College Essay Annotations

DATE

Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:

• Write for at least 10 minutes in response to a prompt.

• Identify elements of a college essay including:

  • use of specific sensory details and imagery

  • use of context details

  • development of a climactic moment

  • development of a main idea

• Annotate a reading with meaningful observations, comments and questions.

  • Identify examples of details that influence characterization in a short story or college application essay. 

  • Use precise language to describe the character based on text evidence.

  • Identify a climactic moment or anecdote in a short story or college application essay.

  • Identify details that help the reader to visualize or understand an idea, situation, or climactic moment.

  • Develop questions while reading.

Agenda Items

• Journal Writing: "My House is the Red Earth" by Joy Harjo

• Journal Writing: "Autumn Begins" by Meng Hao-jan - Recreate a Scene or Moment

• Read & Annotate College Essay

• Small Group Discussion

• Questions?

Assignments

• 1.12 College Essay Annotations - Read and annotate one of the college application essays

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Discussion Questions

• What was the most interesting quote you found? Read the quote, explain it, and explain why it was interesting to you.

• Characterization: What details in the essay help you imagine and understand the person’s physical and personality traits?

• What words would you use to describe the person based on text evidence?

• What climactic moment or anecdote did the person include in his/her college application essay?

• What sensory details did you notice in the essay?

• What details that help you visualize or understand an idea, situation, or climactic moment?

• What questions came to mind before, during or after reading?

Resources

• College Application Essays

Reflection Questions

• How did it go with reading and annotating today? 

• What went well?

• What did you have difficulty with?

• What do you think you might try next time?

• Ask a question after reading. Because I _____, I am wondering ________.

College Essay Prompts

DATE 

Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:

• Write for at least 10 minutes in response to a prompt.

• Choose a college essay prompt that you would like to write about.

• Brainstorm ideas and details for writing your college essay including:

  • • specific sensory details and imagery

    • specific context details

    • a climactic moment or anecdote

    • a main idea

• Reflect on your experience in English class this week.

Agenda Items

• Opening Sentences

• Journal Writing: "How to Eat a Guava" by Esmeralda Santiago

• Choose college essay prompt

• Reflection

Assignments

• End of week reflection

• Choose college essay prompt

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Resources

• College Essay Prompts: ApplyTexas & Common App

Reflection Questions

• What did you like about class this week?

• What was most challenging about class this week?

Starting Your College Essay: Opening Lines, Leads & Psychic Distance

Tuesday September 12

Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:

• Write for at least 10 minutes in response to a prompt.

• Examine and discuss different types of leads for essays and creative writing.

• Write an engaging lead for your college essay.

• Apply the concept of psychic distance in your writing.

• Use sensory details and context details to manage psychic distance in your writing.

Agenda Items

• "Juicy" opening sentences

• Leads

• Drafting & revising your college essay - Lead / Introduction Paragraph

• College Essay Draft Rubric

Assignments

• College Essay Draft: Rubric - Using the prompt you chose, include details that reveal characterization and setting, including sensory details, context details, and a climactic moment or anecdote. Turn in your completed draft by Thursday September 14.  

Reflection Questions

• Which lead did you try? How did it go?

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1.16 College Essay Draft

Wednesday September 13 & Thursday September 14

Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:

• Use sensory details and context details to manage psychic distance in your writing.

• Draft your college essay using details that reveal characterization and setting, including sensory details and imagery, context details, and a climactic moment or anecdote.

Agenda Items

• Psychic distance in your essay

• College Essay Draft Rubric

• Drafting & revising your college essay

• Individual Writing Conferences

Assignments

• 1.16 College Essay Draft: Rubric - Using the prompt you chose, include details that reveal characterization and setting, including sensory details, context details, and a climactic moment or anecdote. Turn in your completed draft by Thursday September 14. 

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