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   My P.O.V: A Study of Narrative Non Fiction and The College Essay

One of my favorite authors of narrative non-fiction, David Sedaris, once said, ""If I sit at my computer, determined to write a New Yorker story I won’t get beyond the first sentence. It’s better to put no pressure on it.”  Pressure.    One of the pressures of applying to college is writing the college essay, your chance to express who you are as a writer and a person in a short piece. This may feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to. The college essay is nothing more than a really well crafted piece of narrative non-fiction.

The college essay is a chance to dig in and consider your personal philosophies, a chance to remember the indelible moments of your life, a chance to make sense of the moments that define who you are. 

As a way in to studying this genre, we are "reading as writers" both The Color of Water by James McBride and an independent memoir.
The Color of Water Project
Memoir Mentor Text Project

These buttons will take you to pages that support each phase of the writing process.  Also, check out the "advice from the experts" below!

Studying the Genre
Brainstorming
Drafting
Revision and Editing
The Rubric
Common App Prompts

Advice from the Experts and Articles about College Essays

  • NY Times: Oversharing
  • Video: NY Times Counting Words, Counting College
  • NY Times: On Topic Choice: ‘Some of the More Mundane Moments in Life Make Great Essays' http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/11/essay/
  • Tip Sheet from NY Times http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/23/tip-sheet-essay/
  • NY Times: The _____ That Changed My Life
  • MIT admissions blog: How To write a College Essay http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/how-to-write-a-college-essay
  • NY Times: Essays that Stand Out http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/18/your-money/four-college-essays-that-stand-out-from-the-crowd.html?pagewanted=all&module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Ar
  • NY Times: Making a Hard-Life Story Open a Door to College  http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/27/education/27college.html?_r=0&pagewanted=all#
  • Advice from a college essay tutor: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/16/jobs/college-essay-advice-from-a-former-soap-opera-writer.html
  • US News: Tips for Writing College Essays from Professors http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/professors-guide/2010/09/15/10-tips-for-writing-the-college-application-essay
  • 100 Essay Topic Prompts: http://www.hpregional.org/departments/english/mhassenplug/100%20topics.html
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  • Home
  • Students
    • My POV: Narrative Non Fiction and The College Essay >
      • Studying the genre: College Essay Ingredients and Models
      • Brainstorming College Essays
      • Drafting College Essays
      • Revising and Editing College Essays
      • Common App Prompts
      • Rubrics: MY POV Writing
      • P.O.V: Mentor Text Annotation
      • The Color of Water Assignment
    • Classics Book Club Unit >
      • Night
      • Fahrenheit 451
      • The Adventures of Huck Finn
      • Survey and Summaries
      • Of Mice and Men
      • The Great Gatsby
      • Jane Eyre
      • 1984
      • Lord of the Flies
      • Invisible Man
    • 11th ELA >
      • Agenda 11th ELA
      • Bluest Eye 2017 ELA
      • Contemporary Fiction
      • Exploding the Canon >
        • Socratic Resources- Exploding the Canon
      • This I Believe Fall 2016
      • New SAT Prep
      • Goodreads Work
      • Six Word Memoir
      • Resumé Advice
    • Regents Prep- Common Core
    • AP Lang & Comp >
      • AP AGENDA
      • AP: Rhetorical Analysis Portfolio
      • AP Calendar
      • AP For All and Test Info
    • 11th Grade Writing Center >
      • 11th Grade Citation Guide
    • 6th Grade >
      • Humanities 6 Agenda
      • Humanities Calendar
    • TYWLS Portfolios
    • Jumprope
  • Teachers
    • Teachers
    • Intensives
    • Advisory Camp TYWLS
    • How-To Videos
    • Outcomes & mastery based grading
  • About
  • Archive
    • World Themes
    • Student Publications >
      • Student Publications Home
      • This I Believe Publications
      • 6 Word Memoir
      • 7th grade FLMS
    • Books!
    • Photography >
      • Photo stories and Artist Statements
      • Photos from 2012
      • Links to Photo Galleries
      • Editing and Publishing Advice
    • Assignment during intensives
    • Tumblr Portfolio 2013- 2014
    • 6th >
      • Move your Body- Beyonce!
      • The Grapes of Wrath
      • Zumba
    • April 10-11 & Spring Break Goodreads
    • College Prep
    • 12th Grade >
      • 12th Grade Home
      • CHRISTY film adaptation unit
      • XENIA and YANA 12th Grade
      • Senior Committee >
        • Senior Hoody Choice
      • Critical Theory- Lenses
      • 12th - Calendar
    • Contemporary Fiction Project