The Student Writing Intensives have been discontinued. Please click here to learn about the new Structure and Style for Students.
You may also use our Decision Tree to find alternatives.
Welcome to the SWI Help page for teachers who own the SWI materials.
Reinforcement Paragraphs
If you are using the SWI-B and desire level A source texts, use the Level A Reinforcement Paragraphs.pdf. In addition to the source texts, this document includes sample outlines and level A composition checklists.
If you are using the SWI-B with an older student, just use the level B materials with him or her. The important thing is to use materials that are at or below a student's reading level. Thus, your older student can use material from any SWI level to learn to write.
The SWI-C source texts are suitable for advanced middle school students and high school students. If your student is finding the level C materials too difficult, it is likely that the SWI-C is too hard for him or her overall. It would be better to exchange the SWI-C for the SWI-B DVDs and materials. The presentation on the SWI-C is different enough from the other levels of SWI that it doesn't work as well to switch out the reinforcement work.
FAQs and Support
Below are more documents to help you teach using the Student Writing Intensive. They are sorted by unit model, and provide answers to frequently asked questions. For more help, click here to check out our support group for teachers.
Files:
- On Formatting.pdf
- Unit 1-2 Key-Word Outlines and Summaries.pdf
- Unit 3 Story Sequence-Narrative.pdf
- Unit 4 and 6 Reports.pdf
- Unit 7 Creative Writing and Essay.pdf
- Who/Which Clause Help.pdf
- SWI Course Descriptions.pdf
- SWI Level Comparision.pdf
- SICC Level Comparision.pdf
- SWI-A in 4 Days.pdf
- SWI-B in 4 Days.pdf
- SWI-C in 4 Days.pdf
- SWI-B in 8 Weeks.pdf
- SWI-C in 8 Weeks.pdf
TWSS Viewing Guides
- TWSS First Edition Viewing Guide
- TWSS First Edition Time Signatures
- TWSS Second Edition Viewing Guide
- TWSS Second Edition Time Signatures
Student Writing Intensive Topics Covered
Each group (A, B, or C) presumes no previous experience; levels differ mainly in the type of source texts used, speed of presentation, and sophistication of vocabulary. Choose the level based on your child’s age and maturity rather than writing ability. The Student Writing Intensives do not cover all nine units, but they do present the main units needed for their grade level of writing.
The SWI-A prepares a student to write paragraphs, stories, simple reports, and creative writing. It presents all six dress-ups and one of the sentence openers.
The SWI-B shows a student how to write paragraphs, stories, simple reports, and creative writing. It presents all six dress-ups and all of the sentence openers.
The SWI-C teaches students how to write paragraphs, compose stories, take notes from a lecture, write simple reports, and how to outline and write a basic essay. It presents all six dress-ups, all six sentence openers, and the six decorations.
See below for topics covered in each group:
