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SECONDARY WRITING MASTERCLASS

Are you concerned that your Secondary 3 to 5 child's writing is below average even after several writing classes and practices?

What are the top skills for writing good compositions that can be applied immediately?

Learning Outcomes

Can your child wait another term to develop these critical writing skills
that guarantee success in composition writing?

We don't think so.

With Cognitus Academy, your child will emerge:

A critical and analytical thinker

Open-minded and creative

Articulate and convincing

Confident and self-assured

An independent and motivated writing

Our Strategy

Using strategies taught to students in the Gifted Education Programme (GEP),
our Primary programme is built upon years of experience in teaching,
designing curriculum, marking exams and designing assessment modes in schools.
We can’t wait to share them with you!

Critical Reading and Writing principles used in MOE’s Gifted Education Programme form the basis of Cognitus Academy’s English programmes.

Don’t worry. Although these strategies are taught to gifted students, our programmes are DOWN-TO-EARTH techniques that have helped students of all abilities improve and excel.

Secondary Writing Masterclasses

We have crafted a powerful Writing Masterclass to guide Secondary 3 to 5 students to think critically and creatively and produce outstanding, thought-provoking pieces of narrative and expository writing.

Situational Writing
Situational writing is a lifelong skill that can be easily mastered. We introduce students to the assessment criteria to share what examiners are looking for. We equip your child to identify not only the purpose, audience and context of the given situation but also how to apply that information.
 
In addition to that, we expose to the range of tested situations, a variety of formats and the appropriate register for each situation. Most crucially, we share a unique planning template that will ensure maximal task fulfillment and point amplification.
 
With these skills, your child will:
✔ Perform a question analysis
✔ Complete an effective plan
✔ Select the accurate format
✔ Employ the appropriate tone and register
✔ Utilise accurate and precise language
✔ Complete an outstanding piece of situational writing
Inspiring Narratives
Narrative writing is a style that students are generally comfortable with. We leverage on that to share some plot elements and complications your child can introduce to their stories to distinguish their writing from their peers.
 
Prior to that, we guide your child in performing a question analysis to ensure that they understand the demands of the question. While what is said is important, how it is said is even more important.
 
Therefore, we expose your child to an array of language features to equip them with the ability to express themselves as accurately and vividly as possible. We analyse successful introductions with your child to determine how to capture and sustain a reader’s attention; likewise with conclusions so that you child ends their essay powerfully.
 
We also present two pieces of writing for your child to study language use, and content and organisation to ascertain what a piece of writing truly compelling.
 
With these skills, your child will:
✔ Discover their voice and unique expression of it
✔ Perform a question analysis
✔ Plan an elevated narrative essay effectively
 Craft impactful introductions and conclusions 
✔ Incorporate unique plot elements and complications
✔ Utilise accurate, precise and vivid language
✔ Develop critical reading skills in essay analyses
✔ Develop self-awareness
✔ Complete a powerful personal recount
Descriptive Essays
Exposition is a style of writing unique to secondary school and is often mixed with the narrative style in mixed-genre or hybrid questions. In this session, we outline some features of good descriptive writing.
 
We introduce some crucial tools so that your child can perform a question analysis to determine which format to select and which question to choose.
 
We share a couple of templates for your child to begin brainstorming critically and creatively, and organising those ideas neatly. We then suggest connectors that will enable your child to present their thoughts in a logical and coherent manner.
 
With these skills, your child will:
✔ Understand the features of good descriptive writing
✔ Perform a question analysis
✔ Plan a compelling descriptive essay
✔ Think critically and creatively
✔ Present their essay neatly and coherently
✔ Use accurate, precise and vivid language
✔ Complete a riveting descriptive piece
Argumentative Essays
The greatest challenge in argumentation for most students lies in the formation of a substantiated opinion.
 
To ease your child into that, we introduce them to Paul and Elder’s 8 Elements of Thoughts to enable them to perform a question analysis.
 
Often times, what may appear to be the easiest question to tackle might end up being the toughest to argue for. This allows them select a question that is best suited for them.
 
Most crucially, we share a robust framework to equip your child with the tools to brainstorm critical and creative points. We then provide your child with an outline they can use to plan their essays comprehensively and coherently.
 
With these skills, your child will:
✔ Understand the features of good argumentation
✔ Perform a question analysis
✔ Plan an effective argument comprehensively
✔ Think critically and creatively
✔ Avoid logical fallacies
✔ Use accurate, precise and convincing language
✔ Complete a compelling argumentative piece
Individualised Feedback
Recognising that each child is unique, we take pride in extending care and attention to each and every child during each group session.
 
In each session, your child will write at least one piece of writing on the given topic. The teacher will mark every piece with the intention of elevating and boosting your child’s thought and writing processes to the highest possible level.
 
We do not mark to penalise but to gain clarity on where your child’s strengths and areas for growth lie.
We firmly believe that writing is a journey and it is one that we will embark on with your child responsibly.
 
Our feedback is an excellent opportunity for us to nurture confidence in your child that makes expressing their views effortless and flawless.
 
In our detailed feedback, we either pose questions to prompt your child to reconsider their writing or suggest words and/ or phrases to show your child how their thoughts can be expressed more precisely.
 
 
With this feedback, your child will:
✔ Build self-awareness and self-evaluation
✔ Recognise areas of strength
✔ Identify areas for growth 
✔ Improve content and expression through drafts
✔ Develop independence in proofreading work
✔ Be encouraged and write confidently

In just four sessions, we will equip your child with the tools to meet the requirements of secondary school writing effectively and hone their expression for eloquent and compelling writing.

Writing is a powerful mode of expression and we take the responsibility of guiding your child seriously. Our methods and work are unique and representative of the detailed attention and dedication we have towards your child.

How we structure our Writing Masterclass

We have designed a 4-week masterclass to cover all components of Paper 1. This is what the programme looks like:

Session and Type Curriculum
Session 1:
Situational Writing


First 2 hours:

Students will learn the skills for crafting a good piece of writing for each genre

Subsequent 2 hours:

Students will apply the skills learnt through practice questions.
Session 2:
Narrative Writing
Session 3:
Descriptive Writing
Session 4:
Argumentative Writing

*Only one topic will be used for each Booster Session.

Excellent strategies requires excellent execution

Our team of experienced teachers and English specialists are well-versed in the CRW Strategy and are fully dedicated to help your child grow and improve.

Ms Nawirah Nordeen

Education Consultant / Teacher

Ms Nawirah Nordeen completed her degree in Psychology with Magna Cum Laude. Always passionate about teaching English and committed to her students, she has guided hundreds of students since she started teaching in 2012.

Ms Shabbna Feroz Khan

Education Consultant / Teacher

Ms Shabbna earned her degree from the National University of Singapore, majoring in philosophy with a minor in English Literature. Before that, she achieved a sterling academic record for English scoring A* for PSLE, A1 for O Levels and 7 out of 7 for IB English at Anglo-Chinese School (Independent).

Hear from some of our students who have enjoyed writing with us!

"The tips and notes on writing a good essay have benefited me. The lessons were very interesting."

Lim Xuan Ting

Secondary 1

"It has made me more prepared for writing in Secondary School, understanding the different types of writing."

Chen Sheng Xu

Secondary 1

"Well planned lessons and curriculum. Engaging teacher."

Parent of Twylla Teo

Secondary 2

"I learnt how to plan before writing an essay to have a structure of what to write."

Tessa Lim

Secondary 2

Myths Students Have About Writing

Hover over each card to uncover the truth!

Writing is for exams only.
I'll never need it again!

Writing is a life-long skill that allows your child to share who they are. Building and perfecting critical and creative writing now sets your child up for future success.

An A for writing?
I can never do that!

With A-grade strategies, an A in writing is  attainable. Your child needs the magic combination of theory, practice and guidance. With enough care and diligence, that star is within reach.

Writing is a talent.
I am not born with it!

The good news is that writing is a skill, too! Learning the right skills, and practising and applying them diligently will result in your child being as competent a storyteller as their peers.

Writing is so boooooring.
I never enjoy it!

When writing is taught without passion, it can be a drag. However, we make it fun! Our stimulating tasks will get your child's creative juices flowing. and spark a desire for writing.

Writing is terrifying.
Where do I even start!

Don't fret! Our teachers will work with your child's level of readiness in mind. We break tasks into bite-sized pieces so that your child can complete them comfortably and confidently.

Secondary 2020 Schedule

Find a time slot which suits you the best below.

Session Date & Time
1. Situational Writing
22/12 (Tue)
12:30pm to 4:30pm
2. Narrative Writing
23/12 (Wed)
2:00pm to 6:00pm
3. Discursive Writing
29/12 (Tue)
12:30pm to 4:30pm
4. Argumentative Writing
30/12 (Wed)
2:00pm to 6:00pm

*Lesson schedule may change due to students’ school exam schedules.

Still can't decide?

We understand that choosing the right English programme is an important decision because we have worked with hundreds of parents who are just as concerned as you about your child's English results.
If you would like to discuss your needs with one of our English specialists, fill out the form below and we will be in touch with you.

Thanks for taking time to read about our Secondary Writing Masterclasses.
If you want your child to try out our writing strategies,
sign up using the form below.