How do I teach students to write well?” is a daunting question for the seasoned teacher, let alone a teacher new to the field. While there is often too much or too little to be said, this course guide finds the middle ground. The course begins with the essential question, “What is an essay?” and encourages students to write passionately from their own experiences with the college application essay. The course ripples outward with self-to-world connections through the classification essay, then text-to-text and text-to-world connections through research writing. The course culminates with the literary analysis essay that prompts connections among self, texts, and the world. These essay modes equip students with the tools they need for college success. Through lessons aligned with state and national standards, students will learn effective strategies for developing essays throughout the writing process, including pre-writing, drafting, critiquing, polishing, and revising.