TODAY IN CLASS
First period completely finished what we need to do with "Chrysanthemums"; 2nd and 3rd did not (but 3rd came pretty close). So first order of business tomorrow is to discuss the story's conclusion in the classes that didn't finish.  We will talk about the next writing assignment, and we'll get started on the class portion of Atonement (which won't be an exhaustive study, but will be pertinent to several other elements of the course).

Tomorrow you will be getting initial materials on the senior personal essay--i.e., for most of you, the "college application essay." I'll have a few things to say about this, but I don't want it to stretch into most of the period. What I'd like you to do tonight is to make sure you know what the writing requirement is at the places you are most likely to apply. To show me that you've done it (and that you read the blog!), come to class tomorrow with an "Admit Slip" containing the following information:

• Your Name
• The top two (or three) places you plan to apply
• If one is the UW or WSU, that's all you need to state about that particular school
• For others, please indicate if it is a Common Application school or not.
• If it is NOT a Common App school, is there an essay requirement?
• If there IS, write or type out the essay prompts in full.

Here is the basic hand-out regarding the essay topics for class:

THE SENIOR PERSONAL ESSAY
Regardless of your post-high school plans, all senior English students will write a personal essay. This assignment is a significant part of the first quarter grade, and both non-redeemable process points as well as quality-based final points are awarded. Even though the final product is actually quite short (500-650 words), considerable time and effort will go into making this essay the best it can be.

TOPICS
The suggested topics are from the Common Application and the University of Washington writing prompts; anyone who is applying elsewhere may substitute another question from that school with my prior approval. (Why would I not approve? Only if the requested response is really a “limited” one, more like the “Short Answer” which precedes the essay prompts in the Common Application, the “Short Response” on the UW application, or the six-part 110-word responses on the WSU application. By the way, I will still provide feedback on such a piece; it just can’t substitute for an essay topic.)

Common Application Topics

1. Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you

have faced and its impact on you.

2. Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance

to you.

3. Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.

4. Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science,

etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.

5. A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the

educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what

you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the

importance of diversity to you.

6. Topic of your choice (Let me know what you have in mind before the first draft.)



University of Washington Topics

1. Discuss how your family’s experience or cultural history enriched you or presented you with

opportunities or challenges in pursuing your educational goals.


2. Tell us a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character

or helped to shape it.


DATES
First Draft: Wednesday, Sept. 23 (15 points—you’ve got it or you don’t)
Double-space; include word count; type out complete prompt in bold at the top of the page.

Second Draft: Monday, Sept. 28 (15 points—you’ve got it or you don’t)

Final Draft: Variable--More details later (100 points for this essay)
Last Possible Date: Monday, October 19