Grade 6-12 international or domestic students studying in the U.S or overseas
One-on-one and small group (Max. 7 students/class)
Class Introduction
This class provides students with an introduction to the John Locke essay competition, including selecting and formulating research questions, conducting research, organizing information, evaluating source material, and writing well-researched, soundly argued essays.
Class Track:
- Foundation All Categories Track: Designed for students aiming to compete in the main subject categories.
- Foundation Junior Prize: Tailored for younger students eligible for the Junior Prize, this track introduces students to the essential skills needed for academic research and writing.
Upon Class Completion
Completion of the John Locke Foundation Class prepares students to advance to the John Locke Essay Competition Preparation Course, where they will further refine their research and writing to craft essays ready for submission to the competition.
John Locke Essay Competition Prep
In this John Locke Essay Competition Prep course, students will learn the ins and outs of essay writing, in preparation for entering the competition. We offer prep classes in all categories: philosophy, politics, economics, history, psychology, theology, and law. Students will choose one topic, compose an original thesis and argument, and write an essay for submission. Students will engage in a guided analysis of primary and secondary sources, develop critical thinking skills, and discover interesting insights. In addition to the group lecture classes, students will receive guidance on their individual projects from the instructor, in one-on-one sessions.
Outcome
- Develop Research Skills: Students will be able to transform broad topics into specific, researchable questions and to identify the scope of their research effectively.
- Craft Strong Thesis Statements: Students will be able to develop clear, arguable, and focused thesis statements that drive their academic essays.
- Identify and Evaluate Credible Academic Sources: Students will be equipped with fundamental analytical tools to find and evaluate academic sources, ensuring reliability and relevance for supporting their arguments.
- Master Proper Citation and Avoid Plagiarism: Students will understand the importance of academic integrity by teaching them how to cite sources correctly and avoid plagiarism.
- Structure Academic Essays Effectively: Students will be able to organize their ideas into cohesive, well-structured essays, following the standard academic format (introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion).
- Improve Writing Clarity and Precision: Students will be able to enhance their ability to write clearly and concisely, focusing on grammar, sentence structure, and word choice to convey their ideas effectively.
- Build Strong, Evidence-Based Arguments: Students will be able to develop logical, well-supported arguments while addressing multiple perspectives and refuting potential counterarguments.
- Encourage Independent Thought and Confidence: This course will foster confidence in students’ ability to conduct independent research and present their ideas in a compelling and academically sound manner.
Feedback
Students and their parents will receive brief feedback after each class regarding the student’s general participation in class. Students will also receive feedback on graded assignments via email.
Need to prepare?
To best prepare for this program, we recommend reading:
