1. Warm-up (Please do this on the warm-up packet you may get from the front table.)
Use the “My Name” to write one paragraph that explains what we know about Esperanza based on her story. What kind of person is she? How do you know?

2. Personal Statement Writing
What makes good personal writing?

3. Personal Statement A picture. An invitation.
Provide a snapshot of who you are as a person.
An invitation.
Invite your reader to get to know you.
A story, or more precisely, your story.
Creative and self-reflective.

4. 1st Example
It all started during homeroom that morning.  A student told me that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center.  I didn’t believe him. During 2nd period another student told me the same thing.  After that I turned on the television to see if it was really true.  It was.  Two airplanes had crashed into the World Trade Center.  Another crashed into the Pentagon.  Another one crashed in Pennsylvania.  Then the World Trade Center collapsed.  Thousands of people died in the worst terrorist attack in the United States.  It was the worst day ever.

5. 2nd Example
There is a person that very important to me that person is my great great grandma.  She is important to me because she gives me guides in my life.  I go visit at least two times a week to see how she is doing.  She just turned one hundred and one years old on September 6.  She likes to do everything for herself.  The doctor said she has the heart of a sixteen year old.  I go to her house to help clean up and take out the garbage.  I do whatever she wants me to do at her house when she wants me to come help she call my cell phone and I come ran because she is very important.  On her birthday the whole family comes to her house.  She doesn’t like much company but she is happy when I come by.  She is my role model in my life.  She is why I try my best in class.

6. 3rd Example
The hacking cough came suddenly. At first it was just a little bit at dinner. She's choking on her food, we told ourselves, dismissing my grandmother's illness like some dismiss their dog's whine in the middle of the night. It was a nuisance more than anything else, her illness measured by the dishes she broke after dinner or the number of times she interrupted the news with her moans. My dad would roll his eyes, and I would imitate him. We're two of a kind, I would think, and if he could roll his eyes over the coughing, then I could roll mine right on over too.

7. Qualities of Personal Writing
Descriptive
Shows and doesn’t tell.
Specific and simple
Focuses on 1-2 things in depth.
Personality.
You can tell what kind of person the writer is!
Reflects.
Tells the meaning of the story.
How did it affect you?

8. Description Before the game, I felt so nervous.
When I walked into the concert, it was really loud.
The sound of my alarm was annoying.
When I heard the news, I was excited.

9. Personal Statement Writing Day 2
Essay Evaluations and Pre-writing Strategies

10. Warm-up
Re-write the following sentences and make them more descriptive:
Ex: I was so nervous before the game. New sentence: Before the game, my hands were sweating.
I couldn’t believe how ugly that outfit was.
Seriously, the sunset at the beach was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
The concert was ridiculously crowded.
When I heard the news, I couldn’t believe it.
That song is the saddest song I’ve ever heard.

11. Writing Personal Statements…
Description, honesty, and reflection.
LLEGE_FEATURE/index.html

12. PROMPTS… (from the Common Application)

13. Prompt 1:
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.
"Identity”: What is it that makes you, you?
“Background” : situation or story
Situation ex: military family, living in an interesting place, or dealing with an unusual family situation.
Story ex: an event or series of events that had a profound impact on your identity.
*However you approach the prompt, make sure to be inward looking and explain how and why your identity was influenced by your background or story.*

14. Prompt 2:
Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
Show ability to learn from failure/mistakes.
Reflect on outcome.
How did you feel?
How did you change?
*Reflection and honesty is key with this prompt.*

15. Prompt 3:
Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
Open-ended.
Your own, someone else's, or a group’s belief.
Struggle of not following crowd.
Answer 2nd ? honestly.
Sometimes the cost of an action was too great.
Show core personal values.
*If the belief you challenged doesn't provide a window into your personality, then you haven't succeeded with this prompt.*

16. Prompt 4:
Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?
A "place or environment”
a house, a classroom, a tree top, a church, a stadium, a stage, a family, a country, an imagined space, a book, an internal place, etc.
Answer…
Where and when you are most content?
Why are you most content there?

17. Prompt 5
Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.
Single event or achievement made you mature.
Avoid the "hero" essay
Ex: season-winning touchdown or brilliant performance in the school play.
*Make sure your essay is analyzing your personal growth process, not bragging about an accomplishment.*

18. 3rd Story Evaluation

19. Pre-writing Strategies

20. Prewriting – Complete 2! Life Timeline (MANDATORY)
BORN____________________________________NOW
Freewrite (Option 1)
At least 1 ½ pages.
Write whatever thoughts you have about the prompt you choose and see where it takes you.
List (Option 2)
Make a list of whatever comes to your head about your prompt.
This list has to be long (cover at least 1 full page; should be more like 1 ½ )
Just write down as many things as you can.