Starting Is the Hardest Part: Brainstorming the Perfect College Essay
For students working on Coalition or Common Applications, this course will help spark ideas and prevent procrastination.
What's included
1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
In this class, we will cover the hardest part of writing a college personal essay: starting it. Learners in this class will start by sharing information about if they have chosen or thought about which essay topic they would like to write about. After this short group discussion, we will work through a brainstorming activity that will have students think about a central message or angle they would like college admissions officers to know about them. For this activity, I will challenge students to consider what character traits or personal attributes colleges would be most receptive to, and how they can describe themselves as having those traits. After sharing what students come up with, I will have participants work through another assignment that asks them to relate this core concept to a story or event that happened to them. With this in mind, students will be able to take a broad theme about themselves, tie it to a specific life event, and cast that as a narrative. We will finish by having students work out a general outline of their essay. This process will help students organize and structure a clear, focused, and unique college essay that will be a standout among their peers. While students in the course will not leave will a completed, polished essay, they will leave with the skills and newfound motivation to complete a great personal narrative. Students will also leave with a renewed sense of self ownership and motivation about the essay process, which will help manage anxiety and procrastination surrounding this task.
Learning Goals
Students will learn how to identify an angle, establish a position, and establish a narrative for a college personal essay. We will talk about and use tools that will make students feel more confident and prepared to tackle this essay, and will develop a brainstorm and a writing plan. With this in mind, a primary goal of this class is to mitigate procrastination and to increase student confidence in their ability to write a great college essay.
Other Details
Supply List
Students may come with an essay topic in mind already, or we can start from scratch!
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
We will look at some of the essay prompts on Coalition and Common Applications. Students may bring their own essay prompts to class as well.
Joined August, 2021
Teacher expertise and credentials
Hi, my name is Dan Johnston and I am passionate about teaching writing and English!
I teach a variety of classes aimed at developing confident, unique, and self efficacious writers. These courses range from format or essay driven goals, like teaching students how to write the perfect college essay, to topical courses, like banned books and writing about music. The through line for everything I teach, in any context, is empowering students to realize their full potential as great writers.
Having worked with so many students during my professional tenure, I have developed a strong, student centered teaching philosophy. Helping students realize their potential as writers means bringing out their own voices and perspectives. I don't tell students what to write, I help them articulate their experiences, values, and beliefs, through a critical lens.Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$15
per classMeets once
55 min
Completed by 5 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 16-18
4-10 learners per class
