SchoolWise
Essay Writing
Course Overview
Introduction to Essay Writing and Argumentation is an intensive programme designed for students who want to master one of the most versatile and powerful academic skills—one that underpins success in senior schooling, university, and professional life. More than just tips for putting words on a page, this course develops a complete framework for using essays as tools of persuasion, deep learning, and articulate expression.
This comprehensive, advanced programme introduces the thinking, research, and communication skills that distinguish top-performing students. The course draws deliberate connections to senior school assessment types—from analytical essays in English to persuasive writing in humanities—while providing a foundation for university writing where clarity, argumentation, and research fluency are critical.
Every student receives a Wise Minds bespoke course book containing clear explanations, worked examples, practice prompts, editing checklists, and structured exercises to build confidence and adaptability for tackling any essay question with precision and authority.
✍️ Years 8–12
📖 Course book included
👥 Small group tutorials
📝 Practical writing sessions
Who Is This Course For?
This course is fundamental for all senior English courses across all major curricula:
ACT English
HSC English
IB English
Advanced Year 8 Students
Year 9 Students
Year 10 Students
Year 11 Students
Year 12 Students
What You'll Learn
The course develops a complete framework for essay writing as a tool of persuasion, deep learning, and articulate expression:
1. Understanding the Purpose and Power of Essays
- Essays as tools for persuasion, deep learning, and articulate expression
- Developing transferable professional skills (analysis, communication, synthesis)
- Essay writing as both storytelling and structured argumentation
- Understanding audience and purpose—tailoring tone, register, and argument style
- Different essay types (persuasive, analytical, literary analysis) and their shared core elements
2. Research and Preparation
- Prewriting strategies: brain dumps, identifying knowledge gaps, and question generation
- Source selection: primary vs. secondary, validity checks, epistemological foundations
- Research efficiency: using academic databases, search operators, and citation tools
- Reading for meaning and retention: primers, deep reading, note-taking, concept mapping
3. The Architecture of Persuasion
- Writing from both sides of a debate to develop balanced, whole-topic mastery
- Breaking complex topics into sub-questions to build argument structure
- Crafting and refining thesis statements—before and after writing
- Logic and structure: predicates, assumptions, and building to conclusions
- Using evidence strategically to create coherent arguments
- Rhetorical appeals (logos, ethos, pathos) and deliberate use of style
- Anticipating counterarguments and crafting effective rebuttals
4. From Outline to Final Draft
- Essay architecture: introductions, body paragraphs, conclusions
- Paragraph formats and their applications (TEEL, PEEL, TEXAS)
- Creating flexible outlines that don't restrict creativity
- The drafting process—writing without restraint, separating drafting from editing
- Analysing literary techniques and integrating them into non-literary writing
- Editing strategies: reading aloud, peer review, content vs. technical edits
- Managing prepared essays vs. in-class essays—time management frameworks
5. Practical Exercises
- One-page essays to develop focus and concision
- Peer proofreading for editing and feedback skills
- Writing and counter-writing on the same topic to identify argument weaknesses
- In-class essay simulations with strict time allocation to planning, writing, and revising
- Post-mortem analysis—reflecting on what worked and what to improve in future essays
- Exercises applying literary techniques learned from textual analysis to original essays
Key Skills You'll Develop
Build a conceptual foundation for persuasive writing and exploring multiple perspectives
Analyse literary techniques and integrate them into various writing styles
Develop logical arguments using rhetorical appeals (logos, ethos, pathos)
Master both prepared essays and timed in-class writing
Research effectively, select credible sources, and manage references efficiently
Refine drafting, editing, and proofreading techniques for content and technical accuracy
Questions?
We are always happy to answer any questions you may have. Please do not hesitate to reach out.