Essay Writing: Expository Essay (Ages 11+)
4-lessons: Students will learn about brainstorming, choosing a topic, note-taking, outlining, revising, and editing.
Course Summary
You want your middle- or high-schooler to gain real confidence and skill in writing clear, well-structured essays — particularly the expository type — but you may be finding that traditional worksheets, generic writing prompts, or one-off assignments aren’t giving them the tools and feedback they need to succeed. You worry that your student may know the steps (brainstorm, outline, draft, revise) but still struggles to pull it all together into a strong draft. You might also feel uncertain about how to guide them — especially when they need more than just “write an essay” and instead need a structured sequence and meaningful feedback.
When the process of writing is too vague or unsupported, students often feel lost or frustrated. They may write a draft, but then struggle with what’s next — how do you revise? How do you edit? What questions should you ask? Without clear guidance they may end up submitting a halffinished essay that doesn’t reflect their best abilities, or they may avoid writing altogether because it seems too hard to pull everything together. As the homeschooling parent, you might feel that you’re constantly asking “Is this good enough?” or “What do I do now?” and that uncertainty can slow progress, reduce enthusiasm, or mean your student doesn’t feel empowered to write with clarity and confidence.
This 4-week, self-paced course offered by Teach Me Truth is designed to walk your student (ages 11+) step-by-step through the full process of writing an expository essay — from brainstorming, topic selection, note-taking, outlining, writing the draft, revising, to editing.
Here’s how it supports you and your student:
Week 1 – Brainstorming & Research: Three lessons introducing how to gather ideas, choose a topic, perform research.
Week 2 – Note-taking: A focused lesson on how to take organized notes that will feed into the outline.
Week 3 – Outlines & Introductions: Two lessons on building the essay structure (outline) and crafting a strong introduction.
Week 4 – Revision & Editing: Two lessons helping the student refine their draft, revise meaningfully, and edit carefully to produce a final version.
Final Output: At the end of the course your student will complete a final draft of an expository essay — not just worksheets, but a full essay.
Personalized Feedback: Students receive in-depth feedback on their essays — a major benefit for growth.
Flexible Self-Paced Format: You set the pace — great for the flexibility homeschooling families value.
Teacher Experienced with Neuro-Diverse Learners: The instructor understands ADHD and similar learning differences, offering support like fill-in-the-blank notes, step-by-step written instructions, and visual clarity.
Why this course is a strong fit for your homeschooling family
It gives you a clear roadmap to follow: you don’t have to design from scratch.
It addresses both process (brainstorming, outlining, revising) and product (final draft with feedback) — many programs either skip one or the other.
Because the instructor is comfortable with neuro-diverse learners, it offers accessible support if your student learns differently.
You can adapt the pace and schedule to your own rhythm and needs — ideal for homeschooling.
Your student leaves with a tangible piece of writing they can be proud of and build on in future writing tasks.
How to implement it at home
Set your schedule: Choose a weekly slot (for example, one lesson per week) or go faster if your student is motivated.
Week 1: Work with your student on brainstorming and choosing a topic. Encourage them to explore ideas and pick something meaningful or interesting to them.
Week 2: Guide the note-taking process — show them how to gather facts, organize them, and prepare for drafting.
Week 3: Help them build an outline together. Talk through the structure: introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion. Then craft the introduction together.
Week 4: Support the revision process: read the draft together, ask editing questions (“Is this clear? Is each paragraph focused? Is the transition good?”). Then work on editing for grammar, style, clarity.
Submit & Reflect: Once the student submits the final draft and receives feedback, review it together. Discuss what worked, what they learned, and how they can apply it to future writing.
Celebrate the achievement: Finishing a full essay with support and feedback is a milestone. Recognize their effort.
Course Curriculum
Course Pricing
Erica Sirratt
I have a lot of passions in life, but two of my biggest passions are reading and writing. One of my main goals is to create a love of literature. If a student can read well, the possibilities of what they can learn are endless. I believe that writing is a form of communicating. If a student can communicate, then a student can write.
As a woman with ADHD and two children with ADHD, I understand that no two students learn the same. I have experience teaching and helping students who struggle with ADHD and other neurodivergent tendencies. I am a member of Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). I will help any student I can with whatever extra support they need. I can make sure students have fill-in-the-blank notes to help keep focus during class, keep PowerPoints and other visuals simple to prevent overstimulation, step-by-step written instructions for all assignments, or whatever else your student needs. I want all students to succeed. I encourage students to participate and keep their video on, but it is not required. I also welcome all students to stay unmuted, as long as they are respectful of others.
As a homeschool parent, I understand that different states have different requirements. I will provide a syllabus and detailed grades upon request. Also, make sure to ask about sibling discounts!
I have a bachelor's degree in writing with a minor in journalism. Before obtaining that degree, my original course of study was in education and literature. I regularly take professional development classes to fine-tune my skills as a writer and educator. I believe all of these things have worked together to create my unique teaching style.
