STRUCTURING THE ESSAY

So now the student has a topic, but how to start writing? And where to go from there?  The next step is coaching the student through the content-gathering and outlining processes to make the essay-writing less stressful and more efficient.

COMMON APPLICATION AND OTHER OPEN-ENDED ESSAY QUESTIONS

For all the essay prompts in the Common Application, Coalition Application, and any open-ended supplemental essay questions, coaching includes:

• Prompting the student to find the details and story elements that will make the essay come to life
• Questioning the student to find the insights that will make the essay meaningful​
• Helping the student to develop the essay's "story board" 
• Working with the student to create a catchy introduction and meaningful conclusion
• Keeping the student focused on the thematic goals of the essay
• Establishing a schedule to accommodate several drafts
• Reviewing each new draft and providing concrete suggestions for improvement.

          Note: Written suggestions are confined to the margin to ensure that the entire            essay is written by the student in the student's own voice.

SCHOOL-SPECIFIC SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY QUESTIONS

For school-specific supplemental essay questions (e.g. Why our school? How do you fit in?), coaching includes:

• Questioning the student to find a meaningful basis for interest in the school
• Prompting the student to find connections between the school and the student's interests and experiences
• Working with the student to figure out what school-specific details would enhance the essay
• Directing the student to the many resources available to gather school-specific details​
• Establishing a schedule to accommodate several drafts
• Reviewing each new draft and providing concrete suggestions for improvement

​          Note: Written suggestions are confined to the margin to ensure that the entire essay is written by the student in the
​         student's own voice.