives

Fall 2024 and Spring 2025

WriteAtHome will be offering semester A-G writing elective options exclusively for Heartland Charter School high school students during the 2024-25 school year.

• Every Heartland high schooler can choose one course which will be held in the fall of 2024 or spring of 2025.

• Each course will provide five college prep A-G elective credits.

There are six options to choose from:

1. Heartland High School Writing 1- WriteAtHome High School 1A (what was offered spring 2024 as Heartland Foundational Writing)

2. Heartland High School Writing 2- WriteAtHome High School 1B

3. Heartland College Prep Writing 1 - WriteAtHome High School 2B (was offered spring 2024)

4. Heartland College Prep Writing 2- WriteAtHome High School 3B

5. Heartland Creative Writing 1 - WriteAtHome Creative Writing 2 Workshop + Short Story Writing Workshop (was offered spring 2024))

6. Heartland Creative Writing 2 - WriteAtHome Creative Writing 1 Workshop + Short Story Writing Workshop

Reach out to your Heartland HST to enroll!

Heartland High School Writing 1 & 2

• Heartland High School Writing 1(WriteAtHome High School 1A)

• Heartland High School Writing 2 (WriteAtHome High School 1B)

These sixteen-week classes lays essential foundations for solid high school writing. Lessons provide an overview of basic principles that apply to writing projects of any kind. It focuses on the steps of the writing process and universal characteristics of good writing. 

Students should expect to spend one to three hours per week on Heartland High School Writing 1 & 2.

Students who complete the course will be able to…

• write for a variety of purposes, including narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive.

• respond to feedback on their writing through revising and proofreading.

• explain the concepts of content, structure, word choice, rhythm, style, and mechanics.

• demonstrate an understanding of clarity, coherence, conciseness, and unity.

• demonstrate an understanding of the writing process by employing the following five steps in composing every paper: prewriting, drafting, revising, proofreading, publishing.

• demonstrate comprehension of basic grammar, usage, and mechanics rules in their writing.

• demonstrate increased proficiency at writing under time constraints.

• improve their writing across a wide range of broad evaluative areas, including content, style and form.

Please click the links above for more information about each course including course syllabus, sample lessons and assignments.

Heartland College Prep Writing 1& 2

• Heartland College Prep Writing 1 (WriteAtHome High School Writing 2B)

• Heartland College Prep Writing 2 (WriteAtHome High School Writing 3B)

These sixteen-week classes include a research paper and the content of either WriteAtHome’s Essay 1 or 2 Workshop. They are ideal for the college-bound student.

Students should expect to spend two to four hours per week on Heartland College Prep Writing 1 & 2.

This course focuses on the two kinds of writing that are most important at the college level: research papers and formal, persuasive essays.

Students who complete the course will be able to...

• craft a formal research paper, including establishing a thesis, finding and evaluating sources, note-taking, outlining, drafting, and revising.

• properly cite sources according to MLA standards.

• defend an opinion using structured, rational argumentation in both analytical and compare/ contrast essays.

• engage the writing process by employing the following five steps in composing every paper: prewriting, drafting, revising, proofreading, publishing.

• demonstrate comprehension of basic mechanics rules in their writing.

Please click the links above for more information about each course including course syllabus, sample lessons and assignments.

Heartland Creative Writing 1& 2

• Heartland Creative Writing 1 (WriteAtHome Creative Writing 2 Workshop + Short Story Writing Workshop)

• Heartland Creative Writing 2 (WriteAtHome Creative Writing 1 Workshop + Short Story Writing Workshop)

These sixteen-week classes each combine one of the eight-week WriteAtHome high school creative writing workshops with the WriteAtHome Short Story Writing workshop. These classes are ideal for students who love creative writing and storytelling.

Students should expect to spend one to three hours per week on Heartland Creative Writing.

In the Creative Writing 1 or 2 portion of Heartland Creative Writing class, the lesson content will discuss issues like plot, descriptive details, conflict, and character. In addition to a diagnostic assignment, students will write creative compositions in three drafts each under the guidance and instruction of their personal writing coach.

The Creative Writing portion of the course will equip students to…

• write effective narrative and descriptive papers.

• respond to coach feedback on their writing through revising and proofreading.

• understand and apply concepts like plot, detail, conflict, and character to their writing.

• understand and apply the concept of showing, rather than telling in their writing.

• engage the writing process by employing the following five steps in composing every paper: prewriting, drafting, revising, proofreading, publishing.

• improve their writing across a wide range of broad evaluative areas, including content, style and form.

In the Short Story Writing portion of Heartland Creative Writing, students are introduced to the basics of short fiction. Students will receive lessons on important elements of story writing and be given a variety of writing assignments designed to hone their skills and develop their creative abilities. Students will complete at least one full short story under the supervision of their personal writing coach.

Short Story Writing equips students to:

• identify the basics of short fiction.

• craft a story opening that attracts the reader and invites him to read on.

• create believable, interesting characters.

• establish a plot around a core conflict.

• set up a sequence of events leading to a satisfying climax and resolution.

• effectively describe setting and character.

• craft natural, convincing dialogue.

• respond to the input of a personal writing coach in drafting and revising an original work of short fiction.

Please click the links above for more information about each course including course syllabus, sample lessons and assignments.

To enroll in a Heartland A-G Writing Elective semester course, please reach out to your Heartland HST.

WriteAtHome provides a variety of writing, literature, and history options for students in grades 4-12. Visit our homepage to learn more.

Heartland students can sign up for additional classes through Procurify using instructional funds.