The Elegant Essay from the Institute for Excellence
in Writing (IEW) is a focused 10-week writing course designed to help middle
and high school students master the art of analytical essay writing. Developed
by Lesha Myers, this program serves as an excellent extension and refinement of
IEW’s formal essay unit, guiding students who already understand basic
paragraph structure into confident, well-organized essay composition.
Using a clear four-step teaching approach — preliminary
instruction, modeling, guided practice, and independent work — the course takes
students step-by-step through the elements of strong essays.
Key Curriculum Features:
- In-depth
instruction on thesis statements, essay organization, transitions,
introductions, and conclusions
- Practice
writing both descriptive and persuasive essays
- Four-step
teaching strategy that builds skills progressively
- Designed
as a bridge for students ready to move beyond basic paragraphs into more
complex analytical writing
- Interactive
lessons that work well in both homeschool and co-op settings
- Approximately
10 weeks of focused study
Program Components:
- Student
Book: Student pages, note-taking space, and assignments
- Teacher’s
Manual: Detailed teaching guidance, schedules, methods, and additional
support for co-ops
- Available
individually or as a convenient package
Important Notes:
- Both
the Student Book and Teacher’s Manual are required to complete the course
successfully.
- Best
suited for students who are already familiar with IEW’s Teaching
Writing Structure and Style® methodology.
- Ideal
for students who have completed Level B or C of Structure and Style for
Students (or equivalent) and are ready for deeper essay work.
- Components
can be purchased individually or together.
The Elegant Essay is a practical, targeted resource
for developing strong analytical writing skills. It is an excellent choice for
homeschool families seeking focused instruction that helps students produce
clear, well-structured, and persuasive essays with confidence.
Browse all Elegant Essay resources and sets below!