2W: Correcting

UC Essay Drafts

Mr. Chilton

UC Prompts Peer/Self Evaluation

• Three options:
• Put into tray and get anonymous help on it from a random classmate
• Give to trusted friend and get one-on-one friend’s help on it
• (Not recommended but if you need to): Keep your own essay and do self-evaluation of it

You’ll need a pencil or pen to write on the essay.

For today, you’ll need:

• Journal for notes, entry # _____ (10)

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Answering your College Questions

Digital copy from now on: Click here

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Add your own, read over answers,

in-depth answers will be provided in class if necessary

Does it have these things:

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1. Fake Name
2. Class Period
3. Prompt # or description
4. Word Count
5. Double-spaced
6. Indented paragraph(s)

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If not, write down what they’re missing.

Step 2: Circle the word count.

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If low, look for suggestions to expand.

If high, look today for suggestions on what to remove.

Step 3: Read 1st sentence only.

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Write in margin your response to it. What questions does it raise? What are you wondering about?

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If it doesn’t lead you to question anything, tell them why or how to improve.

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Ideas for improving 1st sentence here

Step 4: Without reading essay, skim through essay looking for verbs.

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Circle verbs that are forms of vague, such as “to be” or feeling: is, being, was, am, have, has, felt, feel, want, etc.

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Underline verbs that are particularly interesting and descriptive.

Step 5: Read over the common comments Mr. Chilton will leave.

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Use those as a guide for what to do and what to avoid.

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I’ve highlighted the most important and the most commonly made mistakes.

Tell a partner:

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Top 3 mistakes Chilton (colleges) wants you to avoid in the essay

Step 6: Read essay carefully up to the conclusion paragraph. Don’t read it yet.

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→ Correct any and all grammatical mistakes.

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→ Provide feedback based on Chilton’s common feedback.

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The more you write, the better.

Step 7: Before reading the conclusion paragraph, in the margin write and circle the THREE main words that describe this applicant based solely on the story they told.

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Be honest. What does the evidence point to?

Step 8: Read the conclusion with these tips in mind.

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If it’s not perfect, give them an alternative concluding sentence. Improve their last sentence based on the tips.

Repeat steps 1-8 with 2nd essay

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When finished

Give UC drafts back to owner by laying on TA desk.

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Homework: Self-evaluate essay based on these steps again. Revise to turn in on Friday.

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Pay close attention to:

• Does the three words they described you differ from what you were aiming for?
• How can you fix the “Chilton Comments” before Chilton says them?
• Remove the melodrama and the feelings. Please.