Being a Reader, Becoming a Writer
- Grades 3-4
- CTY-Level
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Commuter
If you love to read, write, and talk about books, this is the course for you. Join a literary community and develop your vocabulary, close-reading, and critical thinking skills through workshops, where you read short stories or novels, respond to them in your journals, and discuss as a class. Then learn and practice what professional writers do: decide on topics, gather material, talk about creative choices with your peers, and draft, workshop, and revise works of creative fiction. Daily lessons and one-on-one conferences with your instructor will help you learn the art of sentence construction, use of imagery, and more. Cooperative learning and constructive criticism are key elements of the course, and detailed responses from your instructor and peers play an essential role in your growth as a reader and writer.
Typical Class Size: 12
Summer Dates & Locations
☀️ CTY Summer Fun Giveaway ☀️
Enroll in a 2022 On-Campus Summer course and you could win a free Online course—AND 50% off a 2023 On-Campus Summer course! Learn more.
Session One
Session Two
Testing and Prerequisites
| Math | Verbal | |
|---|---|---|
| Required Level | Not required | CTY-Level |
Students must achieve qualifying scores on an advanced assessment to be eligible for CTY programs. If you don’t have qualifying scores, you have several different testing options. We’ll help you find the right option for your situation.
Sign up for Testing Learn MoreCost and Financial Aid
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Tuition
- Varies
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Application fee
- Nonrefundable Application Fee - $50 (Waived for financial aid applicants)
- Nonrefundable International Fee - $250 (outside US only)
Financial Aid is available
We are committed to serving all talented youth regardless of financial circumstances. Financial assistance is available based on need.
Course Materials
Students should bring basic school supplies like pens, notebooks, and folders to their summer program. You will be notified of any additional items needed before the course begins. All other materials will be provided by CTY.
Sample Reading
These titles have been featured in past sessions of the course, and may be included this summer. CTY provides students with all texts; no purchase is required.
- America Street: A Multicultural Anthology of Stories, by Anne Mazer
- Esperanza Rising, by Pam Muñoz Ryan
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor
About Language Arts at CTY
Write heroic stories
Want to have fun reading popular stories and writing your own tales of adventure? In Heroes and Villains, you’ll read, discuss, and write about well-known folktales and legends while also crafting your own. Pen your hero’s journey and explore a diverse range of books in Behind the Mask: Superheroes Revealed, or critically analyze popular comics and learn how to construct your own compelling narratives in The Graphic Novel.
Find your voice
Gain the tools to take your writing to the next level. In Being a Reader, Becoming a Writer, build your vocabulary and gain the tools to write your own creative fiction. You’ll learn to craft compelling narratives about your own experiences at the collegiate level in Crafting the Essay, and experiment with literary devices and figurative language in Writing Your World.
Meet our instructors and staff
There is nothing better than seeing that 'eureka' moment and the extension of that moment as students exuberantly share their thoughts.
Dan Sievers
Math Instructor
CTY is one of the highlights of my year. Even though it’s the summer, the immersive learning in a subject where these students truly excel and shine is invigorating for me as a teacher.
Lauren LaPorta
Writing Instructor
The students are so bright, interesting, and often willing to try some of the most silly and unique activities that the RAs create.
Rebecca Somer
Resident Assistant