The Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) is a writing curriculum teaching systematic structure and style through video instruction, used by homeschoolers and schools for over 25 years.
What is the Institute for Excellence in Writing?
The Institute for Excellence in Writing is a premier writing curriculum founded in 1994, built on teaching methods dating back to the 1930s. IEW's flagship approach, "Teaching Writing with Structure and Style," breaks writing into two learnable components: structure (organizational skills through 9 sequential units) and style (artistic techniques added incrementally). Founder Andrew Pudewa teaches the core video lessons himself, known for using humor to engage even reluctant writers. The method takes students from working with source texts through key word outlines all the way to original compositions—systematically building skills rather than hoping kids figure it out through assigned essays.
Key Takeaways
- Structure and Style method teaches writing through systematic, step-by-step skill building
- Video instruction by founder Andrew Pudewa—parents facilitate rather than teach
- Three levels: A (grades 3-5), B (grades 6-8), C (grade 9+)
- Not a complete language arts program—doesn't cover grammar, spelling, or reading
- High resale value and satisfaction guarantee reduce purchase risk
The Structure and Style Method
IEW's approach rests on a key insight: students struggle with writing because they're asked to do too many things at once—generate ideas, organize them, choose words, and construct sentences simultaneously. Structure and Style separates these skills. The 9 structural units progress from creating key word outlines from source texts (analysis and imitation) to eventually writing from a blank page (original composition). Style techniques—sophisticated vocabulary, varied sentence openers, literary decorations—layer in gradually according to mastery. Students never face something they haven't been trained to do.
Course Levels and Pricing
Who IEW Works Best For
IEW shines for reluctant writers—the step-by-step approach with engaging video instruction reduces anxiety about facing blank pages. Visual and auditory learners appreciate the video-based teaching. Students who thrive with clear structure and explicit expectations often flourish. It's also effective for students struggling with essay organization and for homeschoolers wanting professional-quality instruction that parents facilitate rather than deliver themselves. On the other hand, if your child resists structured learning entirely, the methodical approach may feel constraining.
What IEW Doesn't Cover
Important caveat: IEW is a writing program, not complete language arts. It doesn't thoroughly cover grammar (though the Fix It! Grammar add-on addresses this), spelling, vocabulary, or reading. Many families pair IEW with separate grammar and spelling programs. The core Structure and Style curriculum focuses specifically on composition skills. This isn't a weakness—it's intentional specialization—but it means planning your full language arts program accordingly.
The Bottom Line
IEW provides systematic, professional-quality writing instruction through video lessons that parents can facilitate without expertise in teaching composition. The Structure and Style method has helped countless reluctant writers gain confidence through clear, incremental skill-building. Materials hold exceptional resale value, and a satisfaction guarantee reduces risk. Just remember it's writing-focused—you'll need additional resources for grammar, spelling, and reading.
