Application Essay Writing 101

The application is a lifeless thing--a few sheets of paper and a few numbers.
The essay is the best way to breathe life into it. - Admissions Officer

I. Lesson One: Tackling the Question - Start Here!

EssayEdge Extra: Who's reading my essay?

A. Question-specific strategies for college, business school, law  school, and medical school application essays

B. Samples of various types of questions with comments by admissions officers

II. Lesson Two: Brainstorming and Selecting an Essay Topic

EssayEdge Extra: One essay, multiple applications

A. Brainstorming worksheet

B. Selecting a Topic: Do's and don'ts with comments by experienced admissions officers

III. Lesson Three: Structure and Outline

A. Descriptions and examples of five popular essay structures

B. Sample outline and essay

C. Strategies and examples of short essays

D. Templates, severe writer's block cure

IV. Lesson Four: Style and Tone

EssayEdge Extra: Trimming the Fat - Reducing wordiness

EssayEdge Extra: Top 10 essay cliches

A. Sentence variety with exercise

B. Word choice: Common pitfalls

C. Transitions: Improving flow

D. Verbs: Active voice vs. Passive voice

1. Active or Passive? Verb quiz

2. Making sentences active voice, an exercise

V. Lesson Five: Introductions and Conclusions

EssayEdge Extra: No Introduction??!!

A. Descriptions, examples, and critiques of nine popular styles of introduction

B. Conclusions: Do's and don'ts

VI. Lesson Six: Editing and Revising

EssayEdge Extra: To title or not to title

A. Paying attention to substance, structure, interest, and proofreading

B. Actual essay gaffes (funny)

C. Final steps