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The BEST Way I've Found to Teach Research Essay Writing

Monique
Apr 21
3 min read

Teaching teens how to write research papers can be overwhelming. Research and essay writing require multiple steps, from gathering information to drafting and revising. Without clear guidance, many students struggle with these tasks. That is where Wonder House Creative’s Guided Research and Essay Projects come in. These open-and-go resources simplify the writing process and remove the guesswork from teaching writing.

Open and Go Resources

Our Guided Research Projects are designed to be open and go, meaning everything you need is included so little to no prep work for you. Simply download the resource, hand it to your students, and let them get started. Each project provides clear instructions, activities, and examples that guide students through the entire research and writing process, from brainstorming ideas to crafting a final essay. All material is either included in the PDF or linked. EVERYTHING is vetted and curated so you know they'll be using quality resources for their research.

High-Interest Topics That Keep Students Engaged

One of the key features of our projects is the focus on high-interest topics. Instead of dry, uninspiring subjects, we offer engaging topics like the Bermuda Triangle, the Yeti, and weird stuff that happens in our sleep. These projects also aim to creatively immerse students in the content, ensuring they know the topic inside and out by the time they start writing. By the end of the research phase, students don't feel like they're grasping for what to write about. They have built substantial knowledge of the subject matter and interacted with the information repeatedly in different ways.

Why Explicit Instruction Matters

Writing is a skill that requires more than a prompt and practice; students need explicit guidance. Research and academic writing can be challenging, especially when students do not have clear instructions. Many students struggle with forming a thesis, organizing their research, and citing sources. Our projects provide a cut and paste prompt system that literally guides them through every few sentences of each paragraph. This ensures students learn to understand the THINKING that happens while writing and crafting an essay and build their own mental framework for pulling together on topic, concise and thoughtful paragraphs.

Perfect for Homeschooling Families and Teachers

Whether you are homeschooling or teaching in a classroom, these projects are the perfect resource. They allow you to spend less time planning and more time supporting your students as they develop their writing skills. With a range of topics designed for middle and high school students, these projects are flexible enough to fit various learning styles. As a former public middle school ELA teacher I only wish I had thought of writing resources like this when I was teaching in the classroom. My own children have benefitted immensely from these projects and the feedback I get from other homeschoolers is so encouraging. The kids LOVE these projects, stay engaged the whole project and are so PROUD of their final essays!

Start Teaching Writing with Confidence

With the Guided Research and Essay Projects from Wonder House Creative, teaching writing does not have to be stressful. These resources offer clear, creative guidance that engages students and helps them master the writing process. Ready to make essay writing easier and more enjoyable for your students? Explore our Guided Research Projects today and get started!