PaSSport to College: The “Essay”

You’ve Died Someone is going to have to give your eulogy. What will they say about you? Brainstorm 30 characteristics, events, ideas, thoughts, perspectives, philosophies, accomplishments that define you.

“ I change my name each time I place an order at Starbucks. Opening line to 2012 Stanford Essay Applicant (applicant was accepted)

What’s this writing thing? Many colleges, including art’s focused ones, want to learn about you. ￭ Beyond a resume ￭ Your voice and experience ￭ Show your quality of writing and thinking ￭ Sales pitch for you

Who is the person on the end of the pen? What you want the admissions officers to know about you?

Listen to the sample 1. What makes this personal statement appealing? 2. What does the reader learn about the writer? 3. How does the writer connect to the school or future goals?

Steps to writing req. Determine if your application requires writing and what type (essay, letter of intent, personal statement) Know what you need to write about Brain- storm ideas Draft multiple times Revise/ Edit multiple times (by multiple people) Finalize format & Submit

Application Writing Prompts Every school is different. What will your school require?

UC Application (1 of 2 prompt required) Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations. Writing Prompts: Academic Common Application (1 of 5 prompt options) The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Writing Prompts: Arts California College of the Arts--Essay Essays and writing samples are encouraged to address the major influences on your decision to pursue art, architecture, design, or writing.The writing sample should also address how you see yourself contributing to the CCA community, specifically with respect to the college’s values. NYU Tisch School of the Arts-- Statement of Purpose Based on your life, background and unique personal experiences, describe in no more than 300 words what you will bring to the Dramatic Writing Program. You may also describe one important project idea that you would like to develop in the program. CalArts--Artist Statement An artist statement is very important in the admissions process and should answer the following three questions: ￭ What issues and concerns inform your artmaking practice? ￭ Why are you applying to your program at CalArts? ￭ What are your artistic goals?

Application Essay It’s a STORY Stories that communicate key messages. They are creative and can vary in format. Writing Prompts: The Difference Artist Statement PROGRESSION as ARTIST Linear autobiographical pieces that reveal why your progression as an artist and why you are a good match for program or college or conservatory.

Dissect the Prompt Know what the prompt is asking you to do. What are the key ideas and phrases?

DISSECT the Prompt Choose one of the prompts given--one that speaks to you--or quickly find a prompt for your dream school ￭ Identify the key words in the prompt? Look for nouns and verbs ￭ What are they? What is the prompt asking of you? Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

Ok Now I know my prompt What do I do now?

“ What are you like beyond your GPA and test scores? What makes you unique? What can you contribute to our campus community?....Choose an essay topic that helps keep the focus on you but is still flexible enough for you to incorporate your personality, your history, your sense of humor. Tip from a Director of Admissions at The University of Tampa

Brainstorm Ideas You need to get going with some ideas about what to write on.

Brainstorm! 1. Look back on your 30 words from the opening activity and then look at your writing prompt 2. Brainstorm on your prompt for 5 minutes a. What topics, issues, ideas would work for this b. DON’T FILTER, let your mind be free of all constraints. No idea--plain, silly, or emotional--is off limits c. Use whatever method suits you best: cluster, freewrite, list, diagram, etc.

SHARING! 1. Find a partner. Decide who is “A” and who is “B” 2. Share 1:1:3 a. 1 minute person A shares their ideas to the prompt b. 1 minute person B responds with questions and comments c. 3 minutes person A and B discuss ideas to flush them out. 3. Switch!

Ok Now I have a brainstorm What do I do now?

“ A zero draft is my term for a throwaway – a piece of free-writing that allows you to warm up, get into the flow, work past your inhibitions, bust through your writer's block, etc…and of course you don’t have to throw it away later – you just need to pretend that you will. John Trimble Writing with Style

Drafting Before you write the rough draft, write a zero draft.

Start with Throwaway Piece Don’t get stuck trying to write THE submitted essay. Start with some freewriting

Zero Draft Write a zero draft of your letter of intent, artist statement, essay, or personal statement The Rules 1. Talk out your thoughts on paper as if you were talking to a friend. Don’t try to sound academic (you don’t even need complete sentences or punctuation!) 2. Start with the first thought that comes to mind. There is no “introduction.” 3. Even if you feel stuck, force your pen to nakedly write about all the confusion and you’re feeling about being stuck and this topic. 4. Don’t pause more than a second or two between sentences. Write continuously for the entire time. 5. Don’t censor. The pen can only move forward, it can’t go back or scratch out or correct anything.

Working with the Zero Draft Take your zero draft and grab a highlighter. Highlight: 1. words that strike you 2. ideas that you like 3. phrases that you think you can rework Be judicious. Don’t just highlight everything. & this doesn’t mean that what you highlight will appear in your rough draft either. It just gives you some raw material to work with.

Ok Now I have a zero draft What do I do now?

Write a Rough Draft Using your zero draft as a starting place, begin drafting a rough draft of a prompt (essay, personal statement, Artist Statement, Letter of Intent.) You will work on this in your English classes on March 10th & 11th too and it will be due to English teacher on March 15th.

Draft your statement Answer the prompt sharing who you are to the admissions panel.

Drafting Some Tips: 1. Have a startling, unusual, or captivating first line. Make the reader sit up and pay attention (they read a lot of these, so make yours pop). 2. Many prompts don’t push for creative thinking, so you have to do it. And always bring it back to YOU and about your purpose, meaning, growth, etc. 3. Sound like you, not how you think they want you to sound. If you don’t use the word “incredulous” in real life, don’t use it on your application. 4. Always think that they are looking at whether you will be a good fit for their school; would they want to be your classmate or even roomate? 5. Don’t dwell on your mistakes or on other people. They want to know about you and your job is to give the reader the best impression of you you can. Mistakes are valuable and important, but if that’s all they know about you… 6. Have MANY people read over your writing. Get people who are familiar with the format and expectations (essay, artist statement, letter of intent, etc)

Review Samples and Suggestions Posted in your Class of 2017 Google Course