I remember the day. I’d been asked by many parents over the years to provide an in-depth college-prep research essay class. What to do? Then I saw it: an actual college textbook. Of course!  

So Brave Writer’s MLA Research Essay class was made with your college-bound teen in mind. We draw directly from the principles real colleges use when teaching writing.

It sounds a bit daunting, but when we break this major project into manageable chunks, writing a research paper really isn’t that difficult; I promise!

“What is MLA format?” 

MLA stands for “Modern Language Association.” The MLA started publishing a “style sheet” to help students write research papers in a standard format, and since then the MLA has been refining the elements of the MLA research essay format. 

“Should my kid be familiar with this system?”

Yes! The MLA format represents a consensus among professors, scholars, and librarians for documenting research in their respective fields. Basically, MLA style dictates how students use citations, works cited, footnotes, headers…

“Is it unreasonably hard?”

Believe it or not, the MLA style is a simpler style than other formats such as the APA or the Chicago Manual of Style!

“Is it BORING?” 

Not the Brave Writer way! We encourage your teen to choose a topic that makes them tick. It helps to love what you’re writing about!

“Is it worth the price?”

Let’s ask the teens from previous classes!

This class made me feel a lot more confident in my overall knowledge of the MLA style components. The instructions and explanations of what is required were far more clear and detailed than any others I had received for previous MLA essays. —Student Sarah

I learned much more about citing sources in the MLA format… I had never written that long and complex of an essay, so it was a good learning experience. —Student April

Thank you so much for all your amazing feedback on my work in this class! I think I have a good understanding of MLA research essays after taking this class. —Student Max

That kind of confidence? Priceless!

Learn more about Brave Writer’s

MLA Research Essay Online Class

When I wrote Raising Critical Thinkers it felt… risky. I knew that the ideas in my book would be a challenge to some of you. But I also knew that they would challenge ME and my team! Based on this new information, some things would need to change. However uncomfortable.

First on that list? The way we teach research and citation. 

So we completely dismantled and re-created our Essay Prep: Research and Citation class to address the modern challenges of doing research online. 

Yes. 

It’s still got great stuff like paraphrasing and how to take notes. But now it also has these critical components.

How to

• Avoid being fooled by the “look” of a website
• Wade through one million results on a Google search
• Vet online sources like fact-checkers do
• Discern a deliberately crafted story (presented as fact)
• Design an investigation into a topic of interest

I’ll tell you right now—there is no other class like this on the market.

Fast forward to college. 99% of the answers they need are out there, to be found in research. Our kids need to learn how to find it and use it right. Let us help.

Register

We’re excited to share our biggest update yet to our online writing class program:

AUDIO!

If you’ve got teens who struggle with the volume of reading our classes require, we’ve got you!

An AUDIO feature will be available for a small fee in our classroom posts starting in the Winter/Spring semester.

Got a reluctant or challenged reader? A lot of classroom reading might have been a deterrent in the past. 

Now you can upgrade the classroom experience so your students can LISTEN to the class assignments and readings instead. Or they may like doing a combination of reading and listening—an effective way to grow both skills.

Listening to audio while reading benefits:

• fluency skills,
• pronunciation,
• pacing,
• and tone.  

More choices. More support. More ways to learn.

LISTEN to a sample of an Essay Prep: Dynamic Thinking recording on our class description page (scroll down).

NOTE: Audio available in select classes only. Voices may vary according to class.

Let’s face it. We’re used to being the ones in charge. 

So much of parenting is rule-based at first. Don’t cross the road alone. You have to hold hands in a busy airport. We don’t jump on Grandma’s couch. 

But somewhere along the line, it happens. They turn nine, then double digits. Paradoxically, maturity increases, but “instant cooperation” tanks. 

If you look—really look—can you see it? You’ve got a PERSON on your hands! (Wild, right?) 

Enter this essential skill: collaboration! 

Collaboration requires two or more people to:

• Be aware of how their behavior affects others
• Negotiate to sustain positivity 
• Engage in respectful communication and dialogue
• Respect each other’s ideas

Most parents don’t know how to help their older student revise without coming down like a sledgehammer—smashing all the positive qualities of a partnership.

Collaboration is the essential way you interact with your child over their writing. 

• You get the most writing from a child whose writing voice and ideas are respected and valued.
• You get the best writing from allowing them to capture original thoughts before mechanics.
• You get the most trust from your child when you respond to their ideas, not just their mistakes. 

When you model gentleness and respect over a piece of their work, they learn how to work in a team, grow ideas and exchange thoughts non-confrontationally. 

Oh yeah, and they’re learning how to write too!

Now you know why Brave Writer’s latest core class involves YOU, the parent. 

In Brave Writer 201: Kind, Dynamic Revision, we put you, the parent and Head Writing Coach, in the driver’s seat in our classroom.

You’ll apply the empowering techniques our coaches use to your student’s writing.

Then you’ll watch your kids bring that new vision to their writing!

Our expert instructors will give you “feedback on your feedback,” training you to be the warm, supportive writing coach you want to be, much in the same way we train our own staff.

What to say AND how to say it.

What’s easier than that?