2019 Summer Intermediate/Middle School Writing Camps
- Description: These weekly half day workshops/camps are designed for intermediate/middle school students to have fun with classic literature analysis and improve writing ability during summer. The following topics are arranged for each week:
This lecture series emphasizes comprehension of classic short articles or excerpts of difficult texts, manifested in group
discussions, short answer guiding questions, and essay analyses. Each session, students will receive a portion of a classic
work to read for the first hour while answering accompanying questions. The second hour will be spent conducting a
thorough discussion to ensure comprehension of specific literary devices and challenging vocabulary. In the third hour,
students will employ their understanding of the text to write an essay to be revised by the instructor. With the completion
of each session, students will develop the reading skills necessary for understanding difficult works of literature and become
acquainted with the process of formulating original ideas within the framework of a source text.
2. Letters About Literature Camp, Week 3, 6/10 - 6/14
This camp combines reading and analysis with writing instruction to assist each student in writing a letter to the author of a
book, short story, poem, or speech. Students will read their chosen work, research the author (including background and
personal views), describe how the work has been impactful, and write a letter to the author that expresses how the author's
writing has been personally meaningful. All letters will be correctly formatted and prepared for submission to the Library of
Congress Letters About Literature contest.
3. Creative Writing Camp, Week 4, 6/17 - 6/21
This camp will enable students to write a fictional narrative with all the components of a compelling short story. Students
will be instructed on the fundamentals of creative writing, including plot formulation, character development, and style
expression. Students will then begin to draft their own essays with guidance in all stages of the writing process provided
by the instructor. At the conclusion of the camp, each student will have a completed work of fiction for submission to the
Scholastic Art & Writing Short Story contest.
4. Critical Essay Camp, Week 5, 6/24 - 6/28
This camp will instruct students in the process of researching and writing about a topic or issue that is modernly relevant.
Students will receive instruction on what constitutes a critical essay and its primary components. Then, each student will
select a topic or issue and begin the process of researching, writing, and refining their views. By the conclusion of the camp,
each student will have a finalized paper with a brief summary of the topic or issue, correctly cited references, and a cogent
argument or opinion. Papers will then be submitted to the Scholastic Art & Writing Critical Essay competition.
5. Kids Are Authors Camp, Week 9 & 10, 7/22 - 8/2
This camp combines writing practice with teamwork and communications skills. Students will form groups of three or more
and work together to plan, write, and illustrate a fiction or nonfiction book. Participants will learn to collaborate and utilize
the strengths of group members. The illustration component provides an opportunity for students to represent text through
various mediums. At the conclusion of the camp, students will have a fully written book with complementary illustrations
for submission to the Scholastic Kids Are Authors competition.
6. Contest Essay Revision Camp, Week 11, 8/5 - 8/9
This camp is focused solely on revision and is offered to students interested in submitting a highly competitive paper to
the contest. Before the revision week begins, the instructor will review each paper and provide extensive individualized
feedback and recommendations, which may then be implemented by the students.
Note: Materials and activities are arranged with both new students and returning students in mind and all students will have a
lot to learn in the fun environment.
- Date, Time, and Subjects/Activities for each week:
- Instructor: Jason Bond
University with a degree in Philosophy. Mr. Bond's work focuses primarily on the continental tradition of philosophy, including
19th-century literature, and social and political theories. More than five years of experience teaching a variety of English-related
subjects, including popular Literary Analysis workshops and highly successful SAT Reading and Writing camps, enables him to
effectively instruct students of various ages and backgrounds.
- Maximum Number of students each camp: 10
- Fees, discounts and refund policies
• Weekly Camp Tuition: $200
• Kids Are Author's Camp: $400
Refund policy:
Full refund: if you withdraw your student one week before the workshop.
Half refund: if you withdraw your student within a week before the camp.
No refund: Once camp is started.
