Table of Contents
Why This Book ix
Questions You Might Have and Where You Can Find the Answers xi
Why I'm the Perfect Person to Guide You Through the Essay-Writing Process xii
How this Book Works xvi
Chapter 1 Brainstorming 1
← Essence Objects Exercise 1
What's Your Story? 6
← Core Values Exercise 8
How the Essence Objects and Core Values Exercises Can Help You Write Your Essay (and Your Life) 10
Chapter 2 Structure 13
Narrative vs. Montage Structure 13
Narrative vs. Montage Structure Takeaways 17
Chapter 3 The Four Types of College Essays 20
Type A "With Debate" 22
Type B "Endodontics" 24
Type C "Raising Anthony" 26
Type D "Scrapbook" 28
What Makes These Essays Great: A Brief Structural Analysis 30
Chapter 4 A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Each of the Four College Essay Types 39
How to Write Essay Type A 40
How to Write Essay Type B 59
How to Write Essay Type C 71
How to Write Essay Type D 89
Chapter 5 How to Revise Your Essay in Five Steps 102
Revising the First Draft 102
Revising Drafts 2-50 106
Chapter 6 How to Bring Your Essay to Life 107
How Do I Grab the Reader's Attention? 107
How Do I Show the Reader I'm Really Smart? 112
How Do I Brag without Seeming Like I'm Bragging? 119
How Do I Make My Essay, Like, Deep? 121
← Feelings and Needs Exercise 127
How Do I End My Essay? 137
What Do I Do if I Feel Like I'm Falling Behind? 140
Chapter 7 Advanced Techniques 142
Advanced Technique 1 Setup and Payoff 142
Advanced Technique 2 Verisimilitude 147
Advanced Technique 3 Turn Something Dark into Something Beautiful 149
Advanced Technique 4 Blow the Reader's Mind by Using The Sixth Sense Ending (a.k.a. Create an Ending That's Surprising, but Inevitable) 150
Advanced Technique 5 Make It New 160
What Makes an Essay Amazing 172
Chapter 8 How to Make Sure Your Essay Is Doing Its Job 183
← The Great College Essay Test 186
How to Bring More Values, Vulnerability, and Insight into Your Essay 187
When to Scrap What You Have and Start Over 201
How to Write Your Essay in Just One Night 202
How and When to Ask for Feedback 204
Chapter 9 A Few of My Favorite Essays 207
Analysis of a Few of My Favorite Essays 213
Chapter 10 Finally 221
Additional Resources 222
1,000+ Ways to Get Inspired Right Now 222
How to Work with a Partner 223
Accountability Agreement 224
21 Details Exercise 225
Everything I Want Colleges to Know about Me List 226
Time Line of My Life Exercise 228
List of Real Student Essays Included in This Book 231
Acknowledgments 233
Index 234
About the Author 238