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!
These icons are designed to help you quickly understand and learn important information about our products.
Teaching Method
Traditional
Teacher-centered curriculum commonly used in classrooms that may include a text, teacher manual, tests, etc.
Charlotte Mason
A methodology based on the work of a 19th century educator who maintained that children learn best from literature (Living Books), not textbooks.
Classical
A methodology based on the Latin Trivium (three stages of learning), including the grammar stage (memorization and facts), logic stage (critical thinking), and rhetoric stage (developing/defending ideas).
Unit Study
A thematic or topical approach centered around one topic that integrates multiple subject areas.
Montessori (Discovery)
A methodology based on the work of a 20th century educator that emphasizes student and sensory-driven discovery learning and real-life applications.
Other
Other methodologies
Religious Content
Secular
Contains content contrary to common Christian beliefs (i.e. evolution).
Neutral
Avoids religious or theoretical topics or presents multiple viewpoints without preference.
Christian/Religious
Faith-based or including instructional religious content.
Learning Modality
Auditory
Learns through listening, talking out loud or reading out loud.
Visual
Learns through seeing, prefers written instructions and visual materials.
Kinesthetic/Tactile (Hands-On)
Learns through moving, doing and touching.
Multi-Sensory
Curriculum that employ a variety of activities/components.
Presentation
Sequential
Curriculum progresses through well-defined learning objectives. Emphasizes mastery before moving to the next topic.
Spiral
Topics and concepts are repeated from level to level, adding more depth at each pass and connecting with review.
Conceptual/Topical
Focus is on the “why,” often with a unifying concept as well as specific skills; coverage may be broader.
Teacher Involvement
Low Teacher Involvement
Student-led materials; parent acts as a facilitator.
Medium Teacher Involvement
A mix of teacher-led time and independent student work.
High Teacher Involvement
Teacher-led lessons; may utilize discussions, hands-on activities and working together.
Additional Materials Required
No other materials needed
Everything you need is included.
Other Materials Required
There are additional required resources that are a separate purchase.
Other Materials Optional
There are additional resources mentioned or recommended but are not absolutely necessary.
