The Write Road Course

Download the digital textbook and printable PDF versions here.

Text reference: Introduction

In this orientation video, we cover how the course and textbook work together, including the five-part structure, pacing options, and your role as the parent or at-home instructor. We recommend watching this and the Appendices overview video before you begin Video Lesson 1.

Text reference: Appendices A–J

A brief tour of all ten appendices — from the AI verification guide and grammar toolbox to the sample research paper and parent evaluation guide. These are reference tools you can return to anytime you need them. We recommend watching this before you begin Video Lesson 1.

Text reference: Sections 1.1–1.3

Writing represents you when you're not in the room — and this video establishes why that matters. Students receive their first assignment: a one-page personal piece, formatted correctly and written without pressure to get it right.

In this walk-through, we cover how to set up MLA formatting in Microsoft Word — margins, font, header, spacing, and the heading block — and write a sample sentence from scratch. From there, you'll get the chance to apply this formatting to your own essay.

Text reference: Sections 1.5–1.7

Now that you've written something, it's time to look at it — without fixing it yet. This lesson gives you a simple, usable definition of a sentence, then has you mark the clean, complete sentences in your own draft.

Text reference: Sections 1.8–1.11

The two most common sentence errors — fragments and run-ons — defined, shown, and fixed using real student examples. Students then return to their own draft to find and correct what they find, or practice using the exercises in the appendix.

In this walk-through, we go through the two most common sentence errors — fragments and run-ons — one at a time using real examples. You will then return to your own draft to find and correct what you find.

Text reference: Sections 1.12–1.15

Students read their revised draft and notice what changed — that's what revision does. This video also introduces journaling: why it matters, how to do it, and why writing by hand engages the brain differently than typing.

Text reference: Sections 2.1–2.5

A paragraph holds one idea — and only one. Students learn what that means in practice, how to find a topic sentence in their journal, and how to build a focused paragraph from first word to last.

Text reference: Sections 2.6–2.7

From a single paragraph to a full essay. Students write two to three more body paragraphs, then add an introduction and conclusion — producing their first complete piece of academic writing.

Text reference: Section 2.8

Seven common essay errors — comma splices, subject-verb disagreement, tense shifts, point-of-view slips, capitalization, commonly confused words, and transitions — each defined and corrected with real student examples. A good video to revisit during revision.

In this demo, we go through common essay errors one at a time — spotting each mistake and applying a quick fix using real examples.

Text reference: Sections 2.9–2.10

A complete revision checklist for the personal essay, plus specific tools for catching what your eyes miss. Includes a journal prompt and a guided look at the example essay in the book.

Text reference: Section 3.1

How to read like a researcher — not just a reader. This video introduces annotation: marking what strikes you, writing your thoughts as you go, and keeping careful track of sources from the start.

Text reference: Sections 3.2–3.3

Not every source is doing the same thing — this video covers how to read research articles, editorials, and news with awareness of purpose and bias. Includes a frank discussion of what happens when we only read one side.

Text reference: Section 3.4

Summary is the foundation of all academic writing — you can't explain or argue something you haven't accurately understood. This video defines summary, explains why it matters, and shows how to represent a source fairly and completely.

Text reference: Section 3.5

Summary tells what happened — explanation tells why it matters. Using the Yellowstone wolf example, this video shows the difference and teaches three questions that push any summary into real analysis.

Text reference: Section 3.6

A reaction is what you feel. A response is what you think, grounded in the text. This video teaches students how to move from emotional reaction to reasoned response — and introduces rhetorical awareness: paying attention to how and why a text says what it says.

Text reference: Section 3.7

The quote sandwich — how to introduce a source, use a quote correctly, and explain what it means. Covers signal phrases, the bottom bun (the most-skipped step), and a few advanced tools: block quotes, [sic], and ellipsis.

In this demo, we cover how to build a quote sandwich in MLA format — the signal phrase, the quote itself, and the explanation that follows — writing one from scratch.

Text reference: Section 3.8

In-text citations and the Works Cited page, explained step by step using Purdue OWL as the guide. Covers why citation generators are unreliable and how to avoid the most common formatting mistakes.

In this demo, we cover how to build a Works Cited page in MLA format — entry order, hanging indents, and spacing — using real examples.

In this demo, we cover how to find and use the Purdue OWL website for MLA formatting questions — a reliable, free resource you can return to anytime you need it.

In this walk-through, we cover how to set up MLA formatting in Microsoft Word — margins, font, header, spacing, and the heading block — and write a sample sentence from scratch.

Text reference: Section 3.9

Five questions that tell you whether a source is trustworthy: when was it written, who wrote it, who published it, why was it written, and can you verify it? Includes where to find reliable sources — and how to use Wikipedia without citing it.

Text reference: Section 3.10

The difference between an argument and a manipulation — and how to spot one. Covers eight common logical fallacies with real examples, and teaches one habit that protects your student from being moved without being genuinely convinced.

Text reference: Section 3.11

A topic is what you're writing about. A claim is what you think about it. This video teaches students how to move from a subject to a position — and where claims actually come from after honest, wide-ranging research.

Text reference: Section 4.1

A bridge into Part 4: students see how far they've come and what lies ahead. Before any drafting begins, they read the final paper assignment first — then spend a week exploring topics with curiosity before committing to one.

In this demo, we cover how to search Google Scholar for credible research sources — narrowing results, checking publication dates, and finding full-text access.

In this demo, we cover how to annotate a source directly in Google Docs — highlighting key passages, adding comments, and keeping your notes organized as you read.

Text reference: Section 4.2

A claim is what you think. A thesis is how you say it — precisely and in one sentence. This video walks through what makes a thesis specific, arguable, and strong, and guides students in writing their working thesis.

Text reference: Section 4.3

An outline is a map, not a contract. Students learn to build a working outline — thesis, introduction, body paragraphs, counterargument, conclusion — that gives enough structure to start writing without locking them in.

Text reference: Section 4.4

The three parts of a research paper — introduction, body, conclusion — each with a specific job. This video clarifies the difference between a report and a research paper, and shows how the whole structure serves the thesis.

Text reference: Section 4.5-4.6

The goal of a first draft is not to get it right — it's to get it written. This video gives students permission to write badly, then walks through the introduction: how to write a hook, build context, and land a thesis.

Text reference: Sections 4.7

Every body paragraph makes one point, supported by evidence and explained clearly. This video covers the full structure — topic sentence, quote sandwich, explanation, and connection to thesis — plus the counterargument, with a deeper look at keeping your voice dominant over quoted material.

Note: you may hear this called "Video 25" in the recording — this is Video 24, Lesson 24.

Text reference: Section 4.8

How your sources work together across the whole paper — not just in individual paragraphs. Covers when to quote vs. paraphrase, how to avoid overquoting, and how to ask what job each source is actually doing in your argument.

Text reference: Section 4.9

A conclusion is not a summary — it's your answer to the question the reader has been asking: so what? This video covers what a conclusion does, what it never does, and how to close an argument in a way the reader carries with them.

Text reference: Sections 4.10–4.11

Revision is rethinking. Editing is fixing. This video walks through both — from big-picture argument checks down to sentence-level editing — including the highlighter test for making sure your voice dominates your sources. Ends with the full MLA formatting checklist.

Text reference: Section 4.12-4.13

Your Works Cited page is the last page of your paper — and the first place a careful reader looks. Covers exactly how to build it: entry format by source type, page formatting, and the Purdue OWL templates that make it straightforward.

In this demo, we cover how to build a Works Cited page in MLA format — entry order, hanging indents, and spacing — using real examples.

Text reference: Part 5

The full research paper assignment: an argumentative thesis, four to five pages, at least three credible sources, a counterargument and rebuttal, and a Works Cited page. Includes a suggested eight-week timeline and a final self-assessment checklist.

Congratulations, you did it! From a single sentence to a full research paper, you've come a long way. This video looks back at everything you've built, and points you toward what comes next as a writer.