Academic Writing

Our Academic Writing program assists students in mastering the entire writing process, from brainstorming, researching, note-taking, and analysis to outlining, drafting, and revising. We believe that exceptional writing skills empower and distinguish students not only across the academic curriculum, but also throughout their professional careers.  

We help students learn to form an argument; articulate a thesis and topic sentences; utilize effective structure; gather, evaluate, and integrate evidence and sources; and respond to the work of others. We teach students to become aware of rhetorical situations and to craft their writing accordingly. We also rigorously attend to grammar and style, as well as practical matters such as citation.

In addition to the academic essay genre, our Academic Writing program addresses authoring in digital environments, creating digital identities, and writing in non-traditional forms. For example, we work with students on composing arguments in emerging digital media such as video essays, photo essays, and podcasts. In these instances, we focus on helping students understand visual rhetoric and how to communicate effectively across media, as both student and professional writers are increasingly asked to do.

The Chernik Group also offers intensive preparation for the written components of standardized tests, as well as support through the demanding – but potentially exhilarating – process of drafting college and graduate school application essays. Please see the Standardized Test Preparation and The Art and Craft of the Application Essay™ pages of our website for more information.