TAKING RISKS

Common Application Essay

9/16

• Anecdote: a short story about an interesting or funny event or occurrence.– Synonyms: story, tale, narrative, or incident

• This essay is a personal narrative called “Taking Risks.”

Commonly Confused Words 1-20

• 1. Capital• 2. All Right• 3. Complimented• 4.Counselor• 5. Course• 6. Already• 7. Desert• 8. Formerly• 9. Its• 10. Led

• 11. All Ready• 12. Lose• 13. Morale• 14. Coarse• 15. Piece• 16. Altar• 17. Latter• 18. Principal• 19. It’s• 20. Altogether

Commonly Confused Words 21-40

• 21.Council• 22. Capital• 23. All Ready• 24. Coarse• 25. Complementary• 26. Passed• 27. All Together• 28. Personnel• 29. Its• 30. Principal

• 31. Stationary• 32. Who’s• 33. All Right• 34. Plain• 35. Wastepaper• 36. Principles• 37. Their• 38. Counselor’s• 39. Whose• 40. Complimentary

What is the big deal?

• Why is the essay such an important part of the application?

• How can it help you?

• How can it hurt you?

Option 1

• Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

Option 2

• Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

• The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success.

Option 3

• Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

Common Application

• 500+ schools

• www.commonapp.org

• Check to see if your schools are on the list.

Your Schools

• Compare the school’s essay to the three options.

• PITT• In 7,000 characters or less, describe a situation

where things were working against you. What did you handle well and what would you change if you had to do it over?

Your Schools

• Compare the school’s essay to the three options.

• PENN STATE• Personal Statement – Please tell us something about

yourself, your experiences, or activities that you believe would reflect positively on your ability to succeed at Penn State. This statement is your opportunity to tell us something about yourself that is not already reflected in your application or academic records. We suggest a limit of 500 words or fewer.

Your Schools

• Compare the school’s essay to the three options.

• CAL U• Describe the world you come from — for

example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

Tips, Suggestions, and Advice

1. All three of the essay options ask you to express personal growth.

2. Focus on one risk/challenge to develop an anecdote.

3. Select your story wisely. If you don’t care, no one else will!

Tips, Suggestions, and Advice

4. Parts of an essay = parts of a story–A. Introduction = exposition–B. Body = rising action, climax, and

falling action( details or examples)–C. Conclusion= resolution

• All writing should have a beginning, middle, and end.

Tips, Suggestions, and Advice

5. Use first person (I) as if you are actually speaking. Do no use second person (you); do not command the reader.

6. Keep the tense consistent! Present/past will depend on essay itself.

7. Use natural but descriptive language.–Paint a picture of yourself with words.– Show not tell–Avoid Clichés

Exercise in Revision

• 8.Emphasize action verbs and active voice.

– Action Verbs: • The student is hard working.• The student works hard.

– Active Voice: • The essay was written by a student.• The student wrote the essay.

Tips, Suggestions, and Advice

9. Revise carefully. Lack of effort and ability look the same on paper.

10. Essay is due Wednesday, September 30– A. MLA format • Times New Roman, 12 point font, double space• Heading: Student, Teacher, Class, Date

– B. 250-650 words/1-3 pages– C. Email or paper copy– D. THERE IS NO LETTER d.

• See Wiki for template and emailing instructions.

Where to begin…

• Prewriting:– Graphic Organizers– Outline– Free writing

• Drafting• Editing/Revising• Polishing• Completing

Risk

Result

Action

Reaction

Reflection

Options

• Begin essay….– Check for your schools on the website– Www.commonapp.org– Compare the essays to the prompts of your

potential schools

• Read “Blackheart” in the Close Reader– Page 99– Questions 1-12 including short response