High School Essay Intensive

In Part One, students write two entire 25-minute essays (a “before” and “after”), review grading criteria from The College Board, complete several types of outlines, and learn how to continue practicing for the test.

Part Two discusses typical questions for college and university application “personal” essays, helps students determine structure based on length, and shows a concrete process for developing ideas. Participants write out one complete “TRIAC” paragraph, and work on a full outline for a real personal essay.

The CD-ROM contains the .pdf files for both seminar handouts, and several bonus files (text, .mp3, and powerpoint) dealing with other aspects of SAT preparation. This class is also available live.

What Is On Each Disc?

Disc 1 and 2 (Part One)
SAT (Prompt-Based) Essay Preparation
• Practice for the SAT Essay (Responding to a Prompt)
• Initial prompt exercise
• The six-point rubric
• Analysis of scored essays, discussion
• How to Practice and Prepare for the SAT Essay
• Outlining Strategies
• Stylistic considerations
• Second prompt exercise
• Plan for preparation, homework

Disc 3 and 4 (Part Two)
College/University Application Essay
• Planning for the College Application Personal Essay
• Overview of what colleges want
• Analysis of samples
• The Common Application
• Organizational strategies
• Stylistic considerations
• Writing a notable essay
• Planning a draft exercise

CD ROM Includes:
• All the handouts necessary for the seminar
• Patsy Brekke’s “Essays on Demand” lesson plans, a 14 week program with complete prompts and instructions to practice SAT type essays.
• An SAT Preparation Lecture on MP3 by Julie Walker complete with PowerPoint slides.