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Frequently Asked Questions for The Journal

What do I write about each day?

In summer, students choose one of the three articles to write an essay on.

- Monday: News

- Tuesday: Sci & Tech

- Wednesday: Sports

- Thursday: Arts & Culture

- Friday: Creative or NYT Reading Contest

In winter, it will be focused on global news, including cultural festivals, economic trends, travel, and industry insights.

Does the student need to submit a third draft?

After receiving the final feedback (the second revision), students can make edits and save the final version for themselves. There is no need to upload it again.

Can students revise assignments after submitting?

Yes, students can make changes to assignments for the current day up until the 12 AM deadline. After that, further changes will not be accepted.

Unable to submit assignment

If the deadline has passed, article submissions will not be accepted. If you are within the deadline but experiencing submission issues, please submit a ticket here, and our support team will assist you.

Struggling to start assignments?

For students finding it hard to start, we recommend:

  • Reviewing the orientation videos
  • Referencing "The Whale" writing manual and topic-specific "Guardrails"
  • Scheduling a 1:1 meeting with their coach to discuss any challenges.

It is common for students to struggle in the beginning; it will gradually become easier later on.

Assignment difficulty level concerns

If articles feel too easy or challenging:

  • Too Difficult: Encourage your child to review orientation materials like "The Whale" manual and topic "Guardrails." Schedule a 1:1 meeting with their coach to discuss the difficulties. Initial challenges are common but will lessen with time.
  • Too Easy: Submit an academic writing sample to support@letterly.io. Our team will assess and determine if a switch to Group 1 is appropriate.

How long should the assignments take?

Typically, assignments take 2-3 hours each day. It is common for students to struggle initially, but it will gradually become easier over time. Students should also:

  • Review orientation videos, "The Whale" writing manual, and the topic "Guardrails."
  • Schedule a 1:1 meeting with their coach to address any ongoing challenges.

How do parents track assignments and deadlines?

The assignment deadline is midnight each day. We send reminder emails to both students and parents. Parents can help ensure timely submission by logging into the app with the parent's email and password to monitor progress.

Does it require citations?

While formal citations aren’t necessary, students should list all source articles. For guidance, refer to Jane’s video on sourcing articles or consult the topic-specific "Guardrails."

Does the word count include the title?

No, the title is not counted in the word count.

Is there a word count requirement for The Journal?

Yes, assignments should be between 300-400 words, with a minimum requirement of 250 words.