As I prepare to write my college essays the two key ideas prominent in my mind are the beginning and ending sentences. I take writing a college essay as a maze. If I know where to start and finish, all I need to do is connect the two by filling in the missing pieces and creating a path. When considering how I want to start my essay, I need to think of an unique statement that will grab the readers attention as well as bring the reader into my story. Specifically when writing a college essay, the essay prompts are completely about the writers past experiences. Since these essays can be deal breakers/makers when it comes to the application review process, I need to create an opening sentence that holds my life amongst it's words.
If I follow my advice and start my essay with a grand opener, I need to make sure my essay is just as grand at the end. The concluding statement needs to summarize and state the main idea of the prompt. Not only does the concluding sentence have to bring the essay to a halt, but it also needs to leave the reader wanting more or feeling like they know me. By telling too much information the reader may be overwhelmed and wanting to leave, but by just giving a taste test of your past experiences to the reader you will have them always coming back for more.
What surprises me about my thinking is how much I consider it a story. I don't want the reader to just read the words on the page. I want the reader to fall into my story and live it as if they were there the whole time. I want them to see the world I've created around them and experience my life first hand. Growing up I always loved being told stories. What I really like about my thinking is over 17 years later I am no longer hearing these stories but creating them. I really enjoy how I've been able to take my past with me to build on my future as a writer. Although I do thoroughly enjoy my writing, I do wish I was less wordy in my essays. I constantly have to go back and check how many words I currently have in my college essay just to make sure I didn't surpass the limit. By being able to make my essays concise yet full of passion, my college essay would grab hold of my hand and fly me right through school.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Blogging Around: Maria and Murray
In Maria G's blog, Best of the Week: Born Into Brothels, Maria touches on the importance of an Identity. She focuses on the emphasis that others may create our own identity which in the long run may effect our future.
Maria, I really liked how you touched on the fact that these kid's identities are almost being chosen for them. I completely agree that it is unfair that these kids weren't being accepted into some schools just because of where they grew up. I believe they should have given the kids a chance rather than reject them right away.
I can really connect to your insight on this movie to applying for colleges today. School's look at where your from, your race, religion, where you went to high school, and even where your parents went to college along with their income rates. In my eyes, this information shouldn't even be on the application. This is allowing your parents achievements or mistakes take part in your acceptance to the colleges you apply to, taking away your true identity.
In Murray C's blog, Carry It Forward: "The Angels" and Music, Murray touches on the similarities between John Updike and himself. Both avid musician, Murray writes about his love for music and his passion for composing music. He reflects on a moment in his life when his music theory teacher changes the way he will compose music forever.
Murray, I really loved reading this. I really liked how you reflected on your music writing strategies and were so open for change. I agree with your music theory teacher that by taking old music and making it your own or even better really bring about great change. I think we need to build our future off of our past and always use it as the starting blocks with every step we take in our lives.
Being very into music myself, I too find myself taking songs from the past and rewriting them my way. My mom, although not the best singer, used to always sing to me in the morning to wake up. Although they are older songs I constantly find myself humming and singing the songs with my own twists on them while keeping the song's main essence still present.
Maria, I really liked how you touched on the fact that these kid's identities are almost being chosen for them. I completely agree that it is unfair that these kids weren't being accepted into some schools just because of where they grew up. I believe they should have given the kids a chance rather than reject them right away.
I can really connect to your insight on this movie to applying for colleges today. School's look at where your from, your race, religion, where you went to high school, and even where your parents went to college along with their income rates. In my eyes, this information shouldn't even be on the application. This is allowing your parents achievements or mistakes take part in your acceptance to the colleges you apply to, taking away your true identity.
In Murray C's blog, Carry It Forward: "The Angels" and Music, Murray touches on the similarities between John Updike and himself. Both avid musician, Murray writes about his love for music and his passion for composing music. He reflects on a moment in his life when his music theory teacher changes the way he will compose music forever.
Murray, I really loved reading this. I really liked how you reflected on your music writing strategies and were so open for change. I agree with your music theory teacher that by taking old music and making it your own or even better really bring about great change. I think we need to build our future off of our past and always use it as the starting blocks with every step we take in our lives.
Being very into music myself, I too find myself taking songs from the past and rewriting them my way. My mom, although not the best singer, used to always sing to me in the morning to wake up. Although they are older songs I constantly find myself humming and singing the songs with my own twists on them while keeping the song's main essence still present.
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