Program areas at Write the World
Write the World ("wtw") commenced nonprofit operations august 1, 2022. Wtw helps students, directly and through their teachers, develop the writing and critical thinking skills essential for success in school, career, and life. Wtw accomplishes its mission through 4 core program activities: (1) a free global writing community, with writing competitions and online journals of student writing, (2) college essay preparation programs, (3) virtual writing workshops, and (4) writing programs for schools and community-based after-school programs. Wtw is an online educational writing community that provides a safe and engaging learning environment for middle- and high-school students. Young writers develop their voices, refine editing skills, and publish work within a supportive community of peers. Teachers and program administrators utilize wtw's virtual class groups, writing prompts, lesson plans, assessment tools, and resources to supplement their curriculum. Wtw has served over 85,000 students and 5,500 teachers from over 120 countries and all 50 states. 57% of members reside in the us, 71% identify as female, 24% male, and 5% non-binary. Students and educators access wtw's programs free of charge by simply signing up as a member.
(1)free global writing community, including writing competitions and student journals:the free global writing community, competitions, and student journals offer young writers opportunities to develop writing and critical thinking skills across a range of genres. Free global writing community. Wtw creates and posts ever-changing collections of writing prompts in a variety of genres. Prompts inspire young writers to engage with both familiar and new writing styles, from personal narrative, to science, poetry, op-ed, speechwriting, and more. Posted writing is eligible to be published in our online literary journal (Write the World review), as well as receive peer reviews from other members. Trained site moderators oversee published content. In the last 5 months of 2022, wtw published over 10,100 pieces from students in 68 countries. Students gave over 1,150 peer reviews of other students' writing.writing competitions. Wtw holds monthly writing competitions, each focused on a particular writing genre. All members can participate. Entrants submit drafts for expert and peer reviews, revise their work, and upload final drafts to the competition platform. Guest judges select winning entries and award cash prizes. Guest judges are respected writers and have included amanda gorman and pulitzer prize winning poet, robert pinsky. Over the last 5 months of 2022, wtw sponsored 5 writing competitions with a total of 1,620 entrants from 48 countries. Genres ranged from environmental writing and poetry, to songwriting and sci-fi/fantasy. Flash fiction, with 993 entries, was the most popular.online journal of student writing. Wtw periodically curates 12 to 15 exemplary student works into issues of our online journal, Write the World review. the journal is free, publicly available, and distributed to educators, students, and alumni. Issues are organized around a central theme, such as nature or changemaking, and include lesson plans. the journal demonstrates the diversity of wtw's membership. In 2022, wtw published 3 issues, featuring work by 28 young writers from 13 countries. (2)college essay program:wtw's low-cost, online, on-demand (asynchronous) college essay program is a resource for students who lack access to school-based or private tutors. the two-part program is (1) a 16-chapter course to guide students to Write authentic common application narratives, plus (2) an online review service to give prompt feedback on draft essays. Students complete the course at their own pace, guided by how-to videos, prompts, checklists, office hours with trained writers/educators, exemplar essays, and parent resource guides. the program is offered directly to students and also through their schools. In 2022, 66 students participated and were accepted in schools including harvard, columbia, u chicago, and northeastern. (3)virtual writing workshops:wtw offers online writing workshops in small group settings. For the summer 2022 series ending august 31, wtw offered 8 workshops serving 104 students from 7 countries. Workshops run 5 days and feature interactive writing activities moderated by authors/educators. Wtw awarded 5 scholarships to students to attend workshops. (4)writing programs for schools and community-based after-school programs: students need supportive teachers. Wtw enables its 5,500 teachers and after-school program administrators to create or join private writing groups for their classes or after-school communities. Teachers and administrators access prompts, peer review rubrics, lesson plans, assessment tools, and other writing resources. In 2022, wtw received contributions to enhance its technology platform for classrooms and after-school programs, including curricula to explore "writing as changemaking." the importance of student writing. Consistent writing practice helps students build on prior knowledge, reinforces critical thinking skills, and supports motivation to learn. Writing enhances students' understanding of content across different subject areas, from english language arts to science, technology, engineering, and math. Writing also helps students develop their emerging identities as they confront new subjects, reflect, and share thoughts with teachers and peers. Writing competency is a predictor of academic success and critical for employment in today's knowledge-based economy. Wtw helps students, directly and through teachers and after-school programs, develop these writing and critical thinking skills.