COLLEGE & BEYOND

GETTING STARTED:

STEP 1:

STEP 2:

STEP 3:

SAMPLES:

COLLEGE ESSAY UNIT: What we will do in class

TIPS & STARTING POINTS:

ROUGH DRAFT:

ADVICE: just write.

    • Just open the door & see what light shines in (cheesy, I know).

    • Set timer for 15-30 minutes; just write. Get your thoughts down. Don't worry about anything sounding perfect, or pretty, or "good"; just write. Don't worry about structure, or spelling, or word count, or how you come across. Just write. Understand that this draft (the rough draft) is exactly that - it's a way to get very rough, very raw ideas down on paper. At the end of your writing session, you may have just one line that you like, or just one idea that you think you can use. But these "just ones" could be the very seeds for something awesome or interesting or authentic. At the very least, you'll have worked out what you don't want to include or sound like. Whatever the results, this part of the process is essential. So, just write.

TIPS:

      • Looking for the right word? Leave a _______ and come back to it later.

      • Want to include a section on something but not sure how? Bracket off the section and keep writing.

      • Not sure how to spell something and it's stressing you out? Skip it or simply put a ? over it and come back to it later.

      • Stuck on how to end it? Simply write what you're thinking, even if that's: "At this point I should wrap it up but not sure how; might want to work in my grandma and the dog."

  • ESSAY STRUCTURES that have worked for others in the past (caveat: this doesn't mean they have to work for you, nor does it mean that there aren't many others structures that could work better)

  • Great article in The Washington Post that reveals a senior's process from initial to revised draft

  • Writer's Digest SUGGESTIONS for rough drafts (for all types of writing)

  • Have faith in the process; these five famous novels had rough drafts that were almost entirely changed; you're not alone.

  • Some nice quotes by writers on writing

  • Sample of dynamic college essay (introduction for STUDENT I activity completed in class)

  • The Stanford essay about Costco hot dogs shared by a former student (and thoughts on it)

  • **NEW** Slim & Trim Exercises

FIRST DRAFT:

FIRST, ASK YOURSELF:

      • Am I answering their question?

      • What is my answer? You should be able to pull out one or two lines (probably somewhere in your opening paragraph) that sums up your message.

      • Do I have a beginning, middle, and end (even if it's not in that order)?

      • Do I come full circle at the end (i.e., whatever I alluded to in the opening paragraph, I resolve, reference, or build on in the concluding paragraph)? In other words, aim to tie up loose ends.

      • What do I like/love?

      • What am I uncertain about?

THEN, LET IT SIMMER.

    • Sit with the draft for a day or two. Letting the ideas simmer, process, and settle is an important part of the writing process. Don't expect perfection in one fell swoop.

    • If you still aren't sure where to go from here, ask 1 person that knows you well and 1 person that barely knows you to read the rough draft and suggest revisions for the first draft.

THEN, START WITH THE BIG-TICKET ITEMS.

    • Focus on tweaking or revising the big-ticket items (like your answer to their prompt, structure, etc.), not the details (wording of a line, spelling, etc.). This makes sense: if your car needs repairs, it would be wise to fix the motor and change the tires, before changing the air freshener.

REVISING YOUR DRAFT:

SECOND DRAFT:

WE WON'T HAVE A FORMAL SECOND DRAFT CHECK-IN, BUT MOST ESSAYS HAVE SEVERAL DRAFTS AND ITERATIONS

(see the Declaration of Independence draft)


HELP WITH SUPPLEMENTS:



FINAL DRAFT:

Some advice on finalizing drafts



Ask yourself:

Do I actually mean this?

Do I actually believe this?


Authenticity Checklist

Final proofreading checklist