LilacBush
ACADEMIC ENGLISH FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS
Key course info
Learning mode Online (with 8 live lessons)
Duration 8 weeks
Time commitment 4-5 hours per week
Live online classes Once a week, 1 hour
Start dates 22 April 2026 at 19:00 GMT
Benefits 8 intensive lessons
Max 4 students per group
Immidiate application to your
coursework
Cost
$550
COURSE
Rhetoric Tools
Argumentative Writing
Master the language tools and strategic thinking that transform ideas into persuasive academic arguments. Build the foundation for success in essays, and beyond.
Key course info
Learning mode Online (with 8 live lessons)
Duration 8 weeks
Time commitment 4-5 hours per week
Live online classes Once a week, 1 hour
Start dates 22 April 2026 at 19:00 GMT
Benefits 8 intensive lessons
Max 4 students per group
Immidiate application to your coursework
Cost
$550
In school, you are constantly asked to take a position: Should schools require uniforms? Is technology making us more connected or more isolated? What is the most effective approach to climate change? But here is the challenge most students face: knowing what you think is very different from knowing how to argue it convincingly in academic English.
Argumentative writing is not just about winning debates or stating strong opinions. It is a precision tool for academic success - one that requires you to construct clear claims, support them with relevant evidence, address counterarguments thoughtfully, and organize your ideas strategically. These are not skills you are born with; they are skills you develop through understanding the why behind each choice you make as a writer.
This course addresses a critical gap:
Most students learn argumentative writing through trial and error, receiving feedback like "needs stronger evidence" or "address counterarguments" without truly understanding how to do these things. You might know you need a thesis statement, but do you understand what makes one arguable versus merely descriptive? You might include evidence, but do you know how to connect it explicitly to your claim? This course teaches you not just what to do, but how to think strategically about every element of academic argumentation.
Why This Matters
In your immediate academic life, argumentative writing is the foundation of success in essays, university entrance exams, and scholarship applications. But the skills go far beyond passing exams. Learning to construct logical arguments, evaluate evidence critically, and address opposing viewpoints prepares you for university seminars where you need to defend your interpretations, professional environments where you need to persuade colleagues and clients, and civic life where you need to engage with complex issues thoughtfully.
Perhaps most importantly, argumentative writing develops your analytical thinking. When you learn to distinguish claims from facts, to evaluate the strength of evidence, and to recognize the difference between dismissing an opposing view and engaging with it respectfully, you are building cognitive skills that transfer to every area of intellectual work.
What Makes This Course Different
It teaches you the purposes behind every tool in argumentative writing. We learn to use counterarguments, when to concede a point versus when to refute it, and how these choices affect the reader's perception of our argument. We will learn to organize paragraphs and make deliberate decisions about whether your strongest argument should come first or last - and why that choice matters.
This is argumentative writing as a thinking system. And that is what prepares you for your next essays and for a lifetime of clear, persuasive, and intellectually honest communication.
Cost & Enrollment
Key course info
Learning mode Online (with 8 live lessons)
Duration 8 weeks
Time commitment 4-5 hours per week
Live online classes Once a week, 1 hour
Start dates
22 April 2026 19:00 GMT
Benefits
8 intensive lessons
Max 4 students per group
Immidiate application to your coursework
Cost
$550
Course Overview
Rhetoric Tools: Argumentative Writing is an 8-lesson comprehensive course designed to teach the language tools and strategic thinking required for persuasive academic writing in high school and beginning universsity coursework. You will learn how to construct claims, select and integrate evidence, organize arguments strategically, address counterarguments, and maintain academic tone. These skills distinguish clear, compelling arguments from unfocused opinion pieces, and that prepare students for success in essay writing, university applications, and beyond.
What You Will Master
Claim Construction
Distinguish arguable claims from facts, opinions, and descriptions. Construct thesis statements that are specific, debatable, and significant. Position your argument clearly from the opening of your essay. Choose the appropriate strength for your claims based on your evidence.
Selecting and Intergrating Evidence
Identify which types of evidence (examples, data, expert testimony, logical reasoning) best support different kinds of claims. Integrate evidence smoothly into your writing without "dropping quotes". Use precise verbs to introduce evidence (demonstrates, illustrates, reveals, indicates). Explain the connection between evidence and claims explicitly rather than assuming readers will "see" it.
Reasoning and Analysis
Develop the reasoning that connects your evidence to your claims. Explain the significance of your evidence (the "so what?" factor). Build cumulative arguments where each paragraph advances your overall thesis. Avoid logical fallacies and unsupported assumptions.
Counterargument and Refutation
Understand why addressing counterarguments strengthens rather than weakens your position. Identify genuine opposing viewpoints rather than creating "straw man" arguments. Choose when to concede a point, when to qualify it, and when to refute it completely. Use sophisticated language for concession and rebuttal.
Argument Organization
Organize arguments using classical structures (claim-evidence-reasoning patterns). Decide whether to place your strongest argument first or last based on rhetorical effect. Write effective topic sentences that signal each paragraph's argumentative purpose. Use transitions to show logical relationships between arguments.
Academic Tone and Precision
Distinguish formal academic language from casual debate language. Avoid emotional appeals and inflammatory language while maintaining conviction. Qualify claims appropriately (often, generally, typically, in many cases). Strengthen language when evidence warrants it (clearly, undoubtedly, significant, considerable).
Complete Argument Construction
Write compelling introductions that establish context and present your thesis. Develop body paragraphs with clear argumentative purpose. Write conclusions that synthesize your argument rather than simply summarizing. Revise your work using a strategic checklist focused on argumentative effectiveness.
This course is for motivated school students (15-18) and beginning university students, both audiences at B1+ (intermediate) level or higher, who want to develop argumentative writing skills for academic coursework in English or for mastering English for general purposes.
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B1+ (Intermediate ) English proficiency or higher, with comfortable reading and writing abilities in English. You should be able to read academic-style texts without struggling with every sentence and write paragraphs expressing your ideas, even if you are still developing sophistication and accuracy.
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Understanding of basic sentence structure, including subjects, verbs, objects, and how simple sentences are constructed. You should be able to identify these elements in straightforward sentences and understand their basic functions.
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Familiarity with parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions) and their functions in sentences. You do not need advanced grammatical terminology, but you should recognize these categories and understand their general purpose.
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Experience writing paragraphs and essays in English, even if you are still developing these skills.
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Strong knowledge of clauses and phrases
Not suitable if: You struggle with basic sentence construction, have difficulty reading English paragraphs comfortably, or are below B1+ proficiency level.
This course uses a precision-first methodology that emphasizes understanding concepts thoroughly before applying them. You should be:
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Comfortable with detailed explanations and systematic learning
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Willing to engage with theory and strategic thinking, not just practice exercises
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Prepared to allocate 3-5 hours per lesson for reading, practice, and reflection
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Motivated to work in class and independently with comprehensive self-study materials
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Teaching Approach
LilacBush courses values deep understanding of concepts. Each lesson explains the underlying principles that govern how particular concepts, conventions, structures, formats, and organizational patterns work and achieve specific effects. This thorough theoretical foundation allows you to make intelligent decisions about which tool to use in new situations you have not explicitly studied, developing the kind of understanding that transfers across contexts and strengthens your ability to write effectively in any academic genre or discipline.
LilacBush courses are built on the principle that serious learners benefit from appropriate theoretical explanations. Each course provides thorough, grounded explanations of how different writing formats, organizational structures, and language patterns function in academic contexts - why chronological organization serves some processes while cause-and-effect structure serves others, why some contexts require formal passive voice while others benefit from active constructions, why particular transitional phrases signal different relationships between ideas. This theory-based approach respects your intelligence and analytical capabilities, treating you as a serious learner who can understand how writing formats and structures create meaning. The result is deeper, more durable learning that empowers you to select and use appropriate formats confidently and strategically, not just follow memorized patterns that work only in familiar contexts.
We learn language and organizational structures as meaning-making systems where every choice serves a communicative purpose. You learn to think about organizational structures, sentence patterns, transitional phrases, and format choices the way skilled writers do: as tools that control what readers focus on, how information is hierarchized, what receives emphasis, how clearly relationships are expressed, and how effectively our message is delivered. Understanding that different formats exist for different purposes - that instructions are structured differently than explanations, that scientific writing follows different conventions than historical analysis - helps you become a flexible, strategic writer who can adapt approach and format based on purpose, audience, and disciplinary context.
With a maximum of 4 students per group, we secure the thorough attention and personalized guidance that truly effective learning requires. This deliberately small format allows the instructor to review each student's work carefully, providing grounded, developmental feedback that addresses your specific writing challenges and builds on your particular strengths. It also allows the instructor to keep your needs in mind when planning and organizing the work of the group during the course. Unlike generic instructions that could apply to anyone, you receive instruction adapted to your current level - whether you need more foundational support with organizational basics or are ready for more sophisticated challenges with complex format applications. Throughout the course, your instructor tracks your individual development, identifying patterns in your progress, anticipating where you might need additional support, and adjusting guidance to ensure you're building skills systematically.
How We Learn
This distant learning course is delivered fully online. You can learn anywhere. Live lessons are delivered through Lessonspace, where each group has a dedicated classroom throughout the course. Course materials are located on Canvas. Instructions on how to use both the platforms are sent upon enrollment. Both the platforms are available 24/7, so you can log in and study when and where it suits you.
Live Sessions
Live lessons are scheduled weekly on the same day and time (e.g., Wednesday at 3 PM GMT) and take 60 minutes of intense learning in a small group (up to 4 students). The group is permanent throughout the course.
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Learn and practice applying concepts from that week's lesson
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Receive personalized feedback on your progress
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Ask questions and work through challenges
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Learn from an experiences tutor, your peers' questions and examples
Independent Study
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Read the Student's Book with detailed explanationsof the material covered during the live lesson to deepen your knowledge (approximately 20-30 pages)
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Take end-of-lesson quiz to check understanding
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Complete Workbook exercises with guided practice and submit for assessment and personalized feedback (typically 10-15 exercises per lesson)
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Reflect on application to your own writing
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Review your peers work (optional) to learn from your peers
Your Instructor
You will learn from a dedicated educator and benefit from her expertise in developing academic English skills and nurturing cohorts of successful international students. She will provide you with first-class teaching, guidance and support throughout the course, as well as individualized feedback and ways of further improvement.
Missing a live lesson must be an exception, rather than a rule. If a student must miss a lesson, they learn the lesson material by the Student's Book - the material in each lesson is designed to be easily understood by a self-paced learner. Despite the missed lesson, the exercises which are compulsory for submission and feedback are required to be submitted in due time.
If you must miss a lesson, we strongly advise and require that you (or people you trust) contact your tutor as early as possible so she can suggest a personalized action plan for you to still cover the topic seamlessly and ensure the necessary skills are gained.
If you tutor must miss a live lesson, she will notify your group as early as possible and suggest alternative dates and times.
Your progress will be assessed during live classes, through checking your individual work from workbooks, and self-assessment quizes. There is an option of peer review, though it is upon the student's discretion whether to share their work with others.
Some workbook tasks develop the necessary skills but do not require submission and assessment. Other tasks (3-5 per lesson) will have set deadlines (usually at least 24 hours before the next live lesson) and are expected to be submitted for the tutor's check and feedback. Assignments are submitted through Canvas.
This course consists of 8 lessons delivered over 8 weeks. It takes approximately 32-40 hours of study totally over 8 weeks, that is 4-5 hours per week (a 1-hour online session and 3-4 hours of independent work). This is an indicative guide for a typical student to achieve the learning goals. This time includes online lessons, time for independent study , self-assessment and reflection.
Your tutor is always here to help. Support from your tutor is available through Canvas, your group chat in WhatsApp, email, and one-on-one, depending on the type of support you need. The enrollment package you will receive upon enrollment details the support provided along with suggested means of communication.
How the Course Works
Comprehensive Learning Materials:
8 Student's Books (one per lesson)
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15-25 pages each of in-depth instruction
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Clear explanations of the techniquesand why they work
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Worked examples with before/after comparisons
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Grounded in actual academic scenarios across disciplines
8 Workbooks (one per lesson)
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Diagnostic exercises to identify your specific challenges
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Guided practice building from identification to application
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Revision exercises using real academic writing samples
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Progressive difficulty - each exercise builds on the last
8 End-of-Lesson Quizzes
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Check your understanding of key concepts
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Immediate feedback on common misconceptions
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Identify areas needing review before moving forward
Reflection Questions for Each Lesson
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Connect concepts to your own writing patterns
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Plan specific applications to upcoming assignments
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Develop metacognitive awareness of your writing process
Live Instruction & Support:
8 Live Sessions
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1 hour per week
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Personalized feedback on your writing
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Real-time practice and application
Direct Access to Instructor
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Ask questions during live sessions
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Get clarification on concepts between sessions
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Receive feedback on writing samples
What's Included
Course Cost: $550
Choose Your Payment Plan
Both plans include the full Rhetoric Tools: Argumentative Writing course experience
Option 1: Pay in Full
$550 one-time payment when you enroll
Option 2: Split Payment
Two payments of $275 each
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First payment: After the introductory call
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Second payment: Beginning of Week 4 (Lesson 4)
Money-Back Guarantee
We are confident that our courses transform your academic experience. If you complete Lesson 2 and feel this course is not right for you, contact us within the second week for a full refund.
Interested in taking this course privately? Contact us to discuss this option.
Interested in the course but unable to attend on the scheduled day and time? Contact us to leave your preferred days and times.
What Comes After You Apply
1. Introductory video call: Your tutor will write you to schedule a 15-minute introductory video call at mutually convenient time
2. Payment: We will send you the invoice for payment
3. Welcome email: Details about your assigned group, live session schedule, and how to prepare for the first session
4. Access to course platforms and materials: You will receive login credentials to the course platforms and can start reading available materials.
5. Week before start: Reminder email with technical setup instructions and what to expect in the first live session.
6. Throughout the course: Weekly reminders, access to new materials, and support as needed
FAQ
How is this different from just learning to write essays in general?
This course focuses specifically on argumentation - the ability to construct and defend positions on debatable issues. While other courses might teach general essay structure, this course teaches the strategic thinking required for persuasive writing: how to formulate arguable claims (not just state opinions), how to select evidence that actually supports your position, how to address counterarguments without undermining yourself, and how to organize for maximum rhetorical impact. These are specialized skills that distinguish argumentative writing from descriptive, narrative, or expository essays.
Will this help with my school essays across different subjects?
Yes. Argumentative writing appears in English Literature (arguing about interpretations), History (arguing about causes or significance), Social Studies (arguing about policies or solutions), and even Sciences (arguing about explanations or approaches). The skills you learn - constructing claims, supporting them with evidence, addressing objections - transfer across all subjects that require you to take and defend positions.
I already know how to write arguments. Why do I need this course?
Many students can state opinions clearly but struggle with academic argumentation specifically. Academic argumentation requires: making claims that are genuinely debatable (not just preferences), integrating evidence smoothly (not just listing facts), explaining why evidence supports your claim (not assuming it is obvious), and engaging with opposing views respectfully (not dismissively). If you have received feedback suggesting your arguments need more development, depth, or sophistication, this course teaches the systematic approach to improvement.
Is this course only for students preparing for IGCSE or A-Levels?
While the course prepares you excellently for IGCSE and A-Level argumentative essays, it is valuable for any secondary school student who needs to write persuasively. The skills apply to: school essays across subjects, debate preparation, university application essays, scholarship applications, and future university coursework. Argumentative writing is a fundamental academic skill, not just an exam requirement.
Will we learn about specific topics to argue about, or just how to argue?
This course teaches how to argue strategically, not what to argue about specific topics. You will practice with a variety of relevant topics (school policies, technology issues, social questions) that allow you to focus on technique development. The goal is transferable skills - once you understand how argumentation works, you can apply it to any topic in any subject.
What's the difference between this course and the university-level argumentative writing course?
This course focuses on foundational argumentation using personal observation, general knowledge, and straightforward sources. The university course adds research-based argumentation: working with multiple academic sources, synthesizing scholarly perspectives, and engaging with discipline-specific conventions. This course builds the logical and rhetorical foundations; the university course adds research complexity. Most students should complete this course first.
My English level is B1. Is that enough for this course?
This course is designed for B1+ level learners. All explanations are written to be accessible at this level while introducing you to more sophisticated academic language. You will learn new vocabulary and structures within the course - you do not need to know them before starting. If you can read and understand this course description comfortably, your English level is sufficient.
Do I need to complete the Foundation Series first?
Recommended but not required. The Foundation Series builds strong paragraph and sentence construction skills that make learning argumentation easier. However, if you already write clear, well-organized paragraphs and can construct complex sentences, you can start with this course. Take our placement assessment if you're unsure.
I'm in Year 9. Am I too young for this course?
Not at all. Students ages 14-18 take this course successfully. The content is age-appropriate (using topics relevant to teenagers), and the teaching approach respects your intelligence while providing comprehensive guidance. If you are being asked to write argumentative essays in school, you are ready for systematic instruction in how to do it well.
I'm already in Year 12 and taking A-Levels. Is it too late to take this course?
Definitely not too late. Many A-Level students take this course because they need to strengthen argumentative writing urgently. The systematic approach often creates rapid improvement because it addresses gaps in understanding that simple practice doesn't fix. Many A-Level students report that understanding the *strategic purposes* behind argumentative techniques immediately improved their essay quality.
How much homework will I have?
Each lesson requires 2-4 hours of work beyond the live session. This includes: reading the Student's Book explanations (30-45 minutes), completing the End-of-Lesson Quiz (15-20 minutes), working through Workbook exercises (60-90 minutes), and answering Reflection Questions (15-30 minutes). This is a substantive course requiring regular practice - argumentation skills develop through application, not just reading about techniques.
Will I get feedback on my writing?
Yes. Small class size (maximum 4 students) ensures you receive detailed individual feedback. You'll get: written comments on your workbook exercises and essay drafts, in-class discussion of your argumentative choices, guidance on specific challenges you face, and opportunities to revise based on feedback. The teaching approach emphasizes understanding why certain approaches work better than others for your specific writing.
Can I take this course if I can't attend all live sessions?
Missing a live lesson must be rather an exception than a rule. Live attendance is the core of the course because: you receive real-time feedback on your thinking, you practice making argumentative decisions collaboratively, you learn from peer examples and discussions, and you develop confidence through guided practice. However, if you occasionally miss a session, you will have comprehensive Student's Book materials for independent study.
Is the course self-paced or scheduled?
Scheduled. The course follows an 8-lesson sequence with regular meeting times and assignment deadlines. This structure ensures: progressive skill building (each lesson builds on previous ones), peer learning opportunities, timely feedback on your work, and accountability for completion. We do not provide self-paced study.
How quickly will I see improvement in my argumentative writing?
Many students notice improvement within the first few lessons as they begin understanding what makes claims arguable and how to integrate evidence effectively. However, deep mastery - the ability to construct sophisticated arguments independently across different topics and contexts - develops over the full 8 lessons with consistent practice. Expect gradual, cumulative improvement rather than overnight transformation.
Will this course help with my university application essays?
Yes. University application essays (personal statements, "Why this university?" essays) often require you to argue for your suitability, defend your choices, or take positions on relevant issues. The skills you learn - constructing clear claims, supporting them with specific evidence, maintaining appropriate tone - directly apply. However, note that application essays have specific genre conventions beyond general argumentation.
I struggle with grammar. Should I fix that before taking this course?
This course focuses on argumentative strategy and organization, not grammar correction. If your grammar errors do not prevent readers from understanding your meaning, you can take this course now and work on grammar separately. However, if grammar issues significantly affect clarity, you might benefit from taking some grammar course first.
Will this prepare me for university-level writing?
This course builds essential argumentative foundations that university writing requires. You will develop the logical thinking, evidence-based reasoning, and organizational skills that underlie university argumentation. However, university writing adds complexity: working with academic sources, synthesizing scholarly perspectives, and discipline-specific conventions. After this course, you'll be well-prepared for our Advanced Argumentative Writing for University Students course (coming soon).
Can I take this course if English isn't my first language?
Absolutely. This course is specifically designed for non-native English learners at B1+ level. Many successful students are Ukrainian, Polish, Turkish, or from other non-English-speaking backgrounds. The teaching approach assumes you are learning academic English as a second language and provides the comprehensive explanations that non-native speakers need. Your English level matters more than whether English is your first language.
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