Program Description:

Emphasizing a writing process approach, the Summer Writing Program will teach you how to compose academic papers similar to those you will write in college. This program is designed for college-bound students with strong reading and writing abilities. It is not a remedial writing program.

Each day begins with a morning class full of lively discussion of literature  led by a Carleton professor. You will read both contemporary and traditional literature, from classic texts by writers such as Plato and Shakespeare to a variety of modern short stories, essays, and poems by authors such as August Wilson, Margaret Atwell, James Baldwin, Alice Walker, and Adrienne Rich. This literature then becomes the focus of your papers.

In addition to the morning classes, discussion sections led by current Carleton students offer you even more individual attention. Also, the writing workshop meets daily to provide you with opportunities to focus on your own writing process. You will write every day. Although we occasionally include creative writing exercises, the focus of the workshop remains on expository prose—the kind you will use in college to write academic papers.

Public computer labs are available to all program participants.

Eligibility:

Students currently completing their junior year may apply. Students should possess strong reading and writing abilities.

Attendance Policy:

The Summer Writing Program is a residential program that requires full-time residence at the College, including weekends, for the duration of the program. Students are expected to remain on campus, with the exception of program-sponsored excursions. Only in cases of emergency, and with the program director's approval, may students be absent from the program. No exceptions will be made.

View the contract of attendance.

Faculty:

The Summer Writing Program is directed by Deborah Appleman, professor of educational studies. The core classes will be taught by professors who represent a variety of academic disciplines. In the past, Summer Writing Program faculty members have included political scientists, philosophers, economists, historians, and literary scholars.

Campus Life:

In previous years, students have hailed from all 50 states and several countries. The diversity of people and the robust exchange of ideas create a challenging and exciting atmosphere.

Besides your course work, you will participate in a variety of group activities, which may include trips to the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area or to the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.

You will live with a roommate in a Carleton residence hall, supervised by full-time Dorm Counselors. You will have access to the campus’s cultural activities, which may include films, concerts, and plays; and recreational facilities including tennis, basketball, racquetball, squash, and handball courts; softball, soccer, and rugby fields; and an 880-acre arboretum with 13 miles of hiking and jogging trails.

Transportation:

You are responsible for your own transportation to Carleton. Participants who travel by air will arrive at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. Carleton College is located in Northfield, Minnesota, a 45-minute ride from the airport. Airport shuttles to and from the campus are available for a fee. Additional details will accompany acceptance materials.