1:1 Peak Writing

Personalized Writing Programs for Grades 6 and Up

Strong writing skills are essential for academic success. Whether your student needs to build a solid foundation or refine their analytical writing for advanced courses, Summit’s Peak Writing programs provide expert, 1:1 instruction tailored to their needs.

Programs Designed for Growth

  • Peak Fundamental Writing (6 weeks) – Master the foundations of quality essay writing
  • Peak Analytical Writing (8–16 weeks) – Develop advanced analytical writing skills for AP, honors, and college-level courses

Students who master these skills gain a lasting academic advantage, approaching writing with confidence and reducing the stress often associated with complex assignments.

1:1 Peak Writing

Our Peak Writing programs are designed to support the multi-level learning process of basic essay writing and advanced, analytical thinking. We are focused on helping students get to their highest level.

The Right Time to Build Strong Writing Skills

As students enter middle and high school, writing expectations rise—but mastering these skills in a classroom setting can be challenging. Summit’s Peak Fundamental Writing and Peak Analytical Writing programs provide personalized, one-on-one support to help students strengthen their writing abilities with expert guidance.

Flexible, Expert-Led Tutoring

  • Customized 1:1 instruction with a hand-picked tutor
  • 6- or 8-week programs with 90-minute weekly sessions
  • Targeted practice, including an hour of homework per session
  • Convenient online or in-home options to fit your schedule

With personalized coaching, students build confidence and master essential writing skills that will serve them throughout their academic careers.

Peak Fundamental Writing

Designed to help students master the fundamentals of essay writing, this program starts with strengthening reading comprehension and effective written communication.

With expert guidance, students will:

  • Develop a clear understanding of essay structure
  • Learn to craft strong thesis statements and support arguments effectively
  • Build an ideal essay model alongside their tutor
  • Research, plan, and write a well-structured essay on a challenging topic

By the end of the program, students will have the confidence and skills to approach writing assignments with clarity and precision.

Peak Analytical Writing

A rigorous, structured program designed to elevate students’ analytical writing abilities.

With expert guidance, students will:

  • Strengthen active reading and literary analysis skills
  • Learn to craft compelling thesis statements and well-supported arguments
  • Develop structured, insightful essays with clarity and depth
  • Gain confidence in writing analytical essays for AP courses, advanced English, and college-level work

By the end of the program, students will approach complex writing assignments with precision, confidence, and a strong academic foundation.

Expert One-On-One Instruction

Our Peak Writing tutors are experienced educators, many of whom are current or former English teachers. They specialize in engaging students across various age groups, providing clear, actionable feedback to strengthen writing skills. Passionate about their craft, they are dedicated to helping students build confidence and achieve lasting success.

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Peak Fundamental Writing: Learning Outcomes

  • Sharpen problem-solving and critical-thinking skills
  • Learn key reading strategies essential for strong writing
  • Develop an effective model for structuring essays
  • Improve written communication for clarity and impact
  • Write strong thesis statements and support arguments effectively
  • Strengthen editing and revision skills
  • Craft a well-structured, four-paragraph essay
  • Enhance grammar skills with bonus lessons on parts of speech and sentence structure
  • Build confidence for the demands of high school writing

Peak Analytical Writing: Learning Outcomes

  • Develop analytical techniques for interpreting literature
  • Strengthen close reading skills and inference-making
  • Master multiple annotation methods
  • Build a strong foundation in literary terminology
  • Craft well-supported thesis statements
  • Analyze rhetoric, stories, and essays with depth
  • Construct cohesive, evidence-based analytical arguments
  • Improve editing and revision skills
  • Write a structured, five-paragraph essay with proper citations
  • Gain confidence for advanced English, AP courses, and college-level writing

Meet Some of Our Top Tutors

Lauren Doolan
Lauren Doolan

A Summit tutor since 2012, Lauren specializes in test prep and English, helping students build confidence and master new skills with her patient, encouraging approach. She holds a BA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College and an MFA in Writing from Sarah Lawrence. Outside of tutoring, she enjoys reading, sewing, cooking, and traveling.

Areas of Expertise

Test Prep: SAT, PSAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE

AP: English Literature, English Language

Academic: English

Jane Kennedy
Jane Kennedy

Jane holds a BA in linguistics from Smith College. She has been tutoring and teaching classes with Summit since 2017; since 2024, she has also worked at the Five College Center for World Languages, where she coordinates courses in languages from Armenian to Zulu. An award-winning poet, Jane also makes collage art and is currently working on a pop-punk EP. She's a word game devotee with an 800+ clue streak on Minute Cryptic, and she inspires students to succeed with her playful approach to test-taking, which is really just puzzle-solving in the end.

Areas of Expertise

Test Prep: SAT, ACT, PSAT, SSAT, ISEE

Academic: English

Rob Salomon
Rob Salomon

Rob grew up in Northern California and earned a degree in Public Administration with a minor in Economics from Northern Arizona University. Coming from a family of educators, he has spent the past 20 years tutoring and mentoring students, helping them build confidence and reach their academic goals. Rob has been part of the Summit team since 2022 and spent two years as a Program Director, guiding families through the test prep process, before returning his focus to working one on one with students. Outside of work, Rob enjoys hiking, playing the drums, gardening, and challenging friends and family to board games.

Areas of Expertise

Test Prep: SAT, PSAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE

Elementary/Middle Academic: English, Math

High School Academic: Algebra, Economics, English, Statistics

Tessa Murray, PhD
Tessa Murray, PhD

Originally from Scotland, Tessa moved to the U.S. in 2001 after earning a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Aberdeen. She completed postdoctoral research at Boston University and worked as a research scientist at Tufts Medical Center. Tessa spent ten years as an educator at the Museum of Science, where she honed a knack for breaking complex topics into simple, engaging pieces. She joined Summit as a tutor in 2015 and makes sessions productive and enjoyable, using a touch of humor to ease test prep. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, biking, camping, skiing, and traveling.

Areas of Expertise

Test Prep: SAT, ACT, PSAT, SSAT, ISEE

AP: Biology, Chemistry, Calculus AB, Precalculus

Academic: Algebra, Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Geometry, Trig/Precalculus

Kevin Sun
Kevin Sun

A Summit Tutor since 2019, Kevin works with students in grades 4–12. He creates a supportive, stress-free environment where students build confidence, master key concepts, and develop lifelong learning skills. By tailoring his teaching approach to each student’s unique learning style, he makes lessons both engaging and effective. Outside of tutoring, he enjoys spending time with family, watching movies, attending live music events, cooking, and hiking.

Areas of Expertise

Test Prep: SAT, PSAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE

AP: Biology

Academic: Algebra, Calculus, Geometry, Trig/Precalculus, Biology, Chemistry, English, Chinese

Dave Pyrch
Dave Pyrch

Dave earned BS degrees in Mathematics and Math Education, along with an MA in Education from the University of Connecticut. He has been tutoring with Summit since 2018 and brings over nine years of experience as both a tutor and high school math teacher. Passionate about helping students break down complex math concepts, Dave uses proven strategies to build mastery and confidence. Outside of tutoring, he is a marathon runner, kayaker, and music enthusiast.

Areas of Expertise

Test Prep: SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE

AP: Statistics, Calculus BC and AB, Precalculus

Academic:  Algebra, Calculus, Geometry, Trig/Precalculus, Statistics

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