Carnegie Mellon's Pre-College Programs: Writing & Culture

Writing & Culture is an intensive program that introduces students to the range of ways to tell a story. Guided by the mentorship and instruction of the Department of English’s highly distinguished faculty members, students will produce and develop story ideas across a variety of formats and will consider the ways in which the medium affects the message. A poem prompts a short story. A short story is translated into a visual presentation. Both are developed into a screenplay, a scene of which is filmed. Each form alters the way the story is told and understanding that process is our central concern. Thinking about the best way to convey the story you want to tell is a crucial aspect of the humanities and is central to the development of a strong foundation in any discipline. Over the course of this experience, students will gain a toolkit that allows them to interpret written and visual stories with fresh eyes and anticipate different viewpoints.