THE COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAY UNIT

English 12 and A.P. English: October 2 and 3

Aim: How can we review the common application college essays, and start brainstorming for a successful essay?

Do now: Please turn in your Wide Sargasso Sea essays.

This can be a very stressful topic for many of you. Let’s take a moment to relax. http://marc.ucla.edu/mpeg/Body-Sound-Meditation.mp3

THE COMMON APPLICATION ESSAY Let’s review the basics of the common

application essay.

I will post this PowerPoint online, so you don’t need to take notes.

Poll: How many have written at least 1 college essay? How many want to work on an essay you’ve already drafted? How many want to work on a new essay? Common app? Other?

COMMON APPLICATION QUESTIONS 2013-14 Some students have a background or story that is so central to their

identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?

Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?

Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

Length: 250-650 words. Aim for ~500-550 words.

WHICH ESSAY DO YOU THINK WORKS BETTER?

An essay called “Why I love dogs” An essay about accidentally bringing home

the wrong beagle from the pet store.

Let’s see a show of hands. Why?

GENERAL TIPSThink small. Don’t tell your whole life story in 500

words. Find a story in your life that meant something to you, then ask yourself: Is this story representative of my larger, more valuable qualities?

 Feel lost? Ask yourself: What am I trying to say about myself, and am I using a specific, compelling example to tell my story?

Write now; edit later. You’re often your own worst critic, but great material can come from pouring it all out on the page. We’ll have time to edit.

WHICH SENTENCES WORK BETTER? “I’ve had a hard knocks life. I’ve been through some

difficult stuff, but the most important thing is that I’ve overcome that stuff, and now I feel as strong as steel, and I can soar like an eagle.”

“My brother and I dub the summer of 2010 ‘The summer of chills.’ It wasn’t any colder than the summer of 2009 or 2008. There were just as many dips in the pool to seek relief from the heat and humidity, and just as many sleepless sweaty nights. But it was in the summer of 2010 that both of our beloved grandmothers passed away, leaving us with a chill that no amount of flannel blankets or warm hugs could relieve.”

Let’s see a show of hands. Why?

GENERAL TIPS II It’s all in the details. Many students tend to be generic when

they talk about their life. Details give a reader a clear picture and paint a memorable portrait of you and your experience.

Beware of clichés. Original phrasing keeps writing vibrant.

Entertain your reader, whether your subject is serious, sentimental, pithy, or uplifting. To do so, you’ll need a compelling subject, a direct and powerful narrative, and a memorable style. As you read over your drafts, ask yourself, is this essay fun to read? It doesn’t have to be funny (although it can be), but it can’t be boring. 

Whichever prompt you choose, the point is to reveal your personality and character. Portray yourself positively. This doesn’t mean you can’t reveal weakness or difficulty, but show how you learned from it and came away stronger.

COMMON APP Q#2: FAILURE Recount an incident or time when you

experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?

But wait, aren’t I supposed to showcase my strengths in my college application essay? How would you respond to this?

What do you think of this topic? “Because of my lousy 12th grade English teacher, I never learned to analyze texts well, and so I haven’t succeeded in high school. I learned that it’s important to have good teachers.”

COMMON APP Q#2: FAILURE Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure.

How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn? But wait, aren’t I supposed to showcase my strengths?

Consider: Growing and maturing is all about learning from our failures. It's easy to boast about accomplishments, but takes more confidence, skill, and introspection to acknowledge and examine our failures.

Let’s break down the Q: 1. Recount the failure (plot summary, with clear, efficient language). 2. How did you respond (what feelings did failure evoke? Be honest). What did you learn (be introspective, self-analytical, and self-aware).

Lastly, don’t blame your failure on others. You must show you’ve learned from your failure.

FAILURE Q: WRITING EXERCISE Recount an incident or time when you

experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?

What kind of failure? Let’s brainstorm.

Free write: 4 minutes.

Share out with a partner, then the group. Hearing others’ ideas can spark your own. Jot down any ideas you have as you listen. Offer positive feedback.

PROMPT #2: FAILURE SAMPLE ESSAY College essay packets: Let’s read a

sample essay aloud (answers Option 2: Failure prompt).

Jot down: What did this writer do well and what could he or she improve upon? Share with a partner.

Let’s read an admission officer’s comments.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3: COMMON APP ESSAY

Aim: How can we hone in on a college application essay topic, and discover what makes a strong essay?

Reminder: Make-up Jane Eyre exam tomorrow, P.3, Room 233.

If you were out yesterday and are turning in your essay, you need to attach a parent/guardian note explaining your absence, or you will have points taken off.

COMMON APP Q#3: CHALLENGING A BELIEF

Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

It’s open-ended: What kind of "belief or idea" could you explore? Ideas?

Which essay topic do you think works better? “How I heroically convinced my school’s ignorant

cafeteria workers to serve healthier food.” “The struggles I experienced getting my parents to

accept my atheism and take it seriously.”

COMMON APP Q#3: CHALLENGING A BELIEF Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief

or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

Be honest as you explore the difficulty of working against the status quo or a firmly held belief. You don’t need to seem like a hero who bravely challenged an idea and easily triumphed.

Whatever your approach, you need to reveal a core personal value and give the college a window into your interests, passions, or motivations. So pick something you’re passionate about.

COMMON APP Q#3: CHALLENGING A BELIEF Let’s break it down: 1. Reflect (more than summary; describe, but also analyze

and contextualize). 2. Explain why you acted how you did. 3. Look at the big picture. What were the results? Was

your action worth the effort? Did you pay a price for your challenge? Did you or another learn and grow from your efforts? (Your answer doesn’t have to be "yes.”)

Note: College education is all about challenging ideas and beliefs, so this prompt speaks to a skill that’s key for college success (and success in this class!). Use this essay to demonstrate that you have this skill!

CHALLENGE BELIEF Q: WRITING EXERCISE

Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

What kind of belief or idea? Let’s brainstorm possibilities.

Free write: 4 minutes.

Share out. Hearing others’ ideas can spark your own. Jot down any ideas you have as you listen. Offer positive feedback.

COMMON APP Q#4: HAPPY PLACE Describe a place or environment where

you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?

Let’s break it down. 1. Describe (use detailed, evocative language). 2. Explain why—this part is crucial. You need to be introspective and share what it is that you value.

Let’s brainstorm places and environments. Think beyond the obvious.

HAPPY PLACE Q: WRITING EXERCISE Describe a place or environment

where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?

Free write: 4 minutes. Share out. Hearing others’ ideas can spark

your own. Jot down any ideas you have as you listen. Offer positive feedback.

COMMON APP Q#5: COMING-OF-AGE Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or

informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

This prompt works to explore a single event or achievement that marked a clear milestone in your personal development.

Which essay works best? “I scored the winning touchdown in the play!” “My bar mitzvah/quinceanera was very meaningful.” “X tough experience taught me Y and Z, and when I faced the

situation again the next year, I brought more maturity and self-awareness to it.”

Let’s break it down: “Discuss” is vague. Describe the event, and explore how it marked this significant transition. Address how you’ve changed and what you’ve learned. Be self-reflective.

COMMON APP Q#1: IDENTITY STORY Some students have a background or story that

is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

What is it that makes you you? Look inward and explain how and why your identity was influenced by your background or story.

Your "story" or "background" isn't a single event. Keep diversity in mind. Colleges want unique

individuals, so make sure you’re not telling a story many others could tell. That said, you don’t need to have grown up in an igloo in Alaska to have a story. Everyone has a story to tell!

IDENTITY STORY/ COMING OF AGE Q: WRITING EXERCISES Some students have a background or story that is so

central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

Let’s brainstorm: What might this background or story be?

Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

Let’s brainstorm: What kinds of accomplishments or events?

Free write: Pick one of the above prompts and write for 5 minutes. Share out. Hearing others’ ideas can spark your own. Jot down any ideas you have as you listen. Offer positive feedback.

PROMPT SHARE-OUT Pick two prompts to share with a

partner.

Pick one and expand on in writing for 4 minutes. Continue writing on the topic, or jot down ideas on how you might expand upon it.

HOMEWORK Jot down 3 possible ways to expand on one

of the free writes you completed in class today or yesterday.

Reminder: The Jane Eyre make-up exam is on Friday, October 4th, Period 3, in Room 233. Please study!

Wordly Wise chapter 1 is due on Monday.