What Reviewers Say

Reviewers consistently praise Essentials in Writing (EIW) for its "energetic" video instruction and its ability to break complex composition into manageable, incremental steps. Cathy Duffy notes that the program is more academically rigorous and advanced in its composition requirements than many other homeschool curricula, yet Confessions of a Homeschooler points out that this rigor remains accessible because of the "small chunks" delivery method. Janelle Knutson highlights the program as a standout secular option that is exceptionally affordable compared to competitors. A common theme across reviews is the effectiveness of the "modeled writing" approach, where the teacher demonstrates the process on-screen. While the program is workbook-heavy, which may feel repetitive for some, the optional scoring service for grades 6-12 is frequently cited as a major benefit for parents who feel intimidated by grading high school essays.

How It Works

Each day, the student watches a short video lesson (typically 5–10 minutes) where instructor Matthew Stephens models a specific writing or grammar skill on a whiteboard. After the video, the student completes a corresponding assignment in their spiral-bound workbook to practice what was just demonstrated. The parent’s primary role is to check the completed worksheet against the provided answer key, a process that usually takes less than 10 minutes. In the first half of the year, younger students focus on grammar, while the second half transitions into composition; high school levels integrate these skills throughout the year. For students in levels 6–12, parents can opt into a scoring service where certified teachers provide feedback and grades on all major writing assignments.

Switching to This?

Essentials in Writing does not provide a formal placement test; however, they offer extensive sample lessons and table of contents for each level on their website. The general rule of thumb is to place students at their current grade level, though because Cathy Duffy notes the program is more "advanced" than others, parents of struggling writers may occasionally choose to drop back one level. Families can easily start the curriculum mid-year because the lessons are self-paced and modular. When switching from a program like Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW), parents should expect less emphasis on "stylistic checklists" and more focus on the "modeled writing" process.

Curriculum Details

Price

$34 - $99

~$99 per level bundle (12-month video access + student book); textbooks $34–$39; optional teacher scoring service $107/level. UC A-G approved.

Grades

1 - 12

Available As

Video Print Digital

Coverage

Single subject

Subjects

Reading/Language Arts Writing

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Pacing

Self-paced

Parent Time

5-15 min/day

Student Independence

Semi-independent

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Academic Level

Advanced

Worldview

Secular

Engaging for Reluctant Learners

Yes

Parent Role:

The parent acts as a facilitator and grader. Because the video instructor models every step of the writing process, the parent does not need to provide direct instruction, though they should review the daily workbook pages. Parents of older students (6-12) can further reduce their role by using the optional scoring service.

Videos

Reviews We Consulted

Updated: June 2026 by Claude (v2 research)

How This Compares

Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW): While IEW uses a specific "keyword outline" and "dress-ups" method, EIW uses a more traditional, incremental modeling approach that many find more intuitive. - WriteShop: WriteShop requires significant parent involvement and hands-on preparation, whereas EIW is designed for the student to work largely independently with the video instructor. - Winning with Writing: Winning with Writing is a workbook-only program, lacking the video instruction and teacher modeling that defines the EIW experience. - Structure and Style for Students: This is IEW's video-based offering, which is significantly more expensive than EIW and follows a different pedagogical structure focused on structural units.

Getting Started