<p>I was looking for some help in choosing an online writing course this summer for my S, currently a high school junior. I am trying to choose between the Duke TIP course Academic Writing II:Writing About Literature; the CTY course Writing Analysis and Persuasion, or the MIT open course ware Writing About Literature. </p>
<p>S has a part time job this summer, so a residential program is not possible. He is a math/science kid who just needs some more instruction/practice with the process of writing a good English essay. I could "grade" his essays, but comments from an instructor would carry much more weight in his mind. </p>
<p>I do not have experience with on-line classes. However, my D. who has always been very strong writer, received writing award in Junior year in HS…etc. has been commenting that AP English Literature has helped her tremendously. She continues to be a strong writer at college (senior next year). College Honors English was a “joke” according to her and writing has contributed a lot to her very high college GPA, receiving Grants, Scholarships,…etc. So, I agree with you that it is very important part of college prep. I am not sure though if on-line course would be as helpful. D. is very much into science also and math has been very easy, though not interesting for her. She is pre-med.</p>
<p>You might save yourself some money by looking into what your local community college offers. At our CC, ENG 101 is taught on-line, and that would give him plenty of feed back on his skills, and it might focus more on research writing rather than literature based writing. He might also take the class as an audit and then there would be no pressure. If your son qualifies for the programs you listed, I am certain that achieving high grades in not an issue, but those programs might be more work than he needs during the summer. Just an idea.</p>
<p>D did a writing course through CTY which was wonderful. I notice the CTY course offers the web-based or email version- D did the email version which was wonderful. Got great feedback from the instructor.</p>
<p>D has done online & residential CTY programs. Online she has done both email and web based courses. You really have to understand your kid’s motivation and time management before signing on to the online courses. The feedback that D received on the writing course was excellent and more detailed than what she’s seen in most of her classes (exceptions being AP Eng Lang & Eng Lit) but she didn’t manage her time particularly well and so was always behind on her assignments.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions! Did either of your children take the CTY Writing Analysis and Persuasion or the AP Language and Composition course? The description of the popular CTY Crafting the Essay course seems to mirror what he took first semester of 11th grade, so maybe he should not repeat that. Qualifying to take the AP English exam is not really a consideration, he just needs instruction and feedback.</p>
<p>Unfortunately I can’t speak to those specific courses. I would contact CTY and ask for their recommendations as to which course to select. Crafting the Essay is very popular and I know several already excellent writers who have taken that course but if you feel the material is duplicative you can explore that with the CTY folks.</p>
<p>During AP in HS, D. had so much input from her teacher constantly rewriting and perfecting her papers, it was one of the hardest HS classes. I cannot imagine having that much interaction while taking on-line class. But again, cannot do real compare because of lack of experience with on-line courses.</p>