Expository Writing with Vocabulary & Grammar (EWVG)
The purpose of this writing is to inform, explain, describe, or define the author’s subject to the reader. Student will learn to use words to clearly communicate information in an organized, logical, and concise manner. We will read and analyze newspapers and magazine articles, poems, and short stories.
Creative Writing with Vocabulary & Grammar (CWVG)
This class will emphasize on creative writing, vocabulary, and grammar. In reading short stories, and possible poetry, we will try to emulate the writing of great authors while using new writing techniques and new vocabulary that we will learn in class. Besides creativing writing, we will introduce students to analyzing short stories and poems. For the first time ever, we will have a competition for the best short story and poem of the summer! You will get a chance to enter into the contest when you are enrolled in this class. This contest will include entries from this class and anyone who wishes to enter!
Sample Books we use:
- Writer’s Choice
- Vocabulary Workshop/Classic Novels.
Reading Comprehension and Literary Analysis (RL)
All classes cover fiction and nonfiction. We have a collection of shorter texts we read and analyze during the session, and we ask students to read novels, novellas, and short stories as homework. We discuss and analyze those works in class. For all texts, we ask for both written and oral responses. Our goal is to develop the skills and strategies needed to dissect and analyze a text as we read it so they are able to produce written and oral critical responses after a single reading.
Narrative and Persuasive Writing (NPW)
After students master expository writing, they will move on to Narrative and Persuasive Writing. Do you have a personal story to tell? Do you have an opinion that you want others to agree with ? This class will introduce students to the format and structure of both narrative and persuasive writing. In both essays, students will learn to use details to support their story and argument. Students will learn to use personal experiences in their narrative writing and then take an impersonal approach by arguing using evidence in persuasive writing.
Grace Nguyen currently attends San Jose State University. During her high school years, Grace completed many Advanced Placement courses, among them being AP English Language. Furthermore, in Next Door Solution’s P.O.W.E.R (Proud of Wanting Equal Relations) Program, Grace and eleven other students worked to organize discussions about social issues through both in-school club activities, and extracurriculars. Grace was also an active member of the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and Junior States of America (JSA). Through these experiences, she learned of her enthusiasm for community service, as well as speech and debate. This drove her to join her high school’s Mock Trial team, and the Santa Clara County Peer Court, a program where teen jurors deliberate over interventions that would result in restorative justice for youth. Now at San Jose State University, she continues with Speech and Debate, and is excited to mentor students at Gurukulam. Literature is a major passion for her, and she wants to share that interest with the youth. Grace always tries to find enjoyable and relatable ways to build lasting, and stable skills within students. Be it catering to each individual’s needs, or connecting topics in class to subjects that can connect to their lives, Grace always aims to listen to her students and proceed accordingly.