The College Board (best known for the SAT) has these eight tips for writing a solid college essay: t-in/essays/8-tips-for-crafting-your- best-college-essay

Some universities provide strict guidelines for essays, with specific prompts you must answer. Others provide a variety of topics from which to choose. More rarely, still others leave the topic entirely up to you. Regardless, you need to clearly identify what your prompt is, and what it is asking you to write. Choose (if you can) a topic that is relevant to you and offers an opportunity for the admissions board to get to know you better.

Select and bring in the college essay prompt you want to answer. If you are unsure what kind of essay you may want to write, or you do not have a college application to fill out, you may select a prompt from the list provided by the teacher. You MUST have a prompt taped/written in your Writer’s Notebook by your next class period.

You may want to check out sample essays that “worked” for real colleges and universities. Follow the links below (also on my website) or search online for other examples: ays-that-worked/ worked/

Using whatever brainstorming method you prefer, spend ten minutes brainstorming ideas for how to approach your topic. Try to take a creative approach, but at the same time, keep yourself focused on the topic. When instructed to do so, share your ideas with a partner. Respond to your partners ideas, pointing out what sounds interesting and/or challenging about his or her brainstorming.

Now that you have some ideas, start to outline your first draft. Consider which ideas group naturally together. Attempt to create a logical and creative flow, but don’t get caught up in making it “perfect”. This is just a draft outline. When instructed to do so, share your outline with your partner. Help your partner spot flow issues and/or gaps in his or her outline.

* Short: No longer than a paragraph * But interesting: Open with a “hook” * A scenario * A quotation * A rhetorical question * A fascinating fact * Take a creative approach: don’t say what “everyone else” has or would say * Keep your focus on the topic at hand

Write the introduction to your essay. Hand write or type, depending on which approach is better for you. Bring in your draft by the due date given.

Share your introduction with a partner. Discuss what worked and what didn’t. Where are you going next? What style of essay are you writing? What information is needed to support the introduction? What questions does the introduction raise for your reader?

Depending on the length limits of your essay, you will need to adjust the length and number of paragraphs in your essay body. Make sure they flow logically and creatively from your introduction. Are you telling a story? Are you discussing an idea? Are you writing a description? Write the kinds of paragraphs that fit the essay style best. Spend about twenty minutes drafting your body paragraphs.

Share your body paragraphs with your partner. Do they support and logically flow from your introduction? Are they creative and interesting? What information is missing? How could you best bring this essay to a close?

Your conclusion should bring your essay to a logical but creative close, leaving your reader with a strong impression and a better understanding of you as a person. The conclusion should relate back to the introduction in some way, but it should NOT be a repetition of any of the information/phrasing of the introduction. Spend about ten minutes drafting a conclusion for your essay.

Share your conclusion with a partner. Did it bring your essay to a logical but interesting close? Did it leave a strong impression? Does your partner have a better understanding of you as a person? Can your partner identify how it relates back to the introduction and essay as a whole? What is missing or needs to be changed?

Type up your first draft. Bring your printed draft to the next class period.

Peer Edit: exchange your essay draft with at least two other students. Edit according to the Peer Editing Checklist provided by the teacher. Be thoughtful and constructive. Once you have your draft back, consider what your peers have suggested. Jot down your own ideas for revision and rewriting.

* First, check your overall content. Have you taken the write approach? Do you need to adjust it? Are there parts to remove? Are there new pieces to add? * Second, check your organization. Do any lines or even paragraphs need to be adjusted in order? * Third, check your grammar and spelling. Make sure you fit proper conventions.

Write your second draft. Incorporate the changes and edits you and your peers indicated on the first draft. Since you may have done some significant rewriting for this draft, it would be wise to have another trusted person (or two, or three) check over the draft for any further issues and edits that may arise. After you have made your final changes, submit your final draft to Turnitin.com by the due date.

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