Center for Writing and Critical Thinking

Berkshire School’s Center for Writing and Critical Thinking, now in its fourth year of existence, offers students individual assistance with their writing, as well as form-specific fall forums, and the opportunity to utilize a space that is exclusively dedicated to writers and to writing. Writing Center consultants are eager to provide assistance with class assignments from any discipline, college application essays, and other independent writing projects, with the goal to offer students the help they require to best put forth their own ideas. Center volunteers will not ‘fix’ papers, but will assist students in finding the clearest way to make a point, develop an idea, and create a cohesive piece of writing. Thus, students will develop their own voices, even as they learn the most effective way to communicate through the written word.

The Center also organizes Fall Forums – interactive presentations on a variety of topics related to writing and critical thinking – throughout the autumn. Students will, for example, have the opportunity to solve logic puzzles with Mr. Splawn, get assistance with their college essays from Mr. Mulder, and deconstruct contemporary advertising with Mr. Miller. During the winter and spring, the Center hosts visiting writers who present their work and then work with students in their English classes the following day. Recent visiting writers have included Justin Allen (fiction), Patricia Smith (poetry), and Elna Baker (creative non-fiction). This year’s schedule will be available as it becomes firm.

Finally, the Center houses Berkshire’s online literary and arts journal, the eDome, and provides space for student book clubs, independent writing groups, and presentations by visiting writers.

Location: Room 212, Berkshire Hall
Extension: (413) 229-1024
Email: cwct@berkshireschool.org
Schedule: Evening Hours: Sunday - Friday: 7:30 -10 PM
Faculty Staff: Stuart Miller (Coordinator), Evan Clary, Kelley Bogardus, Andrea Bowler, Devon O'Rourke