This class addresses one of the biggest changes in education from our generation to the next.

The research methods we learned as kids are obsolete. Even methods from ten years ago are outdated! When was the last time you used a card catalog? Or an encyclopedia?!

Where are your teens doing most of their research? On their phones! Reddit threads, Google searches, YouTube. 

It’s a whole new world. Teens are encountering fresh information constantly. But TikTok is not usually suitable for academic research. 😅

Don’t despair! Research can be quick and effective (hello, internet!) and still as reputable as the old days. You just need to know how to do it.

Class Overview

Made With You in Mind

We’re ready for the next generation of researchers and learners. We continually assess and update our research methods so they reflect what’s happening in universities today.

Don’t let them show up on Day One not knowing how to navigate the formalized protocols of citations, sources, and research! 

Essay Prep: Research and Citation walks your teen through the practical tools they need to know to sift through the overwhelming amount of information (and misinformation!) on the web to find credible sources and useful research.

Here your student will

  • Avoid being fooled by the “look” of a website
  • Carve a path through one million results on a Google search
  • Vet online sources like fact-checkers do
  • Discern a deliberately crafted story (presented as fact)
  • Design an investigation into a topic of interest

On top of that, we’ll talk

  • formats
  • citations
  • note-taking
  • paraphrasing

We teach the established system of research and citation, in the Brave Writer® way. That means we cover the necessary skills without dampening the natural instinct for exploration and reflection. We teach students how to use research and citation techniques as a complement to their innate curiosity.

There is no other class like this on the market. In print. In school. In person. 

Anywhere.

Our Essay Prep classes are designed for 8th to 10th graders or older high school students who've had little experience with academic writing.

The Essay Prep series provides a foundation for the Essay Writing 101: Analytic Essay class and ought to be taken first if your kids have never studied the essay form. The classes in this series are designed to be taken in any order. We recommend completing all three classes in the series before moving on to the essay class.

Week by Week

Week One

Digital Exploration. Students navigate digital research as professional researchers do, including understanding the ways content writers present information that may be misleading or heavily biased.

Week Two

Research and Observation. After uncovering a controversial question, students research it, exploring their own thinking and that of people who hold opposing views. 

Week Three

The Story of a Source. Two important skills in research writing are learning how to examine sources for credibility and giving credit to experts when students use their ideas. We'll build both skills this week. 

Week Four

Map Making. The student’s question, sources, thoughts, and notes will all inform their final writing piece. They create a map of their topic, giving readers a way to investigate it on their own in an informed way.

Registration Details

Join Us!

Tuition:
$249.00 per student
Recommended Ages:

13 - 18

Class Size:
25 students
Class Length:
4 weeks
Class Type:
  • High School

Select from the available class dates below to register for that session:

–
Angela Awald   Session Full
–
Meaghan Williams   Register
–
Heidi Blanchard   Register

Word on the Street

This class has been so helpful for my research skills, an area wherein I had little experience. I had no idea about citation or credibility at all! So this class was great for me.

Spencer, 15

Now I know how to research efficiently, learn about a source, and put that information in an essay. Thank you!

Lainie, 17

This class gave me a bit more of an appreciation for research. It made me realize that when you learn some shortcuts and techniques for searching the web, researching can be fun and fast. 

Jackson, 15

Now when I’m looking at articles sometimes I’ve started noticing that before I start reading my eyes move straight to the top to check the author, date published, etc. to see if the website is so far passing the CACAO test. I’ve loved this method and it has really helped. 

Yara, 15

More Information

Sample class login

Want to see how our classroom works? Test drive a sample class complete with real class readings, assignments, and instructor comments!

Follow these instructions:

  1. Navigate to class.bravewriter.com. If you are a current student, you’ll need to log out in the upper right corner before proceeding.
  2. Log in using these credentials:
    Username: [email protected]
    Password: Brave1
  3. Next, you will land on our Family Dashboard. You'll find a Parent icon and a Student icon to represent classes where the parent or the student is the primary participant. Click on Parent to view parent participation classes. To find classes with direct student-instructor interaction, click on Student.
  4. Click on the class name of interest and start reading posts!
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