Jensen's Format Writing

If you are looking to develop your expository writing skills, check out this course. Expository writing "exposes" puts forth, explains, reveals, or exhibits in detail about something. This style of writing is perfect to use when you want to inform, clarify, or persuade. Honestly, this style of writing is what your child needs to learn for college! It falls perfectly in line with what my college professors wanted. Luckily, I had learned this style of writing during my high school years, so I was well prepared. You'll want to prepare your child in the same way.

This book is organized into six sections. There is much to cover here so you could plan to spend more than one year with this course, although there is a suggested 180-day schedule. Section one works on single paragraph formats. Then in section two you'll work on the elements of the five paragraph essay and different formats you can use. Book reports put the five paragraph formats to use in section three. Section four works on business writing, such as: business letters, letters of complaint, cover letters, political letters, and resume writing. In section five, you'll work on the principle of condensation as you learn how to write in various lengths reduce, abridge, abbreviate, shorten, cut, compress, compact, or distill your work! Now you are ready to compose a major paper and all of its components (title page, endnotes, appendix, bibliography, etc), as outlined in section six. The end of the book contains check sheets and forms, tests, answer keys, and a two-year schedule if you’d like to take more time working through the course. The workbook is very straightforward in its presentation of this writing style, but it is very clear, concise, and helpful. Recently republished by Master Books, the number of pages has been expanded and there is much more white space. The suggested lesson plans offer room for record-keeping as well. The paperback text is now three-hole punched with perforated pages. Reproducible for family use. 278 pgs.

Making the course even more user-friendly, the DVD, with author, Frode Jensen, as presenter, walks the student through each section. Presentations sometimes include on screen visuals to enhance the learning experience. This DVD does not take the place of the book but expands on the book’s explanations. The book can be used without the DVD, but it is helpful if you feel that you could use additional teaching support. Presentations are 6-10 minutes long with the entire DVD lasting about an hour and a half. Navigation on the DVD is easy. DVDs are transitioning to the 2nd edition, although the content is unchanged. A correction document with revised page numbers is available to align the DVD with the expanded worktext from Master Books.– Janice/Deanne