Writing the College Application Essay Self-Paced
Syllabus
Course Essential Questions:
- What is the role of the personal essay in the college application process and what makes a compelling one?
- What story from my life experience captures some of my most important values and accomplishments?
- What is the best process—and what are the best tools—for creating a polished, engaging personal essay?
Course Learning Objectives:
- Describe the role of the personal essay in the college application process and identify elements of successful personal essays.
- Identify, assess, and choose the personal essay Unit(s) that will allow them to best express their story and values, and effectively represent themself in their college applications.
- Practice and apply all steps of the writing process from brainstorming to the final draft.
- Write a polished, final draft of a college application personal essay (Common Application prompts) and supplemental application essays.
Unit 1: Post-Secondary Plans and the College Application Process
Unit Essential Questions
- What are my interests, passions, goals, values, and plans for the future?
- What are the possibilities for post-secondary education and careers?
- What are the main components of the college application process?
Unit Objectives
- Identify personal interests, passions, goals, values, and plans for the future.
- Think critically about college and career options.
- Describe the main components of the college application process.
- Identify individuals to ask for letters of recommendation and explain why those individuals would be good candidates to ask for a letter of recommendation.
- Create a resume.
- Reflect on personal readiness in the different areas of the college application process.
Unit 2: Understanding the Personal Essay
Unit Essential Questions
- How does the personal essay fit into the college application process?
- What are the qualities of a successful personal essay?
Unit Objectives
- Describe the role of the personal essay in the college application.
- Evaluate exemplar personal essays and identify qualities that make the exemplars successful.
- Identify how writers use specific examples in successful college essays.
- Identify an exemplar personal essay and use the rubric to evaluate its effectiveness.
Unit 3: Idea Development
Unit Essential Questions
- What are my interests, passions, goals, values, and plans for the future?
- How can I use the writing process to develop my ideas?
- What story from my life experience captures some of my most important values and accomplishments?
Unit Objectives
- Reflect on interests, passions, goals, values, and plans for the future using a variety of pre-writing strategies.
- Reflect on personal strengths and challenges with regard to the writing process.
- Identify, assess, and choose the personal essay Units that will allow you to best express your story and values, and effectively represent yourself in your college applications.
Unit 4: Drafting and Writing Techniques
Unit Essential Questions
- How can I use the writing process to develop my ideas?
- How can precise language, comparisons, and transitions improve my writing?
Unit Objectives
- Write an outline for the personal essay including specific details.
- Identify and describe how precise language and effective evidence contribute to the effectiveness of an exemplar essay.
- Use precise language and effective evidence in their own writing.
- Identify and describe how metaphor, simile, and/or analogy contribute to the effectiveness of an exemplar essay.
- Use metaphor, simile, and/or analogy in their own writing.
- Identify and describe how transitions contribute to the effectiveness of an exemplar essay.
- Use transitions to create flow in their own writing.
- Identify strategies for effective beginnings and endings for personal essays.
- Write the first draft of the personal essay including an effective introduction and conclusion.
Unit 5: Supplemental Essays
Unit Essential Questions
- What is the role of supplemental essays in the college application process?
- What are the qualities of a successful supplemental essay?
- How can I write concisely and still communicate effectively?
Unit Objectives
- Research supplemental essay Units for at least two colleges/universities of interest.
- Brainstorm Units for supplemental essay Units for at least two colleges/universities of interest.
- Write first drafts of two supplemental essays for at least two colleges/universities of interest.
- Request and reflect on feedback about your writing.
Unit 6: Revising
Unit Essential Questions
- What is the difference between editing and revising?
- How can I effectively revise my writing?
Unit Objectives
- Describe the difference between editing and revising.
- Employ a variety of revision strategies including feedback from a reader, reading aloud, and self-evaluation.
- Identify areas for revision in their personal college essay.
Unit 7: Finalizing
Unit Essential Questions
- How can I incorporate feedback, revision ideas, and editing to create a final, polished, personal essay and supplemental essays?
Unit Objectives
- Revise their personal essay and supplemental essays by effectively incorporating feedback from the teacher, reader(s), and their own evaluation.
- Reflect on the skills and habits gained in the course.