English Essentials
by Alfred Siha, D.Ed.
Welcome to the English Essentials podcast, a comprehensive writing curriculum focusing on grammar, developing your writing, and mastering college-level writing composition. The lessons and materials provided have been taught and tested in real college classrooms for years and have helped thousands of students finally solve the most puzzling grammar questions, develop confidence in their own writing process and style, engage with and appreciate a variety of English dialects, explore culture(s), compose compelling narratives, skillfully enter research-based conversations, and construct and deliver compelling arguments.
Episodes
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Grammar (Ep. 17): The Dangers of (Mis)Modifying!
Be careful to modify correctly! In this episode, learn about the dangers of misplaced modifyers.
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Grammar (Ep. 16): Modifying Phrases
Make use of powerful modifying phrases to enhance your writing in this episode.
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Grammar (Ep. 15): Using Adverbs
This episode focuses on the effective use of adverbs in your sentences.
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Grammar (Ep. 14): Using Adjectives
Explore how to enhance your sentences through adjectives in this episode.
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Grammar (Ep. 13): What Does it Mean to Modify?
This episode explores the concept of modification and how to use that to enhance your writing.
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Grammar (Ep. 12): Pronoun Agreement in Case
Learn about pronoun agreement in case in this episode.
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Grammar (Ep. 11): Pronoun Agreement in Number
This episode explores pronoun agreement in number.
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Grammar (Ep. 10): Behold, the Semi-Colon!
The semi-colon is a powerful tool. In this episode, learn how to harness the power of the semi-colon.
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Grammar (Ep. 9): Three Simple Comma Rules
This episode will answer the mystery of where commas can be placed in a sentence.
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Grammar (Ep. 8): Essential and Non-Essential Phrases
This episode gives an overview of essential and non-essential phrases in a sentence.
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Grammar (Ep. 7): Simple Sentence Examples
This episode reviews more examples based on the simple sentence formula.
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Grammar (Ep. 6): The Simple Sentence (SVO)
The simple sentence is the most basic building block of the English language. Check out details of these three simple pieces in this episode.
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Grammar (Ep. 5): All About Gerunds
This episode defines gerunds and explains their role in your writing.
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Grammar (Ep. 4): Subject Verb Agreement
Learn how to ensure your subjects and verbs agree in this episode.
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Grammar (Ep. 3): Verb Tenses
Get to know the most common verb tenses and how they function in a sentence.
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Grammar (Ep. 2): Types of Verbs
This episode showcases the most common types of verbs.
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Grammar (Ep. 1): How Students Feel About Grammar
English grammar makes us all feel a certain way. Listen to how real students feel about grammar.
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Writing (Ep. 24): The Final Creative Project
Conclude this level of writing with a project that asks you to create some new writing, some revised writing, and a creative piece.
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Writing (Ep. 23): Live Feedback of Student Examples of Local Community Argument Essay Examples
Take a look at student examples of the local community argument essay, along with feedback and comments.
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Writing (Ep. 22): The Local Community Argument Essay Assignment
This episode offers an overview of the local community argument essay assignment.
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Writing (Ep. 21): Letters to the Editor
A common place to find arguments is in the letter to the editors section in newspapers. Let's take a look in this episode.
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Writing (Ep. 20): Making an Argument
This episode highlights the steps to making an effective and powerful argument.
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Writing (Ep. 19): Looking at Communities
This episode examines the importance of understanding the communities in which we reside.
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Writing (Ep. 18): Cause & Effect
This episode gives an overview of the concept of cause and effect and how it can lead to uncovering problems.
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Writing (Ep. 17): Live Feedback of Student Research Assignment Examples
This episode showcases several student examples of the research assignment.
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Writing (Ep. 16): The Research Project Assignment
Take a different approach to research in this assignment.
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Writing (Ep. 15): Citation Hints
Citing sources can be intimidating. Check this episode out for hints on citation.
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Writing (Ep. 14): Writing Research Questions
Writing a clear research question is one way to improve your research assignment and process. Learn more in this episode.
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Writing (Ep. 13): Your Position as a Researcher
Research is an active, dynamic process and this episode highlights the important position you take when engaging in the research process.
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Writing (Ep. 12): Live Feedback of Student Comparison Essay Examples
Take a look at live feedback on several comparison essays in this episode.
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Writing (Ep. 11): The Comparison Essay Assignment
Now that you've explored the different discourses in the English language and are able to write clear definitions, you are ready for your comparison essay assignment.
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Writing (Ep. 10): Writing Definitions
Definitions can be complicated. This episode will introduce you to different considerations you must account for when writing a definition of a concept.
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Writing (Ep. 9): Points of Comparison
When making a comparison, a useful way to organize your thoughts is by using the points of comparison method, which you will see in this episode.
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Writing (Ep. 8): Different Discourses in the English Language
In this episode, we discuss the variety of discourses in the English language.
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Writing (Ep. 7): Live Feedback of Student Personal Narrative Essay Examples
Check out real student examples of the personal narrative essay, along with feedback and comments, in this episode.
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Writing (Ep. 6): The Personal Narrative Essay Assignment
Time for your first writing assignment at this level: the personal narrative essay.
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Writing (Ep. 5): Conflict!
At the heart of any good story is a compelling conflict. This episode will explore how to use conflict to propel your storytelling forward.
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Writing (Ep. 4): The Art of Storytelling
A common writing assignment at this level is the narrative essay. This episode will introduce you to the art and appeal of storytelling.
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Writing (Ep. 3): All About Thesis Statements
Thesis statements are vital to your essay and this episode demonstrates how to use them to your advantage.
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Writing (Ep. 2): Using the Funnel to Write Introductions
This episode makes use of a funnel technique when creating essay introductions, ensuring your audience will hooked and will know what the essay is about.
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Writing (Ep. 1): Writing is a Process
In this episode, learn a bit more about the writing process and how to implement your own.
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Composition (Ep. 22): The Final Creative Project
In this episode, you will begin work on a final creative project that helps you reflect on your experiences in this course.
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Composition (Ep. 21.2): Live Feedback on Student Solution Argument Essay Examples (SD Video)
Get a closer look at the solution argument essay through these real student examples, complete with live feedback and comments. Standard definition video.
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Composition (Ep. 21.1): Live Feedback on Student Solution Argument Essay Examples (HD Video)
Get a closer look at the solution argument essay through these real student examples, complete with live feedback and comments. High definition video.
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Composition (Ep. 20): The Solution Argument Essay Assignment
This episode will highlight the solution argument essay assignment.
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Composition (Ep. 19): Going Deeper with Solution Development
This episode showcases a tool to assist you in developing deeper and meaningful solutions.
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Composition (Ep. 18): Arguing a Solution
It is time to solve your problem. This episode will guide you through the process of creating an effective argument.
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Composition (Ep. 17.2): Live Feedback on Student Problem Analysis Essay Examples (SD Video)
Use live feedback on real student examples of the problem analysis essay to inspire and guide your writing in this episode. Standard definition video.
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Composition (Ep. 17.1): Live Feedback on Student Problem Analysis Essay Examples (HD Video)
Use live feedback on real student examples of the problem analysis essay to inspire and guide your writing in this episode. High definition video.
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Composition (Ep. 16): The Problem Analysis Essay Assignment
Now that you have identified a problem, it is time to write an analysis. This episode will showcase the assignment details.
About this show
Welcome to the English Essentials podcast, a comprehensive writing curriculum focusing on grammar, developing your writing, and mastering college-level writing composition. The lessons and materials provided have been taught and tested in real college classrooms for years and have helped thousands of students finally solve the most puzzling grammar questions, develop confidence in their own writing process and style, engage with and appreciate a variety of English dialects, explore culture(s), compose compelling narratives, skillfully enter research-based conversations, and construct and deliver compelling arguments.
Hosted by
Alfred Siha, D.Ed.