Lili Serbicki is an experienced Advanced Placement English instructor with a professional background in writing, media, editing, and advertising. She is a 2009 graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville with a BA in Communication Arts and a Minor in Philosophy. She has over ten years of experience teaching high-level online courses, including AP Literature, AP Language, Creative Writing, poetry composition, argument and debate, and advanced test preparation classes. She has many years of experience providing student tutoring in areas of writing and mechanics as well as experience in small print publication, editing, and writing workshop leadership; she is a published author of poetry, fiction, nonfiction essay, and creative memoir across multiple literary journals. Over the past decade her students (including all course and tutoring students) have won many Silver Keys and Gold Keys in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards at both the regional and national levels. In 2018 Mrs. Serbicki received recognition from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards as “an educator whose dedication, commitment, and guidance are represented by student work selected for national honors.” Mrs. Serbicki also serves as a Scholastic Writing Awards regional judge. Contact: lserbicki[at]aimacademy.online
Instructor Category: Lili Serbicki
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World Literature
See Reviews of Instructor Lili Serbicki
In this class, we study narratives from around the globe! Each module focuses on a close examination of literary works as well as an evaluation of their historical and cultural context. We will make connections between local concerns and universal questions, struggles, and epiphanies. In addition to our full-length works, which address a variety of literary eras, cultures, and settings, we will examine short stories and creative nonfiction supplements in each module as well. Our goal will be to immerse ourselves in the universal human experience and gain new, important perspectives that enrich our understanding of history and sociology as well as literature!
Course Structure
Meetings: Live meetings via the Zoom Meeting Center will occur every Tuesday at 2 PM EST. These meetings will consist of lecture material and interactive discussion time with fellow students and me. All course meetings are optional and will be recorded for your listening convenience. Students who are unable to attend live lectures may also participate in group discussions on the course website forum.
Web Forum Discussion: This is an ongoing element of the class; short discussion questions are posted on our website forum, and students discuss, with their peers and me, thoughtful short-form answers to our course readings. This is an excellent preparation for longer writing assignments and represents a more personal/conversational writing aspect.
Each week, students are assigned main course text reading and homework that relates to that reading. This homework may include discussion questions, short written responses, a short quiz, etc. In addition, there are four longer papers assigned over the course of the year. These papers allow students to do deeper research into a text, era, or cultural movement of their choosing. There is also one creative project assigned in this class per semester, as well as cumulative semester exams. I hold study group opportunities for our exams and provide clear study guide material. This course will emphasize the importance of students choosing topics they truly enjoy to make crafting their assignments a labor of love (and learning!)
I will also send out a weekly homework update email to both students and parents.
Who should enroll?
This class is an excellent course to follow or accompany AP English Literature, and it is especially appropriate for a student who is ready to grow further after taking British or American Lit. This class is suggested for grades 11th and 12th.
Technology Requirements
- High speed, broadband Internet
- Sound card and microphone (for live sessions)
- Streaming video capabilities to watch recorded lectures
Evaluation and Feedback
I provide written feedback on all written projects (short essays, creative projects, and presentations). I am consistently available via Canvas messenger and will respond within 24 business hours. I also offer one-on-one parent-teacher or student-teacher meetings upon request.
Communication
I communicate with parents weekly via a weekly class update message that keeps students and parents in the loop! I am consistently available via Canvas messenger and will respond within 24 business hours.
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Creative Writing
See Reviews of Instructor Lili Serbicki
This online creative writing course can be viewed as an Intermediate or Pre-AP-level English course. It may be taken concurrently with AP English Language or AP English Literature.
This Creative Writing course is designed to be an engaging series of reading and writing exercises that explore various aspects of the craft of writing. All included genres and forms are categorized in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. By the end of the course, students will have developed a vibrant and varied writing portfolio they can submit to Scholastic or other contests. Submitting work to Scholastic is optional but strongly recommended; Mrs. Serbicki serves as a Scholastic Writing Awards regional judge and draws on her adjudication experience to mentor student submissions. In our writing, we will have a dual focus on building skills we can feel personally proud of AND learning strategies for pursuing publication. This includes a new module focused on one of the most current marketable forms – flash memoir and flash fiction!
This class will also provide students with opportunities to develop textual analysis and reading comprehension skills that will help them succeed in both AP English Language and AP English Literature. We learn through studying the creative strategies of master writers such as Ray Bradbury, Ursula K. Le Guin, James Joyce, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Flannery O’Connor, Amy Tan, Anya Ow, and more.
The first section of the class will focus on the five most fundamental elements of storytelling: plot, characterization, conflict, narrative perspective, and dialogue. Reading assignments will focus on specific elements that the students will explore in the accompanying writing assignments. Students will complete a short story for each module, focusing on the specific element highlighted in that module.
Students will have the opportunity to work through at least two drafts of each major project. They will receive teacher critiques and peer feedback for each draft. I typically post student work “anonymously” to make peer critiques as stress-free and helpful as possible. Receiving and giving peer critiques is one of the most valuable ways to grow as a writer.
In addition to these major assignments, students will be able to complete short exercises that practice skills such as employing imagery and figurative language, using correct dialogue punctuation, controlling tone, and practicing grammar.
The second section of the class will focus on genre and form. Reading assignments will focus on specific genres and/or forms of writing, such as realism, fantasy, poetry, and drama. Written assignments will help students develop versatility and a broad portfolio. Special attention will be paid to the reasons an author may choose to write in a specific genre and to the tools and formatting skills required for each form.
Course Structure
Homework will be assigned/due weekly on our course website. Students may view the detailed syllabus at any point to see what is coming up next. I will also send out a weekly homework update email to both students and parents. Required reading includes regular handouts, posts, and activities on the website.
Each week may include:
- An optional live meeting. You may either attend or listen to the recording afterward. Our meetings include lecture material, interactive discussion, and occasional live writing exercises.
- A reading assignment of short fiction, poetry, or drama.
- A writing assignment or a section of a larger project.
- In-depth website discussion questions.
- Conceptual handouts with important information about the elements of fiction and course terminology.
Who should enroll?
This course is intended for 9th-12th graders who enjoy telling stories and have a competent grasp of English grammar.
Technology Requirements
- High-speed, broadband Internet
- Sound card and microphone (for live sessions)
- Streaming video capabilities to watch recorded lectures
Evaluation and Feedback
Students will have the opportunity to work through at least two drafts of each major creative project. Only final drafts receive final grades based on our rubrics, which generally assign 80% of the grade to content (i.e., the strength of storytelling elements) and 20% to clarity and style. All grading rubrics are detailed and clear.
Each student receives detailed teacher critiques and peer feedback for each draft. This is one of the major benefits of this class, as it provides students with community support and instructor feedback. I typically post student work “anonymously” to make peer critiques as stress-free and helpful as possible. Receiving and giving peer critiques is one of the most valuable ways to grow as a writer. It is a vital experience to have before college-level language arts work.
Communication
An application is required for this course. Once a student has been accepted and registered, I will contact families within 1-2 business days. I strongly believe in keeping parents informed at all times; I send weekly class update emails to parents and students. Parents can also view their child’s progress through an Observer Canvas account.
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AP English Language and Composition
AP-ENGLISH-LANGUAGE-APPLICATION
This CollegeBoard-approved live online AP English Language and Composition class for homeschool students is one of our most popular and valuable.
Language is one of the most powerful and beautiful tools we have; we use it every day of our lives. This course focuses on helping students analyze complex elements of language, argument, and composition, and how to employ those same valuable elements in their own writing. Our class is designed for the proactive student who loves reading and composition. It will focus on analysis and argumentation through extensive discussion of websites and individual essay writing.
While the primary goal of this course is to prepare your student to successfully take the AP English Language exam, the material is structured to encourage an ongoing love of language, intellectual discovery, and expression. This course is College Board-certified, meaning my syllabus and curriculum have been rigorously reviewed and certified by the College Board after completion of the full AP Course Audit process.
The rhetorical, argumentative, and interpretive strategies we use in this course can be applied to everyday life and discussion in myriad ways; students will learn to consider nonfiction, fiction, media, and even advertisements in new and dynamic ways. Students will also have the opportunity to submit select written projects to the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards under my guidance. In addition to scoring well on the AP Exam, my students have, over the past 8 years, won numerous Silver Keys and Gold Keys in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.
This course is organized around concepts, strategies, and themes. Each module requires students to acquire and use rich vocabulary, employ standard English grammar, and understand the importance of diction and syntax in an author’s style. Therefore, students are expected to develop the following through reading, discussion, and writing assignments:
- A wide-ranging vocabulary used appropriately and effectively.
- A variety of sentence lengths and structures.
- Knowledge of the primary rhetorical modes of discourse (expository, descriptive, narrative, and argumentative).
- Logical organization.
- An effective use of rhetoric includes controlling tone, establishing and maintaining voice, and achieving appropriate diction and sentence structure.
For each reading assignment, we discuss:
- Theme, thesis, or message
- Tone or attitude
- Classic Aristotelian appeals: Logos, Ethos, Pathos
- Diction and Style
- Use of rhetorical devices, including figurative language, antithesis, parallelism, juxtaposition, any relevant sound devices, and other relevant strategies including symbolism, satire, allegory, structure, etc.
This course seeks to achieve these goals through a study of both nonfiction and fiction:
- We will explore successful diction, syntax, and basic rhetorical devices by studying authors, including but not limited to: Mark Twain’s “Reading the Mississippi River” and Henry David Thoreau’s “Why I Went to the Woods”.
- We will analyze successful arguments, evaluate their capacity to effect real-world, significant change, and learn how to build one ourselves by studying nonfiction works by Martin Luther King, Jr., Carrie Chapman Catt, George Orwell, and others.
- We will explore and respond to the immense power of creative nonfiction, personal memoir, and narrative by discussing Tom Wolfe’s “The Right Stuff” and works by Amy Tan, Kurt Vonnegut, Flannery O’Connor, and Ralph Ellison.
- We will examine the subtleties and social importance of irony, satire, and allegory by examining George Orwell’s Animal Farm and Jonathan Swift’s essay “A Modest Proposal.”
- We will discover the value of Aristotelian rhetorical appeals (Logos, Pathos, and Ethos) in classic, modern, and contemporary texts by studying Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and evaluating examples of visual and multimedia persuasion.
- While we prepare for AP Exam concepts and vocabulary throughout the year, our spring semester includes an intensive AP preparation bootcamp with statistically validated strategies for success.
Course Structure
Meetings: Live meetings via the Zoom Meeting Center will be held every Wednesday at 1 p.m. EST. These meetings will consist of lecture material and interactive discussion time with fellow students and me. All course meetings are optional and will be recorded for your listening convenience. Approximately 70% of my students attend live meetings; the remainder listen to lectures asynchronously to accommodate their schedules. Students who are unable to attend live lectures may also participate in group discussions on the course website forum. Flexibility is the goal of this course.
Web Forum Discussion: This is an ongoing element of the class; short discussion questions are posted on our website forum, and students discuss, with their peers and me, thoughtful short-form answers to our course readings. This is excellent preparation for longer writing assignments and represents a more personal and conversational style. It also represents an important interactive social element as students broaden their understanding through peer discussion.
Connection to AP Exam: Students read excerpts from our reference manual, 5 Steps to a 5 AP English Language (5 Steps to a 5 on the Advanced Placement Examination Series) by Barbara Murphy. I also provide my own in-depth handouts on the AP Exam Format and on each essay section of the exam. Our primary AP Language Prep “Boot Camp” occurs during part of the spring. The analysis, argumentative, and synthesis essays completed in response to course content are modeled to prepare students for those respective categories on the AP Exam. We focus primarily on untimed essays in the fall and timed essay work in the spring semester. The regular quizzes completed in each module are modeled to prepare students for the AP Exam multiple-choice section. In addition to regular course curriculum, students complete multiple individual timed essay responses to practice AP prompts from each essay category; a variety of short practice AP quizzes; and a minimum of two full practice exams.
Homework will be assigned/due weekly on our course website. Students may view the detailed syllabus at any point to see what is coming up next. I will also send out a weekly homework update email to both students and parents. Students will read regular handouts, posts, and activities on the website.
Hours of study each week: 7-10 hours, depending on the week and the amount of bonus material the student chooses to cover. This includes required reading, extra credit, group discussion, short essays, and multiple-choice questions.
Weekly assignments may include:
- A weekly 50-minute live meeting.
- Interactive discussion of course texts and concepts in our website forum.
- Handouts and visual aids/presentations.
- Essays and multiple-choice quizzes in preparation for the AP exam in May. These assignments are designed to develop the specific skills your student needs. Written compositions will explore analysis, argumentative, synthesis, and narrative skills.
- Reading assignments ranging from approx. 30-100 pages. These assignments may include major course texts and suggested resources.
- Optional bonus assignments and an in-depth, extra-credit vocabulary prompt of the week.
- Longer writing assignments, including a mandatory midterm argumentative research paper. Longer assignments are typically completed over multiple weeks with detailed teacher feedback and “check-in” points.
Who should enroll?
This course is intended for 10th-12th graders who (in general) have completed at least 1 year of high-school level English. Submitting an application is required.
Technology Requirements
- High-speed, broadband Internet
- Sound card and microphone (for live sessions)
- Streaming video capabilities to watch recorded lectures
Evaluation and Feedback
All homework will be submitted and critiqued via the website; I provide detailed critiques on all essays and respond to course discussion responses personally. My goal is to provide detailed essay critiques within 1 week of the essay’s due date. Students receive all critiques well before the next writing assignment is due, allowing them to steadily develop and improve their work with each assignment.
Over the course of this year-long class, students will write in a variety of composition categories (analysis, argumentative, narrative, research, etc.). Every essay assignment will include a detailed instructions/prompts page and a brief grading rubric. Rubrics may vary per assignment. Aspects that may be addressed in a writing assignment critique include, but are not limited to:
- Structure and Organization.
- Content. This may include the selection of examples/support, the specificity of the analysis, the level of general versus specific detail, and, if relevant, the strength of the argument.
- Diction, Grammar, and Syntax.
Communication
An application is required for this course. Once a student has been accepted and registered, I will contact families within 1-2 business days. I strongly believe in keeping parents informed at all times; I send weekly class update emails to parents as well as to students. Parents can also view their child’s progress through an Observer Canvas account.
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AP English Literature and Composition
AP-ENGLISH-LITERATURE-APPLICATION
AP English Literature Syllabus
This live, online, graded AP English Literature and Composition course prepares homeschool students to score high on the AP English Lit exam. Our class is CollegeBoard and NCAA approved.
This class is intended for 10th-, 11th-, and 12th-graders who love stories and enjoy energetic discussion. While this course is designed to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement English Literature exam, the material is structured to foster a lifelong love of writing and in-depth textual analysis. The ability to thoughtfully evaluate what we read is one of the best skills to develop in high school and beyond.
The pieces chosen for this course reflect a wide variety of themes and styles. There is something here for a lover of any genre and style, from classic drama to biting satire to realism and beyond. I have chosen classic works of fiction from a variety of time periods and backgrounds to help students explore a three-dimensional, vibrant scope of humanity. This class is also College Board-certified.
My goals in AP English Literature are to:
- Guide students as they master a wide range of literary analysis concepts, vocabulary, and devices, such as figurative language, motif, symbolism, characterization, conflict, narrative perspective, tone, and more, that help us interpret and enjoy the narratives we read.
- Help students master writing concise, well-structured, specific essay responses.
- Encourage students to pursue knowledge actively.
- Create an interactive community of rich discussion and exchange of ideas.
I work to achieve these goals through many activities, including but not limited to:
- Hosting optional live, interactive chats every week via the Zoom conferencing program. If you are not able to attend live meetings, you may listen to the recordings. Our live meetings include my lecture material and interactive student discussion.
- Regular student interaction and discussion on our website forum on a weekly basis. Reading and responding to their peers’ insights is a great learning and social activity. We always have a thoughtful, vibrant student community in this course, and students have formed enjoyable study groups and lasting friendships.
- Providing in-depth written feedback on every essay assignment. Guiding students as they complete assignments that prepare them for each concept and section of the AP Exam, including fiction analysis, poetry analysis, drama analysis, free response, and multiple-choice questions. Students who complete all of the preparation assignments I assign feel prepared and ready for success. Please read the student reviews for detailed feedback from course participants.
- Providing optional creative writing assignments to help students get involved and enjoy writing. These assignments are fictional reflections from the point of view of a character we’ve encountered, poetry responses, and more. All creative exercises are optional; students may focus on essays alone if preferred.
- Moderating an interactive, week-long “Dinner Party” project each spring. This is a lively forum discussion on a website that involves students “interacting” as authors and characters we’ve encountered throughout the year. Students interact in character and discuss many issues that involve analysis and creativity. This is an excellent way for students to practice their research skills and develop their ability to see from the perspective of a fictional character or a classic writer. This exercise is a wonderful preparation for the AP Exam.
- Longer writing assignments, including a mandatory 6-10-page midterm literary analysis paper. This is excellent preparation for college-level writing, as I help to guide students through multiple checkpoints for this project and encourage original critical thinking and strong structural skills.
- Students are encouraged to consider participating in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, and I am available for guidance if desired. My background includes Creative Writing instruction, and my students (including all course and tutoring students) have won many Silver Keys and Gold Keys in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. This class is designed to be rigorous and exciting, while still flexible.
Course Structure
Homework will be assigned/due weekly on our course website. Students may view the detailed syllabus at any point to see what is coming up next. I will also send out a weekly homework update email to both students and parents. Students will read regular handouts, posts, and activities on the website.
Weekly assignments may include:
- A weekly 50-minute live meeting.
- Interactive discussion of course texts and concepts in our website forum.
- Handouts and visual aids/presentations.
- Essays and multiple-choice quizzes in preparation for the AP exam in May. These assignments are designed to develop the specific skills your student needs.
- Reading assignments ranging from approx. 30-100 pages. These assignments may include major course texts and suggested resources.
- Optional bonus assignments and an in-depth, extra-credit vocabulary prompt of the week.
- Longer writing assignments, including a mandatory midterm paper. These assignments are typically completed over multiple weeks with detailed teacher feedback and check- in points.
Who should enroll?
This course is intended for 10th-12th graders who (in general) have completed at least 1 year of high-school level English. Submitting an application is required.
Technology Requirements
- High-speed, broadband Internet
- Web cam, sound card, and microphone (for live sessions)
- Streaming video capabilities to watch recorded lectures
Evaluation and Feedback
All homework will be submitted and critiqued through the website. I provide detailed critiques of all essays and respond to course discussion posts personally. My goal is to provide detailed essay critiques within 1 week of the essay’s due date. For lengthier assignments such as term papers, response time may be longer. Students receive all critiques well before the next writing assignment is due, so they can steadily develop and improve their work with each assignment.
I provide regular instruction and feedback in areas such as depth of analysis, organization and structure, balance of generalization and specific detail, effective use of literary elements, correct syntax and grammar, and correct use of a wide-ranging vocabulary and diction. My essay critiques are designed to help students identify areas of challenge and improve their essay scores.
Communication
An application is required for this course. Once a student is accepted and registered, I will contact families within 1-2 business days. I believe strongly in keeping parents in the loop at all times; I send weekly class update emails to parents and students. Parents can also view their child’s progress through an Observer Canvas account.
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Middle School Essay Writing
See Reviews of Instructor Lili Serbicki
This is a live weekly class.
Note: The week of July 20th-July 25th will feature a prerecorded lecture. All other weeks will include a live, optional meeting.
The basics covered include structure and organization, evaluation vs. summary, and developing specificity. We will practice writing in four basic academic essay modes: expository, descriptive, narrative, and argumentative. All student writing will receive instructor feedback, and students will have the opportunity to discuss writing in a group format in our web forum and live meetings. This class is designed to help students develop the writing confidence necessary for high school English classes.
Course Structure
Homework will be posted on Monday mornings and due Friday evening. Weekly student homework may include the following:
- Reading handouts and resources provided by the instructor.
- Attend a live class where students will be guided through every step of the essay genre/prompt at hand and discuss strong writing strategies. See a sample lesson handout
- Watching the recording if needed.
- Reading a short nonfiction memoir, argumentative prompt, short story prompt, or other material.
- Write a short essay or a second draft of an already drafted piece from this class. We will explore four essay formats: expository, descriptive, narrative, and argumentative.
- Students may expect to spend 5-6 hours a week on coursework.
Who should enroll?
Rising 7th-9th graders
Technology Requirements
- High-speed, broadband Internet
- Sound card and microphone (for live sessions)
- Streaming video capabilities to watch recorded lectures
Evaluation and Feedback
I will provide detailed critiques on all essay submissions. Students will have the opportunity to submit multiple drafts in order to receive the strongest grade possible. My critiques will take Structure (Organization), Content, and Clarity into account; I provide detailed rubrics for each essay assignment so students know what to expect.
See sample 1 of instructor feedback
See sample 2 of instructor feedback
Communication
An application is not necessary to join this course; you may register at your convenience. I will contact parents within 1-2 days of their registration being processed. Weekly check-in emails will be sent to both parents and students.
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Jr. High Creative Writing Camp
This seven-week creative writing course is an intense series of readings and exercises that explore several elements and genres, including Plot Structure, Character, Conflict, Realism, Science Fiction, and Poetry. A typical week will involve reading a short story or poetry selection, discussing the use of specific literary elements in the text, and responding with a creative project that helps to practice that specific creative tool or genre. By the end of the class, students will have worked towards building a vibrant and varied writing portfolio.
All of the pieces we will complete will fit into categories in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Each week of the intensive will involve an optional 50-minute live discussion that will be recorded for later use. In addition to the Instructor’s critiques, students will have the opportunity to receive feedback from their peers.
The instructor will provide links to the following required reading for the class.
- Plot Structure: “Rules of the Game” by Amy Tan
- Character: “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe
- Conflict: “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury
- Dialogue/Science Fiction: “They’re Made out of Meat!” by Terry Bisson
- Poetry: William Butler Yeats and William Carlos Williams
- Independent Portfolio Building: Revisions of previous work
Example of Student Response to an Assignment
Course Structure
Each week of the intensive will involve an optional live discussion. It will be recorded for students who are not able to attend these live discussions. Flexibility is our goal.
Who should enroll?
Rising 7th to 9th grade
Technology Requirements
- High speed, broadband internet
- Sound card and microphone (for live sessions)
- Streaming video capabilities to watch recorded lectures
- Students must have Microsoft Word or equivalent word processing capabilities
Communication
If you have any questions you would like to address before registration, please email me at lserbickiap@gmail.com. After registration, I will contact you directly.
Instructor Qualifications
Mrs. Serbicki is an experienced Creative Writing and Advanced Placement English instructor with a background in writing, media, and editing. She has been an online English instructor for Aim Academy since 2011. Over the past years, Mrs. Serbicki’s students have won many Silver Keys and Gold Keys in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards – she has student winners every year! Mrs. Serbicki is a 2009 graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville with a BA in Communication Arts and a Minor in Philosophy. From 2009-2011 she served as the Web/Sales Coordinator for WTOV9, the NBC affiliate in Steubenville, OH. Her work included managing web traffic, designing and writing copy for web ads and creating effective commercial scripts. She has many years of experience providing student tutoring in areas of writing and mechanics as well as experience in small print publication and editing.
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Sr High Creative Writing Camp
See Reviews of Instructor Lili Serbicki
This Creative Writing course explores several elements and genres, including Dialogue, Character, Conflict, Science Fiction and Fantasy, and Poetry. A typical week will involve reading a short story or poetry selection, discussing the complex literary and creative elements of the piece, and responding with an original creative project that practices those specific elements.
We use new and vibrant prompts each week. By the end of the class, students will have worked toward building a vibrant and varied writing portfolio. The completed pieces will fit into categories in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Each week of the intensive will involve an optional 50-minute live discussion that will be recorded for later use. In addition to my own critiques, students will have the opportunity to receive feedback from their peers.
Course Structure
Required work is posted on Monday morning. Weekly assignments are due Friday night (short extensions may be granted if necessary). Each week student work will include:
- Writing a draft of a short story or poem or a portion of a longer piece. Students will have the flexibility of choosing whether or not to work through multiple drafts of each project.
- Reading a very short story or 1-2 short poems.
- Either attending a live lecture (optional) or listening to the lecture recording.
- Exploring concept handouts and resources based on the weekly writing element or genre.
- Discussing our class readings in our online forum and/or our live meetings.
- Students may spend 6-8 hours per week on classwork.
Who should enroll?
This class is designed for rising 10th-12th graders. However, a motivated rising 9th grader would be accepted.
Technology Requirements:
- High speed, broadband Internet
- Sound card and microphone (for live sessions)
- Streaming video capabilities to watch recorded lectures
Evaluation and Feedback
I provide detailed critiques on short story and poem drafts. These critiques are based heavily on the element we’re studying at the time, but I will take elements such as structure/plot, clarity, characterization, conflict, imagery, etc. into account. Critiques are generally given within 2-3 days of the assignment due date. I provide a grade for each class assignment, although students may choose to submit an additional draft if they wish to improve that grade.
Communication
An application is not necessary to join this course; you may register at your convenience. I will contact parents within 1-2 days of their registration being processed. Weekly check-in emails will be sent to both parents and students.
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Introduction to AP Essay Writing
See Reviews of Instructor Lili Serbicki
Note: The week of July 20th-July 25th will feature a prerecorded lecture. All other weeks will include a live, optional meeting.
This intensive is designed to provide dedicated students with a solid introduction to the basic English elements they will encounter in either a full-year AP Language or AP Literature course. While these year-long courses are both distinct and comprehensive, this introductory intensive may be helpful for a student who wishes to jump-start their general essay or language skills.
To this end, we will read both nonfiction (AP Language-focused) and fiction (AP Literature-focused) works. We will explore the basic elements of the English language, including diction and syntax, characterization, dialogue, conflict, narrative perspective, tone, figurative language, irony, argument, etc. Students will read and analyze multiple works in both fiction and nonfiction. I will provide numerous handouts on important concepts and vocabulary essential to the study of AP Literature and AP Language. Students will complete several short AP-level essays in this course.
We will examine the basics of analysis and argument, addressing:
- Fiction Analysis Essay, Nonfiction Rhetorical Analysis Essay, Argumentative Essay, and Poetry Essay structure and content.
- Choosing, formatting, and defending appropriate examples.
- Making connections between rhetorical devices and the author’s theme.
- Concrete analysis rather than summary: the clear method to take your essays from “mediocre” to “superb!”
- I provide detailed critiques in the following areas: structure and organization, diction and syntax, appropriateness of examples, depth of analysis, and development of body paragraphs.
While this is not a full-length AP Prep course, it is an excellent introduction to many of the most important aspects of language and composition. This course is ideal for the student who would like a review of basic English elements, support for an upcoming course, or is unsure whether or not a year-long course is for them.
Course Structure
I will post homework on Monday morning; all weekly assignments are due Friday night. Students will receive and submit all homework materials through our class website, although I also send weekly emails to check in. Students may spend 5-6 hours a week on this class.
Who should enroll?
9th-12th graders
Technology Requirements
- High-speed, broadband Internet
- Sound card and microphone (for live sessions)
- Streaming video capabilities to watch recorded lectures
Evaluation and Feedback
I provide detailed critiques of all written essay assignments and MCQ work, as requested. Essay assignments are critiqued within 1 week or less. I critique essays based on elements that are relevant to AP-level coursework, including structure, clarity, and content (analysis or argumentative). Weekly check-in emails will be sent to both parents and students.
Communication
An application is not necessary to join this course; you may register at your convenience. I will contact parents within 1-2 days of their registration being processed. Weekly check-in emails will be sent to both parents and students.
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SAT English Prep Intensive
See Reviews of Instructor Lili Serbicki
Note: The week of July 20th-July 25th will feature a prerecorded lecture. All other weeks will include a live, optional meeting.
This seven-week mini-course is a comprehensive preparation for the most current, up-to-date DIGITAL version of the SAT in Reading and Writing MCQs. We will seek to demystify the English sections of the SAT and have fun learning the ins and outs of each category.
We will:
- Prepare for the reading section of the SAT. This will include practicing with evidence-based passages, inferring meaning from tone, diction, and context clues, and more.
- Prepare for the writing section of the SAT. This will include practicing strong grammar, diction, and punctuation skills in preparation for the SAT Writing section, which requires a student to spot errors and choose the most concise, correct phrasing for a sentence or paragraph.
- Prepare for SAT-level vocabulary. In addition to providing vocabulary resources and virtual flashcard sets, I will provide a good set of strategies for improving vocabulary in general – for the SAT and beyond.
Course Structure
I will post homework on Monday morning; all weekly assignments are due Friday night. Students will receive and submit all homework materials through our class website; I also send weekly emails to check in.
Students will complete all or most of the following on a weekly basis: One to two sets of SAT English MCQs, attending OR listening to the recording for an audiovisual lecture, reading 1-2 chapters from our SAT Study guide, and exploring handouts and resources. Students may spend 5-6 hours a week on this class.
Who should enroll?
9th-11th graders who plan to take the SAT exam within the next year.
Technology Requirements
- High-speed, broadband Internet
- Sound card and microphone (for live sessions)
- Streaming video capabilities to watch recorded lectures
Evaluation and Feedback
Students will complete MCQ passages and full practice exams in their own time as well as live in class with my guidance. I will provide feedback on their areas of weakness and help them succeed in their individual goals.
Communication
An application is not necessary to join this course; you may register at your convenience. I will contact parents within 1-2 days of their registration being processed. Weekly check-in emails will be sent to both parents and students.