Our Philosophy
Strong writing is one of the most valuable lifelong skills a student can possess. Kingdom Builder's writing program is built on the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) and expanded through literature, both creative and analytical writing, and formal research. Throughout these writing classes, students will acquire a level of writing ability that will help them to excel in college and beyond.
Writing 1 - 4th - 6th
Textbook
No Textbook is Required
Format
Lecture, written assignments
Description
An introductory course for students in 4th-6th grade, or students who have had no previous experience with Excellence in Writing. Students will learn how to improve their sentence structure, how to outline writing assignments, and how to write creatively.
Writing 2 - 5th - 6th
Textbook
No Textbook is Required
Format
Lecture, written assignments
Description
Writing 2 is designed for students in grades 3–5 who are developing the skills needed to become confident, organized writers. Students will practice identifying main ideas, selecting important details, summarizing information in their own words, and writing well-structured paragraphs. Through creative stories, picture-based writing, and guided writing assignments, students will also learn to plan, draft, revise, and edit their work with an emphasis on clear sentences, organization, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.
Writing 3 with Literature - 6th - 8th
Books: Fall 2026-Spring 2027
- A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park
- Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
- Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep
- Eric Liddell by Catherine Swift
Format
Lecture, written assignments, group discussion, reading assignments
Description
Writing 3 is designed for students in grades 6–8 who are ready to develop stronger, more organized academic writing skills. Students will learn to plan, draft, revise, and edit a variety of compositions, including narrative, informative, literary, and persuasive essays. The course emphasizes paragraph and essay structure, summarizing and combining information from multiple sources, supporting ideas with relevant details, and expressing thoughts clearly and effectively. Literature-based assignments provide students with additional opportunities to strengthen reading comprehension, critical thinking, and written analysis.
Writing 4 with Literature - Jr. High / High School
Books: Fall 2026-Spring 2027
- Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
- Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
- Eric Liddell by Catherine Swift
- Call of the Wild by Jack London
Format
Lecture, written assignments, group discussion, reading assignments
Description
Writing 4 is designed for students in grades 8–9 who are ready to strengthen their academic writing and prepare for high school-level assignments. Students will plan, draft, revise, and edit a variety of compositions, including informative, literary, and persuasive essays. Emphasis is placed on developing clear thesis statements, organizing ideas effectively, using evidence to support arguments, summarizing and synthesizing information from multiple sources, and improving overall style and clarity. Literature-based assignments also encourage students to develop stronger reading comprehension, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills.
Writing 5 with Literature - High School
Books: Fall 2026-Spring 2027
- Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
- The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
- Our Town by Thornton Wilder
Format
Lecture, written assignments, group discussion, reading assignments
Description
Writing 5 introduces assignments and readings at a more sophisticated level, encouraging students to think deeper and write with maturity. Discussion remains a critical part of the course, and students will be put into groups to work together to answer questions on the readings.
Literature - High School
Books: Fall 2026-Spring 2027
- The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper
- Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
- The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
- Our Town by Thornton Wilder
- TBD
Format
Lecture, written assignments, group discussion, reading assignments
Description
This class introduces students to great literature in its historical, literary, and artistic context, while developing skills in writing and literary analysis. Study and writing is centered on a focus text chosen for its significance to the period of literature being studied. There is an emphasis on the analytical essay, which offers the students the opportunity to perfect the standard process of planning, drafting, and revising. Shorter assignments are included in various forms to round out each section. Students are also expected to participate in weekly class discussions that focus on comprehension and analysis.
Writing 6 - 10th - 12th
Textbook
No Textbook is Required
Format
Lecture, written assignments
Description
Writing 6 is an advanced composition course designed for high school juniors and seniors who are preparing for college, the workplace, and effective communication in everyday life. Students will strengthen their writing through a wide variety of academic, creative, and real-world assignments while learning to organize ideas clearly, write with purpose, and revise their work for clarity and effectiveness.
Throughout the year, students develop their skills by writing article summaries, creating stories from visual prompts, and composing biographical, narrative, interview, event, persuasive, and thematic essays. In the second semester, students expand their abilities through speech writing, literary and media critiques, college and job application writing, and a comprehensive research paper that progresses from source evaluation and outlining to rough and final drafts. The course concludes with students crafting an original short story that demonstrates creativity while applying the writing techniques developed throughout the year.
Emphasis is placed on the complete writing process, including brainstorming, outlining, drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading. Students receive regular feedback to strengthen organization, grammar, style, and word choice while learning to write for different audiences and purposes.
By the end of the course, students will have built a portfolio of polished writing that demonstrates proficiency in both academic and practical forms of communication, preparing them for college coursework, professional settings, and lifelong writing success.