If you have a question that is not answered in the list below, then type it in the following box and we'll try to add it to the list. If you want an email response, please write us at contact@advanced-writing-resources.com

Question :

QUESTION: Is this course only for Homeschoolers?

ANSWER: NO, but it was born in a homeschool and was designed for homeschoolers. ANYONE who works through these lessons on a regular basis will learn how to figure out grammar and punctuation for themselves (without rules), as well as learn to overcome fear & spark new ideas with their writing. I think anyone who needs to write well would benefit greatly...especially college students who didn't quite figure it out in high school.

QUESTION: Does the course cover instruction for the different "forms" of writing?

ANSWER: The Writing Course-Basic does not cover "forms" in a direct way because it is disruptive and ineffective for the basics of learning how to write. Similar to painting, the first thing you really want to do is help a student understand that there is "no right way to paint." They first learn to play with colors and forms, etc., particularly when they are young. After a certain amount of comfort with a brush and paint...training in form, structure, and techniquebecomes useful.

"Forms" is basically a strategy of using mechanical templates (INCLUDED IN THE ESSAY COURSE - BONUS). This can be very helpful for classwork and certain kinds of writing AFTER a student is comfortable with the basic building block of writing: The Sentence.

The difference with our approach is that we show you how to allow the sound of what your student is writing to become his faithful guide in learning how to work with language. Our experience and research shows that the more we instruct a child in grammar...the worse she does in writing.

The Writing Course is designed to get the student comfortable with using words in sentences and paragraphs...using templates is something that can be introduced anytime (because it is mechanical).

Additionally, learning "forms" too early can create some frustration in college, and the reason is simple; each professor will have his own "form" of how he wants things written in that class.

Finally, forms are about con-forming...writing for impact is about freedom and the uniqueness of style and VOICE.

QUESTION: Is there any way to see a sample of the course? It seems like a lot of money for a 'writing' course, even if it is for several years or multiple children.

ANSWER: Short answer: YES: Sign up below for the free sampler and our free newsletter. Cancel anytime.  FREE AUDIO LESSON.

However, it's hard to sample it without learning it. The Writing Course-Basic is unlike anything available; I know because I've spent 34 years studying how to think about the subject of writing blocks, grammar, creativity, etc. Moreover, what I'm saying is quite contrary to conventional "wisdom," especially the way most teachers understand language. In The Writing Course-Basic we have combined 12 strategic insights to create an overall approach to writing & learning to write. Showing a sample (which would beone principle)just simply wouldn't make sense as to why this so "revolutionary".

The only real solution for your trustwith this kind of investment is to guarantee the course for a year. If you use it for a year (actually, in our experience with older children and adults it's about 3 months to significant results) and it doesn't start developing you (or your child) into the writer you really want to become...then send it back for a full refund.

Also, the price includes coaching as needed; so the value includes much more than just the material.

Finally---

We have a leaky faucet in our laundry room. A plumber looked at it and gave us a price of over $500 to replace the faucet. Now, I know that his price is ridiculous, but I'll probably have to pay something like that (since I'm not a plumber) to fix the faucet (to use for many years to come). I can tell you that the value for the smaller price of learning to write well is massively beyond any hundreds of faucets...because no career, schooling, or job is untouched by the power of the written word. Isn't it funny how we value things sometimes?

QUESTION: What comes with the course? What do I get?

ANSWER: The Writing Course was built from a public seminar and private weekly tutoring model which has been tried and tested over the past several years. If you become an owner of the course, you will received the following:

1. CDs containing all the documentation and the 21 audio lessons on the 12 Secrets, numerous corollaries, and specifics on our revolutionary approach to grammar, punctuation, style, creativity, freedom from fear, giving helpful feedback, and much more.

2. A 70 page copy of the full transcript from The Writing Course-Basic Seminar.

3. A 46 page re-printable workbook to use as fresh instruction each semester.

4. An Answer Key for the workbook.

5. Complete step-by-step directions for using the method properly.

6. A reference guide to our unique approach to punctuation and how to give successful feedback to the student (or yourself).

7. Strategic documents to frame or post on your wall.

8. A money back guarantee for ONE ENTIRE YEAR to give you plenty of time to prove to yourself that The Writing Course is unlike anything you've ever seen...and that it works as promised.

9.  The Essay Course adds its own 17 audio lessons to the curriculum / training.

QUESTION: On your homepage you stated that this was a 21-day course. If the course only lasts a month, what then? Do you just ask your children to write 'something' everyday after that?

ANSWER: Similar to swimming, you can only learn writing by writing. Actually the 21 day course teaches parents how to give feedback to their children. Our children write every school day between 30 minutes to an hour, including making corrections to grammar, punctuation, spelling, use of words, etc. The principles in The Writing Course become the basis for such feedback, and we show you how to develop an effective feedback approach. In a way, The Writing Course is as much for the parents to learn about writing as it is for the kids to learn to write. Once the parents and the children understand the principles (enough), then the interaction on writing everyday has a common vocabulary...so the parents and the kids really understand what they are both trying to accomplish.

One Parent wrote:

The second answer on this page (the question above) is exactly what I wanted to know when we purchased the Robinson Curriculum going on 10 years now. That is: how will I know how to help my children learn to write; who is going to teach me?

Thank you for this ray of sunshine!

You'll know how to give feedback to your child (or yourself!) after learning the principles in The Writing Course-Basic...Guaranteed!

QUESTION: My daughter could use help with reading comprehension. Can reading comprehension be improved with this writing course? Do you know of a great way to help her improve her focus, comprehension skills and her reading level?

ANSWER: Your question gets at the heart of The Writing Course because reading and writing are intimately related. In fact, it's pretty much impossible to find a really good writer who is a poor reader...since both activities are about written words. A lot of the time a good reader hasn't made the connection to writing because of the very mistakes we address in The Writing Course. If you want to improve your daughter's reading & comprehension, one thing will impact her more than anything else: have her practice READING ALOUD. I'm assuming she knows, or has had a good course in, phonics. If she reads phonetically aloud (this means NOT GUESSING at words...which may be a habit in her reading), then her brain begin to make sense of the reading as she actually HEARS what she is reading. With our two kids who struggled with reading comprehension, 15 minutes a day did wonders for them in the course of time.

Another solution Jody suggested is to practice narration, which was made famous by Charlotte Mason. Jody practiced this with the children for many years with great success. You can easily find her resources on the web.

QUESTION: My child is a student at a private school. Could we teach this course at home in addition to her school work?

ANSWER: Absolutely. The lessons themselves are about 30 minutes each. Practice, as you wish, could add another half hour to the lesson. For a student in school, a minimum of two lessons a week should begin to make a huge difference. Also, the design ofThe Writing Course would allow you torepeat the lessons at the beginning of each semester...and, since your daughter will bemore advanced, it'll be like a new course offering more insights along with the value of repetition.

QUESTION: Is this curriculum all on a CD that I would have to print out myself?

ANSWER:The curriculum is on 5 CDs which include both audio and documentation. You do print out the 46 page workbook yourself, but consider the advantages:

1. You can print out a copy for yourself and work through the material with your child.

2. You can print workbooks for ALL your children (we print 5 each year).

3.You can have a new workbook each semester or year.Your student (or you)will change and grow in his or her writing skills over time, so each review of The Writing Course will mean that the exercises will change and the understanding will deepen.

4.Your workbooks, printed and worked through over the years, become a part of the record (along with their writing notebooks) you'll want to have to show colleges you "really did the work."

QUESTION: You've taught 9 year olds, but you say it is for 6th grade through Seniors in high school; how does that work?

ANSWER:Actually it is for anyone up to age 100. The fact is that youngerchildren need a little more "hands on"; but once theycan physically write, they can use the principles. At about 12 years old, you're pretty safe to useThe Writing Course by letting them "teach themselves" (or yourself) with regular feedback (and we teach you howto give the feedback). Age and skill just make the experience and use of the principles fit the student.

QUESTION: So, nothing's perfect. What are the shortcomings of this course?

ANSWER: The greatest shortcoming with this material is that's its too easy. One of my mentors, Robert Fritz (www.robertfritz.com), observed to us that "things are hard because they are easy." You see, when something is easy [like the first step in a goal], we often won't do it because we think that "if anything is worthwhile, then it must be HARD."

"Easy" has a second part too: Simplicity. Working through The Writing Course-Basic can give one a sense of "well...duh!" at times. This sense, however, is the very thing that keeps people from learning how to really write well enough for life. Remember the Pythagorean Theorem? It is a simple formula for figuring out the length of the sides in a right triangle; you can teach it to a sixth grader. What you may not realize is that took A LOT for Pythagoras to think it up (or notice it)!

The Writing Course-Basic is that sort of thing...it is simple and profound. I wouldn't say I'm a genius like Pythagoras, but "blind hogs root out acorns too!" I've gathered and practiced insights from a variety of sources which have been used throughout the ages. You could figure this out too...but The Writing Course-Basic will save you a lot of time, money, and mistakes.

Finally, the greatest shortcoming is that this material will do nothing for anyone unless he or she practices it with feedback. The principles must be experienced. Feedback must be given and received (you can do this yourself, too). There is no way around it...you cannot be convinced of the value of this material until you actually experience it yourself...so, the greatest shortcoming is that I can't make you learn and practice it; and if I could, I wouldn't...your freedom to make your own decisions about learning to write, instructing your children, etc., are far too important to your life and learning.

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Free Audio Lesson Want a test drive?  You can quickly download an audio sampler of the 'best of The Writing Course' to get an idea of the revolutionary lessons you'll receive with the full course. You will also receive our periodic newsletter about better ways to teach your child to write and learn.  Sign up below for the free sampler and our free newsletter.  Cancel anytime.

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