College Essay Prompts/Brainstorming (if you were not here yesterday make sure you copy the college essay assignment from Friday!!!)

Today we will:

• Watch a quick video on the importance of the college essay
• Look at a student sample of a rough draft (from past McKinley students)
• Go over some of the essay prompts---write down any you like!!!
• I will model an idea generating web
• You will make your own idea web and discuss it with me
• Go over the outline of a personal narrative sheet (college essay)

HW:
YOUR ROUGH DRAFT WILL BE DUE BY FRIDAY 9/15 (HANDWRITTEN OR TYPED)
YOU  WILL RECEIVE 10 BONUS POINTS ON YOUR FINAL ESSAY GRADE FOR COMPLETING THE OUTLINE SHEET!!!

Tomorrow we will:

• Take the practice Accuplacer test
• Begin reading the forward to The Autobiography of Malcolm X and answer questions using the RACE strategy we learned last week

Video link
Sample rough draft
outline sheet link

2017-2018 Essay Prompts 
1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

 2. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

More College Application Prompts/Idea Generator: (you MAYwrite 1-2 of these down if you like)

• 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.
• What are your major accomplishments and why do you consider them accomplishments?
• Does any attribute, quality or skill distinguish you from everyone else? How did you develop this attribute?
• What was the most difficult time in your life and why? How did your perspective on life change as a result of the difficulty?
• Have you experienced a moment of epiphany, as if your eyes were opened to something you were previously blind to?