CAEW Quick Couse for 10th and 11th grade Students
Test scores and GPA usually aren't enough to guarantee admission. Your college essays play an important role in showing colleges who you are as a person.
In this course, Mrs. Morrison will help you craft college essays that showcase your strengths and make them want to accept you. Because GPAs and standardized test scores don't tell your full story, the college essay is your #1 chance to show admission officers who you are. In this quick course, you'll learn the role of the college essay in the admission process, choose a topic, develop your unique "position" as an applicant, write a rough draft, and ultimately turn it into a polished final draft that you can proudly submit.
Course Outline
Day 1- Focus: Becoming familiar with UC and Common Application prompts.
1- Review each prompt for UC and Common App
2- Tutorial per prompt (What the college panel is looking for, how to respond and what to write)
3- Choosing the best prompt for you (per college requirement of 3 or 2 essays)
4- Appealing to your reader: Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Day 2 - Focus: Write your first essay- (the most popular choice)
1- Most popular choice? UC Prompt #8 : What makes you stand out?
2- Go over requirements: word count and organization guided by prompt
3-Tutorial on responding to this prompt:
A-Catchy introduction
B-Setting the tone
C-Making your point with style (using variety of sentence structure, choosing specific, descriptive language, brevity over lengthy)
4- Read student model
A- identify appeals (Ethos, Pathos, Logos)
5- Start writing during class following formula:
A-Hook
B-Background
C-Story/ Rationale
D-Conclusion
6- Finish and turn in for homework
Day 3- Focus: Share your writing, receive feedback, choose and write your second essay.
1-Hour 1: All students read aloud personal responses to prompt #8
A- Keep in mind the similarities and differences among responses to the same
prompt
B-Receive Instructor feedback
aa- helpful suggestions/ constructive criticism/ praise regarding appeals used, tutorial suggestions, tips and formula.
C-Students offer and receive peer feedback
aa- What made each piece of writing appealing, compelling, original,
memorable?
Hour 2: Revise response:
A- Check word count, formula, requirements
B- Work on style
C- Finish for homework
Day 4- Focus: Personal choice of another prompt based on the college each student wishes
to attend (UC or Common App for private colleges)
A- Review tutorial per prompt - cue link (students will follow applicable link according to prompt choice)
B- Start essay (repeat steps 3, 5 & 6 from Day 2)
C- Continue writing during class
D- Complete for homework- turn in
Day 5- Focus: Review and share completed essay.
1-Hour 1: All students read aloud responses to individual prompts
A- Receive Instructor feedback
aa- helpful suggestions/ constructive criticism/ praise regarding appeals used, tutorial suggestions, tips and formula.
B- Students offer and receive peer feedback
aa- What made each piece of writing appealing, compelling, original,
memorable?
2-Hour 2: Revise response:
A- Check word count, formula, requirements
B- Tips for editing for style; review appeals used in writing
C- Questions; discussion; peer and instructor feedback
D- Turn in revised essay #2 for instructor feedback
E- Celebrate two completed college application essays crafted in one week!
Instructor: Mrs. Morrison
Mrs. Morrison has over 26 years of experience as a High School AP English teacher in both public and private schools. She is very student centered and has successfully taught, advised, and coached students in their SAT test preparation, Advanced Reading and Writing, and College Application Essay Writing.