Tag: Mentor Texts

New York Times Writing Contests · Independent Student Guide · Editorial Library

15 Jul 2026

Reading The Times Like a Writer: A Mentor-Text Method for NYT Contest Prep (2026)

Most students prepare for NYT Learning Network contests by writing more. The faster gains come from reading better: a four-pass mentor-text method, a contest-to-genre reading map, and the originality line you must never cross. Read article →

Close Reading · Contest Prep · Mentor Texts · Writing Craft

NYT Writing Contests

This is an independent educational guide to The New York Times Learning Network’s free student contests. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The New York Times Company.