Day 4: College Essay Bootcamp Peer Critiques

STARTER
​Read this New York Times article about a controversial college essay and answer the following prompts:

• What are your general impressions?
• What qualities does this essay showcase about the author?
• Would you advocate for accepting this student, given the rest of his application was worthy? Why or why not?

In general, do you think one should aim to "entertain" the admissions officer? Why or why not?

Essay Tune Prep

1. What is one thing you really like about your essay/topic?
2. What is one thing you do not like or would like to change?
3. What is a question you need help with from your group?
   EXAMPLES:  Do I balance scene and analysis well?  Does my word choice and tone show my personality?  How could my hook grab your attention better?  How can I end my essay in a less obvious way? Do you understand the moral of my story clearly? How could that be clearer or stronger?

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Ashley will pass out and go over the protocol for Peer Critiques

1. Get into your support group
2. Elect a timekeeper with military precision and a facilitator to read the directions for the protocol and help group follow the directions.
3. Complete critiques for each person using the protocol #1 or #2 depending on where you are with  your essay
   
4. When you are done, your group should check in with me and tell me what your major refinement needs are AND grab a mini-lesson resource from me relevant to your refinement needs.
   
   

Work Time!

1. Sign up for a conference with Ashley for sometime between now and Friday, 9/6
2. Revise, revise, revise! 

• Revision Strategies
• Revision Checklist from Escape Essay Hell guide- pages 41-42
  
  

Missed Peer Critique?
Share your essay with a trusted friend or two, and have them give you feedback.  Then revise, and sign up for a writing conference with me.

EXIT TICKET

1. What is one thing you did to improve your essay today?
2. What is one additional thing you need to do to improve it?