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[quote=Anonymous]   Honestly, I think most privates with small class sizes should do this well if they have decent teachers.  Part of excellent writing is taught, but beyond that part is either innate or a byproduct of being well-read.

I think most parents at St. Andrew's think the school does a very good job in teaching writing.  From 9th grade forward, they review /polish basic rubrics -- what is your thesis, construct your intro paragraph this way, your conclusion should do this, your body paragraphs should include at least x examples to support your view -- and moving in more advanced classes what objections should you anticipate to an argument.  There are some writing assignments throughout the year in different classes -- English, history, eventually foreign languages -- and different types of writing.  Of course, most emphasis is on the expositive essay, but there are also assignments aimed at fostering creative writing, poetry, and some aimed at teaching more effective PowerPoint, outlines, and other presentations.

Junior year, all students do a major history research (context) paper in connection with the US history class -- whether taking regular or AP levels as well as a follow on paper that puts into that context results of an original interview students conduct with a person who was a witness to some aspect of the historical topic.  Senior year all students pick a specific faculty advisor to work on an original research paper.   These papers are usually a minimum of 15 pages but some students get into it and they can be much longer.  Students who take the AP language and composition class also receive formal instruction in rhetoric.

The school incentivizes students with not only effort grades generally (in addition to academic grades) but also with opportunities to publish in the literary magazine (like many privates) and with a few mini-writing contests. There are also major awards for the best senior paper as well as for outstanding achievement in a subject matter senior year. 
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