The Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) teaches writing through a structured, systematic method that gives students a concrete process for producing good writing. Created by Andrew Pudewa, the program breaks writing down into specific, teachable techniques — stylistic elements like dress-ups (quality adjectives, adverbs, strong verbs) and sentence openers that students learn to incorporate into their work.

The flagship product, Structure and Style for Students (SSS), includes video instruction by Andrew Pudewa himself, so parents don't need to be confident writers to teach the program. Students watch the video lesson, then apply the techniques in their own writing assignments. It costs approximately $89-199 depending on the package.

At a Glance

What to Know

IEW's approach is distinctive: rather than starting from a blank page (which terrifies most young writers), students begin by working with source texts. They learn to take notes using key word outlines, then reconstruct the information in their own words while incorporating stylistic techniques. This scaffolded approach builds confidence progressively.

The method is highly structured, which is both its greatest strength and the main criticism. Students who struggle with open-ended writing assignments often flourish with IEW's clear framework. However, some writing-oriented families feel the technique-based approach can make student writing feel formulaic, especially in the early levels.

IEW also offers themed writing programs for specific subjects (history, science) and an excellent grammar supplement called Fix It! Grammar. This program has a passionate following in the homeschool community, particularly among classical and traditional families.