Sarah O'Neill Blog Pennsylvania

  Sarah O’Neill Chester County Supreme Editing What is Self-Writing? A memoir, or self-writing, involves YOU — the human behind the writer — as the protagonist and/or narrator of the piece you will produce. Stories in this genre come from YOU, your point of view, not a fictional character you can hide behind. It’s a fragment from your life that draws exclusively from your experience and not the rabbit hole into a wonderland of fantastical subject matter. Write What You Know! The truth is that it doesn’t necessarily have to be first-hand knowledge, it can be “what you know” from second or third-hand experience, sensory stimulation, subjective memory, lies, or knowledge from imagination. Can you think of any examples from your life where this would be applicable? You could dig deeper into some of the pieces of knowledge which you have begun to identify into a short self-contained piece of prose. More on Writing the Self You could work from reminiscences, infuse subjective memories wi...

Guide to Meaningful Dialogue Essays Tell us about a meaningful conversation. Example Prompts Brown’s culture fosters a community in which students challenge the ideas of others and have their ideas challenged in return, promoting a deeper and clearer understanding of the complex issues confronting society. This active engagement in dialogue is as present outside the classroom as it is in academic spaces. Tell us about a time you were challenged by a perspective that differed from your own. How did you respond? —Brown University At Boston College, we hope to draw on the Jesuit tradition of finding conversation partners to discuss issues and problems facing society. Who is your favorite conversation partner? What do you discuss with that person? —Boston College Tell us about a time when, faced with an opinion or perspective that differed from your own, you responded as an empathetic speaker or generous listener.—UVA What They’re Actually Asking ● What are your values? ● How do you deal w...

  One easy step on your journey before applying to college is to build a writing portfolio. You can compile a jumbo collection of written original works for review and submit to famous contests like Scholastic, especially if you will be involved in Humanities in the future. Even if you aren’t, it is a perfectly great way to show yourself off in different arenas and as a person with a multitude of talents. Below is one idea — to write a one-act play. A one-act play is pithy, it can demonstrate your ability to write in a tough category, and it can be wholly satisfying to compose. Take note of the steps below and get started! Step 1 — IDEAS Your play should focus on ONE singular event. / WHAT TYPE OF PLAY WRITE You need to come up with some ideas for a one-act play. Feel free to consult online prompts. Step 2 — PLANNING Most scripts grow out of two elements: the through line–the major action of the play — and the conflict (239). In a mystery story, for example, a detective’s effort to...

  By Sarah O’Neill Coatesville, Supreme Daily Editing What is a Personal Statement? A personal statement is an essay about an impactful experience or meaningful aspect of your life. Most American colleges require you to write and submit a personal statement as part of your application. Personal statements are usually about 650 words long (about a page, single-spaced.) What is a Supplement? In addition to your personal statement, most colleges will have extra essay questions for you to answer. These essays are called supplemental essays or writing supplements. Each college will have its own unique supplemental essays. Here’s one example of a supplemental essay prompt: Please share with us why you consider Duke a good match for you. Is there something in particular about Duke’s academic or other offerings that attract you? (200 words) Even though each college will have its own unique supplemental essays, many colleges ask questions about the same or similar topics. Once you’ve writte...