How to Write the Common App Essay Prompt #7, 2019-2020 TKG

How to Write the Common App Essay Prompt #7, 2019-2020 Hello. We made it and we’re back with a final blog post on the 2019-2020 Common App prompts. We’ve analyzed and dissected all of the other Common App essay prompts from this year for you, so we’d highly recommend reading those posts if you haven’t already read them. But let’s get right to it because Prompt #7 is our personal favorite. 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.We know. It’s a lot. It’s open, it’s non-specific, and it’s unguided. And that’s exactly why we love it. We want to break it down for you and help you on your journey to a completed Common App by taking you through exactly how to answer this question, step-by-step. We promise it’s not that complicated. Follow our yellow brick road to that green check mark next to “Writing” on the Common App below and you’ll find that you’re excited about and done with your essay. We’ll tak e you through how we tackle this question with each of our students below.TKG’s Three Pre-Writing Steps:Step 1: Resist the urge to submit something you’ve already written. We know it’s *technically* allowed because they literally wrote “it can be one you’ve already written,” but trust us, that creative writing piece that got you into the UPenn Kelly Writers House summer program is not going to cut it for this. We need something new, fresh, and exciting. Step 2: Get your brain out of the world of 5-paragraph essays.It’s kind of insane to us that we’re only taught to write one type of essay for literally our entire education. We’re going to save you some time: it needs to be thrown in the garbage when it comes time for college admissions essays. Rid your brain of the topic sentence, the transition sentence, and the thesis. That’s not where we live now. We’re going to write a story with a beginning, a middle, and an end (though not necessarily in that order). Not an essay. When we explain this to students, they get defensive because a 5-paragraph essay is all they’ve ever known. But it’s structured and rigid, which is exactly the opposite of what we want the admissions reader to feel when they read your college essay. Step 3: Have fun.Get into the headspace of easy, fun, and authentic. Your reader is already on your sideâ€"you don’t need to prove anything or defend the story that you’re presenting. Take a couple of hours and go watch Finding Nemo. It’s a great story. If you don’t know it, it’s the story of a fish-child named Nemo who is raised by a single dad. Nemo gets lost and his dad goes on a wild adventure to find him. His dad makes friends along the way and ultimately finds Nemo. Their collective community and support network is stronger as a result of his journey. We all clap. Nemo’s dad didn’t need to prove that Nemo was lost. He was just lost, and his dad had to find him. The story was in the journey. That’s what your essay is. A paragraph is just a paragraph about exactly what it’s about. Nothing more, nothing less. Take a breath. Let’s continue onto the writing portion of this process. TKG’s Three Phases of Writing:Phase 1: BrainstormingWe complete the brainstorm phase in different ways with different students. Complete these writing prompts (don’t overanalyze word count, sentence structure, or grammarâ€"just write). Here are some options:  You’re hosting a dinner party with 6 guests. Who are you inviting and what’s on the menu? Every day when you get home, you rant to your pet about how your day was. You just had a horrible day, were in the middle of your rant, and all of a sudden it started talking back to you. What did it say?You have a whole day to yourself with no budget or rules. How are you going to fill your day, from start to finish? Starting withâ€"what time will you wake up? Tell us everything. Would you rather be feared by all or loved by all? Explain.You’re leav ing your house with one item and you can’t ever return. What’s the item and why?Make a list of the things that make you happy. Nothing is too small.Make a list of the things that make you unique. Nothing is too silly.Text three friends and ask them to describe you in three adjectives. Talk to them about examples of when you displayed these characteristics and why. Ask your family, too.  We want to emphasize this last point before moving on. This process cannot exist in a vacuum. We encourage you to talk to your friends and family throughout your brainstorming process to get an idea of how you operate in this world. We have no doubt that your family has stories about you that you might not immediately remember that could lead to great essay topics. These are all meant to get you into a creative and calm headspace and to provide yourself with an abundance of content.Phase 2: Writing  Pick something from the above brainstorming process that is simple, straight-forward, and speaks to you. Remember: you have nothing to prove. A great story isn’t necessarily defined by what happens, but rather by how it’s told. The simplest story is often best because it leaves the most room for creativity. So, we guide our students towards choosing something that is small to expand upon that highlights something crucial about their personality. For example, your breakfast ritual, your love of dogs, how your friends rely on you for sage advice, treasured alone time. Think small and bring the reader deep. Use your word count to include strategic and compelling details as opposed to explain to the reader the context of the event or story.Looking at the contents of your brainstorming efforts, there should be a few options at this point. When you do the brainstorming work, which includes having conversations and asking questions to those around you, what matters becomes clear rather quickly. Always keep your reader in mind when you’re writing. Your reader, in this case, is a person who probably isn’t more than 10 years older than I am (my picture is right next to this post, for reference). They’re also incredibly bored by 96% of essays and are begging to be jolted out of the mental fog that forms after reading 133 essays about a “revelation that occurred during a volunteer trip to [insert country here].”Phase 3: Re-writing, editing, and editing moreDon’t be afraid to play with form once you understand the story that you want to tell. If you see your life as a movie, write a scene. See how it feels. Put it down and re-visit your essay tomorrow. There’s no rush (unless you’re reading this on October 30). It’s going to look different and call for more of this and less of that. Keep tweaking it. You can also write more than one essay. Very little is wasted in this process because nearly every sentence or paragraph can be re-purposed for somethingâ€"a supplement, the additional information section, your resume…the list goes on. We know that this can seem overwhelming, but know that if you follow these steps and take the time to have some great conversations, you will find yourself with a great essay topic. If you still feel stuck, we have lots more to say on this topic. Any essay that is genuine, thoughtful, and well-written is going to knock the admissions readers’ socks off. You’re great! Now get writing.  And as always, let us know if you have any questions or want us to help you brainstorm. That’s why we’re here.

Biography of Thomas Jefferson, Third U.S. President

Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743–July 4, 1826) was the third president of the United States, after George Washington and John Adams. His presidency is perhaps best known for the Louisiana Purchase, a single land transaction that doubled the size of the United States territory. Jefferson was an anti-Federalist who was wary of a large central government and favored states rights over federal authority. Fast Facts: Thomas Jefferson Known For: Third president of the United States; Founding Father; drafted the Declaration of IndependenceBorn: April 13, 1743 in the Colony of VirginiaDied: July 4, 1826 in Charlottesville, VirginiaEducation: College of William and MarySpouse: Martha Wayles (m. 1772-1782)Children: Martha, Jane Randolph, Unnamed Son, Maria, Lucy Elizabeth, Lucy Elizabeth (all with wife Martha); a rumored six with his slave Sally Hemings, including Madison and EstonNotable Quote: The government is best that governs least. Early Life Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743, in the Colony of Virginia. He was the son of  Colonel Peter Jefferson, a planter and public official, and Jane Randolph. Jefferson grew up in Virginia and was raised with the orphaned children of his fathers friend, William Randolph. He was educated from ages 9 to 14 by a clergyman named William Douglas, from whom he learned Greek, Latin, and French. He then attended Reverend James Maurys School before matriculating at the College of William and Mary. Jefferson studied law with George Wythe, the first American law professor. He was admitted to the bar in 1767. Political Career Jefferson entered politics in the late 1760s. He served in the House of Burgesses—the legislature of Virginia—from 1769 to 1774. On  January 1, 1772, Jefferson married  Martha Wayles Skelton. Together they had two daughters: Martha Patsy and Mary Polly. There is also speculation that Jefferson may have fathered several children with the slave  Sally Hemings. As a representative of Virginia, Jefferson argued against British actions and served on the Committee of Correspondence, which formed a union between the 13 American colonies. Jefferson was a member of the Continental Congress and later was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. During part of the Revolutionary War, he served as the governor of Virginia. After the war, he was sent to France to act as a foreign minister. In 1790, President Washington  appointed Jefferson to be the United States first official  Secretary of State. Jefferson clashed with Secretary of the Treasury  Alexander Hamilton on how the new country should deal with France and Britain. Hamilton also desired a stronger federal government than Jefferson. Jefferson eventually resigned because he saw that Washington was more strongly influenced by Hamilton than himself. Jefferson later served as vice president under  John Adams  from 1797 to 1801. Election of 1800 In 1800, Jefferson ran as the Republican nominee for president, with  Aaron Burr  as his vice president. Jefferson ran a very contentious campaign against John Adams, under whom he had previously served. Jefferson and Burr tied in the  electoral vote,  leading to an electoral controversy that was ultimately resolved in Jeffersons favor by a vote in the House of Representatives. Jefferson took office as the countrys third president on February 17, 1801. Thomas Jefferson called the election of 1800 the Revolution  of  1800 because it was the first time in the United States when the presidency passed from one party to another. The election marked a peaceful transition of power that has continued to this day. First Term An important early event during Jeffersons first term in office was the court case  Marbury v. Madison,  which established the Supreme Courts power to rule on the constitutionality of federal acts. From 1801 to 1805, America engaged in a war with the Barbary States of North Africa. The United States had been paying tribute to pirates from this area to stop attacks on American ships. When the pirates asked for more money, Jefferson refused, leading Tripoli to declare war. This ended in success for the United States, which was no longer required to pay tribute to Tripoli. However, America did continue to pay the rest of the Barbary States. In 1803,  Jefferson purchased the Louisiana territory  from France for $15 million. Many historians consider this the most important act of his administration, as the purchase doubled the size of the United States. In 1804, Jefferson dispatched the Corps of Discovery, the expedition party famously led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, to explore the new territory Reelection of 1804 Jefferson was renominated for the presidency in 1804 with George Clinton as his vice president. Jefferson ran against Charles Pinckney from  South Carolina and easily won a second term. The Federalists were divided, with radical elements leading to the partys downfall. Jefferson received 162 electoral votes and Pinckney got only 14. Second Term In 1807, during Jeffersons second term, Congress passed a law ending Americas involvement in the foreign slave trade. This act—which went into effect January 1, 1808—abolished the importation of slaves from Africa (it did not, however, end the sale of slaves within the United States). By the end of Jeffersons second term, France and Britain were at war and American trade ships were often targeted. When the British boarded the American frigate  Chesapeake, they forced three soldiers to work on their vessel and killed one for treason. Jefferson signed the  Embargo Act of 1807  in response. The legislation stopped America from exporting and importing foreign goods. Jefferson thought this would have the effect of hurting trade in France and Great Britain. It ended up having the opposite effect and did more damage to America. Death After his second term in office, Jefferson retired to his home in Virginia and spent much of his time designing the University of Virginia. Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Legacy Jeffersons election marked the beginning of the fall of federalism and the Federalist Party. When Jefferson took over the office from Federalist John Adams, the transfer of power occurred in an orderly manner, setting a precedent for future political transitions. Jefferson took his role as party leader very seriously. His greatest achievement was perhaps the Louisiana Purchase, which more than doubled the size of the United States. Sources Appleby, Joyce Oldham.  Thomas Jefferson. Times Books, 2003.Ellis, Joseph J.  American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson. Alfred A. Knopf, 2005.â€Å"Thomas Jeffersons Family: A Genealogical Chart.† Thomas Jeffersons Monticello.

Freedom And Learning The Philosophy And Theory Within...

Freedom is the most important condition in almost any aspect of life. Freedom in itself is a main issue in human affairs. History is full of movements and protests of different people from different walks of life at all social levels, who were looking for freedom in various aspects of their lives. Learning is amongst those issues which has always been a hot topic in the literature of freedom. As Lankshear argues: â€Å"Freedom and learning have been linked in educational philosophy and theory within the western tradition since the time of the Greeks, and was especially significant in Anglo-American educational debate throughout much of the twentieth century.† Association of American Colleges Universities (AACU) mentions that: â€Å"The academic freedom implies not just freedom from constraint but also freedom for faculty and students to work within a scholarly community to develop the intellectual and personal qualities required of citizens in a vibrant democracy and participants in a vigorous economy.† My philosophy of education is embodied in a set of principles based on a combination of my experience as a student and as a teacher. These principles are neither exhaustive nor entirely mutually exclusive but represent in summary fashion what I consider to be the key ingredients of effective teaching and effective learning. I believe for both teachers and students, academic freedom is the most important part of education. The aim of education isShow MoreRelatedGreek Philosophy And The Greek Creation1593 Words   |  7 Pages The word â€Å"philosophy†, comes from the Ancient Greek word (Phileo), meaning â€Å"to love† or â€Å"to befriend† and (Sophia), meaning â€Å"wisdom†; making philosophy stand for â€Å"the love of wisdom†. Philosophy is about understanding the fundamental truths about ourselves, the world in which we live in, and our relationships to the world and amongst each other. It is the study of general problems connected with existence, values, language, and mind. Those who study philosophy (philosophers), engage in askingRead MoreEssay about Philosophy and Education: From Elitism to Democracy1999 Words   |  8 PagesPhilosophy and Education: From Elitism to Democracy ABSTRACT: From its first appearance in western culture, philosophy has been considered able to build up reality, to educate people, and to disclose truth. Plato proposed philosophers as governors in life-long pursuit of philosophical learning. Socrates was the ideal paradigm of an educating philosopher: he tried to wake up human minds so that they could be aware of themselves and of the world, criticizing tradition and prejudices in a logicallyRead MoreThe Anti  ­ Vaccination Movement1487 Words   |  6 PagesDuring the course of this paper, I hope to demonstrate my grasp on applied anthropology (changing human behavior through the usage and understanding of anthropological concepts and ideas)(textbook pg 38), and value free philosophy (the aversion of personal viewpoints interjected)(page 44) to argue in the favor of criminal charges for citizens that do not choose to vaccinate, a subject of medical anthropology as it concerns culture and its effect on health, (page 12). I w ill be operating from theRead MoreFrancis Bacon Essay example1282 Words   |  6 Pagesscientific philosophy. 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He preached that that all members of Islam should trust Allah as he ‘never lies’Read MoreModernity and Classical Sociology Theory Essays1855 Words   |  8 Pagesthe fight ends in either a revolutionary reconstruction of society or in the classes common ruin. Therefore, the system of socialism would be ushered in and gradually evolve into pure communism, or a classless society. This pushed forward change within the society. Emile Durkheim saw modernity in terms of a rising division of labor. By division of labor, he meant specialized economic activity which led to a division of human solidarity. Because modernity was characterized by high division of laborRead More The Work-Meaning Connection Essay examples1646 Words   |  7 PagesCareer Happiness Traditional vocational or career guidance grew out of the needs of the modern industrial era and focused on measuring individual differences or traits and then using this information to match people to occupations. Part of this tradition was measuring job satisfaction through a positive evaluation of individuals attitudes toward their jobs. Career satisfaction measures concentrated on correlating external job factors with global measures of satisfaction (Henderson 1999-2000; Savickas

Deafness - 805 Words

As a group we all learned about the positive and negatives of what is offered for people who are dealing with deafness/ hard of hearing in the San Diego County. For starters, Deaf people are members of a small and close-knit community. The shared sense of community brings deaf people together in ways that are enriching and rewarding. For example, because many deaf people have friends across the country, they are avid travelers. Often they travel for activities such as the National Association of the Deaf conference, deaf softball and basketball games, and other well-attended events. Rare is there a deaf person who hasnt left his or her state. Just as there are deaf people all over the world, there are international clubs and events as†¦show more content†¦We were surprised to learn that as educators and service providers work to improve their understanding of multicultural issues and their own intercultural competence, their courses, text-books and even life experiences, do not often include or recognize the American Deaf communi-ty as a distinct linguistic and cultural group. For the deaf individual this means, unfortunately, that every time they engage in a service system, the chances are high that they will encounter a complete novice who has no experience working with the deaf and no understanding of the com-plex communication and identity issues that pervade the â€Å"Deaf-World†. Furthermore, the chances are good that the hearing professional will hold a â€Å"pathological† or â€Å"disability† view of deafness, as opposed to a â€Å"cultural view†, which is how deaf people view themselves. 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The reader can see all that is going on as she describes everything that is happening in depth to them. This gives the reader a chance to see how many children that are born to deaf parents are used to be interpreters for them

Lowering The Drinking Age Essay Example For Students

Lowering The Drinking Age Essay Drinking Age Limit I. A. HOOK A-1. Everyone knows that it is illegal to consume alcohol until the age of 21 in the United States. Many people are in agreement with this legal restriction. Some would even say that it should be raised. However, the legal drinking age sometimes causes more problems then it prevents. B. I am here today to persuade you that drinking age limit should be lowered. C. Words/ Pages : 408 / 24

Effects of Globalization in the UAE

Red Fox Facts

Red Fox Facts The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is well-known for its luxurious fur coat and playful antics. Foxes are canids, so they are related to dogs, wolves, and coyotes. However, adaptation to a nocturnal life has given the red fox some feline traits, as well. Fast Facts: Red Fox Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpesCommon Name: Red foxBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: 56-78 inchesWeight: 9-12 poundsLifespan: 5 yearsDiet: OmnivoreHabitat: Northern Hemisphere and AustraliaPopulation: MillionsConservation Status: Least Concern Description Despite their common name, not all red foxes are red. The red foxs three main color morphs are red, silver/black, and cross. A red fox has rusty fur with darker legs, white belly, and sometimes a white-tipped tail. Males (called dogs) and females (called vixens) exhibit slight sexual dimorphism. Vixens are slightly smaller than dogs, with smaller skulls and larger canine teeth. On average, a male measures 54 to 78 inches and weighs 10 to 12 pounds, while a female ranges from 56 to 74 inches in length and weighs 9 to 10 pounds. The red fox has an elongated body and a tail that is over half its body length. The fox has pointed ears, long canine teeth, and eyes with vertical slits and a nictitating membrane (like a cat). There are five digits on each of the front paws and four on the hind paws. The foxs skeleton is similar to a dogs, but the fox is more lightly built, with a pointed muzzle and slender canine teeth. Habitat and Distribution The red fox ranges across the Northern Hemisphere into Central America, North Africa, and Asia. It does not live in Iceland, in some deserts, or in the extreme polar regions of the Arctic and Siberia. The red fox was introduced to Australia in the 1830s. The species is banned from New Zealand under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act of 1996. Where the soil permits, foxes dig burrows, where they live and bear their young. They also take abandoned burrows made by other animals or sometimes share with them. For example, foxes and badgers will live together in a form of mutualism where the fox provides scraps of food brought back to the den while the badger keeps the area clean. Red fox distribution. Zoologist, Wikimedia Commons Diet The red fox is omnivorous. Its preferred prey includes rodents, rabbits, and birds, but it will take small ungulates, such as lambs. It also eats fish, insects, lizards, amphibians, small invertebrates, fruit, and vegetables. Urban red foxes readily accept pet food. Foxes are preyed upon by humans, large owls, eagles, lynxes, caracals, leopards, cougars, bobcats, wolves, and sometimes other foxes. Usually, the red fox coexists with domestic cats, hyenas, jackals, and coyotes. Behavior Foxes are highly vocal animals. Adults make 12 vocal sounds over five octaves. Red foxes also communicate using scent, marking territory and even empty food caches with urine or feces. Foxes mainly hunt before dawn and after dusk. Their eyes have a tapetum lucidum to aid with vision in dim light, plus they have an acute sense of hearing. The red fox pounces on prey from above, using its tail as a rudder. The tail, also known as a brush, covers the fox and helps it stay warm in cold weather. Reproduction and Offspring For most of the year, red foxes are solitary and live in the open. However, in the winter, they court, mate, and seek dens. Vixens reach sexual maturity as early as 9 or 10 months, so they may bear a litter at one year of age. Males mature later. After mating, the gestation period lasts approximately 52 days. The vixen (female fox) gives birth to around four to six kits, though the number of young can be as high as 13. The fluffy brown or gray kits are born blind, deaf, and without teeth. At birth, they only weigh 2 to 4 ounces with 5 to 6 inch bodies and 3 inch tails. Newborn kits cannot regulate their temperature, so their mother remains with them while the male fox or another vixen brings food. The kits are born with blue eyes that change to amber after about two weeks. Kits start to leave the den around 3 to 4 weeks of age and are weaned at 6 to 7 weeks. Their coat color begins changing at 3 weeks of age, with guard hairs appearing after 2 months. While red foxes may live 15 years in captivity, they usually survive 3 to 5 years in the wild. Fox kits are fluffy and grayish brown. Maxime Riendeau / Getty Images Conservation Status The IUCN classifies the conservation status of the red fox as least concern. The species population remains stable, even though the fox is hunted for sport and fur and killed as a pest or rabies carrier. Red Foxes and Humans The stability of the red fox population is tied to the foxs adaptation to human encroachment. Foxes successfully colonize suburban and urban areas. They scavenge refuse and accept food left for them by people, but often stray to rural areas to hunt. Generally, red foxes make poor pets because they are destructive to homes and mark areas with scent. However, they can form strong bonds with people, cats, and dogs, especially if domestication starts before the fox reaches 10 weeks of age. In some places it is legal to keep a red fox as a pet. All images taken by Keven Law of London, England. / Getty Images Russian geneticist Dmitry Belyayev selectively bred silver morph red foxes to develop a true domesticated fox. Over time, these foxes developed physical attributes of dogs, including curled tails and floppy ears. While fox hunting for sport has decreased over time, the animal remains important for the fur trade. Foxes are also killed because they harbor communicable diseases such as rabies and because they prey on domestic and wild animals. Foxes, like wolves, may continue to kill prey beyond what they need to eat. Sources Harris, Stephen. Urban Foxes. 18 Anley Road, London W14 OBY: Whittet Books Ltd. 1986. ISBN 978-0905483474.Hoffmann, M. and C. Sillero-Zubiri.  Vulpes vulpes.  The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.  2016: e.T23062A46190249.  2016. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T23062A46190249.enHunter, L. Carnivores of the World. Princeton University Press. p. 106. 2011. SBN 978-0-691-15227-1.Iossa, Graziella; et al. Body mass, territory size, and life-history tactics in a socially monogamous canid, the red fox Vulpes vulpes. Journal of Mammalogy. 89 (6): 1481–1490. 2008. doi:10.1644/07-mamm-a-405.1Nowak, Ronald M. Walkers Mammals of the World. 2. JHU Press. p. 636. 1999. ISBN 978-0-8018-5789-8.