Zucchini in Zero Gravity
A silly way to solid academic writing skills

Unless you read the subtitle, "a silly way to solid academic writing skills," the name of this course could gives rise to some serious questions, couldn't it?

Here are some of the more frequently asked questions about Zucchini in Zero Gravity. If you have other questions not answered here, you can ask me the via my handy form for questions about student courses.

Who should attend?
What does the course cover?
Do students really write about zucchini?
How can teachers and homeschoolers use this course?
How is instruction delivered?
What equipment do students need?
Do students have to buy any books?
How large are the classes?
How are students evaluated?
What does the course cost?
When do I pay?
What if I sign up and then can't attend?
Can you offer a course just for for my after-school program or homeschool co-op?

Who should attend?

Homeschool and traditional school students 13 and older who haven't had to write a research paper yet can profit from learning academic writing skills. It is particularly effective with students who think writing is nothing but a lot of silly rules.

Students concentrate on a few steps of the research paper process and make up the rest. They will learn such academic skills as how to:

• Subdivide a topic into logical sections.
• Determine where to look for information.
• Recognize reliable information.
• Record the right information the first time around.
• Plan the paper.
• Present evidence in their body paragraphs.
• Read a style guide.

Students will learn strategies and templates that they can reuse repeatedly for other source papers. They also get some experience in writing collaboratively via computer, a skill that's becoming increasingly important in college and career.

Silly as it may seem, Zucchini in Zero Gravity is based on a best teaching practice: allowing students to practice an entire process.

Do students really write about zucchini?

Students get a choice of topics. If they aren't interested in the behavior of zucchini in zero gravity, they can choose other topics. All of the topics are silly, but they all lend themselves to discussion in ways that are patterned after arguments offered for serious topics. Students don't have to write on serious topics to learn serious academic writing skills.

Teachers and homeschoolers can count this course as "seat time" within the English language arts curriculum or designate it as a study unit on academic writing skills. They can follow up the course having students writing essays on authentic topics using evidence from published sources and grading on those assignments.

Classes consist of eight 50-minute instructor-led sessions I hold online at WizIQ.com. In addition, I drop in to the class forum at least once a day to answer questions and offer suggestions to students.

Is there homework?

Yes, silly as it may seem, Zucchini in Zero Gravity has homework. It is done collaboratively in the class forum, since team writing is becoming an important academic writing skill. Students may need to sign in to the forum more than once between live sessions to keep abreast of ideas their team and peers post.

When are the courses offered?

Course dates and times are shown on the calendar accessible from the left hand menu. Zucchini in Zero Gravity is usually offered once a month.

What equipment do students need?

Students need

• Computer with Internet access (preferably high speed, not dial-up) with enough computer memory to be able to text editing software during online classes),
• Speakers and microphone
• Keyboard
• Printer
• Adobe Acrobat Reader (free)
• Account at WizIQ.com (free)
• Text editing software (such as Notepad)

Note: Students must be 14 to sign up for their own WizIQ account. If they are under 14, they can use a parent's account.

Do students need to buy any books?

No. All the materials about academic writing skills your students need will be available online.

Classes have eight to 15 students. Unless eight students have signed up within 48 hours of the class start, I cancel the class and refund any payments already received. With fewer than eight, there's is too much work for students to accomplish in the short timeframe.

If I have too many people signed up, the first 15 to register get the open slots. Everyone else gets their money back.

Students in the course learn a process; they do not produce written products by themselves. For this reason, I'll grade their work as satisfactory or unsatisfactory.

If students show up in class on time, participate in the discussion, post homework on time, and work with their peers in the forums, that is satisfactory work.

What does the Zucchini in Zero Gravity course cost?

The eight-session course costs $60 (US). Payments are handled through PayPal.

When do I pay?

If there are enough students to run a session, 48 hours before the first meeting I'll send you a bill through PayPal, which you will pay before the class. If the class doesn't run, you can use the money for something else; neither of us has to mess with refunds.

Let me know right away if you registered for a course but your student cannot attend. Here's my refund policy:

• If a student withdraws before any classes are held, I refund any fee you already paid.
• If a student withdraws after one session has been held (even if the student didn't attend), I keep $10 and refund the rest.
• If a student withdraws after two sessions have been held (even if the student didn't attend), I keep $20 and refund the rest.
• After the second session has been held, I keep the entire fee whether the student attended any sessions or not.

Can you offer a Zucchini in Zero Gravity course just for a homeschool co-op or other group?

Certainly. If you can guarantee eight or more students, we can arrange a session at our mutual convenience. Use my contact form to let me know about the group that wants to learn academic writing skills.