Each day begins with a lively discussion of literature in a class led by a Carleton professor. Students will read both contemporary and traditional literature from classic texts by writers such as Plato and Shakespeare to a variety of modern short stories, essays, and poems by authors such as August Wilson, Margaret Atwell, James Baldwin, Alice Walker, and Adrienne Rich. This literature then becomes the focus of their papers.

In addition to the morning classes, discussion sections led by current Carleton students provide even more individual attention. The writing workshop meets daily to provide students with opportunities to focus on their own writing process. Students will write every day. Although occasional creative writing exercises are included, the focus of the workshop remains on academic papers.