Time Required: 40 minutes

Materials: Critique and Edit student reproducible 4 (PDF) ,pen

Directions:
1. Distribute Critique and Edit Student Reproducible 4 and review the Editing Tips sidebar. Make sure that students understand all terms such as tone, diction, transition, and conclusion.

2. Read the sample essay aloud with students. Have them evaluate the essay in groups of three using the Editing Tips sidebar. Instruct students to identify parts of the essay they wish to emulate and parts they feel they could improve on.

3. Discuss student evaluations of the sample essay as a class.

4. Instruct students to draft their own essays for peer and teacher review.

Application Essay Rubric
As your students review their essays, encourage them to consider the following questions:

Content
. Message: What is the message of the essay? Does the writer address this idea in an interesting and personal way? Does the essay include evidence of the writer’s reflection upon the significance of event(s)?
. Tone: Is the tone of voice consistent?
. Metaphor, Simile, Imagery: Does the writer avoid general statements that tell the reader what to think and instead use specific details (e.g., metaphor, simile, imagery) that cause the reader to feel what was intended by the writer?
. Diction: Does the writer make strong and varied word choices that suggest specific connotations? Is repetition of words/phrases used to create dramatic emphasis and help unify different parts of the essay?
•Varied sentence lengths and structure: Consider the rhythm created by sentences. Does the essay use different sentence lengths to create dramatic emphasis?

Organization
. Focus: Is the piece focused and personal? Does it try to cover too much or too little?
. Paragraphs: Is each paragraph unified around one idea? Does each paragraph have a clear, thematic topic sentence? Does each paragraph conclude with an analytical statement?
. Transitions: Are there transitions within and between paragraphs that give a clear sense of analytical progression, through repetition of key words and ideas?
. Introduction: Does the introduction hook the reader (the admissions officer), leaving him or her wondering what comes next? 
. Conclusion: Does the conclusion elaborate upon the ideas set forth in the essay and address their greater significance? Does the conclusion avoid artificial summary/closure?

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