LilacBush
ACADEMIC ENGLISH FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS
Key course info
Learning mode Online (with 10 live lessons)
Duration 10 weeks
Time commitment 4-5 hours per week
Live online classes Once a week, 1 hour
Start dates 23 April 2026 at 19:00 GMT
Benefits 10 intensive lessons
Max 4 students per group
Immidiate application to your
coursework
Cost
$600
COURSE
University Success
Mastering Essential Essay Types
Master the six essential essay types - descriptive, compare/contrast, cause/effect, problem/solution, analytical, and argumentative essays - and have the solid foundation for every essay you write across your coursework.
Course Overview
University Success: Mastering Essential Essay Types is a 10-week intensive course designed for high-school and university students to master the six essential essay formats that form the foundation of academic writing across disciplines: descriptive, compare/contrast, cause/effect, problem/solution, analytical, and argumentative essays. It also teaches when to use each format, how to organize your thinking within each structure, and how to recognize which format an assignment requires.
What You Will Master
Descriptive Essays
Learn to create detailed, vivid portraits of people, places, objects, or phenomena using sensory details and precise language. Master organizational patterns that guide readers through complex descriptions systematically. Understand when assignments require primarily descriptive writing and how to structure observations effectively.
Compare/Contrast Essays
Learn to examine similarities and differences between concepts, theories, approaches, or phenomena. Learn point-by-point and block organizational methods. Understand how comparison serves analytical purposes - not just listing differences, but using comparison to make arguments or deepen understanding.
Cause/Effect Essays
Master the logic of causal relationships: identify causes, trace effects, and distinguish correlation from causation. Learn to organize complex causal chains clearly. Understand how causal analysis supports argumentation and problem-solving in academic contexts.
Problem/Solution Essays
Learn to identify problems precisely, analyze their significance, propose viable solutions, and address potential objections. Master the organizational structure that moves readers from problem recognition through solution acceptance. Understand how this format serves persuasive and practical purposes across disciplines.
Analytical Essays
Develop skills for breaking down complex texts, arguments, phenomena, or data into component parts for examination. Learn to move beyond summary to interpretation and evaluation. Understand how analysis serves as the foundation for most university-level writing, regardless of discipline.
Argumentative Essays
Apply argumentation skills within the formal argumentative essay structure. Learn to position claims within scholarly conversation, marshal evidence strategically, acknowledge and refute counterarguments, and organize persuasive essays that demonstrate critical thinking.
Analysis and Synthesis Skills
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Prompt Analysis: Decode assignment language to identify which essay type is required
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Format Selection: Choose the most effective structure for your purpose
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Format Combination: Recognize when assignments require blending multiple approaches
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Strategic Adaptation: Modify standard structures for specific disciplinary or assignment requirements
This course is designed for motivated school students (15-18) and beginning university students, both audiences at B1+ (intermediate) level or higher, who need essay writing skills for academic coursework in English or for mastering English for general purposes.
This course is particularly valuable for students planning to study at English-speaking universities who need essay writing skills before beginning coursework, students in rigorous academic programs (IB, A-Levels, AP) where writing in appropriate formats affects performance across all subjects, students preparing for international examinations whose writing components require essay writing, current university students seeking to improve their essasy, and English language learners at B1+ level with some writing skills but want to extend it to a higher level.
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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 sentence structures (simple, complex, compound), including subjects, verbs, objects, and how 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 should recognize these categories and understand their general purposes.
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Strong paragraph writing skills.
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Strong knowledge of English clauses and phrases.
Not suitable if: You struggle with sentence construction, have limited practice with paragraph writing, have difficulty reading English academic texts 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 3-4 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.
Key course info
Learning mode Online (with 10 live lessons)
Duration 10 weeks
Time commitment 4-5 hours per week
Live online classes Once a week, 1 hour
Start dates
23 April 2026 19:00 GMT
Benefits
10 intensive lessons
Max 4 students per group
Immidiate application to your coursework
Cost
$600
Key course info
Learning mode Online (with 10 live lessons)
Duration 10 weeks
Time commitment 4-5 hours per week
Live online classes Once a week, 1 hour
Start dates 23 April 2026 at 19:00 GMT
Benefits 10 intensive lessons
Max 4 students per group
Immidiate application to your coursework
Cost
$600
University success depends on good writing and requires knowing which type of writing to use. When you are assigned an essay, the format matters as much as the content. A well-written descriptive essay will not earn a strong grade if the assignment called for analysis. A brilliant argument loses impact if presented in the wrong organizational structure.
Many students struggle in university because they do not recognize what kind of writing is being asked for. Assignment prompts often do not explicitly state "write a compare/contrast essay" or "use problem/solution structure." Instead, they use phrases like "evaluate the effectiveness of..." or "examine the relationship between..." or "propose solutions for..."
Understanding essay types as strategic choices transforms how you approach assignments. You will stop asking "How do I write this?" and start asking "What is this assignment really asking me to do?" That shift in thinking is what this course develops.
This course teaches you to recognize what different assignments are asking for and respond accordingly. You will master six essential essay types and their formats that form the foundation of academic writing across disciplines: descriptive, compare/contrast, cause/effect, problem/solution, analytical, and argumentative essays.
If you took my foundation courses, you will apply all the skills you have built there - paragraph structure, sentence sophistication, vocabulary precision, argumentation - within the appropriate organizational framework for each task.
What Makes This Course Different
Recognizing Types. We learn to recognize which essay type an assignment requires - the skill that actually determines your grades.
Thinking Over Formulas. You will understand why each format exists and what intellectual work it performs. This transforms you from formula-follower to strategic decision-maker.
Real Assignment Language. Practice with authentic university prompts that do not explicitly state "write a compare/contrast essay." Learn to decode the subtle language the assignments use.
Integration, Not Isolation. The final lesson addresses what real university writing requires: combining formats strategically when assignments blend multiple approaches.
Built for Transfer. What we learn in this course applies across disciplines - from humanities to social sciences to natural sciences - because these esssay types represent fundamental patterns of academic thinking.
How the Course Works
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 10 lessons delivered over 10 weeks. It takes approximately 40-50 hours of study totally over 10 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.
What's Included
Comprehensive Learning Materials:
10 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
10 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
10 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:
10 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
Cost & Enrollment
Course Cost: $600
Choose Your Payment Plan
Both plans include the full University Success: Mastering Essential Essay Types course experience
Option 1: Pay in Full
$600 one-time payment when you enroll
Option 2: Split Payment
Two payments of $300 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?
Writing skill and format recognition are different abilities. Many students write well but struggle because they don't recognize what kind of writing the assignment requires. This course teaches you to decode assignment prompts and choose appropriate organizational structures - the meta-skill that underlies university writing success.
Will we practice all six essay types?
Yes. Each format receives dedicated instruction and practice. You'll write multiple paragraphs and at least one complete essay in each format, with feedback and revision opportunities.
What if I only struggle with one or two essay types?
The course teaches all six types because format recognition depends on understanding the full system. Knowing when to use descriptive essays requires understanding how they differ from analytical essays. However, you can focus your revision energy on formats that challenge you most.
Do these formats apply to all academic disciplines?
Yes. While specific content and citation styles vary by discipline, these six formats represent fundamental patterns of academic thinking used across humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The course includes examples from multiple disciplines to demonstrate transferability.
Can I take this course without completing your Foundational courses?
If you have B2+ English proficiency, strong paragraph writing skills, and experience with academic writing, you can enter directly. However, students who complete the recommended prerequisites typically find format learning easier because they have stronger foundational skills to apply.
I'm already in university and struggling with essays. Will this help?
Absolutely. Many current university students take this course because they receive feedback about not answering the question or using inappropriate organization. Format recognition often makes the immediate difference in grades.
Is Argumentative Writing really necessary before this course?
Highly recommended but not absolutely required. Argumentation skills appear in multiple essay types beyond just argumentative essays. Students who complete Argumentative Writing first apply those skills more effectively across all formats.
How much writing will we do?
Substantial writing practice in each format. Expect to write multiple paragraphs per lesson, at least one complete essay per format, plus planning and revision exercises. This is a practice-intensive course.
Will we get individual feedback on our writing?
Yes. Small class size (maximum 4 students) ensures detailed feedback on your organizational choices, format application, and revision priorities. You'll receive both written feedback and in-class discussion.
Can I work at my own pace with the materials?
The course is structured with scheduled lessons, deadlines, and peer interaction. We do not provide self-paced study.
How quickly will I see improvement in my essay writing?
Format recognition often creates immediate improvement because you're organizing more appropriately for the assignment. Deeper mastery of each format develops over the 8 lessons with practice and feedback.
Will this help with standardized tests like TOEFL or SAT?
Yes. These tests require essay responses in specific formats (often argumentative or analytical). Understanding format requirements and organizing appropriately improves test performance. However, this course focuses on university academic writing, not test preparation specifically.
What happens after I complete this course?
You'll have format versatility essential for university success. Many students proceed to Essential Academic Formats for additional practical formats, or to Academic Writing Bootcamp for advanced analytical thinking development. Others apply their format knowledge directly to university coursework.
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