Title

Scholars Online Writing Curriculum

Writing Program Overview

Writing is easy. All you do is stare at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.

— Gene Fowler

There’s an old joke among musicians: Q: "How do I get to Carnegie Hall?" A: "Practice, practice, practice."

To be a writer, a good writer, you must also practice, practice, practice. Many students assume that speaking a language fluently means that writing papers, essays, stories, and so forth in that language will come naturally and easily when needed – usually during an all-night paper-writing session. That assumption does not hold true any more than being able to drive a car makes you a mechanic, or being able to walk makes you a marathoner.

Fortunately, you can learn to write well by practicing. That is why the Scholars Online writing curriculum is based on practice. The courses encourage you to look at your own writing critically. We teach you the skill of writing by using the discipline of re-writing. We also teach you how to apply peer reviews and instructor’s edits without becoming defensive.

… Then anyone who leaves behind him a written manual, and likewise anyone who receives it, in the belief that such writing will be clear and certain, must be exceedingly simple-minded…

— Plato

No matter what field of study you intend to pursue, you will be required to write. Outstanding writing will set you apart as an outstanding student or worker — even in Math class, or as a professional engineer. Any discipline requires you to organize your thoughts; writing helps you to visualize the thoughts and present them clearly for others to understand or apply.

Our goal is to help you to present your thoughts plainly and concisely, but also understand and respect the conventions of scholarly and professional writing.

Individual courses

Writing for the College-Bound is especially suitable as a composition supplement for Scholars Online literature and history courses, with topic options coordinated to course content.

If you would like to see a couse not yet listed, please use the EMAIL US link below to contact Scholars Online Administration with your course request.

Students who were enrolled in courses from previous years will find the teacher, text, and course description information available from the student's unofficial transcript, which can be reached from the parent's Account Management Center, or from an alumni's own Account Management Center.

To see details about an individual course, click on the black triangle to the left of the course name

> Molding Your Prose • 2009 listing - for reference only • Grade 7 or above • [Summer course]

> Molding Your Argument • 2009 listing - for reference only • Grade 8 or above • [Summer course]

> Introduction to Writing for the College-bound • 2009 listing - for reference only • Grade 6 or above

> Rhetoric, Grammar, and Style • 2009 listing - for reference only • Grade 9 or above

> Writing for the College-bound • 2009 listing - for reference only • Grade 7 or above

> Molding Your Prose • Offering for 2010 • Grade 7 or above • [Summer course]

> Molding Your Argument • Offering for 2010 • Grade 8 or above • [Summer course]

> Molding Your Style • Offering for 2010 • Grade 10 or above • [Summer course]

> Introduction to Writing for the College-bound • Offering for 2010 • Grade 7 or above

> Rhetoric, Grammar, and Style • Offering for 2010 • Grade 9 or above

> Writing for the College-bound • Offering for 2010 • Grade 7 or above

> Advanced Writing for the College-bound • Offering for 2010 • Grade 8 or above

Related courses

The following courses in other sequences may also be of interest to students of writing. You will find each course listed on the enrollment form under its own sequence.


To enroll in any of the courses listed above, log into your Scholars Online Account Management Center using the login link at the bottom of any page and select the member you wish to enroll. If you do not have an account, you may create one using the Membership and Enrollment link in the SiteMap to the left of any page.


Scholars Online has been provisionally accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools.