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Day 5- College Essay Boot Camp

9/2/2025

DUE DATES- ON TIME

College Essay REVISED Draft + Cover Sheet. DUE: Friday 9/5, 3:30 pm. Google Classroom
OPTIONAL- Revised Zen Paragraphs. DUE: Wednesday 9/2, 3:30 pm. Google Classroom.

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)

College Essay Rough Draft. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Monday 9/8, 11:59 pm. Google Classroom

Announcements

Senior college & Career night tomorrow night from 5:30-7:30? I have sent them an email asking them to RSVP for food. Fill out the Google Form NOW!
Wednesday Schedule- Be here 2nd through 4th. 2nd period starts at 9:26! 9:26!

Step 1 Starter 5: Prepare for the peer critique

What is one thing you really like about your essay/topic?
What is one thing you do not like or would like to change?
What is a question you need help with from your group?

EXAMPLES:

Does my word choice and tone show my personality?
How could my hook grab your attention better?
How can I end my essay in a less obvious way?
Do you understand the moral of my story clearly? How could that be clearer or stronger?
Where could I add more depth and detail?

Step 2: Get in your groups

Step 3: Essay Tuning Protocol

DONE? You could…

Revise and rewrite
Conference with Lori/Jessica
Seek out more feedback

Goals for Today

Revise and rewrite based on your peer critique feedback
Conference with Erin C-R or Lori/Jessica about your draft. Priority goes to: Felix, Avery, Ari, Naomi, Chris, Lyra, Penny, El (you need to conference with me before the end of the week!

Day 4- College Essay Boot Camp

8/29/2025

DUE DATES- ON TIME

College Essay Rough Draft. DUE: Monday 9/1, 11:59 pm. Google Classroom
Idea Fishing. DUE: Monday 8/25, Start of Class. Google Classroom

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)

Signed Syllabus. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Friday 8/30, Start of Class. Turn In Basket.
Zen + Values Reflection. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Friday 8/29, End of Class. Google Classroom.

Announcements

Zen Revisions- due next Wednesday by 3:30pm. See Google Classroom for specific instructions- highlight and comment on revisions!
Osprey Block meetings next Wednesday after lunch- be there!

Starter 4- Creating the Magnet

Read Creating the Magnet
Go to your essay and write 2-3 variations of a starting sentence for your essay, using the techniques here..
Share with a partner for feedback.

So What? Exercise (20 min)
Based on your brainstorms yesterday and today, list your top 3 anecdotes/experiences for your college essays. This is going to be a rapid fire verbal brainstorm with different partners to suss out the possible So What of your essay. You will want something to take notes with.

Partner 1/Topic 1

Take 1 minute to explain your anecdote. Just tell the story, describe the experience. DON’T explain why it’s important to you.
Partner: Ask, “So what?”
Answer them (30 sec)
Partner: Ask, “So what?” again
Answer them (30 sec)
Take 1 minute to write down insights you want to capture from this process
Repeat with your partner’s topic.

Repeat with Partner and Topics 2 and 3

Goal for Today
By the end of class, have a solid draft DONE. This should be within 100 words of the required word count. MAKE SURE IT ANSWERS THE QUESTION IN YOUR PROMPT!

Work Time Priorities

Outline and draft your story idea. Your personal narrative.
Sign up for a conference with me - your name needs to be on the board!
Trade essays with a classmate- Give each other some feedback
Schedule a meeting with Erin CR- She's not here today, but you could schedule a meeting for next week!

Day 3- College Essay Boot Camp

8/28/2025

DUE DATES- ON TIME

College Essay Rough Draft. DUE: Monday 9/1, 11:59 pm. Google Classroom
Idea Fishing. DUE: Monday 8/25, Start of Class. Google Classroom

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)

Signed Syllabus. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Friday 8/30, Start of Class. Turn In Basket.
Zen + Values Reflection. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Friday 8/29, End of Class. Google Classroom.

Announcements/Reminders:

College Essay Conferences- Sign up with Lori and Erin CR! For Erin-CR, make an appointment with her!
3 Day Weekend- No school on Monday!

Starter 3: 3Ds and Example Essay

First, read the article The 3 D’s: Details, Dialogue, and Description.
Then read one more of these example essays, OR one of these from former AHS students.
In your starter, provide 2 examples of the three D’s from your example essay (Copy and paste them, or jot them down). Be prepared to share one example.
List where you might include details, dialogue, and description in your own essay

Goal for Today
By the end of class, have a solid draft at least ½ done. This draft should ultimately be within 100 words of the required word count. MAKE SURE IT ANSWERS THE QUESTION IN YOUR PROMPT!

Today’s Tasks:

Outline and draft your story idea. Your personal narrative.
Sign up for a conference with me - your name needs to be on the board!
Help each other out! Talk through ideas with each other. 3 D’s ideas. The main message.
Use the Resources on my DP and in your workbook! Look there for more things you can do!

Day 2- College Essay Boot Camp

8/28/2025

DUE DATES- ON TIME

College Essay Rough Draft. DUE: Monday 9/1, 11:59 pm. Google Classroom
Idea Fishing. DUE: Monday 8/25, Start of Class. Google Classroom

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)

3-2-1 Brainstorm. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Thursday 8/28, Start of Class. Google Classroom
Signed Syllabus. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Friday 8/30, Start of Class. Turn In Basket.
Zen + Values Reflection. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Friday 8/29, End of Class. Google Classroom.

Starter 2- Model Essays (10 min)
Read at least one of these examples. If you have time, read more than one. Then answer the questions below on your starter document.

Describe this person in one sentence
What did you learn about the individual?
What did you like? Dislike?
What did you notice about how this essay was written? What techniques did they use?

Debrief as a class

Ira Glass on Storytelling (10 min)
Listen to this. List 3-5 things that you learned about telling effective stories.
Turn to your partner- how can you incorporate this into your college essay?

Choose Your Own Adventure:

CHOOSE A PROMPT! YOU MUST CHOOSE A PROMPT! Then answer the question in the prompt!
Brainstorm some more (see resources linked on my DP)
Outline (see the outline resources linked on Google Classroom or pages 25 and 29 of CEG Workbook)
Start writing a draft!
Conference with Erin CR once a draft is completed

Day 1- College Essay Boot Camp

8/26/2025

DUE DATES- ON TIME

College Essay Rough Draft. DUE: Monday 9/1, 11:59 pm. Google Classroom
Idea Fishing. DUE: Monday 8/25, Start of Class. Google Classroom

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)

3-2-1 Brainstorm. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Thursday 8/28, Start of Class. Google Classroom
Signed Syllabus. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Friday 8/30, Start of Class. Turn In Basket.
Zen + Values Reflection. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Friday 8/29, End of Class. Google Classroom.

Announcements:

WEDNESDAY-
1. Lori’s Class: Stats 2nd, Hum. 3rd and 4th
2. Jessica’s Class: Hum 2nd and 3rd, Stats 4th

Set up Starter Documents: Starter 1
Create document, label Full Name- Humanities Starters. Share with Humanities teacher.

What did you get out of the workshop yesterday?
What are the big questions you still have about this process?
Which phrase best describes your current situation in regards to college essay writing?
1. I haven't started yet, and don't have a clue what the outcome might look like.
2. I have a prompt and have started writing, but I'm nowhere near done.
3. I have finished at least one essay, but it would benefit from some more refinement
4. I have mostly finished my college essays, but still have a few more and/or supplementary writing I can work on and refine.

Instructions (5 min)

Read the College Bootcamp Overview- make note of deadlines and the rubric.

GOAL = Refined 2nd draft of at least one college essay.
Write your names on the paper in your corner- we will come back to this tomorrow to help us form some groups!

Narrative Structure- Straightforward, linear story.

Challenges + Effects or EXPERIENCES
This part gets into specific detail regarding a specific challenge the student has faced, and the various effects of that challenge. Tough stuff you’ve been through. Big experiences. Their subsequent impacts. Various obstacles you’ve had to overcome. NO TRAUMA DUMPING- you are the victor, not the victim.
What I Did About Them
Actions you took to overcome those challenges and their effects, often to meet specific needs. These actions help to illustrate your values and growth.
What I Learned
Lessons and insights you’ve gained through these experiences. Reflection on how your experiences have shaped you and why that matters. What you will bring to that college because of these experiences.

Montage Structure

A technique that involves creating a new whole from separate fragments (pictures, words, music, etc.).
A few images tell the whole story. And you can use this technique for your essay. (Example - Bracelets)
Find a focusing lens: You can’t discuss every single aspect of your life; you can, however, show us a few important points through a single lens or metaphor.

GOAL TODAY = Work on what you need to
Even if you already have an essay, I can tell you that so many students throw out the drafts they have midway through this semester to start again. My goal here is to give ALL of you many ideas to return to and to start with, and to make sure that ideas that you have are unique and specific to YOU.

Track 1: I have no idea what to write about

Do some brainstorming! Complete at least 3 of the brainstorming exercises in the College Essay Workbook
Think about how these connect- how do they lead you to experiences, values, and qualities you want to highlight?
Have an idea? Great!
Choose the structure that works best for you- montage or narrative
Do the outline

Track 2: I have an idea, and just need to get started

Choose the structure that works best for you- montage or narrative
Do the outline for this structure
Get stuck? Go back and do a brainstorming exercise- think about how the different brainstorms connect to one another and to your values.
Start your draft!

Track 3: I have a completed draft of an essay already done, or close to done

Conference with both Lori/Jessica AND Erin CR to get feedback on refining your draft
Refine your draft
Choose a supplemental essay or scholarship essay that you need to get done
Brainstorm and outline for that new essay

ALL TRACKS: Conference with Lori/Jessica as needed! Conference sign ups are on the board

Day 4- Zen Discussion + Reflection

8/22/2025

DUE DATES- ON TIME

Zen + Values Reflection. DUE: Friday 8/22, End of Class. Google Classroom.
Idea Fishing. DUE: Monday 8/25, Start of Class. Google Classroom

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)

3-2-1 Brainstorm. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Thursday 8/28, Start of Class. Google Classroom
Signed Syllabus. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Friday 8/30, Start of Class. Turn In Basket.

Lori Only- 10-15 minutes to read and annotate

Zen and Motorcycle- Read and be ready to discuss- have your favorite line identified.
AHS Values- Read these and have one connection between one of these values, and the ideas in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance written down.

Discussion Groups (45 minutes)

Spirit Read (each student shares their line)
1. Discuss patterns, bring into Socratic seminar
Seminar Questions:
1. How much are you subject to the “mule mentality” “The idea that the majority of students attend a university for an education independent of the degree and grades is a little hypocrisy everyone is happier not to expose.” What does this mean? Do you agree? Why/why not?
2. (paragraph 8)? What impact does this have on you? Where does this come from?
3. “The purpose of abolishing grades and degrees is not to punish mules or to get rid of them but to provide an environment in which that mule can turn into a free man.” To what extent are you a mule? To what extent are you a free man?
4. The transformation described in this piece is predicated on the idea that everyone has an innate “creative intelligence” that has been stifled. Do you agree with this premise? Why/why not?
5. “He’d be a knowledge-motivated person. He would need no external pushing to learn. His push would come from inside.” When have you felt this? What contexts/subjects are conducive to this experience?
6. What connections do you see between the AHS Values and the Zen text?
7. How do these values connect to your senior quest?
  1. Which of them do you struggle to embody? Which come naturally to you?
8. How motivated are you by grades? How motivated are you by knowledge? What implications does this have for your senior project?
9. Make sure to note that the senior project itself is assessed by a rubric you will create- how then, can we connect senior project to ideas in this text. Inspiring? Terrifying? Both?
10. Last line: “It would be the real thing.” What do you need to do to make sure your Senior Project is the “real thing?”
11. The world outside of school is one that exists without grades. You succeed or fail based on your track record and reputation as well as a list of your accomplishments, not your GPA. How can the final senior project provide you with an artifact or story that will propel you forward outside of school?
12. How can your senior year help you make connections in the community, locally and abroad? How can those connections help you after your high school career is over?

Final Reflection
Write two paragraphs in response to our texts and discussion. Due at the end of class, finished or not!

Choose one of the seminar questions listed below and respond in a full TEA (or TEAEA) paragraph. This is our chance to see how you write. Make sure to use evidence from the text!
1. How much are you subject to the “mule mentality” “The idea that the majority of students attend a university for an education independent of the degree and grades is a little hypocrisy everyone is happier not to expose.” What does this mean? Do you agree? Why/why not?
2. “The purpose of abolishing grades and degrees is not to punish mules or to get rid of them but to provide an environment in which that mule can turn into a free man.” In school, to what extent are you a mule? To what extent are you a free man? Why?
3. “It would be the real thing.” What does it mean to have a senior quest that is the real thing? What do you need to do to make sure YOUR senior quest is the real thing?
Reflect on the following: How did this discussion spark your imagination, ideas, or intentions for your senior project? Connect to Zen and/or specific values. Be as specific as possible.

Idea Fishing
Finish this! If not done, homework. Due at start of Humanities on MONDAY.

Day 3- Yes, And + Idea Fishing

8/21/2025

DUE DATES- ON TIME

Signed Syllabus. DUE: Friday 8/22, Start of Class. Turn In Basket.
321 Brainstorm. DUE: Thursday 8/21, Start of Class. Google Classroom.
Zen + Values Readings. DUE: Friday, 8/22, Start of Class. Show Lori.

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)

Nothing Yet!

Announcements

MONDAY 8/25 Schedule- Lori’s Pod will have Humanities periods 3 and 4 (we have a special workshop with a college essay expert during this time). You will have Stats 6th- I know some of you will not be able to make this due to schedule conflicts. If this is you, please check in with Lori and Kyle before the end of this week.

Yes/And Brainstorm

Model with Kyle and students.
Put students into groups of 4-5.
Different groups each time to mix it up

Idea Fishing
Work on this- conference with Jessica, Lori and Kyle as needed.

Hand out Zen at end of class for homework

Zen and Motorcycle- Read and be ready to discuss- have your favorite line identified.
AHS Values- Read these and have one connection between one of these values, and the ideas in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance written down.

Day 2- Brainstorming Bonanza

8/20/2025

DUE DATES- ON TIME

Signed Syllabus. DUE: Friday 8/22, Start of Class. Turn In Basket.
321 Brainstorm. DUE: Thursday 8/21, Start of Class. Google Classroom.

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)

Nothing Yet!

Dave Farkas- Parking and other expectations.

9:40-10:00- Paseo (20 min- Lori’s Room)

Split into two groups
Paseo Questions:
1. Big broad open
  1. In 10 years, what’s something you see yourself doing that would make you happy
  2. What kind of problems need to be solved in the world/our community?
  3. What is your most valued skill?
  4. What is a skill you would like to have? Why?
  5. What do you want out of your senior year?
  6. What ideas do you have so far for your senior project?
  7. Who would you like to work with or collaborate with?
  8. What dream do you have that seems unattainable?

10:05-10:40- Butcher Paper Sr. Project Brainstorm (Commons → Classrooms→ Commons)
Break into 8 groups of 6 students, split into two rooms. In each room there are butcher papers with.

Product- What could you build/create/do?
Topic/Question- What question do you want to answer? What questions are you curious about? What topics intrigue you?
Organization- What organization, business, or individual could you collaborate with?
What questions do you have for Kyle/Lori/Jessica about senior project, thesis, or senior year in general?

Spend 5 minutes at each. The goal is to come up with as many ideas as possible for the various elements of senior project. Be sincere and serious, but also be open to crazy ideas!

Bring everyone back together to review, answer the questions they come up with.

10:40-12:00- 3-2-1 Idea Brainstorm (split between classrooms)
3-2-1 Idea generation

Use the brainstorms from yesterday and today to complete the 3-2-1 brainstorm.
Done early? Come show your ideas to Kyle, Lori, or Jessica to get feedback!
DUE at the start of class tomorrow.

Exit Tickets: Index Card Mode of Engagement
What mode of engagement did you spend most of your time in today? Write one sentence explaining.

Week 1- Senior Quest!

8/18/2025

DUE DATES- ON TIME

Signed Syllabus. DUE: Friday 8/22, Start of Class 4/23. Turn In Basket.

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)

Nothing Yet!

Announcements:

Schedule on Wednesday: Be here periods 2-4. Meet in Lori’s room! Expect to be here every Wednesday from periods 2-4.
Need to make an appointment with Erin C-R? See links below!
1. Erin CR appointment scheduling link for seniors!
2. Erin CR availability

Introductions (5 min)

Name, pronouns, one word to describe your ideal classroom.

Syllabus Review (15 min)
Review syllabus, students sign it. Bring home for parents to sign. Due Friday, 8/22

Student Contracts (5 min)
Hit the highlights, students sign it.

Plagiarism (don’t do it…see the syllabus)
Attendance (come to class, 20% rule)
Tech (no phones, use computers appropriately)
Dress (cover your bits, no orgy shirts, when professional dress is needed)
Bullying (don’t do it, virtual or otherwise)
Drugs/Weapons (duh, don’t bring them to school, INCLUDING YOUR CAR)

SENIOR QUEST IDEATION WEEK SLIDESHOW
Senior Project Intro
What is it? What will we be doing?

Engagement Framework

Intro the framework
Show example of our frameworks with examples
1. Have them fill out a framework with examples from their own
2. Share out some examples
Start talking about how it applies to senior project
1. Explorer mode for project
2. Explorer + achiever for thesis

Slideshow overview + Case studies

As a group, develop 2-3 criteria that need to be met for a senior project to be good.
Read over the case study titles: case studies
Choose two to focus on
Read it and answer:
1. By your criteria, was this a good project? Why/why not?
  1. Rank each project on your criteria on a scale of 1-5 (1=Not good at all, 3=mid, 5=killed it)
2. Did your criteria line up with your initial gut impulse? Where did they? Where didn’t they?
3. What could this person have done to make this project more quality?

Self-Brainstorm and Skills Inventory (20 min)

Going to think about you as a student and how that relates to senior project in a variety of different ways. Goal is to get you thinking deeply about you and how you relate to this project in an expansive way
Focus on PROJECT, not thesis. We’ll be talking about the thesis more specifically in Humanities on Wednesday
Complete TWO graphic organizer/brainstorms. One is focused on your general traits, and one is focused on concrete skills (send outside, other rooms)
1. Brainstorm 1: Emotional self, goals/dream, interests, behavior/work habits
2. Brainstorm 2: Academic Skills, social/emotional skills, non-academic skills, skills to develop

When you are finished, grab a large post-it from Jessica/Lori and complete the exit ticket.
EXIT TICKET:

What ideas do you have right now about senior project or what you might want to research?
What questions do you have about senior year or the senior quest?
Stick the post-it to your brainstorm and turn both into the box.

Day 1- TPOL Prep- Reading and Coaching

5/16/2025

TPOL Introduction- Meet in Lori’s Room

Exhibition Clean Up
TPOL Introduction and Schedule

Read and Annotate Seminar Texts

Small group coaching. Meet in Humanities Teacher Room.

Lunch

Update Senior Project Website

Read and annotate seminar texts

Get annotations signed off
Actively participate in seminar coaching
Get coaching handout signed off
Get Senior Project Website done and checked off by cohort leader

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Day 5- College Essay Boot Camp

Day 4- College Essay Boot Camp

Day 3- College Essay Boot Camp

Day 2- College Essay Boot Camp

Day 1- College Essay Boot Camp

Day 4- Zen Discussion + Reflection

Day 3- Yes, And + Idea Fishing

Day 2- Brainstorming Bonanza

Week 1- Senior Quest!

Day 1- TPOL Prep- Reading and Coaching

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