College Essay Do Now: Get ready to take notes!

Why do it now? Get more personalized feedback. Relieve some stress from the beginning of your senior year. Give yourself some time to reflect on your writing. Allow yourself more opportunities to answer the questions.

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What are the Questions? Background Failure Challenged Beliefs Comfort Place Accomplishments

What does a good College Essay Look Like? Table 1: Basketball Table 2: Strict Parents Table 3: Couch Table 4: Bullies Table 5: .

At Each Table Answer: Which question is this essay answering? What can you tell about the writer of the essay? What elements of the essay show you this person would be a good candidate for admission? What could be improved in this essay to make this person more competitive?

Which Essay Was your Favorite? Why? What elements work? Which student would you admit? What essay needed the most improvement? Why?

Quick Brainstorm! Question 1: What has shaped your identity? Question 2: What have been your biggest failures or regrets? Question 3: When have you challenged a belief or idea? Question 4: Where are your favorite places? Question 5: What has been your biggest accomplishment?

Narrow it down! Circle the bullets you are most interested in exploring in writing. X out all others Ask yourself, did I learn anything from these things or did it change me in some way? If not, X it out! Would you say that change has been positive?

Common Topic Traps Do not write about: Things that will make you look bad—still Thievery Suspensions/Fights Drugs People that are not you Mom/Dad Boyfriends/Girlfriends Things or topics that are not you Hobbies Political interests Opinions (unless they ask specifically) Watch politics, religion and social issues

Homework: Narrow down your topics to your top two or three. Be sure to list what you learned or how you changed from that experience or through reflection. Don’t forget to read for Thursday!

Do Now: Fill out a College Survey College Essay Day 2 Do Now: Fill out a College Survey

Share time!

So What must be in A College Essay? Take 5 minutes to read the model essay “Let it sink in” Then, in pairs, determine what goes in each paragraph. (7 mins) Report out Anything to add?

So what is the outline? . .

Write your own Outline 3-4 paragraphs Make sure it has: Organization: A basic story line A clear message/moral Vivid Descriptions Organization: Clear intro Linear progression Clear conclusion

Homework If you did not finish, a complete outline is due next Tuesday. Don’t forget to read for tomorrow!