college essay writing programs

Courses from June 22, 2024 — August 18, 2024

Enrollment will open on Monday, April 8 at 5:30 p.m. PDT. Apply now for the best chance to enroll in your preferred courses.

College Essay Bootcamp

Get a strong start on your college application with this series of sessions on the common app and supplemental essays. You’ll learn what makes a stellar essay and how to incorporate key traits that will capture an admissions committee’s attention and heart. Includes two 4.5-hour in-person sessions; two first-come, first-serve, remote sessions (Zoom calls) for individualized feedback; as well as independent writing time.

The College Essay Bootcamp focuses on the common app and supplemental essays, and not on admission to Stanford. Stanford does not have a preference for students who attend Stanford-specific summer programs and this opportunity is intended to provide general guidance around the college application process.

About College Essay Bootcamp

In-person session day 1 finding your voice and telling your story: common app main essay.

The main essay is one of the most important components of the college application. A stellar essay will help a student standout from amongst a pool of competitive applicants. Writing an outstanding essay, however, can be a daunting task. In this seminar, students will learn the answer to questions such as, what are colleges looking for? What do I write about? How creative should I be? 

In-Person Session Day 2 Making Every Word Count: Supplemental Essays & Activity List

In addition to the main essay, many colleges require their own school-specific prompts, also known as supplemental essays. Covering popular prompts including the “Why Us?” question and the elaboration of an extracurricular or job-related experience, this seminar will teach students how to best approach various supplemental essays and further illuminate who they are as a person and how they can contribute to a specific college.

The activity list section of the college application provides an applicant the opportunity to describe their passions, skills, and talents. In this portion of the seminar, students will learn strategies to best highlight their accomplishments and activities. Additionally, students will be equipped with the tools to create a strong resume. Although not required by every school, a good resume can aid students with teacher recommendations, college interviews, scholarship applications, and future job or internship opportunities.

It was really enjoyable and extremely helpful overall especially as someone who is applying to colleges the coming school year and is behind on essays!

How to Participate

Register for college essay bootcamp.

Registration for College Essay Bootcamp is open to confirmed students on a first-come, first-served basis.

On May 16, the first registered students (up to our capacity) will be invited to confirm their spot by paying the non-refundable $725 fee.

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About the Facilitator

Founded in 2007, Ivy Global is renowned in the educational services industry for its quality test prep materials and consulting expertise. Ivy Global has helped thousands of students achieve their educational goals and gain admission to top colleges and universities.

Grant Hansen graduated with a B.A. in Performance Theatre and Comprehensive Communications before moving to Beijing, China where he spent years working with students to develop their public speaking ability, coach them on writing and performance, and equip them for studies in the United States and Canada. He served as Foreign Teacher Liaison for two years at the number one high school in Beijing, Ren Da Fu Zhong, before spending a year at Renmin University designing courses in Advanced Public Speaking and Play Production. He engages with students so they can discover their unique stories and helps them communicate that story to others. 

Time Commitment

In addition to the two afternoon in-person sessions, students will need to spend at least a few hours on their own in order to maximize the personalized attention they’ll receive in the two remote sessions.

Stanford Summer Session provides high-achieving and ambitious students a transformative educational experience at a world-class university. By combining challenging academics with a rich array of extra-curricular programming, Stanford Summer Session successfully shares the University’s culture of innovation, academic excellence, and global responsibility.

Welcome to Write The World Workshops: Writing Camps and College Essay Courses

Open Programs

Complete your college essay online course & college essay review service.

Journey through dozens of prompts, videos, and resources to explore and reflect on YOUR story, in YOUR own words. You’ll walk away with a fully drafted, stand-out Personal Statement in hand, as well as a plethora of writing resources for college and beyond.

With Write the World’s College Essay Review, you’ll have a college essay editor on your side – anytime, anywhere. Submit drafts to our team of Expert Advisors for review, and receive fully personalized, multi-page reports within 48 hours.

Virtual Summer Writing Camps 2024

About write the world.

Write the World is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 2012 at Harvard University, that provides online supplemental educational programs and a writing community that serves young writers, their educators and schools. 

For over 10 years, Write the World has reached and improved the writing of over 101K+ teens and educators from 125 countries. We’ve empowered young people to develop their voices, refine their editing skills, and publish on our global platform. We pride ourselves on offering a supportive environment that prizes self-expression, safety, and privacy for young writers aged 13–19.

Our students access opportunities for recognition through our blog, online journal, and free monthly writing competitions that feature noted guest judges such as United States Inaugural Poet and Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman ; former speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama  Sarah Hurwitz ; and United States Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky.  

We created Write the World Workshops & Services to further inspire young writers to express themselves, write in a variety of genres, and boost their confidence. Our intuitive writing process and curricula are designed to improve students’ writing, critical thinking, and communication skills—essential for success in college readiness, career, and life.

Our Programs

Our on-demand  Complete Your College Admissions Essay Online Course  guides Juniors and Seniors through a step-by-step roadmap toward college essay success and develop standout essays. We also continue to offer our popular  College Essay Review  services, where students receive a comprehensive feedback report within 48 hours and have a college essay editor on their side – anytime, anywhere.

Our  virtual creative writing camps  also return every summer, where students (ages 13-19) experiment with the written word, try their hand at new styles of writing, and work with notable professionals to create pieces they’re proud of from the comfort of their home.

We look forward to writing with you!

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Join our newsletter below for workshop updates , new blog posts, and more!  Please also check out our College Essay Online Course and Review services.

Partner with Us

We are on the lookout for partner educators, counselors, schools, and consultants, “write the world taught our students the essentials of writing a college essay in an efficient, student centered, and supportive way. our students left this workshop with more confidence in their writing and a sense of ease regarding their essay. the small groups and 1:1 guidance from wtw advisors allowed for our students to comfortably open up and connect themselves to their writing.”.

–  Genesis T., Partnership with TRIO Talent Search | GEAR Up Massachusetts , Lowell High School 

Interested in getting your school, company, or organization involved in our Writing Workshops or Services?

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“It all felt very personal, which I think is essential for this process.”

— Salish, 14, Canada

“I have a better understanding of myself as a writer. It’s a very positive and safe community to share and improve your work.”

— Tiffany, 17, United States

“It allows you to connect to young, driven writers. The staff is supportive and the expert reviewers are extremely insightful.”

— Geethika, 18, Singapore

Subscribe now to learn more about our virtual camps, college essay programs, and more.

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Since 1872, the Harvard College Writing Program has been teaching the fundamentals of academic writing to first-year students.

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Tips for Writing an Effective Application Essay

How to Write an Effective Essay

Writing an essay for college admission gives you a chance to use your authentic voice and show your personality. It's an excellent opportunity to personalize your application beyond your academic credentials, and a well-written essay can have a positive influence come decision time.

Want to know how to draft an essay for your college application ? Here are some tips to keep in mind when writing.

Tips for Essay Writing

A typical college application essay, also known as a personal statement, is 400-600 words. Although that may seem short, writing about yourself can be challenging. It's not something you want to rush or put off at the last moment. Think of it as a critical piece of the application process. Follow these tips to write an impactful essay that can work in your favor.

1. Start Early.

Few people write well under pressure. Try to complete your first draft a few weeks before you have to turn it in. Many advisers recommend starting as early as the summer before your senior year in high school. That way, you have ample time to think about the prompt and craft the best personal statement possible.

You don't have to work on your essay every day, but you'll want to give yourself time to revise and edit. You may discover that you want to change your topic or think of a better way to frame it. Either way, the sooner you start, the better.

2. Understand the Prompt and Instructions.

Before you begin the writing process, take time to understand what the college wants from you. The worst thing you can do is skim through the instructions and submit a piece that doesn't even fit the bare minimum requirements or address the essay topic. Look at the prompt, consider the required word count, and note any unique details each school wants.

3. Create a Strong Opener.

Students seeking help for their application essays often have trouble getting things started. It's a challenging writing process. Finding the right words to start can be the hardest part.

Spending more time working on your opener is always a good idea. The opening sentence sets the stage for the rest of your piece. The introductory paragraph is what piques the interest of the reader, and it can immediately set your essay apart from the others.

4. Stay on Topic.

One of the most important things to remember is to keep to the essay topic. If you're applying to 10 or more colleges, it's easy to veer off course with so many application essays.

A common mistake many students make is trying to fit previously written essays into the mold of another college's requirements. This seems like a time-saving way to avoid writing new pieces entirely, but it often backfires. The result is usually a final piece that's generic, unfocused, or confusing. Always write a new essay for every application, no matter how long it takes.

5. Think About Your Response.

Don't try to guess what the admissions officials want to read. Your essay will be easier to write─and more exciting to read─if you’re genuinely enthusiastic about your subject. Here’s an example: If all your friends are writing application essays about covid-19, it may be a good idea to avoid that topic, unless during the pandemic you had a vivid, life-changing experience you're burning to share. Whatever topic you choose, avoid canned responses. Be creative.

6. Focus on You.

Essay prompts typically give you plenty of latitude, but panel members expect you to focus on a subject that is personal (although not overly intimate) and particular to you. Admissions counselors say the best essays help them learn something about the candidate that they would never know from reading the rest of the application.

7. Stay True to Your Voice.

Use your usual vocabulary. Avoid fancy language you wouldn't use in real life. Imagine yourself reading this essay aloud to a classroom full of people who have never met you. Keep a confident tone. Be wary of words and phrases that undercut that tone.

8. Be Specific and Factual.

Capitalize on real-life experiences. Your essay may give you the time and space to explain why a particular achievement meant so much to you. But resist the urge to exaggerate and embellish. Admissions counselors read thousands of essays each year. They can easily spot a fake.

9. Edit and Proofread.

When you finish the final draft, run it through the spell checker on your computer. Then don’t read your essay for a few days. You'll be more apt to spot typos and awkward grammar when you reread it. After that, ask a teacher, parent, or college student (preferably an English or communications major) to give it a quick read. While you're at it, double-check your word count.

Writing essays for college admission can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. A well-crafted essay could be the deciding factor─in your favor. Keep these tips in mind, and you'll have no problem creating memorable pieces for every application.

What is the format of a college application essay?

Generally, essays for college admission follow a simple format that includes an opening paragraph, a lengthier body section, and a closing paragraph. You don't need to include a title, which will only take up extra space. Keep in mind that the exact format can vary from one college application to the next. Read the instructions and prompt for more guidance.

Most online applications will include a text box for your essay. If you're attaching it as a document, however, be sure to use a standard, 12-point font and use 1.5-spaced or double-spaced lines, unless the application specifies different font and spacing.

How do you start an essay?

The goal here is to use an attention grabber. Think of it as a way to reel the reader in and interest an admissions officer in what you have to say. There's no trick on how to start a college application essay. The best way you can approach this task is to flex your creative muscles and think outside the box.

You can start with openers such as relevant quotes, exciting anecdotes, or questions. Either way, the first sentence should be unique and intrigue the reader.

What should an essay include?

Every application essay you write should include details about yourself and past experiences. It's another opportunity to make yourself look like a fantastic applicant. Leverage your experiences. Tell a riveting story that fulfills the prompt.

What shouldn’t be included in an essay?

When writing a college application essay, it's usually best to avoid overly personal details and controversial topics. Although these topics might make for an intriguing essay, they can be tricky to express well. If you’re unsure if a topic is appropriate for your essay, check with your school counselor. An essay for college admission shouldn't include a list of achievements or academic accolades either. Your essay isn’t meant to be a rehashing of information the admissions panel can find elsewhere in your application.

How can you make your essay personal and interesting?

The best way to make your essay interesting is to write about something genuinely important to you. That could be an experience that changed your life or a valuable lesson that had an enormous impact on you. Whatever the case, speak from the heart, and be honest.

Is it OK to discuss mental health in an essay?

Mental health struggles can create challenges you must overcome during your education and could be an opportunity for you to show how you’ve handled challenges and overcome obstacles. If you’re considering writing your essay for college admission on this topic, consider talking to your school counselor or with an English teacher on how to frame the essay.

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How to Write a Great College Essay Introduction | Examples

Published on October 4, 2021 by Meredith Testa . Revised on August 14, 2023 by Kirsten Courault.

Admissions officers read thousands of essays each application season, and they may devote as little as five minutes to reviewing a student’s entire application. That means it’s critical to have a well-structured essay with a compelling introduction. As you write and revise your essay , look for opportunities to make your introduction more engaging.

There’s one golden rule for a great introduction: don’t give too much away . Your reader shouldn’t be able to guess the entire trajectory of the essay after reading the first sentence. A striking or unexpected opening captures the reader’s attention, raises questions, and makes them want to keep reading to the end .

Table of contents

Start with a surprise, start with a vivid, specific image, avoid clichés, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.

A great introduction often has an element of mystery. Consider the following opening statement.

This opener is unexpected, even bizarre—what could this student be getting at? How can you be bad at breathing?

The student goes on to describe her experience with asthma and how it has affected her life. It’s not a strange topic, but the introduction is certainly intriguing. This sentence keeps the admissions officer reading, giving the student more of an opportunity to keep their attention and make her point.

In a sea of essays with standard openings such as “One life-changing experience for me was …” or “I overcame an obstacle when …,” this introduction stands out. The student could have used either of those more generic introductions, but neither would have been as successful.

This type of introduction is a true “hook”—it’s highly attention-grabbing, and the reader has to keep reading to understand.

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If your topic doesn’t lend itself to such a surprising opener, you can also start with a vivid, specific description.

Many essays focus on a particular experience, and describing one moment from that experience can draw the reader in. You could focus on small details of what you could see and feel, or drop the reader right into the middle of the story with dialogue or action.

Some students choose to write more broadly about themselves and use some sort of object or metaphor as the focus. If that’s the type of essay you’d like to write, you can describe that object in vivid detail, encouraging the reader to imagine it.

Cliché essay introductions express ideas that are stereotypical or generally thought of as conventional wisdom. Ideas like “My family made me who I am today” or “I accomplished my goals through hard work and determination” may genuinely reflect your life experience, but they aren’t unique or particularly insightful.

Unoriginal essay introductions are easily forgotten and don’t demonstrate a high level of creative thinking. A college essay is intended to give insight into the personality and background of an applicant, so a standard, one-size-fits-all introduction may lead admissions officers to think they are dealing with a standard, unremarkable applicant.

Quotes can often fall into the category of cliché essay openers. There are some circumstances in which using a quote might make sense—for example, you could quote an important piece of advice or insight from someone important in your life. But for most essays, quotes aren’t necessary, and they may make your essay seem uninspired.

If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Academic writing

• Writing process
• Transition words
• Passive voice
• Paraphrasing

 Communication

• How to end an email
• Ms, mrs, miss
• How to start an email
• I hope this email finds you well
• Hope you are doing well

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• Personal pronouns
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The introduction of your college essay is the first thing admissions officers will read and therefore your most important opportunity to stand out. An excellent introduction will keep admissions officers reading, allowing you to tell them what you want them to know.

The key to a strong college essay introduction is not to give too much away. Try to start with a surprising statement or image that raises questions and compels the reader to find out more.

Cliché openers in a college essay introduction are usually general and applicable to many students and situations. Most successful introductions are specific: they only work for the unique essay that follows.

In most cases, quoting other people isn’t a good way to start your college essay . Admissions officers want to hear your thoughts about yourself, and quotes often don’t achieve that. Unless a quote truly adds something important to your essay that it otherwise wouldn’t have, you probably shouldn’t include it.

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Summer 2024 applications are now open.

Columbia writing academy: spring.

February 5–15, 2024 Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays 7:00 p.m.–8:15 p.m.

Columbia Writing Academy: Writing for College Success

The Columbia Writing Academy is designed for high school students who know that writing is the key to college success and want to develop their own personal voice and expand their writing skills before starting college. Through a combination of workshops and tutorials, exercises and assignments, students will practice the fundamental skills for writing successful college essays—developing a position to argue, persuading readers, anticipating counterarguments, and crafting strong sentences. Students will explore each stage in the writing process—brainstorming, drafting, revising—and will receive in-depth feedback at each stage of the process.  By the end of the course, students will have practiced the major skills of successful college writing and have written a college-level essay.

The Academy will be a lively two-week online course that requires six to eight hours of work each week, including reading, writing, and participating in three synchronous Zoom sessions each week. The synchronous sessions will be held on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, 7:00 p.m.–8:15 p.m. ET, and will include seminar-style discussions and writing workshops.

Course Dates

February 5–15, 2024

Online Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays 7:00 p.m.–8:15 p.m.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, students will be able to do the following:

Think like a writer.  Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of texts, the rhetorical techniques writers commonly use in crafting them, and how such techniques affect and appeal to specific readers’ interests and expectations. 

Write like a college student.  Understand the conventions and expectations of the college essay and practice the fundamental skills for writing successful essays.

Read like an editor. Use the feedback of peers and their seminar leader to write and revise successfully, and to examine their writing decisions, preferences, strengths, and challenges.

Dr. Nancy Sommers is a prize-winning writer and teacher who created the Columbia Writing Academy. 

She assembled a select group of talented, experienced writers and writing instructors to lead the program with an unwavering commitment to their students’ success.

Read Dr. Sommers' bio

Registration Details

The Columbia Writing Academy is offered as a course within the Academic Year Weekend program; be sure to select this program when applying. Due to the importance of focused time with individual students, the admissions committee looks for exceptional students eager to contribute original ideas and a spirit of intellectual curiosity to a community of enthusiastic learners.

Program Costs

Program costs are subject to Board of Trustee approval and may change.   

Program Cost: $2,810 per session (single course registration)  

The amount above includes the fee for the program itself along with activity, health services, and technology fees. The Columbia Writing Academy is offered through the Academic Year Weekend program. Please visit the Academic Enrichment Cost and Fees page for cost details; costs align with the costs listed under "Academic Year Weekend (10-Weeks)" program.  

The non-refundable $500 deposit, due upon notification of acceptance to the program, is credited toward this cost. Not included are the application fee ($80). Students are advised to budget at least $50 toward course materials, such as textbooks and supplies.

View Cost Details 

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With so many options, it can be hard to decide which program is right for you. Narrow your search with customized filters to explore only the programs that match what you’re looking for.

Start Your Application

If you would like to be part of the Columbia Writing Academy, be sure to select the course when applying for the Online Academic Year Program.

Introduction to Writing College Essays Part 1: Brainstorming

This two-week intensive course trains aspiring college counselors, advisors, and other education professionals on the purpose, role, and structure of college admissions essays. The course will explore techniques, standards, and ethics to be used when supporting students through the college essay writing process.

What you can learn.

• Learn about the purpose and role that college essays play in the admission process
• Learn strategies your students can utilize for brainstorming their college essay topics
• Understand the various types of essays such as personal statements, personal insight questions, and college-specific supplements
• Explore techniques behind providing ethical guidance and support to students in the college essay writing process
• Identify different approaches for helping students navigate and maintain their own voice throughout the writing and editing process

About this course:

Spring 2024 schedule.

Summer 2024 Schedule

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Berkeley Berkeley Academic Guide: Academic Guide 2023-24

College writing programs.

College Writing Programs teach writing as a craft, and work with students at all levels of expertise, from those wishing to satisfy the University's composition requirements, through intermediate writers looking to expand their horizons, to seasoned scribes who want to hone their skills in our upper-division courses.

For information regarding the Entry-Level Writing requirement and the Analytical Writing and Placement Exam, see the Undergraduate Education section in this Guide.

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COLWRIT 1 Grammar and Vocabulary of Written English 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2023 This course is intended to serve as a course for students who are non-native speakers of English and who wish to work on their written English. The purpose of the course is to develop students' ability to edit their own writing and to identify high frequency non-idiomatic uses of English. Intensive, individualized practice will be provided for students from different language backgrounds. Grammar and Vocabulary of Written English: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Prerequisites: Self-selected non-native speakers of English

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Two hours of lecture/workshop per week.

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: College Writing Programs/Undergraduate

Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Alternative to final exam.

Grammar and Vocabulary of Written English: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT R1A Accelerated Reading and Composition 6 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 10 Week Session, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 An intensive, accelerated course satisfying concurrently the requirements of the UC Entry Level Writing Requirement and the first half of Reading and Composition. Readings will include imaginative, expository and argumentative texts representative of the range of those encountered in the undergraduate curriculum and will feature authors from diverse social and cultural backgrounds and perspectives. Instruction in writing a range of discourse forms and in the revision of papers. Accelerated Reading and Composition: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 6 hours of seminar per week

Summer: 10 weeks - 9 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Six hours of seminar per week. Nine hours of seminar per week for 10 weeks.

Grading/Final exam status: Final exam not required.

Accelerated Reading and Composition: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT N2 Writing the Bridge: From High School to the University 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2013 10 Week Session, Summer 2009 10 Week Session, Summer 2008 10 Week Session This 3-unit course is intended to serve students enrolled in the Summer Bridge Program. In this course, students will explore their educational experience as they read essays, poetry, and fiction on issues of language, culture, and identity. In their journals and in their essays, students will examine ways in which these forces interact to create a student identity. Writing the Bridge: From High School to the University: Read More [+]

Summer: 6 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Six hours of lecture/discussion/workshop per week for six weeks.

Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam not required.

Writing the Bridge: From High School to the University: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 3A Academic Writing - Online 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session This academic writing course teaches skills of critical reading, thinking, and writing to help students meaningfully engage ideas, problems, and issues in our world. This course develops students’ abilities to read written and cultural texts critically; to analyze those texts in ways that engage their own experiences and the perspectives of others; and to write about those texts for a range of readers and purposes as a means of participating in broader conversations. Assignments emphasize the analysis and synthesis of sources in the process of making and developing well-constructed arguments. Academic Writing - Online: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for COLWRIT W3A after completing COLWRIT 3A . A deficient grade in COLWRIT W3A may be removed by taking COLWRIT 3A .

Summer: 6 weeks - 5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Five hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Formerly known as: College Writing Programs W3A

Academic Writing - Online: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 3B Business English: Oral Communication - Online 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 The two goals of this course are to improve students’ ability to communicate effectively in a professional environment using business English and to become comfortable using the digital media currently being used to do business in the global economy. Course topics include cross-cultural communication, digital etiquette, web conferencing, business vocabulary, presentation skills, personal branding, and job interviewing. Business English: Oral Communication - Online: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for COLWRIT W3B after completing COLWRIT 3B . A deficient grade in COLWRIT W3B may be removed by taking COLWRIT 3B .

Summer: 3 weeks - 10 hours of lecture per week 6 weeks - 5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Five hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks. Ten hours of lecture per week for three weeks.

Formerly known as: College Writing Programs W3B

Business English: Oral Communication - Online: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 3D Legal English: Introduction to the U.S. Legal System - Online 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 3 Week Session This course aims to help students practice the English language specific to American law, gain an understanding of the legal context in which English is being used, and ground students in the discourse of law to the extent their professional goals or interests warrant. These goals are achieved through a focus on the U.S. legal system and specific types of law as illustrated through sample cases. The course will be useful to students currently working as legal professionals in their own countries; those who are planning to study or practice law in the United States; and anyone curious about how the law works in the U.S. and wanting to learn language related to it. Legal English: Introduction to the U.S. Legal System - Online: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for COLWRIT W3D after completing COLWRIT 3D . A deficient grade in COLWRIT W3D may be removed by taking COLWRIT 3D .

Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam required.

Formerly known as: College Writing Programs W3D

Legal English: Introduction to the U.S. Legal System - Online: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 3E Legal English: Oral Communication-Online 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2023 This online course focuses on helping lawyers or law students improve their speaking and listening skills for the study or practice of U.S. law or for communication with U.S. lawyers. The course will focus on three different contexts for the listening and speaking challenges: academic speaking and listening in the law school classroom, informal speaking with other lawyers, and persuasive/formal speaking in the courtroom. The course will be useful to students currently working as legal professionals in their own countries and those who are planning to study or practice law in the United States. Legal English: Oral Communication-Online: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for COLWRIT W3E after completing COLWRIT 3E . A deficient grade in COLWRIT W3E may be removed by taking COLWRIT 3E .

Formerly known as: College Writing Programs W3E

Legal English: Oral Communication-Online: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 3F Communication Skills for Conflict Resolution 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session This online course introduces basic theories and concepts of conflict and develops practical frameworks for conflict management through a range of modes, like negotiation, mediation, and conflict coaching. Students will (a) expand their understanding of conflict drawing from diverse fields, such as business, law, media, politics, psychology, and sociology; (b) refine their academic English skills to become more effective communicators; and (c) discuss ways to prevent conflict and promote peace. Communication Skills for Conflict Resolution: Read More [+]

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.

Summer: 3 weeks - 15 hours of lecture per week 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Seven and one-half hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks. Fifteen hours of lecture per week for three weeks.

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.

Communication Skills for Conflict Resolution: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 3G Grammar and Vocabulary - Online 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session Students will practice and acquire the grammar and vocabulary necessary for university courses — lectures, textbooks, discussions, papers — and in the reading, writing, and discussions that academics and professionals engage in outside classes. Weekly themes will incorporate a variety of fields for a broader perspective on rich academic vocabulary. Grammar and Vocabulary - Online: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for COLWRIT W3G after completing COLWRIT 3G . A deficient grade in COLWRIT W3G may be removed by taking COLWRIT 3G .

Formerly known as: College Writing Programs W3G

Grammar and Vocabulary - Online: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 3H ESL Listening and Speaking - Online 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2023 3 Week Session In this online course, non-native speaking students will improve listening comprehension and oral skills by focusing on refining English pronunciation to minimize miscommunication. By analyzing audio/video clips, students identify features of spoken American English for better understanding. Students also learn and practice strategies to help correctly produce American English stress, rhythm, intonation, plus individual vowel and consonant sounds. Students submit audio/video recordings that are analyzed and evaluated by the instructor to help each student speak with greater clarity. ESL Listening and Speaking - Online: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for COLWRIT W3H after completing COLWRIT 3H . A deficient grade in COLWRIT W3H may be removed by taking COLWRIT 3H .

Formerly known as: College Writing Programs W3H

ESL Listening and Speaking - Online: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 3I Introduction to Technical Writing - Online 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2023 This online course focuses on the fundamentals of technical writing and helps students learn related technologies. Assignments will improve students' general writing skills through lessons on how to apply theories of written communication in work situations; select, organize, and present technical information for specific audiences and purposes; as well as write and revise various types of written correspondence. Introduction to Technical Writing - Online: Read More [+]

Instructors: Wald, Beck

Introduction to Technical Writing - Online: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 3J Science, Technology, Innovation, and Culture 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 Science and technology companies want to be innovative and inclusive, but these goals often elude them. In this fully online, asynchronous course, students explore and report what research has to say about the conditions that foster inclusivity and innovation, and the complex relationship that exists between them. Science, Technology, Innovation, and Culture: Read More [+]

Summer: 3 weeks - 15 hours of session per week

Additional Format: Fifteen hours of session per week for three weeks.

Science, Technology, Innovation, and Culture: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 3K American Culture and Language: Music 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 Music is both reflective of and a stimulus for social change -- a window into prevailing and emerging values. In this fully online, asynchronous course, students explore these roles and goals of music throughout American history by reading and viewing course texts, participating in online discussions and presentations, and researching specific themes of interest. American Culture and Language: Music: Read More [+]

Summer: 3 weeks - 10 hours of session per week

Additional Format: Ten hours of session per week for three weeks.

American Culture and Language: Music: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 3L American Culture and Consumerism 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 This course challenges students to use their critical listening, public speaking, academic research, and analytical writing skills while focusing on sociological, economic, and cultural issues related to shopping and consumerism. Students will participate in online discussions, debates, and presentations and research. American Culture and Consumerism: Read More [+]

American Culture and Consumerism: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 3M Social Media, Culture, and Controversies 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 In this 2-unit, fully online, asynchronous course, students explore cutting-edge controversies in social media -- and how best to resolve them. As they do so, they have the opportunity to refine their academic English skills and hopefully become better digital citizens. Social Media, Culture, and Controversies: Read More [+]

Social Media, Culture, and Controversies: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 3S American Culture through Film 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 In this course comprised of students from around the world, students will view, review, and respond to diverse films, each of which examines a theme related to American culture. Students will discuss that theme in relation to what it says about and how it questions idyllic notions of “America.” American Culture through Film: Read More [+]

Summer: 3 weeks - 10 hours of session per week 6 weeks - 5 hours of session per week

Additional Format: Five hours of session per week for 6 weeks. Ten hours of session per week for three weeks.

American Culture through Film: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 3U American Culture through Literature 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2022 3 Week Session This course examines the multiple perspectives literature can highlight for the reader, and how those perspectives shed light on the diversity, unity, and tension within American culture. Students will examine how perspective play a role in rendering, representing and interpreting events and experiences related to our course theme via the short stories and non-fiction essays/memoirs. American Culture through Literature: Read More [+]

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternate method of final assessment during regularly scheduled final exam group (e.g., presentation, final project, etc.).

American Culture through Literature: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 3V American Culture, Sexuality, and Gender 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 Through a cross-cultural, linguistic study of gender and sexuality, students examine how gender and sexuality inform and are informed by areas of inequality, such as social class, ethnicity, race, geography, and age in the U.S. Students will also read about and share perspectives from other cultures to provide a more international perspective for the cohort. American Culture, Sexuality, and Gender: Read More [+]

American Culture, Sexuality, and Gender: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 3W American Culture through the Media 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2022 Based on course texts that include contemporary data, literature, and journalism from a range of digital and print resources, students discuss current topics in mass media and their impact on American culture and society. American Culture through the Media: Read More [+]

American Culture through the Media: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT R4A Reading and Composition 4 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 8 Week Session, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 This writing seminar satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement. The course is designed to offer students structured, sustained, and highly articulated practice in the recursive processes entailed in reading, critical analysis, and composing. Students will read five thematically related book-length texts, or the equivalent, drawn from a range of genres, in addition to various non-print sources. In response to these materials, they will craft several short pieces leading up to three longer essays--works of exposition and argumentation. Reading and Composition: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Enrollment is limited to students who have satisfied the UC Entry Level Writing Requirement

Requirements this course satisfies: Satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of seminar per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Seven and one-half hours of seminar/discussion per week for six weeks.Three hours of seminar/discussion per week.

Grading/Final exam status: Alternative to final exam.

Reading and Composition: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT R4B Reading, Composition, and Research 4 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Spring 2024 A lecture/seminar satisfying the second half of the Reading & Composition requirement, R4B offers structured and sustained practice in the processes used in reading, critical analysis, and writing. Students engage with thematically-related materials from a range of genres and media. In response, they craft short pieces leading to longer expository and/or argumentative essays. Students develop a research question, draft a research essay, gather, evaluate, and synthesize information from various sources. Elements of the research process--a proposal, an annotated bibliography, an abstract, a works cited list, etc.--are submitted with the final report in a research portfolio. Students write a minimum of 32 pages of prose. Reading, Composition, and Research: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Previously passed an R_A course with a letter grade of C- or better. Previously passed an articulated R_A course with a letter grade of C- or better. Score a 4 on the Advanced Placement Exam in English Literature and Composition. Score a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Exam in English Language and Composition. Score of 5, 6, or 7 on the International Baccalaureate Higher Level Examination in English

Requirements this course satisfies: Satisfies the second half of the Reading and Composition requirement

Summer: 6 weeks - 6 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Three hours of seminar/discussion per week.

Reading, Composition, and Research: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 5A English Language Studies: Broadway Musicals 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session Through the medium of Broadway musicals, this course will help students improve their vocabulary, reading, writing, listening comprehension, note-taking, and oral communication. Students will view musicals (video and live); learn about their plots, songs, and lyrics; examine the historical context represented in each piece; write reviews/critiques; and work on oral presentation skills. Course includes a fieldwork component. English Language Studies: Broadway Musicals: Read More [+]

Formerly known as: College Writing Program 9D

English Language Studies: Broadway Musicals: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 5B Language, Culture, and Drama 3 Units

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 This course explores the language, structure, and performance of plays. Students use film, television, journals, current events, controversial issues, and personal experience as source material to write and perform plays. Course activities include character, storyline, and dialogue exercises; and close reading and analysis of academic readings. Course goals: learn academic conventions for writing, improve critical /analytical reading skills, and hone oral skills for university success. Language, Culture, and Drama: Read More [+]

Summer: 3 weeks - 10 hours of session per week 6 weeks - 5-5 hours of session per week

Formerly known as: College Writing Program 9Q

Language, Culture, and Drama: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 5C Language, Culture, and Film 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session Students will have the opportunity to practice critical thinking, listening, speaking, reading, writing, and vocabulary skills by studying contemporary issues and learning about how the elements of film--script, cinematography, sound, lighting, and more--work together to help build a film's story and themes. Course includes a fieldwork component. Multiple sections: placement based on Day 1 assessment of interests and needs. Language, Culture, and Film: Read More [+]

Formerly known as: College Writing Program 9L

Language, Culture, and Film: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 5D Language, Culture, and Literature 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session Literature offers wonderful opportunities to understand societal and interpersonal conflicts, develop vocabulary, and refine analytical skills. Designed for non-native English speakers, this course engages students in close reading and discussions of conflicts in the literature. Students are expected to read, write, and speak about the texts and themes covered in class. Course includes a fieldwork component. Multiple sections: placement based on Day 1 assessment of interests and needs. Language, Culture, and Literature: Read More [+]

Formerly known as: College Writing Program 9M

Language, Culture, and Literature: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 5E Language, Culture, and Popular Music 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2018 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2016 Second 6 Week Session This course provides an introductory study of popular music in the U.S. and how it has shaped American culture. Through this course, students will (a) increase their understanding of American cultural history by studying the significant trends and messages of its popular music and (b) develop and apply analytical and linguistic skills for close listening, analysis, synthesis , and oral presentation. A fieldwork component encourages student engagement with the local community and topic. Language, Culture, and Popular Music: Read More [+]

Formerly known as: College Writing Program 9X

Language, Culture, and Popular Music: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 5F Language, Culture, and International Human Rights 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2018 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2016 Second 6 Week Session This course, designed to introduce current international human rights issues to non-native English speakers, helps students improve their critical listening, vocabulary, oral communication, and note-taking skills--the skills needed for participation in university courses and in the fields of international human rights, business, and law. Course includes a fieldwork component. Multiple sections: placement based on Day 1 assessment of interests and needs. Language, Culture, and International Human Rights: Read More [+]

Language, Culture, and International Human Rights: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 5G Language, Culture, and California History 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2016 10 Week Session, Summer 2016 Second 6 Week Session Throughout its history, California has been a destination for entrepreneurs, immigrants and displaced people, and those interested in alternative lifestyles. This course introduces ESL students to the many groups that came to California and how their presence has shaped its history. Preparing ESL students for the academic language needed in college classrooms, this course requires that students research, write, and present on course texts and themes. Course includes a fieldwork component. Language, Culture, and California History: Read More [+]

Formerly known as: College Writing Program 9H

Language, Culture, and California History: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 5H Language, Culture, and Sustainability 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2016 10 Week Session, Summer 2016 Second 6 Week Session In this course, students analyze critical issues and conflicts that arise related to sustainability. Course goals include improving academic English reading and research skills through completing a research review and proposal; and oral skills through engagement with video, interviews, panel discussions, and presentations. Course includes a fieldwork component. Language, Culture, and Sustainability: Read More [+]

Formerly known as: College Writing Program 9Z

Language, Culture, and Sustainability: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 5I Language, Culture, and Television 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2019 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2018 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session Students will practice critical listening vocabulary, oral communication, and note-taking skills by studying American culture and social institutions as portrayed in television programs and advertisements. Assignments attempt to prepare students for seminar-style university classes. Course includes a fieldwork component. Multiple sections: placement based on Day 1 assessment of interests and needs. Language, Culture, and Television: Read More [+]

Formerly known as: College Writing Program 9U

Language, Culture, and Television: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 5J English Language Studies: Consumer Culture 3 Units

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 Focusing on conversation skills in and outside of academic settings, this course challenges students to use their English language critical listening, speaking, and note-taking skills while focusing on sociological and economic issues related to shopping and consumerism. Students will listen to lectures; learn new vocabulary; watch and critique video and film clips; examine articles in the media and journals; and participate in debates and presentations. Fieldwork component. English Language Studies: Consumer Culture: Read More [+]

English Language Studies: Consumer Culture: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 5K Language, Culture, and the Media 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session This course examines how the various forms of media intersect with culture to reinforce or change how we see ourselves and the world. Students examine this intersection of culture and the media through print, radio, TV, movies, music, and the Internet. Through course assignments, students will develop the following language skills: critical listening and reading; small group , whole-class, and public speaking; response writing; and academic and colloquial vocabulary. Course includes a fieldwork component. Language, Culture, and the Media: Read More [+]

Language, Culture, and the Media: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 5L Language, Culture, and the Environment 3 Units

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 Students will improve their English language listening, speaking, reading, writing, and note-taking skills while focusing on current issues and debates related to environmental issues. Students will discuss, analyze, and critique lectures, videos, and readings; write or tape responses and syntheses; and further research and present on an environmental topic or movement of specific interest. This course has a fieldwork component. Language, Culture, and the Environment: Read More [+]

Objectives & Outcomes

Course Objectives: Students will improve their ability to analyze written and aural texts and to craft effective presentations and essays.

Summer: 3 weeks - 10 hours of session and 15 hours of fieldwork per week 6 weeks - 5 hours of session and 7.5 hours of fieldwork per week

Additional Format: Seven and one-half hours of fieldwork and five hours of session per week for 6 weeks. Fifteen hours of fieldwork and ten hours of session per week for three weeks.

Language, Culture, and the Environment: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 5M English Language Studies: Traditional and Modern Medicine 3 Units

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 The aim of this course is to develop students' communicative competence in English as a Second Language through course content about the integration of traditional approaches to health care in modern medicine in California (Chinese medicine, herbalism, yoga, and more). Skills are practiced and assessed through reading popular and scholarly articles; writing about research findings related to course content; and listening and speaking through lectures, discussion , and presentations. English Language Studies: Traditional and Modern Medicine: Read More [+]

Summer: 6 weeks - 5 hours of session and 7.5 hours of fieldwork per week

Additional Format: 7.5 hours of fieldwork per week for 6 weeks.

English Language Studies: Traditional and Modern Medicine: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 5N Language, Culture, and Public Spaces 3 Units

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 This course focuses on improving critical listening, vocabulary, oral communication and writing skills in English through exploring "placemaking"--an approach to the planning, design and management of public space that focuses on people. Course topics and texts draw from landscape architecture and urban planning to illustrate how people experience and use the public spaces in their community. Students will design and conduct research about public spaces in the San Francisco Bay Area as field work and will share their findings and critique the design of public spaces in class presentations and written assignments. Language, Culture, and Public Spaces: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Seven and one-half hours of fieldwork and five hours of session per week for 6 weeks.

Language, Culture, and Public Spaces: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 5P Language, Culture, and Makerspace Creativity 3 Units

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 Designed for multilingual English students, this course explores the various forms of craft and technology in current use in individual and small entrepreneurial pursuits. We explore interdisciplinary forms of creative practices and processes through expert lectures, videos, small group projects, class discussions, and field trips to a variety of Makerspaces to meet artists, designers, cultural entrepreneurs, and other creative professionals. Through these activities , students will improve their English listening, reading, writing, vocabulary and speaking skills needed for campus/workplace communication and collaboration, project planning/execution, and problem-solving. Course involves a fieldwork component. Language, Culture, and Makerspace Creativity: Read More [+]

Language, Culture, and Makerspace Creativity: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 5Q English Language Studies: Comparing Novels to Their Film Adaptations 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session This intensive course is designed for English language learners who want to improve their language skills by comparing and contrasting a novel and its film adaptation. Throughout the course, students will engage in vocabulary development exercises, explore cultural elements, and research themes. By analyzing and discussing both the novel and the film, students will enhance their reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills in English. English Language Studies: Comparing Novels to Their Film Adaptations: Read More [+]

Summer: 6 weeks - 5 hours of session per week

Additional Format: Five hours of session per week for 6 weeks.

English Language Studies: Comparing Novels to Their Film Adaptations: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 5S English Language Studies: Gender and Sexuality Studies 3 Units

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 Designed for non-native speakers of English, this course aims to help students improve their skills in the four chief communicative areas of English language – listening, speaking, reading, and writing – through a cross-cultural, linguistic study of gender and sexuality. Students will engage in the study of activism and how gender and sexuality inform and are informed by areas of inequality, such as social class, ethnicity, race, geography, and age, in the U.S. and internationally. Course includes a fieldwork component. English Language Studies: Gender and Sexuality Studies: Read More [+]

English Language Studies: Gender and Sexuality Studies: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 6A Intensive English Practice: Academic Speaking 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 3 Week Session, Summer 2022 3 Week Session This course is designed to give students intensive practice in spoken English for academic purposes, preparing international students for the college experience. The course focuses on main areas of content: speaking in academic situations, giving oral presentations, and particpating in small-group and whole-class discussions. Intensive English Practice: Academic Speaking: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Ten hours of Session per week for 3 weeks.

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.

Intensive English Practice: Academic Speaking: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 6B Intensive English Practice: Academic Vocabulary 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 3 Week Session, Summer 2022 3 Week Session This course aims to increase students' active command of the most common words used in academic contexts. Using material from a variety of disciplines, the course practices vocabulary through all four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, with an emphasis on speaking and small-group discussion. In addition, students learn strategies for recording, remembering, and reviewing important vocabulary. Intensive English Practice: Academic Vocabulary: Read More [+]

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.

Intensive English Practice: Academic Vocabulary: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 6C Intensive English Practice: Business Vocabulary 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2022, Summer 2022 3 Week Session, Summer 2021 3 Week Session This course aims to help English language learners improve their command of vocabulary used in a variety of general business contexts. Students will read short articles, watch videos, and discuss topics of general interest from the world of business. Strategies for identifying, recording, and remembering vocabulary will be discussed. Intensive English Practice: Business Vocabulary: Read More [+]

Intensive English Practice: Business Vocabulary: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 6E Intensive English Practice: Grammar and Editing 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2017 3 Week Session, Summer 2016 10 Week Session, Summer 2016 3 Week Session This course aims to help students immprove their grammatical accuracy in speaking and writing English. Through practice and feedback, this course introduces students to resources for grammar development, presents grammar rules, and focuses on developing editing strategies and on immproving sentence structure and variety. Intensive English Practice: Grammar and Editing: Read More [+]

Intensive English Practice: Grammar and Editing: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 6F Intensive English Practice: Listening and Speaking 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2023, Summer 2022 The aim of this course is to provide students with practice in intensive and extensive listening, as well as practice in speaking. Speaking activities will include pronunciation practice, short presentations, and impromptu speaking activities. In this course, students will learn how to use listening texts more effectively for self study in both listening and speaking by identifying, analyzing, and then producing features of the text. Intensive English Practice: Listening and Speaking: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of session per week

Additional Format: Two hours of session per week. Five hours of session per week for 6 weeks. Ten hours of session per week for three weeks.

Intensive English Practice: Listening and Speaking: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 6G Intensive English Practice: Writing for Digital Media 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2023, Summer 2022 In this interactive course, students will develop their reading, writing, and speaking skills by analyzing, discussing and crafting blog posts, digital stories, and other new media selections. Course assignments will focus on vocabulary, grammar and sentence structure, pronunciation, and overall writing structure and organization. Intensive English Practice: Writing for Digital Media: Read More [+]

Intensive English Practice: Writing for Digital Media: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 6H Intensive English Practice: Writing Creative Non-Fiction 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2020 3 Week Session, Summer 2019 3 Week Session, Summer 2016 3 Week Session This course provides students practice in drafting creative non-fiction--memoir, travel/place essays, and the personal essay. Students will focus on creating vivid details and description, using imagery and figurative language, and ordering information for impact. Through these exercises and essays, studnts will have the opportunity to improve their critical reading, vocabulary, grammar, and writing skills. Intensive English Practice: Writing Creative Non-Fiction: Read More [+]

Summer: 3 weeks - 15 hours of session per week 6 weeks - 5 hours of session per week

Additional Format: Five hours of session per week for 6 weeks. Fifteen hours of session per week for three weeks.

Intensive English Practice: Writing Creative Non-Fiction: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 6I Intensive English Practice: Conflict Resolution Skills 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 3 Week Session, Summer 2019 3 Week Session This intensive course helps students improve speaking, listening, grammar, and vocabulary/idioms skills while learning practical skills to resolve conflicts with people from different cultures. Students will act as mediators and disputants in mediation role-plays involving American culture topics based on business, law, culture, politics, and the environment. Course goal: achieve more natural fluency and listening comprehension in English for academic and professional purposes. Intensive English Practice: Conflict Resolution Skills: Read More [+]

Summer: 3 weeks - 10 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Ten hours of lecture per week for three weeks.

Intensive English Practice: Conflict Resolution Skills: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 6J Intensive English Practice: Academic Test Preparation 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2020 3 Week Session, Summer 2019 3 Week Session, Summer 2018 3 Week Session The goal of this course is to help students feel confident and well-prepared when taking the iBT TOEFL and IELTS exams. This course will focus specfically on the speaking and writing sections, given that the integrated writing and speaking tasks on these tests require responding to readings and short lectures/discussions—skills needed not only for standardized test-taking but also for exams and group work at the university level. Intensive English Practice: Academic Test Preparation: Read More [+]

Intensive English Practice: Academic Test Preparation: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 6K Intensive English Practice: Academic Reading and Writing 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2019 3 Week Session, Summer 2018 3 Week Session The goal of this class is to prepare students for the types of reading and writing in first-year composition courses at U.S. universities. The course addresses the reading process, including annotation, analysis and evaluation, and the writing process, including organization and planning as well as summarizing and paraphrasing.  Intensive English Practice: Academic Reading and Writing: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: Students will improve their ability to analyze written texts and craft university-level academic essays.

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit under special circumstances: Repeatable for credit with a different instructor.

Intensive English Practice: Academic Reading and Writing: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 6L Intensive English Practice: Successful Job Search and Interviewing Skills 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 In this English as a Second language course, students will develop (a) communicative competence in in job research and networking and (b) the skills and vocabulary relevant to individual students’ desired work situations. Students will practice interviewing, self-promotion, and networking and will create their own resumes and cover letters. Intensive English Practice: Successful Job Search and Interviewing Skills: Read More [+]

Intensive English Practice: Successful Job Search and Interviewing Skills: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 6M Intensive English Practice: U.S. University Admissions and Expectations 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2019 3 Week Session, Summer 2018 3 Week Session Through this course, students will become familiar with (a) the different teaching and learning styles at U.S. universities, (b) professor expectations regarding class participation, assignments, and source use, (c) skills and strategies for becoming active, empowered learners; and (d) the ins and outs of the college application. In the process, students will practice and hone reading, writing, and speaking skills. Intensive English Practice: U.S. University Admissions and Expectations: Read More [+]

Intensive English Practice: U.S. University Admissions and Expectations: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 6N Intensive English Practice: Art and Design 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 3 Week Session, Summer 2019 3 Week Session The aim of this course is to develop students’ communicative competence in English as a Second Language through an exploration of art and local museums. Through this course, students will become familiar with the language used to discuss the elements of art and the principles of design and will use this vocabulary to talk about art with evidence, to do close analyses of art as text, and to discuss art in its cultural and historical contexts. Intensive English Practice: Art and Design: Read More [+]

Intensive English Practice: Art and Design: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 6P Intensive English Practice: Pronunciation 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 This course for English language learners emphasizes the sound system, word and sentence stress, linking, and rhythm in American English pronunciation. Activities include textbook assignments, analysis of spoken texts, oral presentations, and in-depth practice with individual sound production. Intensive English Practice: Pronunciation: Read More [+]

Intensive English Practice: Pronunciation: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 6Q English for Alternative Dispute Resolution for Business, Law, and Other Professional Purposes 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2019 3 Week Session This course focuses on interactive Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) simulations (role plays in class and via videoconferencing) in which students must work together to analyze, prevent and resolve a variety of conflicts using a complex set of English skills (grammatical accuracy; speaking and listening; pronunciation; and new vocabulary and idioms) and cross-cultural and sociolinguistic skills (body language, formality and tone). The course is designed for high-intermediate through advanced-level ESL students with a professional or academic interest in ADR. Students who are interested in conflict resolution for general communication purposes are encouraged to consider Colwrit 6I. English for Alternative Dispute Resolution for Business, Law, and Other Professional Purposes: Read More [+]

English for Alternative Dispute Resolution for Business, Law, and Other Professional Purposes: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 6R Intensive English Practice: Speaking Through Performance 2 Units

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 In this highly collaborative course, students will practice speaking skills and learn performance techniques through dramatic scripts and oral interpretation. Course goals include building speaking confidence, clarity, and fluency. Intensive English Practice: Speaking Through Performance: Read More [+]

Intensive English Practice: Speaking Through Performance: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 7A American Language and Culture: The Media 1 Unit

Terms offered: Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 3 Week Session, Summer 2020 3 Week Session This English as a Second Language course focuses on building English skills while exploring American culture through the media. Students will listen to lectures, watch and discuss film clips, and read current news magazines. In addition, students will actively participate in large and small group discussions and debates. The course requires students to focus on and create interesting, well-organized informative speeches, and convincing persuasive written and oral responses. American Language and Culture: The Media: Read More [+]

Summer: 3 weeks - 5 hours of lecture per week 6 weeks - 2.5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Two and one-half hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks. Five hours of lecture per week for three weeks.

American Language and Culture: The Media: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 7B American Language and Culture: The Beat Poets of 1950s San Francisco 1 Unit

Terms offered: Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 3 Week Session, Summer 2019 3 Week Session This course is designed to improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English. The starting point of the course is to examine the Beat Generation writers, specifically Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, looking at their relevance to the 50's and 60's and how their ideas led to and shaped the counterculture movements of the 60's and 70's. Through readings and video and audio clips, students will have the opportunity to explore the Beat Generation's impact in Berkeley and San Francisco. American Language and Culture: The Beat Poets of 1950s San Francisco: Read More [+]

Summer: 3 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week 6 weeks - 2.5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Two and one-half hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks. Seven and one-half hours of lecture per week for three weeks.

American Language and Culture: The Beat Poets of 1950s San Francisco: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 7C American Language and Culture: Business and Social Entrepreneurship 1 Unit

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 This course explores debates concerning the role of business in addressing social issues, while providing support for English reading, listening, note-taking, and speaking skills. Social entrepreneuship has gained popularity and sparked debate in the United States and throughout the world as individual entrepreneurs have found more efficient ways to provide medicine, social services, education, and environmentally sustainable consumer products. American Language and Culture: Business and Social Entrepreneurship: Read More [+]

Summer: 3 weeks - 7.5 hours of session per week 6 weeks - 4 hours of session per week

Additional Format: Four hours of session per week for 6 weeks. Seven and one-half hours of session per week for three weeks.

American Language and Culture: Business and Social Entrepreneurship: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 7D American Language and Culture: Food for Thought 1 Unit

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 Many sociocultural and economic factors affect the ways individuals and groups manage food. This English as a Second Language course focuses on current food movements and trends in the US--and the many ethical, cultural, and financial aspects that both underlie and result from them. Students will examine this topic through a wide variety of sources: readings, films, music, guest speakers, lectures, video clips, panel discussions , individual research, and personal experience. American Language and Culture: Food for Thought: Read More [+]

American Language and Culture: Food for Thought: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 7E American Language and Culture: The Environment 1 Unit

Terms offered: Summer 2019 3 Week Session, Summer 2017 3 Week Session, Summer 2016 3 Week Session This English as a Second Language course challenges students to use their reading, listening/speaking, note-taking, and research skills while focusing on environmental issues. Students will listen to lectures, watch and critique video and film clips, conduct research, and examine conflicting beliefs based on articles in the media and journals. The course requires students to participate in discussions and debates while reflecting on personal views. American Language and Culture: The Environment: Read More [+]

American Language and Culture: The Environment: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 7G American Language and Culture: Community Building and Transformation 1 Unit

Terms offered: Summer 2019 3 Week Session, Summer 2018 3 Week Session, Summer 2017 3 Week Session People around the globe are confronting limitations to freedom, health, and safety. In this class, we will study real examples of how people in different places across the U.S. and the globe are discovering and leveraging creativity and community as powerful tools to confront problems. Content goals: defining community and critically assessing local initiatives. Language goals: improving listening and speaking skills through videos, lectures, discussion, role plays, debates, and presentations. American Language and Culture: Community Building and Transformation: Read More [+]

American Language and Culture: Community Building and Transformation: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 7I American Language and Culture: California Dreams and Realities 1 Unit

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2013 3 Week Session Using a variety of sources, students are introduced to trends from California history that have had national and international influence. Students will listen to lectures and podcasts, watch videos and movie extracts, and read articles and listen to songs about the California experience to develop their vocabulary, listening, speaking, and reading skills. American Language and Culture: California Dreams and Realities: Read More [+]

American Language and Culture: California Dreams and Realities: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 7J American Language and Culture: California Culture 1 Unit

Terms offered: Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 3 Week Session, Summer 2019 3 Week Session California remains a leader in cultural change. This class will focus on English listening and speaking skills while exploring the progressive style of California culture. Students will listen to short lectures and influential music, view and discuss featured video clips, read about California icons, and actively participate in discussions, group presentations, and fieldwork to increase fluency and learn about local culture. American Language and Culture: California Culture: Read More [+]

American Language and Culture: California Culture: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 7K American Language and Culture: Humor 1 Unit

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 3 Week Session Through this course, an introductory study of humor in the U.S. and its influence on American culture, students will increase their understanding of American cultural history and current popular culture by studying the significant trends and messages of its social and political humor while developing and applying analytical and linguistic skills for close listening, critical reading, and presentations. American Language and Culture: Humor: Read More [+]

American Language and Culture: Humor: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 7L American Language and Culture: The Berkeley Experience 1 Unit

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 3 Week Session This three-week ESL course gives students the chance to experience the culture of Berkeley and the Bay Area in and out of the classroom. Students will tour important campus venues, visit landmarks in Berkeley, and then cross the bay to visit other cities. Along the way, students will practice their language skills through readings, videos, and interactions with native speakers. In addition, students will participate in reflections, surveys/interviews, and a final project. American Language and Culture: The Berkeley Experience: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for COLWRIT 7L after completing COLWRIT 7L . A deficient grade in COLWRIT 7L may be removed by taking COLWRIT 7L .

Summer: 3 weeks - 5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Five hours of lecture per week for three weeks.

American Language and Culture: The Berkeley Experience: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 7M American Language and Culture: Storytelling 1 Unit

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 In this course, students will increase their understanding of American cultural history and current popular culture by studying the significant trends and messages of its myths, legends, and folktales; learn about how America’s minorities have used storytelling for political and social advancement; develop/apply analytical and linguistic skills for close listening, conversation and presentations; improve their communication skills with native speakers of English. American Language and Culture: Storytelling: Read More [+]

Instructor: Spars

American Language and Culture: Storytelling: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 7N American Language and Culture: Questioning the American Dream 1 Unit

Terms offered: Summer 2019 3 Week Session The aim of this course is to develop students’ communicative competence in English as a Second Language through an exploration of the history, diversity, and values related to the American Dream, and the realities that hinder access to that dream. Students will listen to short lectures, watch and discuss video clips, read popular and academic articles, conduct fieldwork, and participate in small group discussions and presentations. This is your opportunity to increase speaking and reading fluency and improve listening skills. American Language and Culture: Questioning the American Dream: Read More [+]

American Language and Culture: Questioning the American Dream: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 7Q American Language and Culture: Traditional and Modern Medicine 1 Unit

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 The aim of this course is to develop students' awareness of American culture and their communicative competence in English as a Second Language through course content about the integration of traditional approaches to health care in modern medicine in California (Chinese medicine, herbalism, yoga, and more). Skills are practiced and assessed through reading, writing, listening, and speaking assignments. American Language and Culture: Traditional and Modern Medicine: Read More [+]

Summer: 3 weeks - 5 hours of session per week

Additional Format: Five hours of session per week for three weeks.

American Language and Culture: Traditional and Modern Medicine: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 8 English for Academic and Professional Purposes 4 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2018 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2016 Second 6 Week Session A 60-hour course focusing on speaking, listening, reading, writing, grammar, and vocabulary and providing a level of instruction that meets students' specific needs. Classes are content-based, with a focus on contemporary high-interest topics. Students participate in oral presentations, group projects, discussions, and field trips. This course is appropriate for international and immigrant students interested in improving language skills. Online placement exam required. English for Academic and Professional Purposes: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Placement by examination

Credit Restrictions: There is currently a "Courses that will restrict credit" restriction for this course that says "Students will receive no credit for College Writing Program 8 after taking Subject A 8". We would like to remove this restriction in light of the fact that both the Subject A program and class have not been in existence for about 20 years.

Summer: 3 weeks - 20 hours of lecture per week 6 weeks - 10 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Ten hours of Lecture per week for 6 weeks. Twenty hours of Lecture per week for 3 weeks.

English for Academic and Professional Purposes: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 9A Academic Research for Multilingual Students 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2019 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2016 Second 6 Week Session This course introduces the basic terminology, techniques, and strategies necessary for academic research in American universities. Students will refine topics; evaluate/use outside sources to support claims; practice citation, summary, and paraphrasing skills; and write multiple drafts. Each section will craft literature reviews and research on a specific theme; each student can approach the theme within the framework of his or her discipline or interest. Course includes a fieldwork component. Academic Research for Multilingual Students: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Five hours of Session per week for 6 weeks. Ten hours of Session per week for 3 weeks.

Academic Research for Multilingual Students: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 9B Academic Vocabulary for Multilingual Students 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2016 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2015 Second 6 Week Session Academic writing and speaking require a wide understanding of vocabulary. In this course, students are introduced to numerous online and paper resources and learn strategies for improving vocabulary development, including effective ways to build vocabulary and recall new vocabulary through a series of readings, writings and other class activities. Course includes a fieldwork component. Academic Vocabulary for Multilingual Students: Read More [+]

Academic Vocabulary for Multilingual Students: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 9C Academic Writing for Multilingual Students 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 In this class, students learn about the content, structure, and organization of academic essays. Through in- and out-of-class writing, students work on focusing topics, organizing arguments, and supporting claims with evidence and reasoning. Sentence structures, summarizing, paraphrasing, correct use of citations, and editing skills will also be addressed. Academic Writing for Multilingual Students: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Enrollment in CW 9C: ESP- Academic Writing is restricted to international students and other multilingual student writers

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of session per week

Academic Writing for Multilingual Students: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 9E Business English for Multilingual Students 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session In this course, students will have the opportunity to improve communication skills in order to do business in English. The following topics will be covered: negotiating; writing business letters, memos, and resumes; developing business vocabulary; improving business social skills; reading and discussing case studies; and exploring Internet business. Course includes a fieldwork component. Multiple sections: placement based on Day 1 assessment of interests and needs. Business English for Multilingual Students: Read More [+]

Business English for Multilingual Students: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 9F Business Speaking for Multilingual Students 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2018 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2016 Second 6 Week Session This course focuses on oral language in business contexts, including meetings, negotiations, presentations, debates, interviews, and informal social settings. Students learn appropriate phrases and topics for business conversation and improve their abilities through practice both in and out of class. Course includes a fieldwork component. Multiple sections: placement based on Day 1 assessment of interests and needs. Business Speaking for Multilingual Students: Read More [+]

Business Speaking for Multilingual Students: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 9G Medical and Health Care English for Multilingual Students 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2016 10 Week Session, Summer 2016 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2013 Second 6 Week Session This course, designed for current or future medical professionals, focuses on mastery of medical idioms and vocabulary essential to work in health care fields. Students learn standard phrasal and vocabulary, critically read and respond to case studies and medical journals, and gain perspectives on medicine through the eyes of practitioners, patients, and families. Students also interact with working professionals and observe practices on site via fieldwork assignments. Medical and Health Care English for Multilingual Students: Read More [+]

Medical and Health Care English for Multilingual Students: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 9I Conflict Resolution Communication Skills for Multilingual Students 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2019 Second 6 Week Session This course is an introduction to conflict resolution for intermediate-advanced level ESL students. It includes interactive mediation role–plays requiring students to develop a complex set of English skills (grammatical accuracy; speaking and listening; pronunciation; and new vocabulary and idioms) and sociolinguistic skills (body language, formality, and tone). Course includes a fieldwork component to help students improve problem-solving and communication skills. Conflict Resolution Communication Skills for Multilingual Students: Read More [+]

Conflict Resolution Communication Skills for Multilingual Students: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 9J Academic Language and Writing Style for Multilingual Students 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2018 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2016 Second 6 Week Session Aimed at intermediate-advanced multilingual students, the goal of this course is to help students improve and expand their knowledge of sentence structure and variety to achieve an academic style. Using their own and professional writers' work, students will expand their repertoire of grammatical structures and improve the clarity and sophistication of their writing. Course includes a fieldwork component. Multiple sections: placement based on Day 1 assessment of interests and needs. Academic Language and Writing Style for Multilingual Students: Read More [+]

Academic Language and Writing Style for Multilingual Students: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 9M The U.S. Constitution: An Introduction 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session Open to native and non-native speakers, this class introduces students to the U.S. Constitution’s language and legal substance, to its historical background, and to its political and cultural significance. Students examine debates over the document’s interpretation and the ongoing struggle to realize the ideals reflected in its Articles and Amendments. Special attention will be paid to key provisions of the Bill of Rights. Reading, class discussion, and journaling offer the opportunity to practice and strengthen English skills. Especially appropriate for international students entering an LL.M. program, the class welcomes anyone interested in learning about U.S. law, history, and society. The U.S. Constitution: An Introduction: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for COLWRIT 9M after completing COLWRIT 9M . A deficient grade in COLWRIT 9M may be removed by taking COLWRIT 9M .

The U.S. Constitution: An Introduction: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 9N Introduction of the U.S. Legal System for Multilingual Students 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2019 Second 6 Week Session Designed for non-native speakers of English, this course introduces the basics of U.S. federal and state court systems, judge and jury trials, case law method, and selected areas of law based on student interest. The course requires students to use new vocabulary and idioms; read and analyze judges' decisions; organize, write, and edit arguments about legal issues; give oral presentations; and participate in formal and informal discussions and role-plays. Course includes a fieldwork component. Introduction of the U.S. Legal System for Multilingual Students: Read More [+]

Introduction of the U.S. Legal System for Multilingual Students: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 9O Legal Writing for Multilingual Students 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2019 Second 6 Week Session This course helps international lawyers and law students understand how to communicate effectively in writing in an American legal context. In this course, students will learn a brief overview of the American legal system; strategies for reading legal cases; and strategies for legal writing, research, and analysis. Course includes a fieldwork component. Multiple sections: placement based on Day 1 assessment of interests and needs. Legal Writing for Multilingual Students: Read More [+]

Legal Writing for Multilingual Students: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 9P English for Specific Purposes: Conflict Resolution for Business, Law, and International Relations 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2015 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2014 10 Week Session, Summer 2014 Second 6 Week Session Introducing negotiation and mediation to intermediate-advanced academic or professional ESL students. The course focuses on strategies to prevent and resolve conflicts, including cross-cultural ones, in business, law, and international relations. Tasks include interactive negotiation and mediation simulations requiring students to develop a complex set of language (grammar, speaking/listening , pronunciation, vocabulary/idioms) and sociolinguistic skills (body language, formality, and tone). English for Specific Purposes: Conflict Resolution for Business, Law, and International Relations: Read More [+]

English for Specific Purposes: Conflict Resolution for Business, Law, and International Relations: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 9R Academic and Public Speaking for Multilingual Students 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2019 Second 6 Week Session In this course, ESL students learn and practice the rhetorical and oral skills needed to speak in various situations in the U.S. The course focuses on designing formal and informal presentations for varied purposes and audiences, constructing/defending arguments, and fielding critical questions. Also emphasized are communication skills needed for interacting in group and in one-on-one formats. Course includes a fieldwork component. Academic and Public Speaking for Multilingual Students: Read More [+]

Academic and Public Speaking for Multilingual Students: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 9S Pronunciation for Multilingual Students 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2018 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2016 Second 6 Week Session This course is designed to help students improve their ability to communicate effectively in social and academic settings by means of a detailed, systematic study of the sounds and patterns of spoken American English. Audio journals and in-class assignments provide in-depth practice with individual sound production as well as stress, rhythm, and intonation. Course includes a fieldwork component. Multiple sections: placement based on Day 1 assessment of interests and needs. Pronunciation for Multilingual Students: Read More [+]

Pronunciation for Multilingual Students: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 9V Science and Engineering English for Multilingual Students 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session This course is designed to help students improve English speaking and writing skills essential for functioning well in academic and professional science and engineering activities. A significant portion of the course is devoted to developing the style, vocabulary, and grammar used most frequently in technical communication. Course includes a fieldwork component. Multiple sections: placement based on Day 1 assessment of interests and needs. Science and Engineering English for Multilingual Students: Read More [+]

Science and Engineering English for Multilingual Students: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 9W Speech and Debate for Multilingual Students 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2016 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2015 Second 6 Week Session Aimed at intermediate-advanced multilingual students, this course presents the basics of speech and debate. Students will learn to construct basic arguments, work on speaking style, watch sample speeches and debates, write speeches, and participate in Parliamentary-style debates. In completing course assignments, students will have the opportunity to practice and improve all aspects of their oral skills in English. Course includes a fieldwork component. Multiple sections: placement based on Day 1 assessment. Speech and Debate for Multilingual Students: Read More [+]

Speech and Debate for Multilingual Students: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 9Y Creative Writing for Multilingual Students 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2019 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2018 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session In this course, we will focus on those elements that make for effective creative writing (poetry, fiction, and the personal essay): descriptive detail; imagery and figurative language; rhythm and structure/build; and authentic tone, dialogue and characterization. By completing analytical and practical exercises and by crafting multiple drafts, students will have the opportunity to improve their critical reading, vocabulary, grammar, and writing skills. Course includes a fieldwork component. Creative Writing for Multilingual Students: Read More [+]

Creative Writing for Multilingual Students: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 10A Introduction to Public Speaking 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Spring 2024, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session This is a strictly introductory course. It presumes no formal training of any kind on the part of the students. Emphasis will be on organization and delivery with goals of improving control over speaking habits and enunciation. Part of the intent of the course is to introduce students to the rudiments of the rhetorical theory which lies behind the practice of public speaking. Introduction to Public Speaking: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture/discussion per week. Eight hours of lecture/discussion per week for six weeks. Six hours of lecture/discussion per week for eight weeks.

Introduction to Public Speaking: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 10B Advanced Public Speaking 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018 This is an advanced course that presumes introductory training in public speaking. Emphasis will be on real-world speaking situations. The course combines both theory and practice: it incorporates extensive speaking performance and individualized critiques from instructor and students, as well as analysis of advanced speaking models, and it explores theories, speech genres, and rhetorical processes beyond those in the introductory course. The intent of the course is to advance students' ability to deliver polished and informed public speeches adapted to a wide range of audiences and speaking situations. Advanced Public Speaking: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 10A or equivalent

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture per week.

Advanced Public Speaking: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 11 Berkeley Changemaker: Public Speaking 1 - 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Spring 2024, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session Emphasizing the Berkeley Changemaker pillars of critical thinking and communication, this variable unit (1 or 2) practicum is designed to help students refine their academic speaking skills. Students will learn the techniques of effective public speaking, practice their skills, and develop confidence in oral communication. Online, asynchronous class sessions will be complemented by “live” opportunities that enable students to practice course content in front of an instructor and audience and receive feedback. Berkeley Changemaker: Public Speaking: Read More [+]

Student Learning Outcomes: Build confidence and expertise in oral communication, practicing skills in self-presentation, informative presentations, and persuasive speaking Deliver effective oral presentations Develop a better understanding of communication strategies, practices, and theories Improve skills in speaking and listening Understand cultural differences in communication

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit up to a total of 2 times. Students may enroll in multiple sections of this course within the same semester.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 0.5-1 hours of seminar and 1-2 hours of discussion per week

Summer: 3 weeks - 2-4 hours of seminar and 4-8 hours of discussion per week 6 weeks - 1-2 hours of seminar and 2-4 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: One to two hours of discussion and one-half to one hours of seminar per week. Two to four hours of discussion and one to two hours of seminar per week for 6 weeks. Four to eight hours of discussion and two to four hours of seminar per week for three weeks.

Berkeley Changemaker: Public Speaking: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 20 Communicating in Class: Advanced Listening and Speaking for International Students 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2015, Fall 2014, Fall 2013 This advanced oral communication course for multilingual international students offers opportunities to practice listening to lectures and taking notes, participating in discussions and taking on various roles, and devising strategies for success when presenting orally in different formats. The course focuses on authentic language use in the U.S. university classroom--in terms of the lecture students will view, projects students will complete, and in-class interactions students will participate in. Communicating in Class: Advanced Listening and Speaking for International Students: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture per week for 15 weeks.

Instructors: Baptiste, Crisp, Wald, Sokolik

Communicating in Class: Advanced Listening and Speaking for International Students: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 21 Advanced Listening and Speaking for International Students: Conflict Management for Academic Success at the University 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2016, Spring 2015, Spring 2014 This advanced oral communications course is reserved for first-year international students who speak a first language other than English. Students learn and practice university level cross-cultural communication strategies to help them fully participate in academic life. Applying Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) theories and methods used in business and law, students develop strategies for resolving communication problems, misunderstandings , and conflicts that can arise in academic settings and beyond. CW 21 is designed to improve class participation skills, including understanding lectures and instructions; contributing to and leading group discussions; speaking up in class; and asking for and using feedback from professors. Advanced Listening and Speaking for International Students: Conflict Management for Academic Success at the University: Read More [+]

Advanced Listening and Speaking for International Students: Conflict Management for Academic Success at the University: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 25AC Reading in and about U.S. Education Institutions 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 In this course, we will read, discuss, and write about the expectations of the American educational system, especially within a multicultural context. The goal is to deepen the understanding of the history and diversity of American educational institutions, while strengthening reading and seminar participation skills through critique and analysis of communication patterns. This course is intended for international stud ents. Reading in and about U.S. Education Institutions: Read More [+]

Summer: 6 weeks - 7 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture per week. Seven hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Instructor: Sokolik

Reading in and about U.S. Education Institutions: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 50AC Researching Water in the West: Its Presence, Its Absence, and Its Consequences for the Peoples of California 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018 Examines the subject of water in California, drawing upon scholarly articles, essays, memoir, film, photographs, legislation. In collaboration with the Teaching Library, 50 explores techniques for conducting online archival research and using primary sources. Cosiders a variety of players in the story of water rights in California, including federal and state representatives, conservationists, Native Americans, and Japanese Americans. Researching Water in the West: Its Presence, Its Absence, and Its Consequences for the Peoples of California: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Fulfillment of first half of the reading and composition requirement

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for 50AC after taking 150AC.

Requirements this course satisfies: Satisfies the American Cultures requirement

Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 5.5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture per week for 15 weeks. Five and one-half hours of Lecture per week for 8 weeks. Seven and one-half hours of Lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Instructor: Steenland

Researching Water in the West: Its Presence, Its Absence, and Its Consequences for the Peoples of California: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 75AC Sacred Places and the American Western 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2019 This class will explore the central themes of the American Cultures curriculum through the concept of place, specifically the "West". The Western landscape gives the Western genre its name, but the concepts that inform the portrayal of that landscape are not interrogated by the genre. The class will unpack the theoretical framework behind that depiction. Each section of the class will be framed by texts that offer a theory of place that, when closely examined , will reveal previously invisible concepts of race and class. Sacred Places and the American Western: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Fulfillment of both halves (Parts A and B) of the Reading & Composition Requirement

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture per week. Five and one-half hours of lecture per week for 8 weeks. Seven and one-half hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Sacred Places and the American Western: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 98 Directed Group Study 1 - 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2022 Supervised seminar for group study of selected topics. Directed Group Study: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Enrollment is restricted; see the Introduction to Courses and Curricula section of this catalog.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-4 hours of directed group study per week

Additional Format: One to Four hour of Directed group study per week for 15 weeks.

Directed Group Study: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 99 Supervised Independent Study 1 - 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2018, Spring 2017, Spring 2016 Independent study in topics not covered by regularly scheduled courses. Student must initiate topic and present a written proposal. Supervised Independent Study: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor, lower division standing

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-4 hours of tutorial per week

Summer: 8 weeks - 1.5-7.5 hours of tutorial per week

Additional Format: One to Four hour of Tutorial per week for 15 weeks. One and one-half to Seven and one-half hours of Tutorial per week for 8 weeks.

Supervised Independent Study: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 105 Intermediate Writing: Finding Your Voice with Others 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2018, Fall 2017, Fall 2016 Engaging with issues of authorial voice, the writing process, and technology, students hone the ability to read and write academic prose. A hybrid composition course, this course meets in the classroom and online. Students use Web 2.0 writing tools and think critically about how such tools affect writing processes. Further, this course offers students opportunities to collaborate on projects, as is often required for academic and workplace writing , and which Web 2.0 writing tools are designed to support. Intermediate Writing: Finding Your Voice with Others: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Fulfillment of both halves of Reading and Composition requirement

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1.5 hours of lecture and 1.5 hours of web-based lecture per week

Additional Format: One and one-half hours of Lecture and One and one-half hours of Web-based lecture per week for 15 weeks.

Online: This is an online course.

Intermediate Writing: Finding Your Voice with Others: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 106 Intermediate Composition: Argument in the Disciplines 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2018, Spring 2017, Spring 2016 This course prepares students to write and analyze arguments in a range of academic disciplines, from the humanities and liberal arts, to the sciences and social sciences. The course emphasizes the rhetorical strategies, reasoning, and conventions that characterize persuasive arguments in each field. This course does not include instruction in the research process. Intermediate Composition: Argument in the Disciplines: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Fulfillment of both halves of the Reading and Composition Requirement (Parts A and B)

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture per week for 15 weeks. Seven hours of Lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Intermediate Composition: Argument in the Disciplines: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 107 Translation in Practice 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024 This course provides an English language setting for an immersive dive into translation studies, as well as evaluating and producing original translated texts. Students will reflect on processes and decisions in that work, which will culminate in a significant translation project designed around principles of discovery: challenging conventional notions of a translator’s visibility and creating opportunities for paratextual study, engagement, and impact. Our approach to the topic of translation will be interdisciplinary and worlded, and students are encouraged to bring their own interests, experiences, and creative agency to the classroom. Fluency reading and writing in at least one language other than English is required to take this class. Translation in Practice: Read More [+]

Student Learning Outcomes: This course aims to help students become more practiced translators and translation critics, producing stronger and more purposeful translations while gaining mastery over the terminology and philosophies that guide these practices. Students will apply discovery practices that contextualize their work as translators in social, political, historical, or cultural frameworks.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1 hour of lecture and 2 hours of workshop per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 6 hours of workshop per week

Additional Format: One hour of lecture and two hours of workshop per week. Three hours of lecture and six hours of workshop per week for 6 weeks.

Translation in Practice: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 108 Advanced Composition: New Media 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2013, Spring 2012, Fall 2011 This advanced nonfiction writing course offers an opportunity to explore the definition of text in a digital era. It offers students an opportunity to read and write about how contemporary uses of social media influence how we think, act, interact, and learn. Advanced Composition: New Media: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Fulfillment of the Reading and Composition requirement up to and including 1B or consent of instructor

Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture per week for 15 weeks. Eight hours of Lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Advanced Composition: New Media: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 109C Academic Writing for Multilingual Students 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2023 In this class, students learn about the content, structure, and organization of academic essays. Through in- and out-of-class writing, students work on focusing topics, organizing arguments, and supporting claims with evidence and reasoning. Sentence structures, summarizing, paraphrasing, correct use of citations, and editing skills will also be addressed. Academic Writing for Multilingual Students: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Enrollment in College Writing 109C: ESP- Academic Writing is restricted to international students and other multilingual student writers. Graduate students welcome

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture per week. Five hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks. Ten hours of lecture per week for three weeks.

COLWRIT 110 Advanced Composition: Challenging Writing 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018 This writing workshop will offer students an opportunity to write essays and other nonfiction prose that speak both personally and politically to the issues and audiences they wish to address. The readings will focus on the rhetorical strategies of writers who have used the essay as a cultural form to challenge the norms of the time and place in which they live(d). Advanced Composition: Challenging Writing: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Completion of reading and composition requirement (1A-1B) or consent of instructor

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 4 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Four hours of Lecture per week for 15 weeks.

Advanced Composition: Challenging Writing: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 121 Issues in Teaching English Internationally 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 First 6 Week Session This course offers students an opportunity to consider relevant academic and professional issues related to the teaching of English internationally. Through readings, discussions, and assigned projects, students learn about principles of language policy and planning, linguistics, methodology, and assessment. These topics contribute to students' understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of effective English language teaching abroad, leading to responsible engagement in the international community of English language teachers and learners. Issues in Teaching English Internationally: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1 hour of lecture, 2 hours of discussion, 0 hours of web-based discussion, and 0 hours of web-based lecture per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 0 hours of lecture, 0 hours of discussion, 2.5 hours of web-based discussion, and 5 hours of web-based lecture per week

Additional Format: One hour of lecture and two hours of discussion and zero hour of web-based discussion and zero hour of web-based lecture per week. Zero hour of lecture and zero hour of discussion and two and one-half hours of web-based discussion and five hours of web-based lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Issues in Teaching English Internationally: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 130 Introduction to the Craft of Creative Writing 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2019 This course in creative writing focuses on three genres: the personal essay, the short story, and the one-act play. The course emphasizes an introduction to craft--how these types of writing are generated, what their elements are, and how the finished pieces work--which students will explore through careful study of models by published writers and through writing and revising their own short pieces. Introduction to the Craft of Creative Writing: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Completion of Reading and Composition sequence (1A/1B)

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture per week for 15 weeks. Six hours of Lecture per week for 8 weeks. Eight hours of Lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Instructors: Larkin, Levine, Oakes

Introduction to the Craft of Creative Writing: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 131 Introduction to the Craft of Creative Nonfiction 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Fall 2019, Fall 2018 This course in creative writing focuses on the craft of reading and writing creative nonfiction. The course provides an introduction to craft: how creative nonfiction is generated, what its elements are, and how finished pieces work. Students will explore these aspects of craft through careful study of models by published writers, and through writing and revising their own short pieces. Introduction to the Craft of Creative Nonfiction: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Fulfillment of both halves of the Reading and Composition Requirement or permission of instructor

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture per week. Eight hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Instructor: Oakes

Introduction to the Craft of Creative Nonfiction: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT N131 Creative Nonfiction: Cultural Critique 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 This course in creative writing focuses on the craft of reading and writing creative nonfiction. The course emphasizes an introduction to craft—how creative nonfiction is generated, what its elements are, and how finished pieces work—which students will explore through careful study of models by published writers, and through writing and revising their own short pieces. Creative Nonfiction: Cultural Critique: Read More [+]

Summer: 3 weeks - 10 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Ten hours of seminar per week for three weeks.

Creative Nonfiction: Cultural Critique: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 132 Introduction to the Craft of Short Fiction 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2019, Fall 2016 This course in creative writing focuses on the craft of reading and writing short fiction. The course provides an introduction to craft: how short fiction is generated, what its elements are, and how finished pieces work. Students will explore these aspects of craft through careful study of models by published writers, and through writing and revising their own short pieces. Introduction to the Craft of Short Fiction: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Fulfillment of both halves of the Reading and Composition Requirement or consent of instructor

Instructor: Sloan

Introduction to the Craft of Short Fiction: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT N132 The Craft of Short Fiction 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 This two-unit course on the short story emphasizes an introduction to craft—how short stories are created, what their elements are, and how the finished pieces work—which you will explore through careful study of models by published writers and through writing and revising your own original pieces generated for this class. The Craft of Short Fiction: Read More [+]

The Craft of Short Fiction: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 133 Introduction to the Craft of Dramatic Writing 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Fall 2017 This course in creative writing focuses on the fundamentals of reading and writing dramatic scripts. Students learn dramatic writing as an art and as a set of skills. They learn the elements involved in the creation of scripts by analyzing published scripts, as well as by drafting their own scripts and critiquing their peers' work. Particular emphasis is given to the work of generating and revising drafts, in addition to the critique and appreciation of works written for the stage, and to a lesser degree, for the screen. This introduction to craft is applicable to stage scripts as well as screenplays. Introduction to the Craft of Dramatic Writing: Read More [+]

Instructor: Levine

Introduction to the Craft of Dramatic Writing: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT N133 The Craft of Dramatic Writing 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 College Writing N133 is an introduction to the craft of dramatic writing through the study of works by professional playwrights and through composition and revision of your own playscripts. You will come to understand dramatic writing as an art and as a set of skills; you will receive an introduction to some of the elements involved in the creation of written scripts. Particular emphasis will be given to the work of generating and revising writing for the stage and, to a lesser degree, for the screen. The Craft of Dramatic Writing: Read More [+]

The Craft of Dramatic Writing: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 134 The Craft of Poetry 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 This two-unit course on poetry & poetics emphasizes an introduction to craft—how poems are created, what their elements are, and how the finished pieces work—which you will explore through careful study of models by published writers, and through writing and revising your own original pieces generated for this class. The Craft of Poetry: Read More [+]

The Craft of Poetry: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 135 The Craft of Creative Writing -- Workshopping & Performance 1 Unit

Terms offered: Summer 2024, Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 In this one-unit workshop, we will focus on strengthening skills in workshopping, selecting and publicly performing your creative writing. Composing, editing, and revising your works will also be an important emphasis. As a class focused on craft across genres, we will read a variety of strategies by published story writers, essayists, poets and playwrights. We will study performances by established and emerging artists, and develop a sustainable in-person and online writing community that you can rely on long after the three-week summer intensive has ended. The Craft of Creative Writing -- Workshopping & Performance: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: This course requires simultaneous enrollment in COLWRIT N131 , N132 , N133 , or 134

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction. Students may enroll in multiple sections of this course within the same semester.

Summer: 3 weeks - 5 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Five hours of seminar per week for three weeks.

The Craft of Creative Writing -- Workshopping & Performance: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 140A Readings on Creative Writing 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2013 10 Week Session, Summer 2013 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2012 First 6 Week Session Before we write, we must read. This course will offer the opportunity for careful examination and discussion of masterworks--many of them recent--in creative writing, with special focus on the craft of the writing. Students will enroll in a section of the course corresponding to the genre they would like to study: creative nonfiction, short fiction, poetry, or one-act playwriting. 140A must be taken concurrently with a section of 140B in the same genre. Readings on Creative Writing: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Completion of both parts of the Reading and Composition sequence for UC students; equivalent proficiency for non-UC students. Corequisite: enrollment in 140B: Seminar-Workshop in Creative Writing

Additional Format: Seven hours of Lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Readings on Creative Writing: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 140B Seminar-Workshop in Creative Writing 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2013 10 Week Session, Summer 2013 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2012 First 6 Week Session This seminar will offer students the opportunity to craft several pieces of creative writing, and to consider the formal aspects of creative writing. Students' writing will be critiqued by the class and the instructor with special focus on the formal elements of each piece. Students will enroll in one of four sections of the course: creative nonfiction, short fiction, poetry, or one-act playwriting. 140B must be taken concurrently with a section of 140A in the same genre. Seminar-Workshop in Creative Writing: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Completion of both parts of the Reading and Composition sequence for UC students; equivalent proficiency for non-UC students. Corequisite: enrollment in 140A: Readings in Creative Writing

Seminar-Workshop in Creative Writing: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 141 Seminar-Workshop on Creative Writing: The Novel 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2013 10 Week Session, Summer 2013 First 6 Week Session This course offers opportunities to craft several works of creative writing in service of the production of a novel, and to consider formal aspects of the novel with reference to assigned readings. Students consider the general principles governing the form, and the wide latitude the writer has in addressing these principles. Students will develop skill at analyzing a work, presenting descriptive feedback, and identifying the possibilities for revision suggested by the draft itself. Seminar-Workshop on Creative Writing: The Novel: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Fulfillment of both halves of the Reading and Composition requirement

Seminar-Workshop on Creative Writing: The Novel: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 142 Grammar for English Language Instructors 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 First 6 Week Session This course covers the knowledge you need as a future instructor to explain English grammar to learners in your own classroom. You will gain an understanding of the structure of the English language, how other languages have influenced its development, and how to explain grammatical principles clearly so that learners from a variety of language backgrounds can understand. Grammar for English Language Instructors: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: A deeper understanding of the history of and influences on the English language An understanding of the specific vocabulary and structure of English grammar Practice and confidence in explaining grammatical constructions to others

Summer: 6 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 4.5 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Six hours of lecture and four and one-half hours of discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Grammar for English Language Instructors: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 143 Foundations of English Language Education 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 First 6 Week Session An introduction to the fundamental principles and practices of English language education in both local and global contexts. This course covers theory and methods behind teaching reading, writing, listening, and speaking to diverse populations of English language learners in a variety of academic contexts. Foundations of English Language Education: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Completion of two-semester R&C requirement or the equivalent

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for COLWRIT W143 after completing COLWRIT 143 . A deficient grade in COLWRIT W143 may be removed by taking COLWRIT 143 .

Summer: 6 weeks - 2 hours of lecture and 6 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Two hours of lecture and six hours of discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Formerly known as: College Writing Programs W143

Foundations of English Language Education: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 144 Teaching English as a Second Language: Practicum 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session This course will provide students with an understanding of theories and practices in teaching English to students from multilingual backgrounds. Course topics will include reflective practices, teacher decision making, learner-centered classrooms, and general knowledge about language learning and cognition. Field experience will include working with learners in the practicum-students' geographical areas, in collaboration with the practicum instructor and local instructors. Students will produce a portfolio of teaching plans, observation notes, and reflections. Teaching English as a Second Language: Practicum: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Any of the following at UC Berkeley: Education W142 or W140AC; College Writing W143 or W145, or their equivalents elsewhere. These may also be taken simultaneously with this practicum

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for COLWRIT W144 after completing COLWRIT 144 . A deficient grade in COLWRIT W144 may be removed by taking COLWRIT 144 .

Summer: 6 weeks - 2 hours of lecture, 2 hours of discussion, and 3.5 hours of fieldwork per week

Additional Format: Two hours of lecture and two hours of discussion and three and one-half hours of fieldwork per week for 6 weeks.

Formerly known as: College Writing Programs W144

Teaching English as a Second Language: Practicum: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 145 Creating Materials for English Language Education 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session An introduction to developing instructional materials and assessment methods in English language teaching in both local and global contexts. This course covers theory and methods behind choosing, adapting, and writing materials that are suitable for diverse populations of English language learners in a variety of academic contexts. Creating Materials for English Language Education: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for COLWRIT W145 after completing COLWRIT 145 . A deficient grade in COLWRIT W145 may be removed by taking COLWRIT 145 .

Summer: 6 weeks - 2 hours of lecture and 5.5 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Two hours of lecture and five and one-half hours of discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Formerly known as: College Writing Programs W145

Creating Materials for English Language Education: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 146 Teaching Online in a Global Context 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session This course addresses the skills and knowledge needed as future instructors teaching English online in multiple contexts. Both the possibilities and limitations of online instruction will be addressed. The advantages, of course, include being able to reach a wider audience of learners than previously possible. However, we are still faced with limitations of technology, having to find new ways to engage students, and socio-economic differences in access to technology. Students will develop an online learning module. Teaching Online in a Global Context: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: Build the ability to inspire learners, even from a distance Develop an awareness of the limitations of online instruction Develop an understanding of the ways in which technology can be leveraged to teach English Understand how socio-economic factors influence online access and learning

Summer: 6 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 6 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Six hours of lecture and six hours of discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Teaching Online in a Global Context: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 150AC Researching Water in the West: Its Presence, Its Absence, and Its Consequences for the Peoples of California 3 Units

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for 150AC after taking 50AC.

COLWRIT 151 Introduction to Principles of Professional Communication 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2017 This course introduces students to key principles and rhetorical strategies of writing texts in non-academic settings. Although the course may address issues of oral communication, the primary focus will be on learning and practicing strategies to generate written documents in a business context. Introduction to Principles of Professional Communication: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Reading and Composition 1A-1B, junior or senior standing during the academic year. No prerequisites in the summer session

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for COLWRIT 151 after completing COLWRIT C151.

Summer: 6 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture per week. Six hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Instructor: Cole

Introduction to Principles of Professional Communication: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 152 Advanced Professional Communication 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2015, Spring 2014, Spring 2013 In this course, students build upon introductory coursework in professional communication to develop and refine their proficiency in non-academic writing. Students, in teams of three to four, propose and generate authentic workplace documents for a local organization or business; the course culminates in formal presentations. Discussions and activities regarding workplace genres, rhetorical techniques and strategies, and context-specific discourse conventions throughout term. Advanced Professional Communication: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 151

Advanced Professional Communication: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 161 Writing in the Biological Sciences 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Fall 2022 Intended for both Biology majors and non-majors, College Writing 161 provides students with a rhetorical framework for understanding the conventions of writing within the Biological Science to help them write more effectively for readers in Biology, as well as for readers outside the field. Exploring ideas of audience, genre, style, and authorship, students will read a wide variety of texts, including critical texts from Rhetoric and Composition that analyze writing in Biology, as well as genres specific to Biology and genres intended for wider audiences (e.g., editorials, grant application letters, explanatory articles). Students will also write a variety of these genres. Writing in the Biological Sciences: Read More [+]

Student Learning Outcomes: This course aims to help students to not only produce better writing for Biology, but to develop a rhetorical awareness they can transfer to other disciplines and writing situations.

Prerequisites: Completion/Satisfaction of the University’s R&C Requirement and at least one course in a biological science. No prerequisites in the Summer Session

Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture per week. Seven and one-half hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Writing in the Biological Sciences: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 171 Writing in the Social Sciences 3 Units

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 Intended for both social sciences majors and non-majors, College Writing 171 provides students with a rhetorical framework for understanding the conventions of writing within the social sciences. The goal is to write more effectively to reach readers both inside and outside the field. Exploring ideas of audience, genre, style, and authorship, students will read a wide variety of texts, including critical texts from rhetoric and composition that analyze writing in the social sciences, as well as genres specific to it, and genres intended for wider audiences (e.g., editorials, grant application letters, explanatory articles). Students will also write a variety of these genres. Writing in the Social Sciences: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Completion of required R&C (R1A/R1B) courses, or permission of the instructor. No prerequisites in the Summer Session

Additional Format: Three hours of seminar per week. Six hours of seminar per week for 6 weeks.

Writing in the Social Sciences: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 175 Players, Spectators & Fanatics: Writing on the Cultures of Sports 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2020 This class will examine some of the very best sports journalism with a critical lens, looking at intersections of business, race, culture, disability, gender, performance, technology, politics, social justice, and above all else attention to inquiry through thoughtful writing. At the same time, students will write in a variety of creative nonfiction genres on multimedia platforms, including the writing of a sustained final project on a topic of their own choosing . Players, Spectators & Fanatics: Writing on the Cultures of Sports: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Fulfillment of both halves of the Reading and Composition Requirement, or permission of instructor

Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Three hours of seminar per week. Seven and one-half hours of seminar per week for 6 weeks.

Players, Spectators & Fanatics: Writing on the Cultures of Sports: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 180 Travel Writing 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2013, Spring 2012 This course focuses on European travel writing in the modern period, bracketed on one end by imperial exploration and expansion and on the other by the experience of comtemporary tourism. Students will write academic essays reflecting on the political, historical, and cultural meanings of travel writing. Travel Writing: Read More [+]

Instructor: Lang

Travel Writing: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 181 Global London 4 Units

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 This course focuses on the development of London: as a global city, as an amalgam of histories in the modern world as represented in its neighborhoods, museums, and monuments. It presents an understanding of how modern landscape both preserves the past and is remade. Global London: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Fulfillment of both halves of the Reading and Composition requirement. Simultaneous enrollment in Colwrit W181

Summer: 6 weeks - 12 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Twelve hours of lecture per week for 5 weeks.

Global London: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 192AC Advanced Composition: Community-Based Ethics 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2014, Spring 2013 Communities are challenged by issues of security, poverty, and environmental sustainability. These issues intersect with those of race, class, and culture in U.S. society. This course focuses on ethical decisions as they apply to issues of diversity, sustainable practices, economic impacts on neighborhoods and nations, and issues of security and identity. This course focuses on writing and research skills. Advanced Composition: Community-Based Ethics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Successful completion of the first semester of Reading and Composition

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture per week for 15 weeks. Seven and one-half hours of Lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Advanced Composition: Community-Based Ethics: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 195 Special Topics 1 - 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2022, Fall 2018 This course covers various writing-related topics. Topics will change from semester to semester. See department website for current information. Special Topics: Read More [+]

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-4 hours of lecture per week

Summer: 3 weeks - 5-20 hours of lecture per week 6 weeks - 2.5-10 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 2-7.5 hours of lecture per week 10 weeks - 1.5-6 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: One to four hours of lecture per week. One and one-half to six hours of lecture per week for 10 weeks. Two to seven and one-half hours of lecture per week for 8 weeks. Two and one-half to ten hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks. Five to twenty hours of lecture per week for three weeks.

Special Topics: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 198 Directed Group Study 1 - 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2016 Supervised seminar for group study of selected topics. Directed Group Study: Read More [+]

COLWRIT 199 Supervised Independent Study 1 - 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2016, Spring 2015, Spring 2014 Independent study in topics not covered by regularly scheduled courses. Student must initiate topic and present a written proposal. Supervised Independent Study: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor, upper division standing

COLWRIT 200 Writing for Academic Publication 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 10 Week Session This online course aims to help students develop an awareness of the Research Article (RA) genre, different approaches to RA development, and how to navigate the academic publishing process in general. The course is designed for international graduate students (MA and PhD), but may be useful to anyone seeking to develop their RA writing skills. Participants may begin the course at any stage of the research process, but the course will be especially useful to those who already have some data collected. Involvement of the student’s advisor is encouraged, but not mandatory. Writing for Academic Publication: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for COLWRIT W200 after completing COLWRIT 200 . A deficient grade in COLWRIT W200 may be removed by taking COLWRIT 200 .

Summer: 10 weeks - 1.5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: One and one-half hours of lecture per week for 10 weeks.

Subject/Course Level: College Writing Programs/Graduate

Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.

Instructors: Wald, Martinez

Formerly known as: College Writing Programs W200

Writing for Academic Publication: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 310 Practicum in Teaching English as a Second Language 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2006 10 Week Session, Summer 2005 10 Week Session, Summer 2002 10 Week Session This course will allow qualified graduate students an opportunity to teach ESL in both an intensive ESL program and a community-based adult ESL course. Practicum in Teaching English as a Second Language: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: One year of graduate study in a TESL/TEFL or related program. Appropriate course work in theory and methods of teaching ESL; instructor permission

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit up to a total of 6 units.

Summer: 6 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 1.5 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Six hours of lecture plus one and one-half hours of discussion, and a minimum of thirteen hours of classroom teaching/assisting per week for six weeks, supervised by one or more lead teachers.

Subject/Course Level: College Writing Programs/Professional course for teachers or prospective teachers

Practicum in Teaching English as a Second Language: Read Less [-]

COLWRIT 375 Introduction to Theories and Practices of Teaching College Composition 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020 The course will focus on teaching philosophies, course designs, instructional methods, and assessment issues in relation to teaching composition in a pluralistic setting. Introduction to Theories and Practices of Teaching College Composition: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Appointment as GSI or consent of instructor

Additional Format: Two hours of lecture/discussion per week.

Formerly known as: College Writing 300

Introduction to Theories and Practices of Teaching College Composition: Read Less [-]

Contact Information

119 Wheeler Hall #2500

Phone: 510-642-5570

[email protected]

Program Director

Maggie Sokolik

[email protected]

Program Manager

Daniel Pham

[email protected]

Print Options

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Format:  Online

Dates:  March 3 - 24, 2024

Student Profile:  Current 9th - 12th graders

College Application Essay Writing Workshop

How to write an unforgettable college essay that reflects you

In this online workshop, high school students will practice and develop the skill of writing a college application essay. Students will brainstorm, draft, and revise a full-length college application essay by the conclusion of the workshop. Provided students attend all four sessions and complete the 1-2 hours of homework assigned each week, students can expect to leave the workshop with an essay that is ready or near-ready for submission. Together, we will investigate the central questions of application writing, including:

• Who am I? As a student? As a writer?
• What do I want out of my time in college?
• Which of my experiences have most shaped who I am today, and why?
• Where have I witnessed my ability to enact change in my community?

This workshop is for high school students at the beginning of their application writing process; all writers will start their essays from scratch. Our virtual classroom will function as a collaborative workshop, as well as an instructional space. Students will routinely read and analyze each other's work, as well as personal essays by published authors. Together, we will grow comfortable with: (1) the conventions of application writing, (2) vulnerably sharing our stories, and (3) a rigorous revision process involving peer review and instructor feedback. In order to create an open online writing community within the workshop, students will be asked to turn their Zoom cameras on.

Students will have the opportunity to join a generative collective of writers, to discuss their hopes and anxieties regarding the application process, and to connect firsthand with the UMass Amherst university level writing community. We will approach application writing both practically, and creatively: all students will leave with an essay they feel confident about, and will have also had the opportunity to challenge and hone their skills within the expansive personal writing genre.

Enrollment for this workshop is limited to give time for personalized attention. Questions? Email [email protected]. 

Workshop Format and Schedule

• Section 1 (Registration closed): March 3 - 24, 2024  |  Live synchronous sessions will meet Sundays from 1 - 2:30pm (EST). 
• Section 2 (Open): March 3 - 24, 2024  |  Live synchronous sessions will meet Sundays from 12:00 - 1:30pm (EST). 

This workshop consists of 4 online synchronous meeting. In addition, participants should plan for 1-2 hours of asynchronous assignments per week. 

Students attending the online program are expected to attend all class sessions live in real time. In order to prioritize the health and well-being of participants, eligibility is restricted to applicants residing in time zones where class hours do not extend beyond midnight. Please use a  time zone converter  to check when class sessions will meet in your time zone. 

Instructors:

Section 1: Alexandra Itzi  is a Writing Instructor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She holds both a BA and MA in English Literature, and an MFA in Creative Writing. Alexandra has developed her pedagogical practices through years of teaching essay writing, literary analysis, rhetorical analysis, research writing, and creative writing in a variety of classroom settings. She is passionate about speculative fiction, contemporary trends in fantasy, and the intersection between video games and literary criticism. She has a wealth of experience working with students writing across disciplines, as well as with students for whom English is an additional language. Alexandra has work published with  Palabras ,  Volt ,  El Portal , and more. She is currently working on a fantasy novel. She lives in Amherst with her husband, their dog and cat, and has an unhealthy attachment to her gaming PC.

Section 2: Leah Barber  is from Chicago. She holds an MFA in creative writing (poetry) from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she teaches college writing. She received the inaugural Peggy Woods Award for Innovative Teaching from the UMass Amherst Writing Program in 2023. At UMass, she has also been a Social Justice Fellow and is currently an Instructional Innovation Fellow. Her writing has appeared in Peach Mag, Reading in Translation, Winter Tangerine Review , and Salon . 

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College Essay Writing

← Inspire: Summer 2024

About the program

The July 8-12 session is now full. We are still accepting applicants for the July 15-19 and July 22-26 sessions.

This class will guide you through essential techniques for compelling college essay writing. Each day will focus on key aspects of the writing process, such as understanding the purpose of a college essay, selecting a strong topic, and developing a personal writing style! Students will explore the Common App essay prompts and practice customizing their personal stories to fit the specific prompts required by different colleges.

Through a mix of lectures, discussions, workshops, and peer reviews, you’ll learn to deconstruct essay questions, brainstorm effectively, and select topics that reflect your unique story. Every student will leave the class with a polished final essay ready to send to the college(s) of their choice!

The Process

• Understanding – Prompt & Purpose
• Reflecting & Brainstorming
• Reviewing – Peer Review & Teacher Review
• Revising & Refining

This course will meet daily from 10:00AM -12:00PM EST (Monday-Friday) and require an internet connection and access to Zoom. The instructor will have 1:1 sessions with each student to offer personal feedback.

Skills you will learn

• Understand the Purpose of a College Essay
• Deconstruct Essay Questions, Brainstorm, and Select Topics
• Develop a Personal Writing Style
• Craft an Engaging Introduction and Conclusion
• Edit and Revise Your Work

Please note: All information is subject to change at the discretion of UVA Northern Virginia.

4 Tips to Complete College Applications on Time

Starting early with proper planning is key to timely college application completion, experts say.

Completing College Applications on Time

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Planning out your college applications early can help you stay organized as you move through the process.

With multiple components and deadlines, the college application process can be daunting for some students. Since prospective students are often juggling college applications alongside high school classes and activities, experts say it's easy to fall behind or procrastinate.

"Procrastination is a stress response, and it makes sense that some students who are anxious about the college process will avoid working on their applications in a timely fashion," Angela Warfield, principal consultant and founder of admissions consulting firm Compass Academics, wrote in an email.

"This can become a real problem if students wait too long to request transcripts, test score reports or letters of recommendation. Since the students need to rely on other people to submit these materials, they need to make sure to give those people as much time as possible to get those materials in before deadlines."

There are some exceptions where applications are accepted later, and schools that offer rolling admissions may be good last-minute options for students. But May 1 has traditionally been the decision deadline across higher education, even earning the name "College Decision Day," so students typically need to follow that timeline. If a student is applying for early decision or early action , there will be even earlier deadlines to submit application materials.

A well-thought-out plan, anchored by a few organizational tips, can keep students on track with college applications. Here are four tips that experts say students can follow to complete their college applications on time.

• Start planning early.
• Create a detailed checklist.
• Ask for recommendation letters early.
• Budget time for application essays.

Start Planning Early

Because there are multiple steps involved in applying to college, many of which require help from other people, experts say the most foolproof method to alleviate anxiety is to start early.

The Common App , which is used by more than 1,000 schools, opens Aug. 1 each year, meaning students can't officially submit applications through the platform until then. But those looking to get a head start can create an account during their junior year and get familiar with the platform, says Denard Jones, lead college counselor at Empowerly, a college admissions consulting company.

And though it may not be as fun as relaxing by the pool or hanging out with friends, students would be wise to use the the summer months ahead of senior year – when they have no academic obligations – to begin or complete college application tasks, such as completing any write-ups for the extracurricular or activities section , experts say.

Otherwise, "it makes the fall of your senior year that much more hard,” Jones says. “Because you still have to do academic work, you still have to go through the semester, and now you’re trying to pull all this information together."

Create a Detailed Checklist

Keeping track of the various application requirements and deadlines can be streamlined with a checklist. School counselors and independent college counselors can typically provide students with a checklist, and the College Board also provides a list for students and parents to use.

Universities also typically have an application checklist on their website, which may include directions or items specific to them.

If applying to multiple colleges, students and parents may also want to create a master spreadsheet or other document to keep track of deadlines and when parts of the application are complete. Setting up reminders on a digital calendar for important dates can also help, experts say.

"Dates to consider include: application deadlines, testing date/score submissions deadlines, dates for recommenders to submit letters of support and important scholarship deadlines," Warfield says.

Ask for Recommendation Letters Early

Letters of recommendation from teachers, school counselors and other sources are important to providing college admissions officers deeper context and colorful details about applicants. Like personal essays, they can help humanize applicants and give schools an idea of whether a student would succeed academically or fit in socially within their campus culture.

A strong recommendation can tip the scales in a student's favor, especially in situations where there are academic blemishes. A weak or vague letter may reflect poorly and cause an application to stand out for the wrong reasons, experts say.

Students should choose the right people to write letters, such as teachers or counselors who know them best. It's equally important to give recommendation writers enough notice so they aren't asked to craft a hastily written letter.

Richard Tench, a school counselor at St. Albans High School in West Virginia, suggests giving recommenders at least two weeks to complete the letter, but in some cases it may be wise to ask even earlier.

“That will provide them the time to say yes or no," he says, "but that also provides them the time to think about it and write a comprehensive letter."

Some teachers are pressed for time and commit to writing a limited number of recommendation letters each year. Once those spots are booked, students shouldn't be surprised if their request is denied. This could force students to pivot to a recommender who doesn't know them as well.

“The more time you give a recommender to write, the better," Jones says. "That way, hopefully it won’t be this template that’s just cut and paste and doesn’t really help the admissions offices much."

Budget Time for Application Essays

Personal statements are often the most time-consuming and stressful part of the application process, Warfield says. But this is another area where students can get a head start during their junior year or the summer before their senior year.

The Common App typically announces essay questions for the upcoming application cycle in January or February, giving students ample time to prepare for or begin writing the essays. Warfield recommends students begin working on essays in early June, ahead of their senior year, which allows more time to edit and perfect their essays with peers or trusted mentors.

Schools that require supplemental essays vary on when those prompts are announced, but Warfield says students should start on them as early as possible and "work smarter, not harder" when completing them.

"Look for similar themes and questions where your answers aren’t likely to change," such as what you want to major in or what community means to you, she says. "You can revise these essays to be school-specific, but not completely rewrite them. Don’t duplicate your efforts."

Starting on essays early can be particularly helpful for students who struggle or need additional assistance with writing the essay, she says, adding that students who procrastinate may be tempted to rely on another person or an artificial intelligence tool such as ChatGPT to write their essay. While some colleges are using AI in admissions, colleges expect the personal statement to be a student's authentic writing.

"As someone who’s evaluated student writing for 30 years, it is not that hard to spot an AI-generated college essay," Warfield says. "If students try to use AI as a shortcut, colleges use AI detectors and seasoned admissions readers to detect derivative material."

This could be anything created by AI technology, and use of such language in essays could harm an applicant's admissions chances, experts say.

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Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 177 college essay examples for 11 schools + expert analysis.

College Admissions , College Essays

The personal statement might just be the hardest part of your college application. Mostly this is because it has the least guidance and is the most open-ended. One way to understand what colleges are looking for when they ask you to write an essay is to check out the essays of students who already got in—college essays that actually worked. After all, they must be among the most successful of this weird literary genre.

In this article, I'll go through general guidelines for what makes great college essays great. I've also compiled an enormous list of 100+ actual sample college essays from 11 different schools. Finally, I'll break down two of these published college essay examples and explain why and how they work. With links to 177 full essays and essay excerpts , this article is a great resource for learning how to craft your own personal college admissions essay!

What Excellent College Essays Have in Common

Even though in many ways these sample college essays are very different from one other, they do share some traits you should try to emulate as you write your own essay.

Visible Signs of Planning

Building out from a narrow, concrete focus. You'll see a similar structure in many of the essays. The author starts with a very detailed story of an event or description of a person or place. After this sense-heavy imagery, the essay expands out to make a broader point about the author, and connects this very memorable experience to the author's present situation, state of mind, newfound understanding, or maturity level.

Knowing how to tell a story. Some of the experiences in these essays are one-of-a-kind. But most deal with the stuff of everyday life. What sets them apart is the way the author approaches the topic: analyzing it for drama and humor, for its moving qualities, for what it says about the author's world, and for how it connects to the author's emotional life.

Stellar Execution

A killer first sentence. You've heard it before, and you'll hear it again: you have to suck the reader in, and the best place to do that is the first sentence. Great first sentences are punchy. They are like cliffhangers, setting up an exciting scene or an unusual situation with an unclear conclusion, in order to make the reader want to know more. Don't take my word for it—check out these 22 first sentences from Stanford applicants and tell me you don't want to read the rest of those essays to find out what happens!

A lively, individual voice. Writing is for readers. In this case, your reader is an admissions officer who has read thousands of essays before yours and will read thousands after. Your goal? Don't bore your reader. Use interesting descriptions, stay away from clichés, include your own offbeat observations—anything that makes this essay sounds like you and not like anyone else.

Technical correctness. No spelling mistakes, no grammar weirdness, no syntax issues, no punctuation snafus—each of these sample college essays has been formatted and proofread perfectly. If this kind of exactness is not your strong suit, you're in luck! All colleges advise applicants to have their essays looked over several times by parents, teachers, mentors, and anyone else who can spot a comma splice. Your essay must be your own work, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting help polishing it.

And if you need more guidance, connect with PrepScholar's expert admissions consultants . These expert writers know exactly what college admissions committees look for in an admissions essay and chan help you craft an essay that boosts your chances of getting into your dream school.

Check out PrepScholar's Essay Editing and Coaching progra m for more details!

Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar.

Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges.

Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now :

Links to Full College Essay Examples

Some colleges publish a selection of their favorite accepted college essays that worked, and I've put together a selection of over 100 of these.

Common App Essay Samples

Please note that some of these college essay examples may be responding to prompts that are no longer in use. The current Common App prompts are as follows:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. 2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? 3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? 4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you? 5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. 6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Now, let's get to the good stuff: the list of 177 college essay examples responding to current and past Common App essay prompts. 

Connecticut college.

• 12 Common Application essays from the classes of 2022-2025

Hamilton College

• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2026
• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2022
• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2018
• 8 Common Application essays from the class of 2012
• 8 Common Application essays from the class of 2007

Johns Hopkins

These essays are answers to past prompts from either the Common Application or the Coalition Application (which Johns Hopkins used to accept).

• 1 Common Application or Coalition Application essay from the class of 2026
• 6 Common Application or Coalition Application essays from the class of 2025
• 6 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2024
• 6 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2023
• 7 Common Application of Universal Application essays from the class of 2022
• 5 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2021
• 7 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2020

Essay Examples Published by Other Websites

• 2 Common Application essays ( 1st essay , 2nd essay ) from applicants admitted to Columbia

Other Sample College Essays

Here is a collection of essays that are college-specific.

Babson College

• 4 essays (and 1 video response) on "Why Babson" from the class of 2020

Emory University

• 5 essay examples ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) from the class of 2020 along with analysis from Emory admissions staff on why the essays were exceptional
• 5 more recent essay examples ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) along with analysis from Emory admissions staff on what made these essays stand out

University of Georgia

• 1 “strong essay” sample from 2019
• 1 “strong essay” sample from 2018
• 10 Harvard essays from 2023
• 10 Harvard essays from 2022
• 10 Harvard essays from 2021
• 10 Harvard essays from 2020
• 10 Harvard essays from 2019
• 10 Harvard essays from 2018
• 6 essays from admitted MIT students

Smith College

• 6 "best gift" essays from the class of 2018

Books of College Essays

If you're looking for even more sample college essays, consider purchasing a college essay book. The best of these include dozens of essays that worked and feedback from real admissions officers.

College Essays That Made a Difference —This detailed guide from Princeton Review includes not only successful essays, but also interviews with admissions officers and full student profiles.

50 Successful Harvard Application Essays by the Staff of the Harvard Crimson—A must for anyone aspiring to Harvard .

50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays and 50 Successful Stanford Application Essays by Gen and Kelly Tanabe—For essays from other top schools, check out this venerated series, which is regularly updated with new essays.

Heavenly Essays by Janine W. Robinson—This collection from the popular blogger behind Essay Hell includes a wider range of schools, as well as helpful tips on honing your own essay.

Analyzing Great Common App Essays That Worked

I've picked two essays from the examples collected above to examine in more depth so that you can see exactly what makes a successful college essay work. Full credit for these essays goes to the original authors and the schools that published them.

Example 1: "Breaking Into Cars," by Stephen, Johns Hopkins Class of '19 (Common App Essay, 636 words long)

I had never broken into a car before.

We were in Laredo, having just finished our first day at a Habitat for Humanity work site. The Hotchkiss volunteers had already left, off to enjoy some Texas BBQ, leaving me behind with the college kids to clean up. Not until we were stranded did we realize we were locked out of the van.

Someone picked a coat hanger out of the dumpster, handed it to me, and took a few steps back.

"Can you do that thing with a coat hanger to unlock it?"

"Why me?" I thought.

More out of amusement than optimism, I gave it a try. I slid the hanger into the window's seal like I'd seen on crime shows, and spent a few minutes jiggling the apparatus around the inside of the frame. Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation.

My upbringing has numbed me to unpredictability and chaos. With a family of seven, my home was loud, messy, and spottily supervised. My siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing—all meant my house was functioning normally. My Dad, a retired Navy pilot, was away half the time. When he was home, he had a parenting style something like a drill sergeant. At the age of nine, I learned how to clear burning oil from the surface of water. My Dad considered this a critical life skill—you know, in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed. "The water's on fire! Clear a hole!" he shouted, tossing me in the lake without warning. While I'm still unconvinced about that particular lesson's practicality, my Dad's overarching message is unequivocally true: much of life is unexpected, and you have to deal with the twists and turns.

Living in my family, days rarely unfolded as planned. A bit overlooked, a little pushed around, I learned to roll with reality, negotiate a quick deal, and give the improbable a try. I don't sweat the small stuff, and I definitely don't expect perfect fairness. So what if our dining room table only has six chairs for seven people? Someone learns the importance of punctuality every night.

But more than punctuality and a special affinity for musical chairs, my family life has taught me to thrive in situations over which I have no power. Growing up, I never controlled my older siblings, but I learned how to thwart their attempts to control me. I forged alliances, and realigned them as necessary. Sometimes, I was the poor, defenseless little brother; sometimes I was the omniscient elder. Different things to different people, as the situation demanded. I learned to adapt.

Back then, these techniques were merely reactions undertaken to ensure my survival. But one day this fall, Dr. Hicks, our Head of School, asked me a question that he hoped all seniors would reflect on throughout the year: "How can I participate in a thing I do not govern, in the company of people I did not choose?"

The question caught me off guard, much like the question posed to me in Laredo. Then, I realized I knew the answer. I knew why the coat hanger had been handed to me.

Growing up as the middle child in my family, I was a vital participant in a thing I did not govern, in the company of people I did not choose. It's family. It's society. And often, it's chaos. You participate by letting go of the small stuff, not expecting order and perfection, and facing the unexpected with confidence, optimism, and preparedness. My family experience taught me to face a serendipitous world with confidence.

What Makes This Essay Tick?

It's very helpful to take writing apart in order to see just how it accomplishes its objectives. Stephen's essay is very effective. Let's find out why!

An Opening Line That Draws You In

In just eight words, we get: scene-setting (he is standing next to a car about to break in), the idea of crossing a boundary (he is maybe about to do an illegal thing for the first time), and a cliffhanger (we are thinking: is he going to get caught? Is he headed for a life of crime? Is he about to be scared straight?).

Great, Detailed Opening Story

More out of amusement than optimism, I gave it a try. I slid the hanger into the window's seal like I'd seen on crime shows, and spent a few minutes jiggling the apparatus around the inside of the frame.

It's the details that really make this small experience come alive. Notice how whenever he can, Stephen uses a more specific, descriptive word in place of a more generic one. The volunteers aren't going to get food or dinner; they're going for "Texas BBQ." The coat hanger comes from "a dumpster." Stephen doesn't just move the coat hanger—he "jiggles" it.

Details also help us visualize the emotions of the people in the scene. The person who hands Stephen the coat hanger isn't just uncomfortable or nervous; he "takes a few steps back"—a description of movement that conveys feelings. Finally, the detail of actual speech makes the scene pop. Instead of writing that the other guy asked him to unlock the van, Stephen has the guy actually say his own words in a way that sounds like a teenager talking.

Turning a Specific Incident Into a Deeper Insight

Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation.

Stephen makes the locked car experience a meaningful illustration of how he has learned to be resourceful and ready for anything, and he also makes this turn from the specific to the broad through an elegant play on the two meanings of the word "click."

Using Concrete Examples When Making Abstract Claims

My upbringing has numbed me to unpredictability and chaos. With a family of seven, my home was loud, messy, and spottily supervised. My siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing—all meant my house was functioning normally.

"Unpredictability and chaos" are very abstract, not easily visualized concepts. They could also mean any number of things—violence, abandonment, poverty, mental instability. By instantly following up with highly finite and unambiguous illustrations like "family of seven" and "siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing," Stephen grounds the abstraction in something that is easy to picture: a large, noisy family.

Using Small Bits of Humor and Casual Word Choice

My Dad, a retired Navy pilot, was away half the time. When he was home, he had a parenting style something like a drill sergeant. At the age of nine, I learned how to clear burning oil from the surface of water. My Dad considered this a critical life skill—you know, in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed.

Obviously, knowing how to clean burning oil is not high on the list of things every 9-year-old needs to know. To emphasize this, Stephen uses sarcasm by bringing up a situation that is clearly over-the-top: "in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed."

The humor also feels relaxed. Part of this is because he introduces it with the colloquial phrase "you know," so it sounds like he is talking to us in person. This approach also diffuses the potential discomfort of the reader with his father's strictness—since he is making jokes about it, clearly he is OK. Notice, though, that this doesn't occur very much in the essay. This helps keep the tone meaningful and serious rather than flippant.

An Ending That Stretches the Insight Into the Future

But one day this fall, Dr. Hicks, our Head of School, asked me a question that he hoped all seniors would reflect on throughout the year: "How can I participate in a thing I do not govern, in the company of people I did not choose?"

The ending of the essay reveals that Stephen's life has been one long preparation for the future. He has emerged from chaos and his dad's approach to parenting as a person who can thrive in a world that he can't control.

This connection of past experience to current maturity and self-knowledge is a key element in all successful personal essays. Colleges are very much looking for mature, self-aware applicants. These are the qualities of successful college students, who will be able to navigate the independence college classes require and the responsibility and quasi-adulthood of college life.

What Could This Essay Do Even Better?

Even the best essays aren't perfect, and even the world's greatest writers will tell you that writing is never "finished"—just "due." So what would we tweak in this essay if we could?

Replace some of the clichéd language. Stephen uses handy phrases like "twists and turns" and "don't sweat the small stuff" as a kind of shorthand for explaining his relationship to chaos and unpredictability. But using too many of these ready-made expressions runs the risk of clouding out your own voice and replacing it with something expected and boring.

Use another example from recent life. Stephen's first example (breaking into the van in Laredo) is a great illustration of being resourceful in an unexpected situation. But his essay also emphasizes that he "learned to adapt" by being "different things to different people." It would be great to see how this plays out outside his family, either in the situation in Laredo or another context.

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Example 2: By Renner Kwittken, Tufts Class of '23 (Common App Essay, 645 words long)

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver. I saw it in my favorite book, Richard Scarry's "Cars and Trucks and Things That Go," and for some reason, I was absolutely obsessed with the idea of driving a giant pickle. Much to the discontent of my younger sister, I insisted that my parents read us that book as many nights as possible so we could find goldbug, a small little golden bug, on every page. I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon.

Then I discovered a real goldbug: gold nanoparticles that can reprogram macrophages to assist in killing tumors, produce clear images of them without sacrificing the subject, and heat them to obliteration.

Suddenly the destination of my pickle was clear.

I quickly became enveloped by the world of nanomedicine; I scoured articles about liposomes, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, targeting ligands, and self-assembling nanoparticles, all conquering cancer in some exotic way. Completely absorbed, I set out to find a mentor to dive even deeper into these topics. After several rejections, I was immensely grateful to receive an invitation to work alongside Dr. Sangeeta Ray at Johns Hopkins.

In the lab, Dr. Ray encouraged a great amount of autonomy to design and implement my own procedures. I chose to attack a problem that affects the entire field of nanomedicine: nanoparticles consistently fail to translate from animal studies into clinical trials. Jumping off recent literature, I set out to see if a pre-dose of a common chemotherapeutic could enhance nanoparticle delivery in aggressive prostate cancer, creating three novel constructs based on three different linear polymers, each using fluorescent dye (although no gold, sorry goldbug!). Though using radioactive isotopes like Gallium and Yttrium would have been incredible, as a 17-year-old, I unfortunately wasn't allowed in the same room as these radioactive materials (even though I took a Geiger counter to a pair of shoes and found them to be slightly dangerous).

I hadn't expected my hypothesis to work, as the research project would have ideally been led across two full years. Yet while there are still many optimizations and revisions to be done, I was thrilled to find -- with completely new nanoparticles that may one day mean future trials will use particles with the initials "RK-1" -- thatcyclophosphamide did indeed increase nanoparticle delivery to the tumor in a statistically significant way.

A secondary, unexpected research project was living alone in Baltimore, a new city to me, surrounded by people much older than I. Even with moving frequently between hotels, AirBnB's, and students' apartments, I strangely reveled in the freedom I had to enjoy my surroundings and form new friendships with graduate school students from the lab. We explored The Inner Harbor at night, attended a concert together one weekend, and even got to watch the Orioles lose (to nobody's surprise). Ironically, it's through these new friendships I discovered something unexpected: what I truly love is sharing research. Whether in a presentation or in a casual conversation, making others interested in science is perhaps more exciting to me than the research itself. This solidified a new pursuit to angle my love for writing towards illuminating science in ways people can understand, adding value to a society that can certainly benefit from more scientific literacy.

It seems fitting that my goals are still transforming: in Scarry's book, there is not just one goldbug, there is one on every page. With each new experience, I'm learning that it isn't the goldbug itself, but rather the act of searching for the goldbugs that will encourage, shape, and refine my ever-evolving passions. Regardless of the goldbug I seek -- I know my pickle truck has just begun its journey.

Renner takes a somewhat different approach than Stephen, but their essay is just as detailed and engaging. Let's go through some of the strengths of this essay.

One Clear Governing Metaphor

This essay is ultimately about two things: Renner’s dreams and future career goals, and Renner’s philosophy on goal-setting and achieving one’s dreams.

But instead of listing off all the amazing things they’ve done to pursue their dream of working in nanomedicine, Renner tells a powerful, unique story instead. To set up the narrative, Renner opens the essay by connecting their experiences with goal-setting and dream-chasing all the way back to a memorable childhood experience:

This lighthearted–but relevant!--story about the moment when Renner first developed a passion for a specific career (“finding the goldbug”) provides an anchor point for the rest of the essay. As Renner pivots to describing their current dreams and goals–working in nanomedicine–the metaphor of “finding the goldbug” is reflected in Renner’s experiments, rejections, and new discoveries.

Though Renner tells multiple stories about their quest to “find the goldbug,” or, in other words, pursue their passion, each story is connected by a unifying theme; namely, that as we search and grow over time, our goals will transform…and that’s okay! By the end of the essay, Renner uses the metaphor of “finding the goldbug” to reiterate the relevance of the opening story:

While the earlier parts of the essay convey Renner’s core message by showing, the final, concluding paragraph sums up Renner’s insights by telling. By briefly and clearly stating the relevance of the goldbug metaphor to their own philosophy on goals and dreams, Renner demonstrates their creativity, insight, and eagerness to grow and evolve as the journey continues into college.

An Engaging, Individual Voice

This essay uses many techniques that make Renner sound genuine and make the reader feel like we already know them.

Technique #1: humor. Notice Renner's gentle and relaxed humor that lightly mocks their younger self's grand ambitions (this is different from the more sarcastic kind of humor used by Stephen in the first essay—you could never mistake one writer for the other).

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver.

I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon.

Renner gives a great example of how to use humor to your advantage in college essays. You don’t want to come off as too self-deprecating or sarcastic, but telling a lightheartedly humorous story about your younger self that also showcases how you’ve grown and changed over time can set the right tone for your entire essay.

Technique #2: intentional, eye-catching structure. The second technique is the way Renner uses a unique structure to bolster the tone and themes of their essay . The structure of your essay can have a major impact on how your ideas come across…so it’s important to give it just as much thought as the content of your essay!

For instance, Renner does a great job of using one-line paragraphs to create dramatic emphasis and to make clear transitions from one phase of the story to the next:

Suddenly the destination of my pickle car was clear.

Not only does the one-liner above signal that Renner is moving into a new phase of the narrative (their nanoparticle research experiences), it also tells the reader that this is a big moment in Renner’s story. It’s clear that Renner made a major discovery that changed the course of their goal pursuit and dream-chasing. Through structure, Renner conveys excitement and entices the reader to keep pushing forward to the next part of the story.

Technique #3: playing with syntax. The third technique is to use sentences of varying length, syntax, and structure. Most of the essay's written in standard English and uses grammatically correct sentences. However, at key moments, Renner emphasizes that the reader needs to sit up and pay attention by switching to short, colloquial, differently punctuated, and sometimes fragmented sentences.

Even with moving frequently between hotels, AirBnB's, and students' apartments, I strangely reveled in the freedom I had to enjoy my surroundings and form new friendships with graduate school students from the lab. We explored The Inner Harbor at night, attended a concert together one weekend, and even got to watch the Orioles lose (to nobody's surprise). Ironically, it's through these new friendships I discovered something unexpected: what I truly love is sharing research.

In the examples above, Renner switches adeptly between long, flowing sentences and quippy, telegraphic ones. At the same time, Renner uses these different sentence lengths intentionally. As they describe their experiences in new places, they use longer sentences to immerse the reader in the sights, smells, and sounds of those experiences. And when it’s time to get a big, key idea across, Renner switches to a short, punchy sentence to stop the reader in their tracks.

The varying syntax and sentence lengths pull the reader into the narrative and set up crucial “aha” moments when it’s most important…which is a surefire way to make any college essay stand out.

Renner's essay is very strong, but there are still a few little things that could be improved.

Connecting the research experiences to the theme of “finding the goldbug.”  The essay begins and ends with Renner’s connection to the idea of “finding the goldbug.” And while this metaphor is deftly tied into the essay’s intro and conclusion, it isn’t entirely clear what Renner’s big findings were during the research experiences that are described in the middle of the essay. It would be great to add a sentence or two stating what Renner’s big takeaways (or “goldbugs”) were from these experiences, which add more cohesion to the essay as a whole.

Give more details about discovering the world of nanomedicine. It makes sense that Renner wants to get into the details of their big research experiences as quickly as possible. After all, these are the details that show Renner’s dedication to nanomedicine! But a smoother transition from the opening pickle car/goldbug story to Renner’s “real goldbug” of nanoparticles would help the reader understand why nanoparticles became Renner’s goldbug. Finding out why Renner is so motivated to study nanomedicine–and perhaps what put them on to this field of study–would help readers fully understand why Renner chose this path in the first place.

4 Essential Tips for Writing Your Own Essay

How can you use this discussion to better your own college essay? Here are some suggestions for ways to use this resource effectively.

#1: Get Help From the Experts

Getting your college applications together takes a lot of work and can be pretty intimidatin g. Essays are even more important than ever now that admissions processes are changing and schools are going test-optional and removing diversity standards thanks to new Supreme Court rulings .  If you want certified expert help that really makes a difference, get started with  PrepScholar’s Essay Editing and Coaching program. Our program can help you put together an incredible essay from idea to completion so that your application stands out from the crowd. We've helped students get into the best colleges in the United States, including Harvard, Stanford, and Yale.  If you're ready to take the next step and boost your odds of getting into your dream school, connect with our experts today .

#2: Read Other Essays to Get Ideas for Your Own

As you go through the essays we've compiled for you above, ask yourself the following questions:

• Can you explain to yourself (or someone else!) why the opening sentence works well?
• Look for the essay's detailed personal anecdote. What senses is the author describing? Can you easily picture the scene in your mind's eye?
• Find the place where this anecdote bridges into a larger insight about the author. How does the essay connect the two? How does the anecdote work as an example of the author's characteristic, trait, or skill?
• Check out the essay's tone. If it's funny, can you find the places where the humor comes from? If it's sad and moving, can you find the imagery and description of feelings that make you moved? If it's serious, can you see how word choice adds to this tone?

Make a note whenever you find an essay or part of an essay that you think was particularly well-written, and think about what you like about it . Is it funny? Does it help you really get to know the writer? Does it show what makes the writer unique? Once you have your list, keep it next to you while writing your essay to remind yourself to try and use those same techniques in your own essay.

#3: Find Your "A-Ha!" Moment

All of these essays rely on connecting with the reader through a heartfelt, highly descriptive scene from the author's life. It can either be very dramatic (did you survive a plane crash?) or it can be completely mundane (did you finally beat your dad at Scrabble?). Either way, it should be personal and revealing about you, your personality, and the way you are now that you are entering the adult world.

Check out essays by authors like John Jeremiah Sullivan , Leslie Jamison , Hanif Abdurraqib , and Esmé Weijun Wang to get more examples of how to craft a compelling personal narrative.

#4: Start Early, Revise Often

Let me level with you: the best writing isn't writing at all. It's rewriting. And in order to have time to rewrite, you have to start way before the application deadline. My advice is to write your first draft at least two months before your applications are due.

Let it sit for a few days untouched. Then come back to it with fresh eyes and think critically about what you've written. What's extra? What's missing? What is in the wrong place? What doesn't make sense? Don't be afraid to take it apart and rearrange sections. Do this several times over, and your essay will be much better for it!

For more editing tips, check out a style guide like Dreyer's English or Eats, Shoots & Leaves .

What's Next?

Still not sure which colleges you want to apply to? Our experts will show you how to make a college list that will help you choose a college that's right for you.

Interested in learning more about college essays? Check out our detailed breakdown of exactly how personal statements work in an application , some suggestions on what to avoid when writing your essay , and our guide to writing about your extracurricular activities .

Working on the rest of your application? Read what admissions officers wish applicants knew before applying .

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

The recommendations in this post are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

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Courses are filling quickly and interested students should submit their application as soon as possible. Because courses may fill during the application review period, students are encouraged to include multiple course options on their application. Accepted students should complete the…

Academic Writing: Composing the College Essay

Are you eager to improve your academic writing abilities? Not sure where to begin with your college essay? Writing is hard work! Contrary to the widespread assumption that some people are born with a “gift” for writing and others are not, writing is a skill that must be learned. Learn to express complex ideas and capture your unique voice as you compose your personal statement for college admissions! 

Gain greater facility in the practice and work of writing, showcase your academic abilities, and present yourself and your experiences in an original, memorable personal statement. By the end of the course, you will have strengthened your writing abilities, academic presentation skills, and captured your voice as a young scholar. Prepare a first draft of your personal statement that you can be proud of. Acquire a solid foundation that will set you apart and on a path to success- from admissions and beyond!  

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21 Summer Writing Programs for High School Students in 2024

What’s covered:, 21 summer writing programs for high school students, how impressive are summer programs in college admissions, other ways to spend your summer.

Summer programs offer high school students an excellent opportunity to explore subjects that interest them, build valuable skills, get a taste of college life, and meet like-minded peers. They also look awesome on a college application! If you’re interested in writing, you’ll want to check out these 20 summer writing programs for high school students. 

1. Princeton Summer Journalism Program 

Dates: Classes begin mid July, residential portion is July 26th to August 5th, 2024

Location: Online and in Princeton, NJ

Application deadline: February 15th, 2024

The Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP) selects 40 high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds to participate in its revered program. In the PSJP, students explore current events, listen to lectures, and participate in workshops led by professional journalists and Princeton professors. The program culminates with the publication of a student-produced newspaper, the Princeton Summer Journal . To qualify for the PSJP you must: 

• Be a junior in high school
• Live in the United States and intend to attend college in the U.S.
• Have a minimum GPA of 3.5 
• Have an interest in journalism
• The combined income of custodial parent(s)/guardian(s) plus child support payments, if any, must not exceed $60,000
• Qualify for free or reduced-price lunch 
• Qualify for an SAT or ACT fee waiver

Dates: August 3rd to August 9th, 2024

Location: Austin, Texas

Application deadline: March 1st, 2024

JCamp is a free six-day program put on by the Asian American Journalist Association that brings together a culturally diverse group of students from across the U.S. Under the eye of veteran journalists and leading media executives, students take part in workshops to sharpen their journalistic skills and gain hands-on experience producing multi-platform news packages for the program’s website. JCamp is not limited to Asian American students; any student with an interest in journalism—like writing for a newspaper or magazine—is encouraged to apply. 

3. Iowa Young Writers’ Studio 2 Week Residential Program

Dates: Session 1: June 16th to 29th, 2024; Session 2: July 14th to 27th, 2024

Location: In-person in Iowa City, IA, or virtual

Application deadline: February 4th, 2024

Cost: In-person: $2,500; virtual: $575

The Iowa Young Writers’ Studio provides high schoolers the incredible opportunity to have a residential experience and study with graduates of one of the most renowned writing programs in the nation: the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Participants in this program choose a focus—either poetry, fiction, creative writing, playwriting, or television writing—and share their work, practice their craft, and improve their writing while working alongside other high school writers from across the U.S. 

4. Sarah Lawerence Writers’ Week 

Dates: Virtual: July 15th to 19th, 2024; In-person: August 5th to 9th, 2024

Location: Virtual or Bronxville NY

Application deadline: TBD. Registration opens in February

Cost: Virtual: $1025; In-person: $1,550

During Sarah Lawerence Writers’ Week, participants (the program welcomes students entering the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades) explore the creative process led by esteemed Sarah Lawrence faculty and alumni. Sarah Lawerence Writing Week celebrates the risk and adventure of the creative process, fosters a non-competitive and non-judgmental environment, and keeps with the Sarah Lawrence tradition of individualized attention—groups are limited to 18 students with two faculty members per workshop. The program ends with a celebration that includes both faculty and student readings.  

5. California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) Writing Program

Dates: July 6th to August 2nd, 2024

Location: Sacramento, CA

Application deadline: February 29th, 2024

Cost: CA State Residents: $4,600; Out-of-state: $7,000

This summer program for high school students in California is a unique public-private partnership that was founded by the California State legislature in 1987. Approximately 70 students are selected to participate in this program led by professional writers and educators who guide them through work in fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and dramatic writing. The program prides itself on its creative environment and looks for young writers who love language, reading, and are ready to share their own stories. 

6. Juniper Young Writers Online Writing Lab 

Dates: One-week program: July 29–August 2, 2024; Two-week program: July 29–August 9, 2024

Location: Amherst, MA

Application deadline: March 7th, 2024

Cost: $2,600 for one week; $4,950 for two weeks

Students in the Juniper Young Writers Online Writing Lab participate in writing sessions, share questions, and discuss their work and writing-related topics over the course of this program. Led by professional teachers, published authors, and graduate students at UMass Amherst, Writing Lab participants gain insight into the creative process, find inspiration for work, learn tips to improve their writing and develop relationships with other young writers. Students will be provided a written summary of their work, an evaluation toward writing goals, and future considerations for their writing.

7. Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement (AYA) 

Dates: June 17th to July 19th, 2024

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Application deadline: March 22nd, 2024

AYA is a free, immersive experience for talented high school students from the area surrounding USC. The program allows participants to explore USC Annenberg’s undergraduate programs, gain insight into careers in media and journalism, and meet the people advancing issues of race, gender, and ethnicity in communication and journalism. Over the course of this program, students build a variety of skills, including writing and critical thinking. 

8. Reynolds Young Writers Workshop 

Dates: June 22nd to 29th, 2024

Location: Granville, OH

Application deadline: March 1st, 2024 

Cost: $1,500

For more than a quarter of a century, Denison University has welcomed talented high school writers to its acclaimed Reynolds Young Writers Workshop. Led by Denison’s creative writing faculty and notable visiting writers, participants take part in small creative writing workshops and group sessions to explore a variety of writing techniques in an intimate and relaxed atmosphere.

9. Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Dates: June 23rd to June 28, 2024

Location: Phoenix, AZ

Application deadline: April 1, 2024

The Camp Cronkite program is a summer media enrichment camp allowing high schoolers to dive into the world of media. Led by Cronkite faculty, staff, and students, campers learn about digital journalism, broadcast journalism, or sports media. They will work on reporting, pitching, storytelling, and editing, and receive hands-on instruction in video editing, photography, reporting and writing, script development, and more. There are several scholarships available for students who demonstrate financial need. 

10. Alpha Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Workshop for Young Writers

Dates: July 24th to August 4th, 2024

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Application deadline: March 10th, 2024

Over Alpha’s 12 days, students with an interest in science fiction, fantasy, or horror learn how to generate ideas, turn those ideas into drafts, critique each other’s work, make revisions, and submit their work to paying markets. The program also provides students with an introduction to college life and allows them to explore a career as a professional writer. 

11. 92Y Unterberg Poetry Center Young Writers Workshop

Dates: July 8th to 25th, 2024

Location: New York, NY

Application deadline: May 28th, 2024

Cost: $2,600

The Unterberg Poetry Center has been home to established and up-and-coming poets since it was founded in 1939. Students at its Young Writers Workshop receive coaching from some of New York’s best writing teachers and explore a variety of forms, styles, and voices in a warm and supportive environment. Participants learn to look critically at their own work and will leave the workshop with a clearer understanding of their goals as a writer and what it takes to make a career in the literary world. 

12. Shared Worlds    

Dates: July 14th to 27th, 2024

Location: Spartanburg, SC

Application deadline: Rolling

This fun writing program is for high school students with an interest in speculative fiction—for example, science fiction, fantasy, and steampunk. Shared Worlds is a residential program for rising 8th-12th grade students to work under the guidance of renowned fantasy and science fiction writers. Over the course of the workshop, students imagine, build, and write their own stories and have their enthusiasm for writing encouraged. 

13. Bard College at Simon’s Rock Young Writers Workshop

Dates: July 7th to 27th, 2024

Location: Great Barrington, MA

Cost: $3,500

This program is modeled on the well-known Language and Thinking Workshop all students entering Bard College are required to take. Unlike other creative writing workshops, leaders of this young writers workshop encourage informal, playful, and expressive writing and lean on peer response to develop polished pieces of writing. Students will live, eat, and work on campus, gaining firsthand experience living and learning in a college atmosphere while producing pieces ranging from short stories and poems to brief dramatic works and experiments in creative nonfiction.

14. Kenyon Review Summer Residential Young Writers Workshops

Dates:   Session 1: June 23rd to July 6th, 2024; Session 2: July 14th to 27th, 2024

Location: Gambier, OH

Cost: $2,575

Every summer, talented writers from across the U.S. come to the picturesque campus of Kenyon College to participate in its Young Writers Workshop. In this multi-genre program, students experience what it’s like to be part of the literary community while bolstering their talents, discovering new strengths, and challenging themselves in the company of similarly interested peers. 

15. Kenyon Review Summer Online Young Writers Workshop

Dates: June 16th to 21st, 2024

Location: Online

Application deadline: April 15th, 2024

For students who can’t make it to Ohio for two weeks, the online workshop is a great alternative. With writing workshops for three and a half hours every day, it’s possible to take advantage of the program without relocating. In the evening, students will attend virtual open mics, social gatherings, and talks and readings by authors. 

16. BYU Young Authors Academy

Dates: July 8th to 13th, 2024

Location: Provo, UT

At BYU’s Young Authors Academy, students speak with local and nationally-recognized authors, review each others’ writing, work with faculty in the BYU English department, stay in campus housing, take small-group writing courses, and meet other, like-minded peers. Students can choose from two electives over the program, including Creating Believable Tales and Villains, Flash Fiction, and Breaking News. 

17. Fir Acres Writing Workshop

Dates: June 23rd to July 6th, 2024

Location: Portland, OR

Application deadline: March 8th, 2024

Cost: $3,700

Fir Acres writing program takes sixty rising 10th-12th graders from around the country and forms a community of enthusiastic writers on the campus of Lewis and Clark College. Students participate in daily workshops studying and writing under the guidance of Lewis and Clark’s faculty. They also meet and hear from visiting writers and work on their own poetry, fiction, and other writings. 

18. LMU’s Beginning Screenwriting Program 

Dates: June 23rd to July 6th; July 14th to 27th, 2024

Application deadline: March 15th, 2024

Cost: $5,800 and a $65 application fee

LMU’s School of Film and Television offers this program to students looking to enhance their writing skills and learn the elements of screenwriting. Students will work on structure, character development, dialogue, formatting, and genre while analyzing both classic and contemporary popular movies. They will learn from faculty members who are also professional screenwriters and leave the program with a short script. 

19. Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Writing and Culture Program 

Dates: June 22nd to July 20th, 2024

Cost: $6,800- $8,995

Over the weeks of the program, students at CMU will examine film, writing, design, art, and culture through various lenses. Learning will take place both on CMU’s campus and around the city of Pittsburgh. Students will produce a body of work perfect for a portfolio during the program under the tutelage of highly distinguished faculty members of the Department of English. Classes are held Monday through Friday, and students emerge with individualized feedback and guidance to enhance their creative pursuits. 

20. Boston University Summer Journalism Academy

Dates: On Campus: June 24 to July 12, 2024; Virtual: June 17 to 28, 2024; July 1 to 12, 2024; or July 15 to 26, 2024 

Application deadline: April 19th, 2024 for in person, May 10th, 2024 for remote

Location: Virtual or Boston, MA

Cost: $1500 to $6200

Taught by working journalists, BU’s Summer Journalism Academy gives high school students actual reporting assignments to give them a jump-start into the world of journalism. With both virtual and in-person options, there is something for everyone. There are scholarships and financial aid available for students demonstrating financial need. Students must be a rising 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grader in high school to attend. For applicants who get their materials in by March 8th, there is a $400 discount for in-person, and a $200 discount for virtual learning. 

21. The School of The New York Times’ Summer Academy

Dates: Term 1: June 9th to 21st; Term 2: June 23rd to July 5th; Term 3: July 7th to July 19th; Term 4: July 21st to August 2nd, 2024

Location: New York City

Application deadline: April 1st, 2024

Cost: $5,935 to $7,220

From DIY Filmmaking to A Million Lives in the Law and Pop Music as Art & Business, The School of the New York Times offers a wide range of fascinating classes to students interested in journalism. In the heart of New York City, students can spend several weeks learning from experienced journalists working in the field. Scholarship applications are only available until the end of February, so interested students should apply ASAP. 

Summer programs—and other extracurricular activities—can help set you apart, particularly at highly selective schools. CollegeVine’s free admissions calculator can tell you how colleges value your extracurricular activities and uses factors like grades and test scores (along with extracurriculars) to estimate your odds of acceptance at hundreds of schools across the country. It even provides insight into how you can improve your profile!

Though summer break provides you with the most time to explore your passions, it is not the only time. Colleges want to see that you are curious about the world around you and are constantly seeking new learning opportunities. 

Instead of participating in a program, you could create your own. Writing a book or mobilizing a team to solve an issue in your local community are examples of independent efforts that look impressive to colleges. 

You can show further initiative by taking on internships and paying jobs. Both demonstrate initiative, a career direction, and key life skills like time management and responsibility. Since most internships are reserved for college students and graduates, it can be a challenge to find opportunities for high school students. To help with the search, here is a list of summer internships for high school students. Looking for more summer programs? Take a look at this list of virtual opportunities for high school students.

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Sob stories? Trauma dumps? Black kids worry about writing college essays after affirmative action ban

When the Supreme Court ended affirmative action in higher education, it left the college essay as one of few places where race can play a role in admissions decisions.

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CHICAGO (AP) — When she started writing her college essay, Hillary Amofa told the story she thought admissions offices wanted to hear. About being the daughter of immigrants from Ghana and growing up in a small apartment in Chicago. About hardship and struggle.

Then she deleted it all.

“I would just find myself kind of trauma-dumping,” said the 18-year-old senior at Lincoln Park High School in Chicago. “And I’m just like, this doesn’t really say anything about me as a person.”

When the Supreme Court ended affirmative action in higher education , it left the college essay as one of few places where race can play a role in admissions decisions. For many students of color, instantly more was riding on the already high-stakes writing assignment. Some say they felt pressure to exploit their hardships as they competed for a spot on campus.

Amofa was just starting to think about her essay when the court issued its decision, and it left her with a wave of questions. Could she still write about her race? Could she be penalized for it? She wanted to tell colleges about her heritage but she didn’t want to be defined by it.

In English class, Amofa and her classmates read sample essays that all seemed to focus on some trauma or hardship. It left her with the impression she had to write about her life’s hardest moments to show how far she’d come. But she and some of her classmates wondered if their lives had been hard enough to catch the attention of admissions offices.

“For a lot of students, there’s a feeling of, like, having to go through something so horrible to feel worthy of going to school, which is kind of sad,” said Amofa, the daughter of a hospital technician and an Uber driver.

This year’s senior class is the first in decades to navigate college admissions without affirmative action. The Supreme Court upheld the practice in decisions going back to the 1970s, but this court’s conservative supermajority found it is unconstitutional for colleges to give students extra weight because of their race alone.

Still, the decision left room for race to play an indirect role: Chief Justice John Roberts wrote universities can still consider how an applicant’s life was shaped by their race, “so long as that discussion is concretely tied to a quality of character or unique ability.”

“A benefit to a student who overcame racial discrimination, for example, must be tied to that student’s courage and determination,” he wrote.

Scores of colleges responded with new essay prompts asking about students’ backgrounds. Brown University asked applicants how “an aspect of your growing up has inspired or challenged you.” Rice University asked students how their perspectives were shaped by their “background, experiences, upbringing, and/or racial identity.”

Wondering if schools ‘expect a sob story’

When Darrian Merritt started writing his essay, he knew the stakes were higher than ever because of the court’s decision. His first instinct was to write about events that led to him going to live with his grandmother as a child.

Those were painful memories, but he thought they might play well at schools like Yale, Stanford and Vanderbilt.

“I feel like the admissions committee might expect a sob story or a tragic story,” said Merritt, a senior in Cleveland. “And if you don’t provide that, then maybe they’re not going to feel like you went through enough to deserve having a spot at the university. I wrestled with that a lot.”

He wrote drafts focusing on his childhood, but it never amounted to more than a collection of memories. Eventually he abandoned the idea and aimed for an essay that would stand out for its positivity.

Merritt wrote about a summer camp where he started to feel more comfortable in his own skin. He described embracing his personality and defying his tendency to please others. The essay had humor — it centered on a water gun fight where he had victory in sight but, in a comedic twist, slipped and fell. But the essay also reflects on his feelings of not being “Black enough” and getting made fun of for listening to “white people music.”

“I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to write this for me, and we’re just going to see how it goes,’” he said. “It just felt real, and it felt like an honest story.”

The essay describes a breakthrough as he learned “to take ownership of myself and my future by sharing my true personality with the people I encounter. … I realized that the first chapter of my own story had just been written.”

A ruling prompts pivots on essay topics

Like many students, Max Decker of Portland, Oregon, had drafted a college essay on one topic, only to change direction after the Supreme Court ruling in June.

Decker initially wrote about his love for video games. In a childhood surrounded by constant change, navigating his parents’ divorce, the games he took from place to place on his Nintendo DS were a source of comfort.

But the essay he submitted to colleges focused on the community he found through Word is Bond, a leadership group for young Black men in Portland.

As the only biracial, Jewish kid with divorced parents in a predominantly white, Christian community, Decker wrote he constantly felt like the odd one out. On a trip with Word is Bond to Capitol Hill, he and friends who looked just like him shook hands with lawmakers. The experience, he wrote, changed how he saw himself.

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“It’s because I’m different that I provide something precious to the world, not the other way around,” he wrote.

As a first-generation college student, Decker thought about the subtle ways his peers seemed to know more about navigating the admissions process. They made sure to get into advanced classes at the start of high school, and they knew how to secure glowing letters of recommendation.

If writing about race would give him a slight edge and show admissions officers a fuller picture of his achievements, he wanted to take that small advantage.

His first memory about race, Decker said, was when he went to get a haircut in elementary school and the barber made rude comments about his curly hair. Until recently, the insecurity that moment created led him to keep his hair buzzed short.

Through Word is Bond, Decker said he found a space to explore his identity as a Black man. It was one of the first times he was surrounded by Black peers and saw Black role models. It filled him with a sense of pride in his identity. No more buzzcut.

The pressure to write about race involved a tradeoff with other important things in his life, Decker said. That included his passion for journalism, like the piece he wrote on efforts to revive a once-thriving Black neighborhood in Portland. In the end, he squeezed in 100 characters about his journalism under the application’s activities section.

“My final essay, it felt true to myself. But the difference between that and my other essay was the fact that it wasn’t the truth that I necessarily wanted to share,” said Decker, whose top college choice is Tulane, in New Orleans, because of the region’s diversity. “It felt like I just had to limit the truth I was sharing to what I feel like the world is expecting of me.”

Spelling out the impact of race

Before the Supreme Court ruling, it seemed a given to Imani Laird that colleges would consider the ways that race had touched her life. But now, she felt like she had to spell it out.

As she started her essay, she reflected on how she had faced bias or felt overlooked as a Black student in predominantly white spaces.

There was the year in math class when the teacher kept calling her by the name of another Black student. There were the comments that she’d have an easier time getting into college because she was Black.

“I didn’t have it easier because of my race,” said Laird, a senior at Newton South High School in the Boston suburbs who was accepted at Wellesley and Howard University , and is waiting to hear from several Ivy League colleges. “I had stuff I had to overcome.”

In her final essays, she wrote about her grandfather, who served in the military but was denied access to GI Bill benefits because of his race.

She described how discrimination fueled her ambition to excel and pursue a career in public policy.

“So, I never settled for mediocrity,” she wrote. “Regardless of the subject, my goal in class was not just to participate but to excel. Beyond academics, I wanted to excel while remembering what started this motivation in the first place.”

Will schools lose racial diversity?

Amofa used to think affirmative action was only a factor at schools like Harvard and Yale. After the court’s ruling, she was surprised to find that race was taken into account even at some public universities she was applying to.

Now, without affirmative action, she wondered if mostly white schools will become even whiter.

It’s been on her mind as she chooses between Indiana University and the University of Dayton, both of which have relatively few Black students. When she was one of the only Black students in her grade school, she could fall back on her family and Ghanaian friends at church. At college, she worries about loneliness.

“That’s what I’m nervous about,” she said. “Going and just feeling so isolated, even though I’m constantly around people.”

The first drafts of her essay focused on growing up in a low-income family, sharing a bedroom with her brother and grandmother. But it didn’t tell colleges about who she is now, she said.

Her final essay tells how she came to embrace her natural hair. She wrote about going to a mostly white grade school where classmates made jokes about her afro. When her grandmother sent her back with braids or cornrows, they made fun of those too.

Over time, she ignored their insults and found beauty in the styles worn by women in her life. She now runs a business doing braids and other hairstyles in her neighborhood.

“I stopped seeing myself through the lens of the European traditional beauty standards and started seeing myself through the lens that I created,” Amofa wrote.

“Criticism will persist, but it loses its power when you know there’s a crown on your head!”

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6 Best Essay Writing Services: Review Of Most Legit Essay Writing Sites In 2024

E ssay writing can be intimidating for students across all levels of education, from high school to college. Often, they grapple with initiating or organizing their thoughts. Additionally, tight deadlines leave little room for thorough research and gathering credible facts. Without adequate assistance, students may submit poorly written papers.

Struggling students, especially those with declining academic performance, often face a crisis of confidence. Crafting a high-quality essay requires extensive research on the topic and strict adherence to guidelines. Depending on one’s proficiency, this process could span weeks or months. In these moments of need, essay writing services emerge as beacons of hope, offering a lifeline to students seeking respite from the academic whirlwind.

In this article, we delve into the various types of services, highlighting their benefits and risks.  So, buckle up and embark on this journey of discovery as we unravel the mysteries of essay writing services and navigate the academic maze together.   

Top 6 Websites For Online Writing Services

Through careful research and assessment, these are the best essay writing websites that meet our standards.

• ProwWritngCrew – Best College Essay Writing Service - 5/5 ✅
• EssayMasterz – Cheap Essay Writing Service - 4.86/5✅
• EssayScribez – Professional University Essay Writing Service - 4.85/5✅
• SkilledEssayWriter – Best Paper Writing Site for Students - 4.83/5✅
• EssayLegends – Fastest Essay Writing Service - 4.82/5✅
• QualityEssayWriter – The Most Affordable Essay Writing Service - 4.0/5✅

Each online writing service offers unique strengths and considerations. ProwWritingCrew stands out for its high-quality college essays, albeit at a higher price point. EssayMasterz prioritizes affordability without compromising quality, although ensuring consistency is crucial.

EssayScribez specializes in professional university-level essays with mid-range pricing, suitable for polished work. SkilledEssayWriter caters to student needs with a user-friendly interface, though its specialization may limit versatility. EssayLegends promise quick turnaround times, yet thoroughness may be sacrificed for speed. 

QualityEssayWriter provides budget-friendly options covering a wide range of topics, but quality assurance is essential. Consider your priorities, whether it's quality, affordability, or speed before making your choice. Here is a detailed analysis of these websites with prices, pros and cons.

1. ProWritingCrew.com

ProWritingCrew.com stands out as one of the top contenders in the realm of essay writing services. With a user-friendly interface and a team of experienced writers, this platform offers a wide range of services at competitive prices.

Additionally, ProWritingCrew offers clients a streamlined ordering process and direct communication with their assigned writers. This ensures that specific requirements are well-understood and met accurately. 

The platform takes pride in its punctual delivery, even for urgent orders. Whether you need help with essays, research papers, or any academic assignment, ProWritingCrew is committed to providing exceptional service customized to your needs.

Prices 

The company offers affordable prices for their services. To have your papers written, the cost begins at $32 per page high school level with a minimum of 4 hours of deadline. Pricing varies based on the assignment type and urgency. 

Additionally, they provide discounts through promo codes. For example, spending over $500 on the platform earns you a 5% discount. Rest assured, all payments are processed securely through reputable gateways, ensuring the safety of your personal information. 

The platform provides excellent customer service, with responsive support agents available round-the-clock to address queries and concerns. Here is the list of pros of this service.

• Original Writing – complete all papers from scratch.
• Money-back Guarantee – if your essay has any genuine issues.
• Timely Delivery – 97% of assignments are completed on time.
• Plagiarism Check.
• 500+ Expert Writers.

The website stands out as one of the best services that write papers for you. However, some users have reported occasional inconsistencies in quality and pricing discrepancies.

• Revision Policy – Some clients perceive the revision process as restrictive or cumbersome.
• Subject Availability – The availability of writers for specific niche subjects or specialized topics may be limited. 

2. EssayMasterz.com

EssayMasterz.com prides itself on delivering high-quality papers tailored to each client's requirements. With a diverse pool of writers specializing in various subjects, this platform ensures personalized attention to every order.  

From academic essays to research papers, EssayMasterz collaborates closely with clients to create meticulously crafted content that meets the highest standards. 

The pricing varies based on the type of paper. For instance, research papers begin at approximately $12 per page. While coursework writing services start at around $32 per page. If you require an essay writer, their services are available starting at $ 6 per page at the school level.

The website also offers you a 20% discount for your first order. It is a huge relief for someone who is trying paper writing services for the first time,

These are the pros of EssayMasterz.

• Impeccable grammar.
• Adherence to deadlines.
• Unlimited revisions after two weeks of completing the order.
• Available 24\7.
• Higher Pricing – some users find the pricing slightly higher compared to other services.
• Limited Discount Offers – offers fewer discount opportunities for loyal customers.

However, the best thing about them is they are continuously seeking customer reviews and improving their services.

3. EssayScribez.com

EssayScribez.com caters to students seeking reliable essay writing solutions with a focus on quality and professionalism. The platform offers a seamless ordering process and guarantees original, well-researched content.

Moreover, EssayScribez.com guarantees original, well-researched content that meets academic standards and helps students achieve their educational goals. Whether you’re facing tight deadlines or need assistance with complex topics, EssayScribez.com is your go-to destination for high-quality writing services.

EssayScribez provides a pricing system that caters to various needs. Their rates are influenced by factors such as urgency, academic level, and word count, ensuring affordability for all. Prices begin at $12 per page for college-level writing with a 14-day delivery. 

For more advanced levels (Master’s or Ph.D.), the cost ranges from $14 to $60 per page. If you require expedited service, you can receive your work within 24 hours for an additional fee.

EsasyScribez has gained a reputation within years of its launch. Their key to success is staying loyal to their customers by not compromising on quality.

• Transparent Pricing.
• Comprehensive research.
• Accept PayPal payments.
• 300+ Active writers.
• PhD level academic proficiency.

EssayScribez is a newly launched service despite the short period it has gained a lot of positive reviews. With a burst of positive reviews, there are a few neutral and negative reviews also present. 

• Interface Usability – Some users have recommended enhancements to the website’s interface to improve usability and navigation.
• Pricing Discrepancies – Although the pricing is competitive, there have been occasional instances where users noticed discrepancies in the final billing.

4. SkilledEssayWriter.com

SkilledEssayWriter is renowned for its commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction. With a team of seasoned writers, this platform delivers top-notch essays tailored to each student's academic level and requirements. 

They deliver customized essays that align with individual academic levels and specific requirements. The platform prioritizes customer satisfaction. Whether it’s prompt responses, revisions, or addressing queries, SkilledEssayWriter.com ensures a seamless experience.

SkilledEssayWriter takes into account students’ budget constraints. Their pricing structure is flexible, adapting to factors like urgency, academic level, and word count, ensuring affordability. For instance:

• An undergraduate-level essay costs $16 with a 14-day delivery.
• A Master level essay is priced at $60.
• For a PhD level essay, the cost is $80. If you require expedited service, the price will adjust based on your specified deadline.
• High-Quality Complex Papers – delivers excellent quality papers, ensuring attention to formatting, structure, depth, and uniqueness.
• Customizable Requests – Your requirements will be followed meticulously.
• Expertise Across Disciplines.
• Interactive Communication.
• Handling Challenging Topics – Writers adeptly manage challenging topics and meet specific requirements.
• Urgent delivery for complex papers can take a while.
• Some errors are found in the final draft.

5. EssayLegend.com

EssayLegend.com emerges as a reliable option for students seeking premium-quality essays at competitive prices. The platform boasts a team of skilled writers capable of tackling diverse topics with precision and expertise. 

From academic essays to research papers, their writers bring depth and insight to each piece. The platform maintains rigorous quality standards. Essays undergo thorough checks to ensure originality, coherence, and adherence to guidelines.

EssayLegend offers a flexible pricing structure, catering to students with diverse budgets. Their rates range from a minimum of $12 per page (for 550 words) with a 4-hour deadline to a maximum of $32 per page. 

Clients can conveniently estimate the cost of their order using the website’s pricing calculator, which provides a detailed breakdown of associated fees. Rest assured, EssayLegend delivers fair and affordable pricing while maintaining high-quality service.

• The platform provides informative writer profiles, enabling clients to choose the right person for the job. With various filters, you can find a writer who aligns with your requirements.
• Discounts – As your order contains more pages, the discount increases, allowing you to save up to 40%. 
• Urgent delivery – you can place an order for a minimum of 4 hours deadline.
• Plagiarism Reports – clients can request a free Turnitin plagiarism report for any order. This commitment to originality is commendable.
• Some users have reported occasional discrepancies in content quality and adherence to instructions.
• You cannot call the support team.

6. QualityEssayWriter.com

QualityEssayWriter.com is synonymous with professionalism, reliability, and excellence in essay writing services. With a focus on customer satisfaction, this platform offers a plethora of benefits, including personalized assistance, round-the-clock support, and free revisions. 

Whether it’s the middle of the night or the crack of dawn, QualityEssayWriter.com is there for its clients. The 24/7 customer support team promptly addresses queries, concerns, and urgent requests, providing peace of mind to students navigating tight deadlines.

QualityEssayWriter offers competitive pricing for academic papers. Starting at $12 per page, the cost depends on your academic level, field of study, and project submission deadline. Additionally, their refund policy provides reassurance.

Upon registering with your email address and placing your first order, you’ll receive a 9% discount. However, one challenge faced by the company is sourcing enough native American and British speakers for their services.

• Swift Delivery – Need an urgent essay? QualityEssayWriter has you covered. Their rapid delivery option can have your essay ready in as little as three hours, without compromising quality.
• User-Friendly Website – The intuitive website design ensures a seamless experience, and the order form presents clear and concise questions to guide you through the process.
• Extra Features, Beyond writing, QualityEssayWriter provides essential features at no extra cost. These include formatting, an outline, a professional-looking title page, and even a plagiarism report.
• Expensive for tight deadlines.
• Occasionally, there might be a short delay in receiving a response from the writer as they could be occupied with other tasks.

Conclusion of Best Essay Writing Service:

In conclusion, as students explore their academic journey, they encounter a wide range of choices for obtaining essay writing help. From exploring the best paper writing services to seeking out top essay writers, this journey has been both enlightening and empowering. Quality, affordability, and reliability are key considerations as students confidently choose from the best essay writers online and top essay writing service providers. 

Without a doubt, leveraging platforms such as ProWritingCrew to QualityEssayWriter for essay orders provides multiple benefits. These services act as a vital support system for students as they tackle the challenging requirements of academic success. 

In this dynamic landscape, the pursuit of excellence remains crucial. As students navigate the academic maze, legitimate paper writing services and reputable essay writing providers offer valuable guidance and support.

However, with a plethora of options available, choosing the right essay writing service can be akin to navigating a maze. Each platform promises impeccable writing, timely delivery, and unmatched quality, leaving students perplexed and overwhelmed by the abundance of choices. In this competitive landscape, it becomes imperative to discern between the myriad offerings and select the service that best aligns with one’s academic needs and preferences.

Throughout our investigation, we’ve encountered a diverse range of essay-writing websites, each with its unique strengths and considerations. Whether you’re searching for the best online essay writing service or evaluating the top essay writers, students now know how to make informed decisions based on their specific requirements.

Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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high school report writing format

1. SETTING Students should identify the setting of the novel and explain why the setting is important. How are the time and place significant to the events of the story? How does the setting contribute to the overall meaning of the novel? 2. CHARACTERIZATION

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Students in a Seattle English class were told that their love of reading and writing is a characteristic of "white supremacy," in the latest Seattle Public Schools high school controversy.

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Victor Mukhin

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Title : Active carbons as nanoporous materials for solving of environmental problems

However, up to now, the main carriers of catalytic additives have been mineral sorbents: silica gels, alumogels. This is obviously due to the fact that they consist of pure homogeneous components SiO2 and Al2O3, respectively. It is generally known that impurities, especially the ash elements, are catalytic poisons that reduce the effectiveness of the catalyst. Therefore, carbon sorbents with 5-15% by weight of ash elements in their composition are not used in the above mentioned technologies. However, in such an important field as a gas-mask technique, carbon sorbents (active carbons) are carriers of catalytic additives, providing effective protection of a person against any types of potent poisonous substances (PPS). In ESPE “JSC "Neorganika" there has been developed the technology of unique ashless spherical carbon carrier-catalysts by the method of liquid forming of furfural copolymers with subsequent gas-vapor activation, brand PAC. Active carbons PAC have 100% qualitative characteristics of the three main properties of carbon sorbents: strength - 100%, the proportion of sorbing pores in the pore space – 100%, purity - 100% (ash content is close to zero). A particularly outstanding feature of active PAC carbons is their uniquely high mechanical compressive strength of 740 ± 40 MPa, which is 3-7 times larger than that of  such materials as granite, quartzite, electric coal, and is comparable to the value for cast iron - 400-1000 MPa. This allows the PAC to operate under severe conditions in moving and fluidized beds.  Obviously, it is time to actively develop catalysts based on PAC sorbents for oil refining, petrochemicals, gas processing and various technologies of organic synthesis.

Victor M. Mukhin was born in 1946 in the town of Orsk, Russia. In 1970 he graduated the Technological Institute in Leningrad. Victor M. Mukhin was directed to work to the scientific-industrial organization "Neorganika" (Elektrostal, Moscow region) where he is working during 47 years, at present as the head of the laboratory of carbon sorbents.     Victor M. Mukhin defended a Ph. D. thesis and a doctoral thesis at the Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia (in 1979 and 1997 accordingly). Professor of Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia. Scientific interests: production, investigation and application of active carbons, technological and ecological carbon-adsorptive processes, environmental protection, production of ecologically clean food.   

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