1. Day #2 Take out green packets from yesterday In addition, you have another packet that will help you for: –Common App –Teacher Recommendations –Resumes/Cover letters

2. What Makes An Essay Stand Out? –Watch the following video clip from the office of Admissions at Boston University:

3. Take out green packets from yesterday Please complete the Know Yourself exercise and the back page Raise your hand once you’ve completed so I can check you off for a class grade Share your thoughts: –What was difficult? Easy?

4. What is the Common Application? Please take note of this website, as you will be using it often for school and personally: –http://collegeapps.about.com/od/glossaryofke yterms/g/CommonApp.htmhttp://collegeapps.about.com/od/glossaryofke yterms/g/CommonApp.htm

5. The Personal Essay Part of the Common Application involves the Personal Essay and that’s what we’re going to be working on in class. It'll be taken for a writing grade but you’ll also be able to use it for your College application process this year; Let’s review all 5 options aloud. Look at your handout (last page of green packet) while I call up the website. http://collegeapps.about.com/od/essays/a/com mon-application-essay-prompts.htm http://collegeapps.about.com/od/essays/a/com mon-application-essay-prompts.htm

6. What Makes An Essay Stand Out? 5 Tips to a Great Essay Tips from Tufts University

7. Closing Choose one option that you’d feel comfortable writing about Brainstorm a list of possibilities and bring to class Bring everything to class tomorrow

8. Day #3: Bad Essay Topics Are there essay topics you should stay away from? What information should you withhold from your future college choices? Think about these questions as you watch the following clip:

9. The Confessional

10. Journal Response Back to our original questions: Are there essay topics you should stay away from? What information should you withhold from your future college choices? Share answers at your table and then aloud so we can compile a list Compare your answers with these tipsthese tips

11. Engaging Starts How can we hook the reader in the opening lines of our essays?? Table Work: Read aloud the engaging beginning/opening line I give you. As a group, discuss what makes it effective. What might the essay have been about? Share the line and your thoughts aloud http://www.cbsnews.com/news/10-great-opening-lines-from- stanford-admissions-essays/ Let’s see some more: http://greatcollegeadvice.com/how-to-write-the-perfect-college- essay-grab-some-attention/ http://greatcollegeadvice.com/how-to-write-the-perfect-college- essay-grab-some-attention/

12. Share Take out your brainstorms & topics Brainstorm ideas for your beginning –How will you start the essay? –What technique will capture the reader’s attention & interest immediately? Homework: Write the opening lines/paragraph of your essay

13. Day #4 Group Work: –Group yourselves according to the number (option) you have chosen to write about –Each group will receive their own list of tips for that particular essay and a sample essay to look at http://collegeapps.about.com/od/essays/a/EssayP rompts.htm; http://collegeapps.about.com/od/essays/a/EssayP rompts.htm –Take turns reading the tips and the sample essay aloud –Discuss what you like/dislike, would improve on…

14. How Will I Be Scored?? Review the rubric for the essayrubric for the essay Any questions? Please keep your copy of the rubric in your notebook and bring it to class daily

15. Closing Share some common tips aloud Video tips Worst College Essays Look at University of Rochester's suggestionsUniversity of Rochester's suggestions What did you notice in the essay (Address transitions, sophisticated language and the other areas of the rubric); Continue to Write

16. Day #5 & #6 Meet in Library Computer Lab – Engaging Beginnings? –How do I start this essay? –Check out these sample starterssample starters –Discuss –1 st drafts of essays are due by class time on Day #7 Times New Roman, double spaced, 12 pt; Sign presigned passes for computer lab if kids need it

17. Day #5 & #6 Meet in Library Computer Lab – –1 st drafts of essays are due by class time on Day #7 Times New Roman, double spaced, 12 pt; Sign presigned passes for computer lab if kids need it

18. www.turnitin.com Most of you should already have an account from last year Follow my instructions; instructions

19. Day #7 Meet in Computer Lab We will be in the computer lab today, tomorrow and the following day You will be expected to complete the following during that time period: –One peer review due by the end of class tomorrow –Edit your own paper –Write final draft –Submit your final essay to turnitin.com by Monday the 23rd at midnight Get presigned passes if you need one Keep a saved copy of this essay all year since you'll be using it in the college application process;

20. Day # 8 & 9 Work in computer lab to finish peer reviews and final drafts of college essays All essays due on Monday the 23rd by midnight