One-on-One Peak Writing

An intensive, one-on-one writing program for grades 8 and up

Analytical writing is among the most important and challenging writing tasks that students face in high school and in college. It requires critical thinking and analysis as the writer investigates and interprets the meaning of texts. Students who have mastered this have a rock-solid advantage over their peers —a competitive edge that cuts across the span of their scholastic careers. They meet the task with more confidence and less frustration, conquering the fear and stress that often accompanies even starting these assignments.

Middle school or high school is the perfect time

Expectations for student writing rise in grades 8 and up, but learning to write in a classroom setting can be challenging. Summit’s Peak Analytical Writing program helps students sharpen this skill in a one-on-one setting. Middle and high school students will learn to structure their essays, deepen their analysis, and develop their arguments to achieve mastery of analytical writing.

Our typical program consists of either 8 or 16 weekly one-on-one sessions with a hand-picked tutor. Sessions are 90 minutes, with about an hour of homework assigned per session. Tutoring conveniently takes place either online or in-person in your home or locally, on your schedule.

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A rewarding, rigorous curriculum boosts writing skills

The unique, scaffolded structure of our analytical writing program is the key. Students will first sharpen their active reading skills while learning how to effectively analyze literature and engage with texts on a deeper level. From there, they’ll learn and practice how to create compelling thesis statements and develop thoughtful, well-supported arguments. By program’s end, your student will be producing cohesive, well-written analytical essays with confidence.

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Our tutors meet students “Where they are”

Your Summit tutor will tailor lesson pacing, difficulty, and content to your individual student’s needs. They start by assessing your student’s current capabilities using a writing sample, and then customize lessons to challenge them and nurture growth. By the end of the program, your student will learn to engage confidently with the writing process. That’s why working one-on-one with an expert writing teacher is the ideal environment for mastering writing.

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One-on-one instruction from professionals

Most of our Peak Writing tutors are current or former English teachers who have a talent for engaging students in this age group. They are experts at analyzing students’ writing and giving clear, actionable feedback on areas for growth. They are passionate about what they do and are committed to their students’ success.
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Peak Writing Learning Outcomes

Analytical techniques for approaching a piece of literature
Close reading and making solid inferences
Multiple annotation techniques
Literary terminology
Creating strong, supportable theses
Creating cohesive, analytical paragraphs
Editing and revision skills
Writing an effective 5-paragraph essay, using evidence and citations

“The PEAK program is wonderful! William made huge improvements in his reading comprehension and writing skills.

I love that the first eight weeks focused on “active” reading and the assignments exposed William to many of the classic authors in American literature. William also came to appreciate the importance of taking time to write a really good outline that reinforced his thesis. Once it came time to write his final essay it came together really easily for him because of all the prep work. His final essay was clear, well-structured and well argued with lots of supporting evidence from the text, I couldn’t believe the difference between the quality of his final essay and the papers he had been writing prior to taking the program. Most importantly, William has gained confidence in his writing.

My daughter Kathryn is learning a lot from the program as well. This is a good indication of the strength of the program because my daughter is an avid reader and writer (for the school newspaper). I was concerned that she wouldn’t be challenged but she is really excited about how much she is learning from PEAK.”

~Patricia W., Parent

Meet Some of Our Top Writing Teachers

Carol Margolis

Carol Margolis received a BA in English and American Literature from Harvard University, and an MAT in Secondary English Education from Washington University. She teaches English at Dedham High School, and has tutored for the SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, and subject tests for Summit. In her free time, Carol enjoys traveling and going to the theater. College, degree obtained: Harvard, BA, English and American Literature Washington University, MA, Secondary English education

Meet The Tutors

Lauren Doolan

Lauren is from Peabody, Massachusetts, and she earned her BA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing form Emerson College, as well as an MFA in Writing from Sarah Lawrence College. She has worked for Summit since 2012 as a tutor, a Program Director, a trainer, and she has helped write and edit content for our coursebooks. Over her career as a Summit tutor, Lauren has worked with students on both the math and verbal portions of test prep, and has experience as an academic English tutor as well. Outside of Summit, Lauren has spent the last decade in after school programs and conducting adult education classes, doing everything from teaching grammar and punctuation to ESL students to showing seventh graders how to make tacos. Lauren’s style is patient, encouraging, and positive. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and traveling. College, degree obtained: Emerson, BA, Writing, Literature, and Publishing Sarah Lawrence, MFA, Fiction writing

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Don Birmingham

In his teaching career, Don has been fortunate enough to have taught at almost every level from AP English courses to Special Education courses in Middle School. Don has also worked with students from a wide variety of backgrounds – from 12th graders preparing for college, to 6th graders who are learning English. Through all these experiences, he has learned a few pretty simple rules for success: develop a respectful and supportive relationship, make sure the students know you’re on their side, figure out what works best for the student, challenge them, and give positive reinforcement when they have success.
College, degree obtained: Amherst College, BA English UMass Amherst, MS Sports Management St. John’s University, MA, Special Education

Meet The Tutors