Syllabus

Class Lesson Materials Homework

1. Introduction: about the admissions essay and college 2018-2019 Common App Sample essays: Read critique
application, common app essay, 3 types of essay prompts of the sample essays and
supplement essays respond to questions.
Video from Amherst College
Video: Amherst admissions board room Essay 1: Begin thinking about
topics for an essay responding
General Guidelines and Advice: Ask the Experts and General Guidelines and to one of the Common App
3 Essential Tips Advice:1 and 2 prompts. (Or, if you have a
topic already, start writing!)
Sample essays: give students sample essays of Sample Essays 1-3
varying quality to read and discuss

2. Homework: discuss critiques and responses 2018-2019 Common App 50 Successful Ivy League
essay prompts Application Essays: Read
Discussion: What makes a good topic/bad topic? chapters 1 and 2
Discuss the choice of topic from samples 1-3 Sample Essays 1-3
Essay 1: Begin writing a first
Choosing a Topic: Common App Guidelines Choosing a Topic: Common draft on your chosen topic.
- Read advice about each of the Common App App Guidelines
prompts and discuss
- For each prompt, think of a topic you could write Video: College Essay
about and describe it briefly (1-3 sentences),
Advisors on Common App
making sure to answer all parts of the question.
prompts (1-7)
Essay 1: Students choose their best/favorite
topic/prompt and present it briefly to the rest of the 50 Successful Ivy League
class. The class gives feedback. Application Essays: photocopy
of entire book for each
Video: Watch video about the prompt(s) that the student.
students are planning to respond to (if there’s time)

50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays:

- Distribute, introduce, and assign Homework
- Explain that the students can read these
samples for inspiration, and that they are
grouped according to subject
3. Showing vs Telling: introduce idea Printout: descriptive writing Complete “Show, don’t tell”
- What is the difference? picture prompts (or put on writing packet
- How should you use “showing” in a CAE? projector screen)
- How should you use “telling” in a CAE? Essay 1: Continue working on
- Show descriptive writing picture prompts
Printout: “Show, don’t tell” your first draft. Make sure that
(printout) and elicit responses
writing packet you are doing some “showing”
Sample Essays: Use Sample essay(s) to demonstrate
- In the sample, where is the writer Showing? Sample Essays: 1-3
- Where is the writer Telling?

Printout: “Show, don’t Tell” writing packet

Essay 1: while the class is working on the packet,

work with students one-on-one (5-10 minutes each):
- Discuss topic/first draft, focusing on concept and
direction (big picture)

Showing vs Telling: students share their “showing”

sentences and discuss

3
4. Video: Avoiding common admissions essay mistakes Video: Avoiding… Sample Essays: 4 and 5.
Read critiques and respond to
General Guidelines and Advice: Bad College Essays General Guidelines and questions.
- read and discuss Advice: Bad College Essays
Essay 1: finish first draft
Sample Essays: 4 and 5 Sample Essays 4 and 5
- Students work in pairs or small groups, writing a
review/critique for each sample essay
- Save advisor critiques for homework
- Groups present their review of one of the
essays to the class.
- Students discuss if they agree/disagree or have
something to add
- Collect students’ critiques, distribute advisor
critiques for homework
5. Homework: discuss critiques and responses. Critiques of sample essays 4 Sample Essay: 6
Compare students’ critiques to advisor critiques. and 5 Read critique and respond to
questions.
General Guidelines and Advice: Opening Lines General Guidelines and
- Students read opening lines and choose their Advice: Opening Lines Essay 1: revise and/or edit
favorite. your first draft based on class
- Present to class: Why is this opening line your Sample Essay 6 feedback
favorite? Why does it work as an opener?

Sample Essay: 6
- Read and discuss
- Save critiques for homework

Essay 1: Class Presentation

- Students present their essays to the class and
read aloud.
- The class gives feedback.
- Collect drafts for revision/editing comments by
teacher
6. Essay 1: return first draft with editing Essay 1 drafts with Essay 1: Implement
comments/corrections to students. Give students time revision/editing comments by necessary changes and
to read through the comments and then ask any teacher corrections. Finish essay.
questions they might have.
Choosing a topic: Essay 2: write a first draft on
Choosing a topic: Brainstorming Brainstorming new topic
- complete brainstorming exercise
- choose a new topic Video: College Essay
Advisors on Common App
Essay 1: while the class is doing the brainstorming prompts (1-7)
exercise/choosing new topics, work with students one
on one (5-10 minutes each):
- read and discuss most recent draft of Essay 1
- discuss topic for essay 2

Video: Watch videos about the common app prompts

7. Essay 1: collect final drafts Video: Writing a strong college Essay 2: revise and/or edit
admissions essay. your first draft based on peer
Video: Writing a strong college admissions essay review session
Printout: Revision and Editing
Topic: Revision and editing
- Read and Discuss
- What is the difference?

Essay 2: Peer Review

- Students hand in their first drafts, which are
redistributed to the class.
- Students proofread and write a critique of their
classmate’s first draft
- Return drafts (w/comments/critiques) to
students at the end of class

4
 8. 50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays: 50 Successful Ivy League Essay 2: revise and/or edit
- Discuss students’ use of the book Application Essays your essay based on class
- Ask students to talk about the essays they read feedback
- Discuss students’ favorite essays, or essays
selected by teacher

Essay 2: Class Presentation

- Students present their essays to the class and
read aloud.
- The class gives feedback.
- Collect essays for revision/editing comments by
teacher

9. Essay 2: return second draft with editing Essay 2 drafts with Essay 2: Implement
comments/corrections to students. Give students time revision/editing comments necessary changes and
to read through the comments and then ask any corrections. Finish essay.
questions they might have. Sample Essays: 7-11

Sample Essays: for inspiration, students read through

a selection of sample essays along with commentary

Essay 2:While the class is working on their essays or

reading samples work with students one on one (15
minutes each)
10. General Guidelines and Advice: review main points

Essay 2: Collect final drafts. Discuss and check

proofreading/editing

Class discussion: Students assess their own

progress, discuss their future plans and have final
q&a with teacher
Finish! Have fun.

General Guidelines and Advice

Videos

1. https://youtu.be/Y-OLlJUXwKU inside the admissions board room at Amherst.

2. https://youtu.be/tRC0HZyNCW4 Writing a strong college admissions essay
3. https://youtu.be/t__jNTOwePU Avoiding common admissions essay mistakes
4. https://youtu.be/z9RfwGvNA_U Writing about Your Background (Prompt 1)
5. https://youtu.be/gIiniEFARU8 Writing about Setbacks and Failure (Prompt 2)
6. https://youtu.be/kp4Au6khjJA Questioning a Belief or Idea (Prompt 3)
7. https://youtu.be/wlC3F4M1CBQ Writing about Problem Solving (Prompt 4)
8. https://youtu.be/Up1sluxZhUI Writing about Personal Growth (Prompt 5)
9. https://youtu.be/eK8ARanL01g Sharing Your Passions and Obsessions (Prompt 6)
10. https://youtu.be/xAad9Kp0p-k Tackling the Topic of Your Choice (Prompt 7)