Whether it is in-class writing assignment, a question on a midterm exam, an Advance Placement essay or an SAT writing prompt, students are consistently asked to think thoughtfully about a subject and produce an organized and well supported essay in a limited amount of time.
To be successful, students must develop particular skills and habits of thinking. Mount Vernon’s WriteNOW! Program provides students the opportunity to develop and hone these skills on a regular basis. On Mondays, during the last period of the day, all Upper School students report to their assigned room and are given a short writing prompt. They have a few minutes to digest and process the question, sketch out ideas and develop a plan. Students then proceed to write their essays by hand in a Meade Composition notebook in the remaining time. Prompts are tailored to each student and address issues that are being taught in their English, History, and Math or Science class. These subjects will rotate every week with the fourth week being reserved for feedback from instructors that stresses both strengths and weaknesses of a student’s writing. The essays are graded on a five-point scale with an emphasis on organization, analysis and argument. These essays will count towards 10% of the student’s grade. Over the course of the school year, a student will complete twenty-four essays in the program. The WriteNOW! Program provides each student with the opportunity and the support to master the timed essay.
