IN A COLLEGE ESSAY ? Susan Knoppow Wow Writing Workshop, Michigan - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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SHOULD YOUR

STUDENTS WRITE ABOUT DEPRESSION IN A COLLEGE ESSAY?

Susan Knoppow Wow Writing Workshop, Michigan

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HOT TOPICS

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Learning challenges
• Family hardship
• Abuse
• Religion
• Politics

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Session Resources: Text NACAC18 to 555-888

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IS A TOPIC APPROPRIATE?

• Ask Why
• Prep for Input
• Confirm Change
• Consider Audience

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Session Resources: Text NACAC18 to 555-888

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ASK WHY?

• Does the student know why they have chosen this topic?
• If it’s simply because it’s “the biggest challenge I’ve ever faced” or “the

scariest moment of my life,” step back and reassess.

• A college essay should demonstrate something meaningful about a

student.

• If the story illustrates positive characteristics, it could work.

Family issues, divorce, abuse, incarceration

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PREP FOR INPUT

• Can the student accept editorial comments on the essay?
• If an experience is too raw (or if the student is in the middle of it),

reflection may be nearly impossible.

• We tell students, “That is clearly an important experience in your life, and

I encourage you to write about it. However, it sounds like you’re not ready to reflect on it in a personal statement yet. Eventually you’ll have that distance, but it’s too soon.” Depression, anxiety, friend’s suicide attempt

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CONFIRM CHANGE

• If the student learned something, have they had a chance to put that

learning into practice yet?

• Many students gain insight into their character during challenging

moments (illness, death of a family member, addiction, etc.)

• Probe by saying, “Tell me about a time when you behaved differently

after that experience.”

• If they can’t think of an example, the experience is too fresh for honest
• reflection. Acknowledge how significant it is, then move on.

Substance abuse, eating disorders

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CONSIDER AUDIENCE

• If the student is applying to a school with a socially conservative or liberal

mission, they should keep that in mind when choosing a topic.

• Otherwise, any issue should be fair game, as long as the student is using

the politically or socially sensitive topic to explore the characteristics they want to highlight in their application.

• If the essay reads like a manifesto, the writer has missed the point.

Politics, religion

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IS A TOPIC APPROPRIATE?

• Ask Why
• Prep for Input
• Confirm Change
• Consider Audience

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Session Resources: Text NACAC18 to 555-888

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SESSION RESOURCES

• Slides
• Student Activity: What Do You Want Readers to Know About You?
• Recording: College Essay Pro Chat on Sensitive and Controversial

Topics

• Links to Wow’s Facebook and LinkedIn groups for professionals

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Session Resources: Text NACAC18 to 555-888