College Application Essay Writing Workshop
In this workshop, students will develop a College Application Essay. Each learner will brainstorm, draft, workshop, and edit a College Application Essay over the course of six weeks. Students will also have 1-on-1 time with the instructor.
What's included
6 live meetings
7 hrs 30 mins in-class hoursAssignments
1-2 hours per week. These will mostly be drafting and revision assignments, so students can expect for assignments to be brief and useful.Grading
I am happy to provide a grade or assessment for the student should families require that for their curriculum.Class Experience
US Grade 11 - 12
Welcome to the College Application Essay Writing Workshop! In this class, we will practice and develop the skill of writing a college application essay. Each student will brainstorm, draft, and edit a college application essay over the course of the workshop. You can expect to leave with a hardy draft! ⭐ This class is A C C E L E R A T E D and brief ( six weeks) so that students have time afterwards to meet their application deadlines. We will investigate the central questions of application writing, including: ◉ Who am I? As a student? As a writer? ◉ What do I want out of my time in college? ◉ Which of my experiences have most shaped who I am today, and why? ◉ Where have I witnessed my ability to enact change in my community? ◉ What sets me apart from other applicants? ◉ How might I tell the story of my life in just 650 words? While our primary task will be to produce a solid draft of a college application essay, this course is also about practicing collaborative writing and editing. Students are expected to read thoroughly, and comment generously on the work of their peers. This is a unique opportunity to experience a college-style writing workshop, and supportive participation will be an essential component of our work together. This course will include take-home writing assignments and pre-class readings. Assignments and readings will be short and useful! The goal of this course is to give each student the tools needed to create, and feel confident in their college application essay. As a result, some out-of-class work is required, but will be kept purposeful and manageable. All readings will be made available on our course page. ✨ A Typical Class Will Look Like: ✨ (75 Minutes | the average length of a college class) *Exact times spent of specific tasks may vary and will be adjusted to suit student or curriculum needs accordingly.) ✔︎ Check-in (5 mins) We will check in with each other and set the tone for our session. You can also ask any questions you have from a previous session during this time. ✔︎ Lecture + Discussion (10-15 mins) We will engage in a lively and interactive lecture where Prof. Alex will provide a framework for how to approach a specific aspect of the Application Essay ✔︎ Bio-Break (5 mins) Go grab a snack, ground yourself, stim, take a bathroom break, and come back refreshed! ✔︎ Reading/Watching to Understand OR Reading Workshop Pieces (10-15 mins) We will look at some examples of other successful College Application Essays and/or video content about the session’s topic + discuss OR We will read our partner’s draft and prepare to give feedback ✔︎ Writing Time or Workshop Time (25 mins) Prof. Alex will provide you with a prompt to help get your creative gears turning. This is also an opportunity to generate material to be used in your Final Draft of your essay. OR We will workshop each other’s drafts ✔︎ Wrap-Up + Homework (5-10 mins) Prof. Alex will assign any homework (i.e. reading or drafting) for the next session. This class is modeled after a typical college class in length and tasks to give learners the chance to experience college-level work to help with college/university readiness. Students can expect to leave with: ☞ A solid, workable draft that can be tailored for use in both Common App and specific applications ☞ A sense of what college-level work entails ☞ An excitement for the work they’ve done and more confidence in their writing abilities This course is for high school students at all phases of their application writing process; writers are welcome to bring a draft of their essay with them if they have one, but this is a foundational class, so students are encouraged to start anew. If students would like to continue honing their skills and revising their essay after the course is over, I a available for 1-on-1 tutoring sessions!
Learning Goals
⚡️ Students will learn fundamentals of the College Application Essay
⚡️ Students will learn how to take their lived experience and translate it into an engaging essay
Syllabus
6 Lessons
over 6 WeeksLesson 1:
What the Heck Even is a College Application Essay?
For this session we’ll explore/work on:
● What a college app essay is and what it’s not?
● What narrative writing is and what it’s not
● Learning how to write about ourselves and our experiences for an academic audience
75 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
How the Heck Do We Do It? (Part 1)
For this session we’ll explore/work on:
● Critiquing Common App and General Essay Examples
● Determine criteria for ourselves on how we want our essays to function
● Idea Generation + Choose Applicaton Question
75 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
How the Heck Do We Do It? (Part 2)
For this session we’ll explore/work on:
● Read short excerpts from personal essays and learn about voice
● Outlining
● Spend time writing a compelling lead
75 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Finding the Pulse
For this session we’ll explore/work on:
● Peer Review Workshop on Draft #1
● One-on-one conferences w/ Prof. Alex
75 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Learning Needs
All classes I design are created with neurodivergent students in mind. I will be sure to support students with unique learning needs by offering frequent breaks, check-ins, and low-stimulation options throughout the course.
Supply List
💻 Learner should have access to a computer.
📓 Learner should have access to a notebook and writing utensil (or some other notetaking material).
📄 I will provide sample College Application Essays, PowerPoint slide decks, and other materials needed.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
🤓 I am a college writing professor and work with students each semester to strengthen their application essays and other writing assignments
🤓 I am classically-trained in composition and rhetoric pedagogy
🤓 I have a M.A. in English and Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.
🤓 I have taught many students (both high school and college students) how to write for a/n college/academic audience
Reviews
Live Group Course
$38
weekly or $225 for 6 classes1x per week, 6 weeks
75 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 16-18
2-6 learners per class