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AP Literature Agenda. September 24, 2012. Agenda. College Essay Do’s and Don’ts Analysis of model. Writing the College Essay. AP Literature. Tips for Getting Started. Learn more about yourself Interview your friends and relatives Record your dreams
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AP Literature Agenda September 24, 2012
Agenda • College Essay • Do’s and Don’ts • Analysis of model
Writing the College Essay AP Literature
Tips for Getting Started Learn more about yourself • Interview your friends and relatives • Record your dreams • Write down your thoughts and feelings about issues that are most personal and immediate: Self-esteem Identity Independence from parents Academic and extra-curricular success Popularity and acceptance Loyalty, trust, and honesty
Do Serious Brainstorming • Record observations in a “Believe It or Not” notebook • Become a keen observer of human behavior • Read the editorial section of your local newspaper • Check out college-related Internet resources • Surf the web for interesting articles and essays • Read essays by the great essayists • Take a fresh look at essays you’ve already written
One Common Topic • The school’s application may ask you to write about a significant event in your life. • Make a web, path, chart, or timeline of significant events in your life. • Select one of these and do a 10–15 minute quick-write. • Share.
Purpose of the Essay • Reveals your communication skills • Clarity of thinking • Ability to convey thoughts in written form • Reveals a lot about you as a person • Attitudes, feelings, personal qualities • Imagination and creativity • Distinguishes you as an individual
Uniqueness of essay • A chance for you to “talk” directly to the college admissions committee • A chance to let them “see” you as a thinking and feeling person • Allows you to: • Share your insights, thoughts, and opinions • Highlight your accomplishments • Convey your maturity and outlook on life
Essay = Opportunity • It is worth the effort to put some extra time, thought, and energy into writing it.
How to Treat Your Topic • Narrow it • Be specific • Be illustrative • Write about yourself • Don’t be shy or modest • Don’t exaggerate • Write about something a little different • Use a unique topic or approach
Be yourself • Let your unique voice speak • Think “small” and write about something you know about • Reveal yourself in your writing • Show rather than tell; use examples
Look at model essays • “Being Perfect” by Anna Quindlen • Consider: • Organization/structure • Ideas • Voice • Illustrations, examples • Diction, syntax
Vocabulary to Look Up • Zeitgeist • Carapace • Ennui • Unvarnished • Sartorial • Rote • Polymorphous • De riguer • Parsimonious • Berm • Denigrate • Emoted
Reading and Reacting • Read the essay • Analyze in groups of five • Group 1: Organization • Group 2: Structure • Group 3: Voice • Group 4: Illustrations, examples • Group 5: Imagery, syntax • Share with class
Individual analysis • Read your essay • Explain to class: • The topic • The structure • 2 good things about it
Assignments • Due Fri., Sept. 14 • Essay requirements of your top 3 colleges • Due Wed., Sept. 18 • Autobiography as Haiku • Mon., Tuesday or Wed., Sept. 24-26 • Draft of college essay • Due Fri., Sept. 28 • Revision of college essay