Writing projects fall into three major categories.These options merely provide a frame of reference, though. If you have something else in mind, please don’t hesitate to run it by me.
Creative Writing is imaginative. It utilizes narrative techniques and literary devices.
- Fiction (novels and short stories)
- Poetry
- Creative nonfiction (memoir, personal narrative, prose poetry, journaling)
Expository Writing is that which seeks to inform, describe, explain, or define.
- Essays (personal, informative, how-to, descriptive)
- Literary criticism
- Reports (research reports, book reports, research papers)
- Journalism (magazine and newspaper articles, portraits or profiles)
Persuasive Writing has, at its heart, an argument.
- Persuasive essay
- Opinion editorial
- Letter to the editor
- Book review
SAT/ACT Prep: Standardized test essays follow a particular “formula.” Not to mention, they must be written with time constraints. This sets them apart from normal essays. A great essay is not necessarily a great SAT essay, and vice versa. (In fact, a great SAT essay is rarely a great essay, so it pains me to “teach to” these tests!) However, graders have very defined expectations and requirements. I can explain what a good SAT/ACT essay requires, how they are graded, and how to go about writing one in the specified time frame. Yes, I will “teach to these tests,” (but I won’t like it!)