The Art of Writing Collegially
By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection,
which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and
third, by experience, which is the most bitter. (Confucius)
Respond to the following quote using the questions as a
guide. You must have 5-7 sentences of response.
I don't care how much power, brilliance or energy you have, if you don't harness it
and focus it on a specific target, and hold it there you're never going to accomplish
as much as your ability warrants.
~Zig Ziglar
1. Paraphrase this quote. 2. Do you agree with Ziglar’s statement? Explain why or why not. 3.
Explain how this quote could apply to you as you start your senior year. 4. What does Ziglar
mean by “specific target”? What are some examples? 5. Based on the quote, how would you
describe Mr. Ziglar (teacher, student, slacker, bum, athlete, artist etc.)? Defend your response. (5
points)
Setting Effective Goals:
Category
Artistic
My Goals
Attitude
Career
Education
Family
Financial
Physical
Entertainment
Public service
You must have at least 20 goals to submit. Please number them as you list.
PV: 10 points
Career Research Assignment
PV: 15 points
Research Topic 1
Research Topic 2
Education
-What would your major be in school?
-How many years would you be in school?
-What type of school would you need to
attend?
One Technical School/University
that offers this program
Outlook
-What would you be paid?
-Is the job field growing or declining?
-What is the stress level involved in the
career?
-Where would I have to live to be successful
in this career?
Real Life Activity Answers
*you may need a separate sheet
How suitable am I for this
profession? Explain.
Based on research, these careers are alike because…
What would a school/employer want to know about me to see I am right for these careers?
Resume Drafting
AMELIA POND
101 Red Head Lane
Clemmons, NC 27012
(336)555-5555
AmyPond@gmail.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________
OBJECTIVE:
 Secondary English teacher willing to work with yearbook, journalism, creative writing and other school clubs
and/or coach swim teams.
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS:
 Fifteen years of extensive experience in the education and instructional field.
 Well rounded in knowledge of subject matter and its relationship to the world.
 Vitalized in dealings with coworkers, parents, and administrators.
 Devoted to lifelong learning through all means.
 Knowledgeable of all technology mechanisms used in a classroom setting
 Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Publisher, PowerPoint, Internet Explorer, Netscape, Firefox, Adobe
Acrobat and InDesign, Quark Express, Photoshop, Windows 95-XP.
 Led four teams to all conference championships.
 Highly cultured through travel and life experiences.
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Arts-English (teacher licensure), University of North Carolina Wilmington, May 1995
Minor: Spanish
GPA: 3.98
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE:
English Teacher, West Forsyth High School, Winston Salem, NC Fall 2007- Present
 Teach 10th grade honors English
 Teach 11th grade honors and regular English
 Teach 12th grade English
 Develop and execute lesson plans for both classrooms with regard to specific curriculums and individual learning
abilities
 Manage classroom behavior
 Communicate within a team of teachers for a positive instructional environment
 Attend various programs and meetings to increase professional development
Graduation Project Coordinator, West Forsyth High School, Winston Salem, NC Fall 2008
 Organize the Graduation Project State requirement for both junior and senior students
 Develop school wide professional development to aid in assessing and assisting with Graduation Project
 Communicate to and within the Graduation Project Committee
 Communicate and develop relationships within the community and school
English Teacher, John T. Hoggard High School, Wilmington, NC, May 1995-Spring 2007
 Teach 11th grade honors and regular English
 Teach 12th grade honors English
 Develop and execute lesson plans with regard to specific curriculums and individual learning abilities
 Manage classroom behavior
 Communicate within a team of teachers for a positive instructional environment
 Attend various programs and meetings to increase professional development
OTHER EXPERIENCES:
Key Club, Co-Faculty Sponsor, 2010-2011
Children’s Cancer Support Club, Faculty Sponsor, 2009-2010
Editorial Intern, Waterfront Newspaper, Swansea, Wales, Spring 1993
Associate, Kohl’s Department Store, Wilmington, Summer 1994
Publishing Practicum Participant, UNCW Publishing Lab, Wilmington, Spring 1995
VOLUNTEER WORK:
Volunteer, Hope Pregnancy Care Center, King, NC, Summer 1997-Spring 2007
Small Group Leader, UNCW Intervarsity, Wilmington, NC, Fall 1993-Spring 1995
Volunteer Counselor, Camp Carefree, Summer 2001
HONORS:
Departmental Scholarship, Fall 1994
Dean’s list, 8 semesters
Chancellor’s Achievement Award, 8 semesters
REFERENCES:
Kurt Telford, Principal, West Forsyth High School, Clemmons, NC
Phone: 336-712-4400
Email: ktelford@wsfcs.k12.nc.us
Christine Ebert, Media Coordinator, West Forsyth High School, Clemmons, NC
Phone: 336-712-4400
Email: cpebert@wsfcs.k12.nc.us
Stuart Egan, English Department Chair, West Forsyth High School, Clemmons, NC
Phone: 336-712-4400
Email: saegan@wsfcs.k12.nc.us
Your assignment is simple; create a personal resume based on the template above. If you already
have a resume, you may print it out and turn it in. However, if you do not, this is a great time to make
your resume stand out and become more career or college specific. Keeping a list of your activities
and jobs is always wise. Keeping it up to date is even wiser. Use the advice and strategies provided
to you to increase your knowledge and make your resume stand out. That is the key to job
procurement.
Resume Point Value: 20
College Essay Assignment
Many of you will be asked to write a personal essay this year for either admission
to a college/university or for consideration for a scholarship. Typically, these
assignments force you to focus on yourself, your
You are trying to
values and beliefs, the experiences and people who
“sell” yourself as
have influenced you, and your personal and
an “asset” to the
professional goals. Your assignment is to begin the
school!
process of thinking about what you will write for
your essays for college admission and/or
scholarships. You will be writing one essay for this
class, which you should be able to use for your
college and/or scholarship applications.
If you have not done so,
you are to go online to the
school(s) to which you
expect to apply. If an
essay is required, print
the topics they require for
both long and short
essays. In your final
draft, you are to use the
topic as your title and put
the name of the college in
parenthesis. (If the
college of your choice
does not have the essay
accessible to you via the
website choose one of the
prompts below or come
talk to me.)
For this assignment, write 250 words for the essay. Self reflection is an important
life skill, so regardless of your future intentions, the essays can provide you an
opportunity to really explore your own personal ambitions for life. Use your list of goals to help guide your
thinking.
Essay Topic (250-500 words):
1. What you can Carry Topic
2. You have just completed your 300-page autobiography. Please submit page 217.
3. Think about something you never did in high school but wish you had. Discuss why you didn’t do this,
why you wish you had, and what you think/hope the difference would have been.
4. Discuss some issue of personal, local,
national, or international concern and its
importance to you.




Other Requirements:
Typed, double spaced*
Times New Roman 12 Font
1 inch margins
MLA Format
*rough drafts may be hand written but the handwriting must be NICE and LEGIBLE in BLUE or BLACK ink.
PV: 50 points
Essay Choice 1
PV: 5 points
Indirectly characterize yourself.
I.
Think of an object/idea (or several) that represents you. What is it? Describe it in
detail.
II.
Describe how this object/idea indirectly characterizes you. What does it tell others
about you?
III.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
Name some personality traits associated with your object/idea
Now, turn your responses into an essay…Some ways to start---but make sure you are creative!
For ________ years I have carried ___________. I have had to carry______________. I proudly carry
_______________.
Example: (276 words)
For more than ten years I have carried “Forever” in my wallet. While literally I only carry a worn pink piece of
eight by ten paper with faded black ink that whispers the song by the Beach Boys in my mind, what I really
carry is a promise.
The room is colder than I remember. I can hear the air working overtime trying to maintain the temperature
while the heat intensifies outside. I sit in the simple, black rubber chair staring at my hands and wondering if
I made a mistake. The tiny gift box sits beside me and I feel the nervous butterflies tap-dancing in my
stomach. When he walks in, I can’t help but smile. He sits down next to me and says three words, but not the
three you might expect. He says, “I’ll remember forever.” I hand him the box and thank him, while trying to
fight back the tears and he barely has time to grasp it before we are interrupted by a flood of people and I
walk away feeling the loss acutely. The card, a thank you for the tiny box, is waiting for me in my cubbyhole
the next day, and as the pink slip of eight by ten paper flutters out I know I’ll remember forever too.
Occasionally, I will unfold this promise and slowly trace the worn creases of the paper and remember a time
of innocence, love, and excitement. I will remember who I was, who I am and who I want to become and I will
whisper a prayer for the human race to hold onto the gift of promise forever like I do.
In a few sentences, describe your impression of the person who wrote this personal statement:
Rough draft-grade based on completion
Points Earned
Submitted a peer edit that was completed by the essay writer?
Did you follow the length requirement?
(250-500 words)
Is it written nicely, following all requirements?
5
20
Total
Final Draft Grade based on Content
500 word essay
Did you answer the question appropriately?
Points Possible
10
5
Points Earned
Points Possible
25
Organization
Personal connection
Clear answer to the prompt
Clear connections
Did you follow the length requirement?
(250-500 words)
Voice (prompt is made personal) (unique flair is added to the prompt)
Grammar/ Mechanics
Formatting (1 inch margins; Times New Roman; Double Spaced; MLA)
10
Total
10
5
10
60
College Application Essay Grammar & Usage Check (self edit)—USE YOUR WRITING
HANDBOOK!
College Application Essay Peer Edit
You must read someone’s essay and answer these questions
First Impression:
1. Did you enjoy reading the essay? Explain why or why not.
2. Did the concluding statements leave you with a positive feeling about the applicant? Explain.
3. Write three suggestions to the applicant about how to make the essay more interesting/vibrant.
Content
4. What specific aspect of his/her life does the applicant write about? Is it focused?
5. What can the applicant offer the school?
6. Were there any parts of the essay that didn’t stay focused on the main topic? Explain.
7. Ask three questions of the applicant.
Style
8. Is that paper grammatically correct? Use the self-edit sheet (above) to be sure. Make all grammar notes directly
on the essay.
9. Does the applicant use words well? Circle words that you thought were good choices.
10. What is the applicant’s personality in this essay?
Final Decision
11. Would you admit this applicant to your school based solely on this essay? Explain why or why not.
Letters of Recommendation
When you ask for letters of recommendation, consider the following:
1. Ask someone who knows you well and who can communicate that knowledge. Recommendations ask, “How long and
in what capacity have you known this individual.” Knowing you for only a week or two as a student in this class this year
will not lead the admissions people to trust the stated opinions. Choose someone who has taught or coached or
employed you for at least several months.
2. Ask well ahead of time and ask whether the teacher feels (s)he can be positive. If (s)he hesitates, ask someone else!
3. Proved a stamped envelope along with the correct forms filled out fully for your part of the information.
4. Provide a resume of your accomplishments along with your interests, goals, and other pertinent information so that the
teacher can add background to the letter.
5. Waive your rights. Teachers will write more.
6. Make sure you ask politely if the letter has been completed about a week before the deadline. “Mr. X, I want to thank
you for writing my letter to ______. I’m just checking today to see if my file is complete. Have you had a chance to get to
the letter? “
7. Give appropriate thanks. Your writers usually spend hours composing these letters on your behalf, and a word of thanks
(a real note) or other small, tangible gift is a simple courtesy.