College Application Essay
PREWRITING
CHOOSE YOUR TOPIC.
LIST events that have occurred in your life:
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Narrow your list to ONE SIGNIFICANT EVENT:
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In one or two sentences, try to explain WHY THIS EVENT IS SIGNIFICANT to you.
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Test your choice by answering the following questions:
___ As a fragment of my life story, does this event say anything important about me or my life?
___ Will I be able to communicate to readers the significance this event holds in my life?
___ Will this event produce a compelling, memorable story?
___ Do I remember enough specific details of the scene or people to write well about the event?
*If you cannot answer YES to each question, consider writing about a different event.*
EXPLORE YOUR FIRST RESPONSE. Did you tell anyone about the event? What did you
say immediately after the event? How did you feel immediately after the event?
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EXPLORE YOUR PRESENT PERSPECTIVE. Do you still feel the same way you did
immediately after the event? If your feelings have changed, write 2 or 3 sentences on how they
have changed and why. How do you feel about the event now? Why?
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REDEFINE THE EVENT’S AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL SIGNIFICANCE. Write a sentence
or two restating the significance of the event in your life. How is it important in your life now?
What exactly can you say about yourself in writing about this event?
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RECALL SPECIFIC SENSORY DETAILS.
List specific, important features or objects that you remember.
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Choose at least 3 items from your list and write descriptively for about five minutes on each one.
(Attach additional notebook paper if necessary.)
Item #1:
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Item #2:
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Item #3:
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RECALL OTHER PEOPLE.
List specific, important people that you remember from this event.
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Choose one or more people from your list and write descriptively for about five minutes on each
one. (Attach additional notebook paper if necessary.)
Person #1:
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Person #2:
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RE-CREATE CONVERSATIONS.
Using dialogue, write important conversations that occurred before, during, or just after the
event. (Attach additional notebook paper if necessary.)
Conversation #1:
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Conversation #2:
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Conversation #3:
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