using IEW with older students...questions...

[Robin in DFW]

My dd16 does tons of writing for her Literature and History courses which she takes through Keystone...and I mean TONS! Her advisors always praise her writing and she often gets comments on the "college-level" of her writing assignments.

So...what I'm wondering is: Would IEW and SWI-C do anything for her? How basic is this? Is it more for a student who has little writing experience and doesn't feel comfortable writing?

Also, would she be better served doing the college-prep package from IEW. It contains several higher level writing programs, but I'm concerned that if my student hasn't done a previous IEW course (SWI-C) she will not understand how to do these. Are these college-prep programs dependent upon the IEW course...or could a student who is very comfortable with writing jump right in with no problems?

Thanks!
Robin

[charlotteb]

If she has no prior IEW experience, I would recommend starting with the SWI. Your daughter would likely be very confused if she started at a later level. IEW's methods are different from the norm, but so very effective! After SWI-C, you could do the SICC for high school.

[FloridaLisa]

My dd16 does tons of writing for her Literature and History courses which she takes through Keystone...and I mean TONS! Her advisors always praise her writing and she often gets comments on the "college-level" of her writing assignments.


If your dd is already doing lots of writing, why do you want to add in IEW? Honestly, if she is already writing at a "college level", I'd hesitate to use IEW. I assume by college level that your dd knows how to organize a paper, transition well, uses various sentence structures and has developed a sense of style? If so, then IEW's formulaic rules may well frustrate her. I think IEW's stregth is that it breaks down the writing process and teaches fundamentals of writing. I woudn't use it if your dd is past that.

HTH!
Lisa

[Robin in DFW]

Lisa...this is what I've been thinking.

We were going to use it only to familiarize her with the IEW method before attempting one of the advanced IEW writing programs...specifically, the SAT writing course.

After speaking with an IEW rep (who, by the way, wasn't really quite sure how to help me) it was decided dd would need to watch section 8 of the TWSS and then do the advanced program.

Well...I'm not paying $169 for one section plus the cost of the course! So, we are going to find another way. Honestly, I'd rather enroll her in a writing class through BraveWriter or Home2Teach or something. That way, she'd get some feedback from someone else!

Thanks again...problem solved...money saved!
Robin

[Jenn in CA]

I have this and will sell it to you cheap. My kids didn't really like it. You can definitely use it without using TWSS. We didn't find it helpful and my kids just don't click w/Mr. Pudewa's style.

I found a timed-essay practice book (http://www.stackthedeck.com/catalog/component/,0/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,39/category_id,8/manufacturer_id,0option/Itemid,26/vmcchk,1/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,26/)that we'll use for SAT prep, from stackthedeck.com. It looks fab but we haven't used it yet.

I agree w/the previous poster that IEW is more of a fundamentals-type program and your daughter sounds like she's beyond it.

[FloridaLisa]

If you just want an SAT course, both Bravewriter and PAHomeschoolers have a short 5- or 6-week course. Ds1 took the PAHomeschoolers course and we were very pleased. Though he's a pretty good writer, I wanted him to know his target SAT readers audience! Especially since he likes to say things in the shortest way possible sometimes!

HTH,
Lisa

[Robin in DFW]

:D

[home2333]

I second the advice you've been getting here. Your dd is well beyond both IEW and the High School Essay course. My son took the PA Homeschoolers SAT prep class and gained the audience-specific preparation he needed to do well on the essay part of both the SAT and the ACT.

Grace