Writing & Critical Thinking
Writing and Critical Thinking (W&CT) represents a three-year curriculum focused on providing students with the instruction that will help them develop effective writing skills in preparation for college. The program was created in 2006 to address consistent feedback regarding students’ struggles with writing. Now in its seventh year, W&CT is an integral part of Minds Matter programming.
The Sophomore W&CT Program encourages students to develop basic writing and critical thinking skills such as expanding their vocabulary, understanding essay structure, and producing written works that represent their thoughts on a myriad of topics.
Juniors have the opportunity to polish their skills by building on the work done in the Sophomore W&CT Program by developing more advanced personal narratives and practicing their analytical skills on current issues . Students continue to craft and refine their personal statements for summer programs. Exposure to and discussion of short-form autobiographical works by writers like Maya Angelou help students think about different and creative ways in which they can tell their own stories.
In the Senior Program, a targeted Writing and Critical Thinking curriculum focuses on improving college essays and scholarship applications.
“This program molds teenagers into people they’ve always wanted to be, with such amazing resources. I can never stop thanking Minds Matter for giving me the writing, critical thinking, and overall personal skills I developed.”
-Kelvin, Class of 2010, SUNY Binghamton
