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Let’s be honest. Teaching high school can feel a little intimidating, especially when it comes to writing. Whether you’re worried about preparing your teens for college essays or just trying to make sure they can write a solid paragraph, finding the right high school writing curriculum can be stressful. I’ve been there! I am there.
Our family has been homeschooling since 2015, and writing was one of those subjects that always made me second-guess myself. When I discovered the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW), I felt overwhelmed and unsure of how to effectively help my son with his writing.
We took a chance on IEW, even though it cost more than the other programs we’d tried, and honestly, I’m so glad we did. Over the years, it has become a regular part of our homeschool, especially when it comes to grammar and writing.
This past year, I got a little curious and decided to try something different. You know that feeling? Maybe this new program will be more fun, something different for a change. So, we gave it a try.
However, at the end of the year, when I got IEW’s Structure and Style for Students Level C (high school) and asked my tenth grader to give it a try, he looked at me and said, “Oh, good! I’m glad we’re doing this again.” That told me everything I needed to know. If it’s working, leave things alone!
So, what makes this high school writing curriculum worth sticking with? In this review, I’ll walk you through how the program works, what we liked (and what we didn’t), and whether it might be the right fit for your teens.
Table of Contents
- What You Get with IEW’s Structure and Style for Students Level C
- How the Program Works Each Week
- What Students Learn in This High School Writing Curriculum
- My Honest Thoughts on This High School Writing Curriculum
- Is IEW’s Structure and Style Right for Your Family?
What You Get with IEW’s Structure and Style for Students Level C
Yes, I’m an affiliate for IEW, but only because I truly believe in their program. I asked to review this high school writing curriculum because it has helped us so much, and I know it can help other homeschool families, too.
When you order Structure and Style Level C Year 1, here’s what you receive:
- Teacher Manual (spiral-bound)
- Student Binder (loose-leaf pages for organizing)
- Online access to video lessons (or you can choose DVDs)
- Downloadable online materials
Teacher Manual and Student Binder
The teacher manual and student binder are very similar, but the manual includes helpful extras, like gray boxes that show you what is written on the whiteboard during student video lessons, definitions found in source texts, assigned homework, and information on where students should file their work.
Each week’s lesson includes a one-page overview with goals, timestamps, and daily assignments.
If you’re using IEW’s Fix-It Grammar, there’s a schedule to blend both programs. IEW even includes literature suggestions such as The Princess Bride, Julius Caesar, and Tom Sawyer, but you can skip them if you just want to focus on writing.
It’s nice, though, to have suggestions on how to make this a comprehensive English high school course.
Student Binder Organization
One of my favorite things about this high school writing curriculum is how it teaches students to stay organized. The student binder is divided into sections like:
- Source Texts – reading passages used in lessons
- Model Charts and Outlines – reference tools for writing techniques
- Work in Progress – drafts and notes
- Finished Compositions – final versions of assignments
- Stylistic Techniques – reminders for adding flair to writing
- Banned Words – words to avoid, alternatives brainstormed during class
- Punctuation and Usage – grammar tools
- Documentation – resources for research papers
At the end of each lesson, the video instructor reminds students how to organize their binders. I love that this teaches responsibility along with writing!
High School Writing Lessons Made Simple
The magic of this high school writing curriculum is that IEW teaches the lessons for you. Each week, your student watches a video (about an hour long, split over two days). You can stream the videos or use DVDs—my son prefers streaming with our lifetime access.
What makes these lessons stand out? Andrew Pudewa, the instructor, teaches a live classroom of real students. The kids answer questions, share ideas, and even present their writing. It feels like your child is part of the group.
And let me just say that Andrew Pudewa is a fantastic teacher. He keeps things fun with jokes and a friendly tone, which even teens appreciate.
Helpful Online Materials
In your IEW dashboard, you’ll find:
- Timestamps– for lessons and teacher planning
- Adaptable schedules– adapt it from 24 to 30 weeks
- Grading checklists– for every assignment
- Student writing samples– as examples for students
- Forever access– all videos, eBooks, handouts
These tools are gold. You’ll never feel lost while using this high school writing curriculum.
How the Program Works Each Week
Here’s a simple breakdown of how your students will use this program:
- Watch the video lesson (split over two days)
- Practice writing with guidance from the video
- Work independently (days 3–5) to complete assignments
- You review using the checklist
- Student edits and submits a final draft
And yes, you can do this! The checklists make grading easy. Each required element (like using a who/which clause or quality adjective) is underlined by the student. You just check off what’s there and award points.
What Students Learn in This High School Writing Curriculum
IEW’s Structure and Style Level C has 9 Units:
- Note Making and Outlines
- Writing From Notes
- Retelling Narrative Stories
- Summarizing a Reference
- Writing from Pictures
- Summarizing Multiple References
- Inventive Writing
- Formal Essays
- Formal Critiques
Each unit builds on the last, with a focus on developing real writing skills, including note-taking, summarizing, essay writing, literary analysis, and more.
Stylistic techniques are taught gradually, like -ly adverbs, alliteration, and sentence openers that help teens sound more polished and confident.
Here is a sample of the Scope and Sequence for this program.
These are the types of things you will check for in your students’ writing using the handy checklist.
My Honest Thoughts on This High School Writing Curriculum
This is Year 1 of Level C, and there’s a second year available too. After that, IEW offers college-level writing and themed writing programs (I’ll have a review soon on one of their themed writing programs).
We’ve tried other writing programs, but this is the only writing curriculum my son has asked to return to. He likes the structure, the clear expectations, and how each assignment follows a pattern he can trust.
That said, this program may not be for everyone. My daughter, a strong, creative writer, found the structure too limiting. She preferred more freedom to write her way. Though the research writing section is something anyone can benefit from.
But for my son, who thrives on clarity and step-by-step instructions, this program is a perfect fit. We used Level A and Level B (both follow the same format). I should have known better than to try something new when things were working so well for my son.
Is IEW’s Structure and Style Right for Your Family?
This high school writing curriculum could be a great fit for your teen. It will help those who:
- Needs a clear formula for writing
- Benefits from structure and routine
- Struggles with getting started (Reluctant and struggling writers)
- Learns best by working through an assignment with video instruction
- Enjoys visual models and step-by-step guidance
I highly recommend IEW’s Structure and Style for Students Level C if you’re looking for a writing curriculum that’s both effective and easy to follow. It has taken the fear out of high school writing for me, and my son is actually enjoying writing again!
Still unsure? Try it FREE and see if it works for your family. You can download a few weeks of lessons and take it for a test drive.
Happy homeschooling!
Great review! It really is a terrific program. I wish we had a littler longer with it before my kids were almost finished.
Thanks, Jenn! It really is a great program that I think many families could benefit from.