Product Overview
You want your student to get to college and know what to do! You want them to know what a thesis is, how to conduct research, how to analyze literature, how to cite their sources, and how to navigate the ever-changing media landscape.
Our College Prep bundle is designed to prepare your college-bound teen for academic writing and analysis while continuing to develop their unique writing voice—a voice that will set them apart from their peers and make their writing stand out in a crowd of AI-generated writing.
The College Prep Bundle features three of our programs:
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Five PDF handbooks that explore classic novels—a shortcut to literary analysis! (See book lists on Slingshot page.)
- The MLA Research Essay independent study course, where students research an academic topic and write a 1,500-2000-word persuasive essay.
- The Media Literacy independent study course, which teaches students critical thinking necessary to evaluate media, and culminates in a visual digital composition project
The Slingshot is made up of year-long, non-consumable PDF products. Each handbook dives into literary analysis, grammar, punctuation, and more—plus book club party ideas and thoughtful discussion questions.
MLA Research Essay and Media Literacy are available in our custom-designed classroom. Students access weekly readings and assignments in our online classroom where they move through the material at their own pace, independently. They can post writing in the classroom and comment on the posts of other students working through the program alongside them. (There is no live instructor associated with independent study classes. Your teens move at their own pace and set deadlines that work for them!)
We show you how to put these elements together for a rich writing life!
Please note!
After payment, you’ll receive instructions for how to log into your Brave Writer account, download your products, and access your classrooms.
Slingshot Classics
The Slingshot is Brave Writer’s literature program for college-bound teens, built around five classic novels. Each handbook dives into literary analysis, grammar, punctuation, and more—plus book club party ideas and thoughtful discussion questions. With guided copywork and dictation, the Slingshot helps teens engage deeply with timeless stories, whether they’re new to analysis or seasoned readers.
Learn more about Slingshot Classics
Timeless literature for teens
The Slingshot guides teens in literary analysis of classic and contemporary literature.
Even if your teen has never analyzed literature before... We’ve got you—and your college-bound teens—covered!
Our year-long program includes five month-long lesson plans.
Each handbook is based on a novel and immerses your teen in the world of:
- literary analysis
- historical context
- grammar
- punctuation
- and book club parties
Each handbook contains:
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Detailed notes to establish the context of the novel (book not included)
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Four passages taken from the novel for copywork and dictation
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Easy-to-follow instructions to teach writing elements found in the passages
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Examination of grammar and punctuation
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Additional notes that go beyond the passage
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Nine "think piece" questions—for discussion and writing
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Book club party ideas
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Copywork passages on separate printable pages
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Four-color design that looks gorgeous on tablets or printed at home
The Slingshot program comes with Guidelines to help you implement copywork and dictation practices, as well as a planning tool and a writing skills tracker to help you stay attuned to your teen's progress.
Classics:
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass
Animal Farm by George Orwell
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
We encourage you to review the books yourself to be certain that you are comfortable with the content before giving them to your teens.
Delivery: After purchase, the Slingshots are available in your Brave Writer online account. Each handbook (40-50 pages) is a non-consumable PDF and can be used with multiple teens—no need to purchase additional copies.
Note: The Slingshot Classics is one part of the College Prep Writers Bundle.
Find related books in the Brave Writer Book Shop:
Essay Writing 302: MLA Research Essay
MLA Research Essay is an advanced college-preparatory course in long-form persuasive essay writing. Students follow the essay format as outlined in The MLA Handbook, 9th Edition. The final project is a 1500-2000-word persuasive essay with a minimum of five outside sources, including citations and Works Cited.
Learn more about
Essay Writing 302: MLA Research Essay
Media Literacy
Media Literacy focuses on the critical thinking skills necessary to analyze, evaluate, and create media in various forms. Students deploy knowledge of these techniques from a creator's perspective as they design a public service announcement in the form of a digital composition.
Learn more about
Media Literacy
All products are digital and downloadable. All sales are FINAL. No refunds.
Order a printed copy from the Homeschool Printing Company.