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College Essay


Class
Krishna Cart
For information on how to enroll in this class, click below.
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Mastering the College Essay – Self-Paced Writing Class
Are you ready to craft a college essay that stands out? This self-paced course is designed to guide high school seniors through the process of creating authentic, compelling, and polished college application essays. Whether you're starting from scratch or refining a draft, this course will help you unlock your storytelling potential and highlight your unique voice.

What You’ll Learn:

  • How to brainstorm and choose essay topics that reflect your personality and values.
  • Techniques for crafting a powerful narrative with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
  • Strategies for engaging admissions officers with vivid, authentic writing.
  • Best practices for revising and polishing your essay to perfection.
  • How to tailor essays for supplemental prompts and specific colleges.

Course Features:

  • Flexible Learning: Work at your own pace with step-by-step video lessons and detailed guidance.
  • Practical Exercises: Complete quick writes, brainstorming activities, and full drafts to hone your skills.
  • Downloadable Resources: Access templates, examples, and checklists to support your writing.
  • Supplemental Focus: Learn how to effectively tackle “Why this college?” and other common prompts.
  • Optional Feedback: Submit your work for personalized feedback from peers or an instructor (if available).

Who Should Enroll?

  • High school seniors preparing college applications.
  • Students who want to elevate their writing skills and confidence.
  • Anyone looking to create a standout essay that authentically represents them.


How It Works:

 

  • Learn on Your Schedule: Enjoy the flexibility of a self-paced course that fits seamlessly into your life. Start anytime and progress at your own pace.
  • Engage and Reflect: Watch recorded video lessons, complete guided activities, and reflect on your progress as you build confidence in your writing.
  • Build and Polish: Develop your essay step-by-step with clear guidance and rubric-based feedback aligned with the official Academies of Loudoun Writing Rubric.
  • Stay Motivated: Earn badges as you hit milestones, keeping you engaged and inspired—even if writing isn’t your favorite activity.
  • Ludic Learning: Experience a playful, engaging approach to mastering essay writing that makes the process enjoyable.
  • Supportive Environment: Thrive in a positive setting where your achievements are celebrated, and every step of your journey is recognized.
  • Outcome: By the end of this course, you’ll have a polished, authentic college essay ready for submission—and the skills to tackle additional essay prompts with confidence!

Here is the class outline:

1. Start Here!

This introductory module guides students on how to navigate the Learning Management System, utilize course features, and understand class expectations. Students will learn how to access materials, participate in discussions, and submit assignments, while also setting goals for completing the self-paced curriculum. By the end of this module, students will be prepared to engage fully with the course and begin their college essay journey.

How to Use Your Learning Management System
Class Expectations and Class Structure

2. Unlocking the Power of Your College Essay

This module introduces the purpose and importance of college essays in the admissions process, helping students grasp how essays reflect their unique voices and experiences. Students will explore the different types of essay prompts, such as “Personal Growth” and "Why This College," and learn how to identify what each prompt is asking. Analyzing sample essays, they will develop an understanding of effective structure, tone, and storytelling techniques.

Overview
Why Essays Matter in College Admissions
The Admissions Officer's Perspective: What They Really Look For in Your Essay
Types of College Essay Prompts
Dissecting Sample Essay Prompts and Anchor Essays
Sample Prompt and Anchor Essay 1
Sample Prompt and Anchor Essay 2
Sample Prompt and Anchor Essay 3

3. Brainstorming and Self-Reflection

In this module, students will engage in guided exercises to uncover meaningful personal stories, values, and passions that can serve as the foundation for their essays. They will explore pivotal life moments, unique experiences, and defining characteristics through brainstorming activities and freewriting prompts. By the end of the module, students will have a list of potential essay topics and a deeper understanding of how to showcase their individuality authentically.

Overview
Identifying Key Life Experiences
Recognizing Pivotal Moments of Growth or Challenge
Using the Masterpiece Academy's Storytelling Frameworks

4. Structuring the Essay

This module organizes ideas into a clear and compelling essay structure, covering introductions, body paragraphs, and conclusions. Students will learn techniques for crafting strong opening hooks, building narratives with reflection and examples, and ending with impactful takeaways. By the end, they will have an outline ready for their essays.

Overview
Understanding Essay Structures
The Masterpiece Academy's Essay Structures and Frameworks
Building Body Paragraphs
Connecting Ideas Through Transitions
Powerful Hooks and Conclusions

5. Tailoring to Specific Prompts

This module teaches students how to adapt their core essays to fit different supplemental prompts effectively. They will explore strategies for reworking essays to address "Why This College" and other common questions without losing originality or impact. By the end, students will have responses tailored to various college applications.

Reusing and Reworking Essays Without Losing Quality
Addressing "Why This College" and Program-Specific Questions
Tailoring Responses to Supplemental Prompts

6. Writing With Authenticity

In this module, students will refine their writing style to reflect their genuine voice and unique perspective. They will practice techniques like "show, don’t tell" and learn to balance personal storytelling with a professional tone. The focus is on avoiding clichés and creating vivid, relatable narratives.

Avoiding Cliches and Adding Details
Crafting Memorable College Essays: Writing Techniques for Authenticity and Impact
Balancing Formality and Personality with Figurative Language

7. Editing and Polishing

In this module, students will learn how to edit and polish their essays for clarity, coherence, and grammatical precision. The emphasis will be on identifying common pitfalls, improving sentence variety, and ensuring the essay aligns with the prompt. Peer review activities and proofreading tools will help ensure the final draft is ready for submission.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Sentence Variety and Flow
Proofreading Tips and Tools

8. Final Submission Checklist

In the final module, students will prepare their essays for submission by ensuring they meet formatting and application requirements. They will use a detailed checklist to confirm their essays are polished, authentic, and error-free. The module also includes guidance on navigating submission portals and double-checking all application details.

Using the Rubric to Self-Assess Essays
Final Checklist for Submission
Submission Simulation and Feedback
Revised Drafts
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