Regardless of where you come from or how you have lived your life, each of us has a story that is worth telling, worth reading, and uniquely yours! The Personal Essay, a requirement of most college applications, provides the perfect opportunity to tell that story. But it is important that the essay is written in a clear, well-structured, and engaging way. You want to present your best YOU to the person reading your application and you want that person to know you have the ability to put together a well-written essay—a skill that is crucial to college success. In this 4-week class, students will go through the writing process in depth – from brainstorming, to outlining, to drafting, and finally to revising – and create a final, polished, personal essay that can be used for college, scholarship, or job applications. During the course you will also work on some shorter essays common to many college applications. Strong pieces of writing that introduce you in a way that makes you stand out from the crowd are essentials for any student’s college application toolbox. And learning to write an essay the right way is a valuable skill you will take with you for the rest of your life!
Please note that this course is an elective course which lasts 4 weeks. Students are expected to work approximately 8-10 hours per week. In addition, if the student is taking this course for credit, it is strongly advised that you check with the student's school to confirm the process for approving and receiving credits, which may involve an assessment administered separately by the school.
- Identify, assess, and choose the personal essay topics that will allow you to best express your story and values, and effectively represent yourself in your college applications.
- Practice and apply all steps of the writing process from brainstorming to final draft.
- Create a polished, final draft of a college application personal essay (Common Application), and supplemental application essays.
In addition, this course will address the following objectives from the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for ELA 11th and 12th grade:
W.11-2.2: Write informative/explanatory texts (e.g., essays, oral reports, biographical feature articles) to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
W.11-12.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
W.11-12.5 Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.