Completing my college application essay was a difficult task, since I had no previous experience with writing about myself. I did not know how to approach this challenge of genuinely sharing my life without sounding boastful. I realized that I must dig deep and find the special qualities that would make me stand out from the numerous other applicants.
When responding to the prompts, there are a few objectives that should be kept in mind. One should have a good idea of the quality of work the readers are hoping to see and exactly what kind of information they desire to learn from the applicant. In “Navigating Genres”, Kerry Dirk uses the word location to explain the concept of how the content of one’s writing assignment is influenced by the expectations of the teacher. This same idea is incorporated with a college application. Depending on the question asked, the applicant must decide to write in a specific genre that will accurately and effectively satisfy the prompt. Certain characteristics, when used together, form the type of genre. For example, when I was answering the question of how I would fit in as a changemaker, I tried to portray the qualities of leadership and selflessness in order to prove why I would be a productive member on campus. Not only are you telling the readers about yourself, but you are also trying to show them a certain level of intelligence through your writing. This is where diction plays a key role in demonstrating how well someone is able to express themselves. Other elements such as word count affect the organization of the paper. If there is a maximum amount of words allowed, then the applicant will need to adjust their essay so that valuable information does not get left out.
Although it may seem like the only goal of the admissions essay is to just get into college, it is also important to be aware of the impression you want to make on someone who is reading your paper. Carolyn Miller states, “…a rhetorically sound definition of genre must be centered… on the action it is used to accomplish” (Dirk 252). By properly utilizing a genre, one can truly emphasize the integral aspects of what makes them so unique and engage the reader to take an interest in learning about who you are.
Hey there, I think you did an excellent job tackling this abstract concept. The vocabulary you used was extremely mature and appropriate but could be just one step higher. I agree with everything you said and I had many of the same feelings. There are a few extra words or commas here and there, but that is normal. For example, the extra comma between “through my response, I tried” in the second paragraph, is not needed. This essay captures exactly what it is like to write a college admissions essay and the emotional rollercoaster a student rides through the process. Your citations are super useful and are in the correct places and do not disrupt the flow of the piece. The essay also is not too short or too long and it still manages to get all the necessary points across. I also enjoy your appropriate use of personal experience, it makes the essay that more relatable. You definitely express your understanding of the Dirk piece and why this form of an essay can be considered a genre and I really enjoyed reading it.
I think your response it well written, but maybe you could be a little more specific. You say “depending on the question asked, the applicant must decide to write in a specific genre that will accurately and effectively satisfy the prompt. ” You should add examples of those genres and how they are all similar and fall into the category of college admissions essays since we are talking about the college essay as one genre in itself. I would also include some more specifics on style and elements such as word count and how that affects the writing, and maybe diction and syntax. Other than that your word choice and organization are very good!