D3 - ANCHOR TALK: Bring Out the Student’s Best Essays by Borrowing from Journalism
Session Description
Students tend to make common mistakes when writing their college application essays. They respond to the prompt with a five-paragraph English paper. They waddle into their ideas. They leave out salient details or include irrelevant ones. They stifle their true voices and use the Thesaurus to sound “smarter.” Learn how to apply journalistic principles of interviewing and writing to the process and product while the student maintains complete ownership of the essay.
Target audience
ALL
Submitter
Karen A. Hott, Two Bridges College Consulting
Presenters
Karen A. Hott, Two Bridges College Consulting
Brief biographical sketch, to include educational background
Before establishing Two Bridges College Consulting, Karen Hott helped students with their college application essays. She believes that if writing help is offered ethically, it becomes a learning experience for the student. She does not “edit” essays; only the student herself makes changes as she engages in dialogue with the IEC. During a 35-year teaching career, she taught AP English, journalism, and newspaper production, holding certifications from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and the Journalism Education Association. She has a master's from St. John's College, works part-time at the Anne Arundel Community College writing center, and is a member of the Modern Language Association.