English 12 and A.P. English: October 2 and 3
THE COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAY UNIT

Aim: How can we review the common
application college essays, and start
brainstorming for a successful essay?

Do now: Please turn in your Wide Sargasso Sea
essays.

This can be a very stressful topic for many of
you. Let’s take a moment to relax.
http://marc.ucla.edu/mpeg/Body-SoundMeditation.mp3
THE COMMON APPLICATION ESSAY

Let’s review the basics of the common
application essay.

I will post this PowerPoint online, so you don’t
need to take notes.

Poll: How many have written at least 1 college
essay? How many want to work on an essay
you’ve already drafted? How many want to work
on a new essay? Common app? Other?
COMMON APPLICATION QUESTIONS 2013-14

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.

Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it
affect you, and what lessons did you learn?

Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What
prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content.
What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?

Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked
your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture,
community, or family.

Length: 250-650 words. Aim for ~500-550 words.
WHICH ESSAY DO YOU THINK WORKS BETTER?
 An
essay called “Why I love dogs”
 An essay about accidentally bringing home the
wrong beagle from the pet store.
Let’s see a show of hands.
 Why?

GENERAL TIPS
Think small. Don’t tell your whole life story in 500
words. Find a story in your life that meant
something to you, then ask yourself: Is this story
representative of my larger, more valuable
qualities?
 Feel lost? Ask yourself: What am I trying to say
about myself, and am I using a specific,
compelling example to tell my story?
 Write now; edit later. You’re often your own worst
critic, but great material can come from pouring it
all out on the page. We’ll have time to edit.
WHICH SENTENCES WORK BETTER?

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“I’ve had a hard knocks life. I’ve been through some
difficult stuff, but the most important thing is that I’ve
overcome that stuff, and now I feel as strong as steel,
and I can soar like an eagle.”
“My brother and I dub the summer of 2010 ‘The
summer of chills.’ It wasn’t any colder than the summer
of 2009 or 2008. There were just as many dips in the
pool to seek relief from the heat and humidity, and just
as many sleepless sweaty nights. But it was in the
summer of 2010 that both of our beloved grandmothers
passed away, leaving us with a chill that no amount of
flannel blankets or warm hugs could relieve.”
Let’s see a show of hands.
Why?
GENERAL TIPS II

It’s all in the details. Many students tend to be generic when
they talk about their life. Details give a reader a clear picture
and paint a memorable portrait of you and your experience.

Beware of clichés. Original phrasing keeps writing vibrant.

Entertain your reader, whether your subject is serious,
sentimental, pithy, or uplifting. To do so, you’ll need a
compelling subject, a direct and powerful narrative, and a
memorable style. As you read over your drafts, ask yourself,
is this essay fun to read? It doesn’t have to be funny
(although it can be), but it can’t be boring.

Whichever prompt you choose, the point is to reveal your
personality and character. Portray yourself positively. This
doesn’t mean you can’t reveal weakness or difficulty, but
show how you learned from it and came away stronger.
COMMON APP Q#2: FAILURE
Recount an incident or time when you
experienced failure. How did it affect you, and
what lessons did you learn?
 But wait, aren’t I supposed to showcase my
strengths in my college application essay?

 How

would you respond to this?
What do you think of this topic? “Because of my
lousy 12th grade English teacher, I never
learned to analyze texts well, and so I haven’t
succeeded in high school. I learned that it’s
important to have good teachers.”
COMMON APP Q#2: FAILURE


Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure.
How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
But wait, aren’t I supposed to showcase my strengths?
Consider: Growing and maturing is all about learning from our
failures. It's easy to boast about accomplishments, but takes
more confidence, skill, and introspection to acknowledge
and examine our failures.
 Let’s break down the Q: 1. Recount the failure (plot
summary, with clear, efficient language). 2. How did you
respond (what feelings did failure evoke? Be honest). What
did you learn (be introspective, self-analytical, and selfaware).
 Lastly, don’t blame your failure on others. You must show
you’ve learned from your failure.
FAILURE Q: WRITING EXERCISE

Recount an incident or time when you experienced
failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did
you learn?

What kind of failure? Let’s brainstorm.

Free write: 4 minutes.

Share out with a partner, then the group. Hearing
others’ ideas can spark your own. Jot down any
ideas you have as you listen. Offer positive
feedback.
PROMPT #2: FAILURE SAMPLE ESSAY
College essay packets: Let’s read a sample
essay aloud (answers Option 2: Failure prompt).
 Jot down: What did this writer do well and what
could he or she improve upon? Share with a
partner.


Let’s read an admission officer’s comments.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3: COMMON APP ESSAY

Aim: How can we hone in on a college application
essay topic, and discover what makes a strong
essay?
Reminder: Make-up Jane Eyre exam tomorrow, P.3,
Room 233.
 If you were out yesterday and are turning in your
essay, you need to attach a parent/guardian note
explaining your absence, or you will have points
taken off.

COMMON APP Q#3: CHALLENGING A BELIEF
Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief
or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you
make the same decision again?
 It’s open-ended: What kind of "belief or idea"
could you explore? Ideas?
 Which essay topic do you think works better?

 “How
I heroically convinced my school’s ignorant
cafeteria workers to serve healthier food.”
 “The struggles I experienced getting my parents to
accept my atheism and take it seriously.”
COMMON APP Q#3: CHALLENGING A BELIEF

Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or
idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make
the same decision again?
Be honest as you explore the difficulty of working
against the status quo or a firmly held belief. You
don’t need to seem like a hero who bravely
challenged an idea and easily triumphed.
 Whatever your approach, you need to reveal a core
personal value and give the college a window into
your interests, passions, or motivations. So pick
something you’re passionate about.

COMMON APP Q#3: CHALLENGING A BELIEF

1.
2.
3.

Let’s break it down:
Reflect (more than summary; describe, but also
analyze and contextualize).
Explain why you acted how you did.
Look at the big picture. What were the results? Was
your action worth the effort? Did you pay a price for
your challenge? Did you or another learn and grow from
your efforts? (Your answer doesn’t have to be "yes.”)
Note: College education is all about challenging ideas
and beliefs, so this prompt speaks to a skill that’s key
for college success (and success in this class!). Use this
essay to demonstrate that you have this skill!
CHALLENGE BELIEF Q: WRITING EXERCISE
Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or
idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make
the same decision again?

What kind of belief or idea? Let’s brainstorm
possibilities.

Free write: 4 minutes.

Share out. Hearing others’ ideas can spark your
own. Jot down any ideas you have as you listen.
Offer positive feedback.
COMMON APP Q#4: HAPPY PLACE
Describe a place or environment where you are
perfectly content. What do you do or
experience there, and why is it meaningful to
you?
 Let’s break it down. 1. Describe (use detailed,
evocative language). 2. Explain why—this part is
crucial. You need to be introspective and share
what it is that you value.
 Let’s brainstorm places and environments.
Think beyond the obvious.

HAPPY PLACE Q: WRITING EXERCISE
Describe a place or environment where you are
perfectly content. What do you do or
experience there, and why is it meaningful to
you?
 Free write: 4 minutes.
 Share out. Hearing others’ ideas can spark your
own. Jot down any ideas you have as you listen.
Offer positive feedback.

COMMON APP Q#5: COMING-OF-AGE
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Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or
informal, that marked your transition from childhood to
adulthood within your culture, community, or family.
This prompt works to explore a single event or
achievement that marked a clear milestone in your
personal development.
Which essay works best?



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“I scored the winning touchdown in the play!”
“My bar mitzvah/quinceanera was very meaningful.”
“X tough experience taught me Y and Z, and when I faced
the situation again the next year, I brought more maturity
and self-awareness to it.”
Let’s break it down: “Discuss” is vague. Describe the
event, and explore how it marked this significant
transition. Address how you’ve changed and what you’ve
learned. Be self-reflective.
COMMON APP Q#1: IDENTITY STORY
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.
 What is it that makes you you? Look inward and
explain how and why your identity was influenced
by your background or story.
 Your "story" or "background" isn't a single event.
 Keep diversity in mind. Colleges want unique
individuals, so make sure you’re not telling a story
many others could tell. That said, you don’t need
to have grown up in an igloo in Alaska to have a
story. Everyone has a story to tell!

IDENTITY STORY/ COMING OF AGE Q: WRITING
EXERCISES
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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.
Let’s brainstorm: What might this background or story be?
Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal,
that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood
within your culture, community, or family.
Let’s brainstorm: What kinds of accomplishments or events?
Free write: Pick one of the above prompts and write for 5
minutes. Share out. Hearing others’ ideas can spark your
own. Jot down any ideas you have as you listen. Offer positive
feedback.
PROMPT SHARE-OUT

Pick two prompts to share with a partner.

Pick one and expand on in writing for 4
minutes. Continue writing on the topic, or jot
down ideas on how you might expand upon it.
HOMEWORK

Jot down 3 possible ways to expand on one of
the free writes you completed in class today or
yesterday.

Reminder: The Jane Eyre make-up exam is on
Friday, October 4th, Period 3, in Room 233.
Please study!

Wordly Wise chapter 1 is due on Monday.