Tuesday, 9/17 - Peer editing . . . Note how Beowulf peer-edits Unferth's essay

• P&P

• Peer edit four to five other student's intro paragraphs (20-25 min).
• Tell your colleague which intro is better and why, keeping in mind the points below.

• Aspects to consider: 
• Is there a narrative arc? Or for those writing descriptive essays, is there a link between the place described and its effect upon the author? Does the description "show" or give the reader a "taste" of the place's qualities that have deeply affected the author?
• Has there been a change; is there a difference (of kind or degree) in character, vision?
  
• Is there reflection on the author's character development?
• Does the narrative answer the prompt?
  
• Are there any ROs (Run-Ons), CSs (Comma Splices), or Fs (Fragments)?
• Note any effective, vivid language
  

• Beowulf - power on through as much as we can, taking notes on the qualities of "the goodly king."

HW: keep working on CWP college prompts

Monday, 9/17 - Homecoming Week (Day 1)

• P&P

• Welcome to Homecoming Weak (I know it's "week," but the festivities make for some not-as-strong-as-usual class time). Two things:
1. I forgot to post J3 on Focus, so I cannot grade it as homework today. Consider it due tomorrow. 
2. We will be in Beowulf today, since I neglected my homework posting duty.    

Here are some helpful definitions from Purdue OWL, an online writing resource, that should aid you as you consider how to best answer particular prompts:

1. Narrative - "think of it as telling a story. These essays are often anecdotal, experiential, and personal—allowing the student to express herself in a creative and, quite often, moving way." This genre comes in handy to answer prompts asking you to describe a moving experience or where you've come from: your country, your town, your family, your work, your hobbies. It also works well when asked to describe a person who has greatly influenced you.

2. Descriptive - "asks the student to describe an object, person, place, experience, emotion, situation, etc." This genre also comes in handy to answer prompts like those mentioned above.

3. Expository - "requires the student to investigate an idea, evaluate evidence, expound on the idea, and set forth an argument concerning that idea in a clear and concise manner." This genre works well when asked to comment on a piece of music, a historical figure, or a book that has deeply influenced you.

4. Argument - "requires the student to investigate a topic, collect, generate, and evaluate evidence, and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner." This genre will be used least, unless asked to take a stand on a particular issue. 

It is important to realize that you may draw upon elements of several of these essay genres as you respond to particular prompts. You will note that genres 1 and 2 tend to be more immediately creative, yet creative prompts (University of Chicago, anyone?) can ask you to engage in genres 3 or 4, asking you to creatively defend a silly thesis. A talented student will blend genres, sometimes beginning with a 1 or 2, only to strengthen it with the argumentative edge of a 3 or 4. For what it's worth . . .  

• Now . . . back to Beowulf

Block, 9/12-13 - Personal Narratives, Then Beowulf's

• P&P 

• While I check J2, please read several of the sample essays posted below (the first three) to garner ideas for your own. 
• Educational Experience
• Mother Watsonville
• Prunedale Promise
• The Bully (We will read this one together)

• Anglo-Saxon Par-tay! And while we feast, Beowulf continues to beat his chest . . . and others.

HW: Over the weekend, I would like for you to type out a first paragraph for each of your two selected college prompts, for a total of two paragraphs. Please include the prompt in italics above each paragraph. You must MLA format your paper. 

Wednesday, 9/11 - Defending the Country from Maurauders Day

• P&P

Beowulf considers the University of Heorot's prompt

• Yesterday we took a few moments to look at some college prompts and the Common App prompts. Sometime today and tonight, search for a couple of prompts to which you'd like to respond, and be sure to make selections that consider your future. We will be spending a bit of time on block day looking at some delectable and fusty examples of student college application essays of the past. The college essay is your opportunity to unlock your own word-hoard, to open your mouth and preen your plume, to become a scop, a shaper of a story that will sing the glories of character, all to enable you to enter the mead hall of your desires.

• Now . . . though many consider our hero pure beefcake, Hweat! Listen as Beowulf unlocks his word-hoard . . . take note.

• Also, block day will be a mead-hall celebration, so bring your battle-tackle, war-gear, and plenty of food and drink. Bring it!

HW: J2 - The College Prompt

1. Select two prompts to bring to class tomorrow (block day). 
2. Write them both out in your binder 
3. Consider whether a descriptive or a narrative essay (or a combination of both) will best help you address each  prompt.

College Essay: Hugh Gallagher, the Legendary Liar (a.k.a. Beowulf)

I am a dynamic figure, often seen scaling walls and crushing ice. I have been known to remodel train stations on my lunch breaks, making them more efficient in the area of heat retention. I translate ethnic slurs for Cuban refugees, I write award-winning operas, I manage time efficiently. Occasionally, I tread water for three days in a row.

Common Application Prompts

These following prompts for practice are from the common application.  When you are actually applying, go the actual Common Application site. 

Updated for 2014-15 

650 word limit

• Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.   
• Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure.  How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
• Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea.  What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
• Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content.  What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?
• Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

College Essay Prompts from Past Years

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College Admission Essay Topics

Best in Show: 15, 16, 98, 99, 101, 105, 106, 109, 110 (I've highlighted them below for you)

Monday, 9/10 - Beowulf steps into the telephone booth

• P&P 

• CWP 

• Narrative Essay - overview
• Descriptive Essay - overview

1. Be sure to include the prompt when turning in any college essay writing piece.

2. Use MLA in your heading for work turned in.

3. Consider opening in medias res (in the middle of things), like Homer (though an epic may not follow).

4. Keep the active tense. Vary your sentences (do five sentences open with "I" or "My"? Change it). Be specific, avoid general statements about yourself and others.

5. Look for the arc of negative to positive or positive to negative to positive.

6. Colleges are more interested in you than people you'd rather talk about. 

• Beowulf

HW:  work on narrative essay

Letters of Recommendation

Request for a Letter of Recommendation

In order to write a good recommendation, we need your help.

• Complete the following information and give it to us with an addressed, stamped envelop for each school and any particulars about what you’re applying for that we need to know.
• Give us at least two week’s notice.
• Remember, you should go to the teacher you performed with best with.  If you were an an average or rather lazy student in our class, the recommendation should say as much.  

College Essays: In Medias Res and Mother Watsonville (Ms. Silva)

Tell us about the neighborhood that you grew up in and how it helped shape you into the kind of person you are today.