High school counselors are often called upon to guide students through the college essay writing process. Lacking sufficient time to guide students from beginning to end, they generally focus on one of two things: 1) Helping students choose topics; or 2) Reviewing completed essays. This course focuses on essay reviews, and provides insight into what colleges are looking for and how counselors can use their limited resources to help their students write application essays that stand out.
This course consists of five webinars and resources from Wow Writing Workshop’s College Essay Institute: There are a total of 7.0 training hours to equal 7.0 SCECH hours.
- Webinar 1: When Students Believe They Can’t Write
Have you ever heard, “I can’t write”? Whether they are math and science geniuses, or ESL students, kids who lack confidence and find the essay daunting present challenges to all of us. We’ll discuss ways to help struggling writers find and love their voices, and feel comfortable and confident about their words and messages. - Webinar 2: Get In, Get Out and Get It Right: The 30-minute Essay Review
It should never take more than 30 minutes to review a student essay if you know what to look for and what to set aside. We’ll show you how to create guidelines and templates to simplify your review process so you can comment on content first, followed by structure and then polish. You’ll learn to clarify content issues up front, encourage more creative structure and address poor writing skills among native and non-native speakers. - Webinar 3: Early Drafts: Embracing the Messy Middle
What does it mean to think like a writer, and why should you try? We talk about non-linear revision and how to improve student drafts by noticing everything, then parceling out suggestions a few at a time. - Webinar 4: Dismantling the Scaffold: Dull Openings and Other Structural Problems
Learn how to move seamlessly from content to structure by helping students do the hard work with pride and purpose. We explore what to do when the essay’s best line is buried in the third paragraph, and other common challenges. - Webinar 5: Enough Is Enough: Letting Go of the Imperfect Essay
Streamline your editing skills to save time and aggravation. We discuss polishing essays without going too far, along with how to prepare students to respectfully deal with well-meaning adults who ask to read their finished essays.