Writing the College Essay Ms. Shaw English 4 Hackensack High School

Purpose of the Essay To see you as a person, not just statistics To distinguish you from all other applicants To demonstrate your ability to write and express yourself at a high academic level Talk about the other parts of the college application Talk about how many people apply for one seat in top universities Most humanities courses evaluate you on papers and essays Most homework is reading college-level texts

Three Main Types of Essays Why you? Why this college? Creative

Why you? What sets you apart? What do you think about a certain issue? What defines you as a person, student, a sibling, an athlete, a worker?

Why you? Examples: Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, or risk that you have taken and its impact on you. Discuss some issue of personal, local, national or international concern and its importance to you. Indicate a person, character in fiction, an historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, etc.) who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.

Why this university? Example Why do you want to spend two to six years of your life at a particular college, graduate school, or professional school? How is the degree necessary to the fulfillment of your goals?

Why this university? Avoid mentioning the history of the school University of Virginia was founded by my personal hero, Thomas Jefferson. UVA was founded in 1819, the same year my great great great great great great grandfather bought his house, the same house we live in today. Avoid platitudes UVA is a really great school.

Creative You pick the format Short story Poem Stream of consciousness You pick the content You still need to demonstrate your ability to write and express yourself at a high academic level I would not suggest writing a creative piece unless you are going into a creative writing area/school of study or your are AWESOME at creative pieces.

Getting Started Step 1: Choose a Topic One central experience (disaster, miracle, family incident, etc.) One theme (what you believe is the purpose of life, the vastness of the universe, working hard is the way to dreams, etc.) Choose a fresh topic, one that millions won’t already have written about Say no to: death, divorce, disease, disorders, sports injuries, trips, heartbreak, mothers and fathers Do not choose three topics, and write the 5-paragraph essay with introduction, three topic paragraphs, and conclusion. Instead, choose one theme, experience, or fresh topic that you can write about throughout the entire essay.

Getting Started Step 2: Brainstorm supporting details, experiences, stories, images Concrete Meaningful Relevant

Writing the Essay Step 3: Follow the prompt If they say 1000 words, don’t go over If they say double-spaced, double space Make sure you answer the question This is not a time to take risks or be careless.

Writing the Essay STEP 4: Follow good writing rules Have a powerful opening sentence “I am a changed person. Three years ago, I realized that people are important.” “Three years ago, my mind was reborn.” Use concrete examples to support your statements “Every day, I get up early to help my grandmother.” “ When the sun reaches the horizon, I am already carrying my grandmother’s tamales to the neighbors.” Avoid clichés, contractions, and big words Powerful essays are original, formal, and don’t need a dictionary Write your own essay, and use your own words Example of cliché:

Writing the Essay Avoid unnecessarily long sentences Write clearly Have a variety of sentence lengths Have a strong conclusion Don’t just repeat your essay If you used a story or image in the opening part of the essay, mention it in the ending, with a new meaning or twist.

Writing the Essay Choose a verb tense, and stick with it Write in the active voice “That summer was very educational.” “That summer taught me a valuable lesson.” Show, don’t tell “My family is very traditional.” “Each March, we place sprigs of rosemary and thyme outside our front door to commemorate the end of winter.” Write about what you know Be sincere Don’t try to impress the admissions board

Writing the Essay Edit Don’t be in love with the sound of your own writing Cut out anything that doesn’t need to be there If you can say it in 4 paragraphs, get rid of that 5th paragraph Self-edit Get others to edit your essay

Final Thoughts Essays take time and a lot of work Start early, and abandon an essay if it not working for you Use resources and people to help you, but don’t use other people’s words