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2:28

English: Application Essays Prof. Rebekah Hendershot

4.2
186 ratings • 6 reviews
  • Level Intermediate
  • 10 Lessons (2hr : 28min)
  • 2,449 already enrolled!
  • Audio: English

Rebekah Hendershot gives a fun and informative overview of how to write the perfect application essay for college and beyond. As a graduate of the University of Southern California’s Masters of Professional Writing program and the founder of her own English tutoring company, Rebekah combines years of coaching experience to help native and foreign speakers alike craft a compelling and brilliant admissions essay. She explains all aspects of the writing process, including brainstorming and editing, and helps you with everything from an opening hook to a winning conclusion. Her course includes information on what schools are looking for, common writing prompts, the structure of a strong essay, and examples of professionally written essays.

Table of Contents

Section 1: Application Essays

  Overview 11:08
   Intro 00:00 
   First Things First 00:08 
   Don't Panic! 00:39 
   Lesson Overview 01:31 
   What They Aren't Looking For 02:10 
    Perfection 02:15 
    Genius 02:45 
    Flattery 03:16 
   What They Are Looking For 03:48 
    Preparation 03:52 
    Talent 04:47 
    Fit 05:26 
   How This Course Will Work 06:42 
   Remember the Balance Beam 08:37 
    Balance Beam Story 08:47 
  The Prompt 18:20
   Intro 00:00 
   Lesson Overview 00:07 
   Experience Prompts 00:55 
    Example 1 01:03 
    Example 2 01:11 
    Example 3 01:17 
   Influence Prompts 01:31 
    Select a Creative Work 01:46 
   Analysis Prompts 02:34 
    Examples 02:45 
   Explanation Prompts 03:11 
    Examples 03:23 
   'What If?' Prompts 04:08 
    Examples 04:19 
   What These Prompts Have in Common 04:47 
    You Can Write About Things Before You Enter the School 04:51 
    They All Use Skills Needed in School of Choice 05:40 
   How to Answer Experience Prompts 05:57 
    What to Pick 06:19 
    Example 06:49 
   How to Answer Influence Prompts 08:13 
    What to Pick 08:37 
    Example 09:50 
   How to Answer Analysis Prompts 10:35 
    What to Pick 11:02 
    Example 11:18 
   How to Answer Explanation Prompts 12:46 
    What to Pick 13:00 
    Example 13:33 
   How to Answer 'What If?' Prompts 14:21 
    What to Pick 14:26 
    Example 14:54 
   When in Doubt 16:28 
  Choosing a Topic 13:27
   Intro 00:00 
   Lesson Overview 00:07 
   Read the Prompt 00:39 
    Kind of Prompt 00:41 
    Look for Main Idea 01:29 
    Describe a Character 02:14 
    Look for the Underlying Theme 03:06 
    Role Models 04:07 
    Look for Technical Specifications 05:02 
   Choose a Topic 06:59 
    Analyze What You're Given 07:09 
    How to Analyze a Quote 07:43 
    Do a Little Research 09:53 
    Write What You Know 11:25 
   When in Doubt 12:15 
  Outlining 15:39
   Intro 00:00 
   Lesson Overview 00:07 
   What is an Outline? 00:43 
   A Sample Essay 01:07 
    Prompt 01:19 
   Choosing Your Outline Style 01:55 
    Formal Outline 01:59 
    Introduction 02:10 
    Using My Brain 03:28 
    Advantages 04:39 
    Disadvantages 05:23 
    Mnemonic Outline 06:02 
   A Mnemonic Outline 06:45 
    Essay 06:56 
    Introduction 07:05 
    Thesis 07:16 
    Body Paragraphs 07:24 
    Conclusion 08:59 
   Choosing Your Outline Style 10:47 
    Advantages 10:49 
    Disadvantages 11:37 
   Which Outline is Right for You? 12:25 
    Use a Formal Outline If… 12:34 
    Use a Mnemonic Outline If… 13:17 
   Testing Your Outline 13:55 
    Test on Yourself 14:02 
    Test on Someone Else 14:29 
   When in Doubt 15:06 
  Writing Part One: The Beginning 18:12
   Intro 00:00 
   Lesson Overview 00:09 
   What is a Hook? 01:11 
   Famous First Sentences 01:26 
    Example 1 01:31 
    Example 2 02:21 
    Example 3 02:39 
    Example 4 03:22 
   How to Write a Good Hook 03:56 
    Start with an Arresting Image 04:04 
    Use an Idea That Piques Your Interest 06:06 
    Use Surprise 08:37 
    Have Fun! 10:09 
   Your Thesis Statement 11:27 
   How to Find Your Thesis Statement 11:46 
    Make a List of Strongest Ideas 11:54 
    Thesis Will be the Idea You Can Write About Most Ably 12:12 
   Where to Place Your Thesis Statement 12:47 
    In a Traditional Essay 12:52 
    First Sentence in Essay 14:06 
    At the End 14:58 
   When in Doubt 17:05 
  Writing Part Two: The Middle & End 14:07
   Intro 00:00 
   Lesson Overview 00:13 
   The Three Parts of a Good Essay 00:58 
   The Middle: Details, Details, Details! 01:15 
    Middle 01:40 
    Structure Correctly 02:02 
    Pacing is Key! 03:30 
   How to Write a Winning Conclusion 05:43 
    Good Conclusion 06:07 
    Echoes 06:33 
    Callbacks 06:45 
    Best Conclusions Evolve From Theses 07:09 
    Essay Example 08:18 
    Essay Example Continued 08:39 
    Have Fun! 10:28 
   When in Doubt 12:21 
  Revision 14:35
   Intro 00:00 
   Lesson Overview 00:07 
   Take a Break! 01:02 
   Revision vs. Proofreading 01:27 
    Revision 01:36 
    Proofreading 01:54 
   Deep Revision 02:25 
    What Is It? 02:28 
    Did You Answer the Prompt? 02:58 
    Did You Choose the Right Topic? 03:45 
    Did You Organize Your Answer Well? 04:21 
    Did You Leave Out Anything Important? 05:07 
    Did You Pad Your Response? 06:50 
   Get a Second Opinion 07:36 
    Beta Reader 08:21 
    Writing Circle 09:40 
   The 90/ 10 Rule of Second Opinions 12:11 
    What Is It? 12:25 
   When in Doubt 13:49 
  After You've Written 12:31
   Intro 00:00 
   Lesson Overview 00:08 
   Proofreading 00:51 
    Definition 01:07 
    Mark Errors 01:16 
   Spelling, Grammar, & Mechanics 02:20 
    Check Your Spelling 02:24 
    Check Your Grammar 02:51 
    Check the Mechanics of Your Writing 03:26 
   Use Human Eyes 04:01 
   Proofreading Resources 04:55 
    Style Manuals 05:01 
    Stylebooks 05:19 
    Professionals 06:20 
    Amateurs 06:38 
   Sending in Your Essay 06:56 
   The Stupid Check 07:08 
    List of Stupid Things You May Have Done 07:32 
   Send It In 09:43 
    Rule 10:13 
   Relax! 10:31 
    After You Send It It 10:57 
    Waiting for a Response is Part of the Test 11:26 
   When in Doubt 11:57 
  Competitive Schools 14:29
   Intro 00:00 
   Lesson Overview 00:08 
   Calm Down! 02:13 
    Similar Essay Questions 02:33 
    Similar Prompts 03:00 
    Experience Prompt 03:08 
    Influence Prompt 03:33 
    Analysis Prompt 04:28 
    Explanation Prompt 05:09 
    'What if?' Prompt 05:56 
   But Don't Calm Down That Much! 06:38 
    High-Pressure Environments 06:48 
    Large Applicant Pools 08:19 
   How, and When, to Gush 09:33 
    Be Excited! 09:57 
    Don't Make Things Up 10:33 
    Be Yourself & Do Your Best 11:20 
   When in Doubt 12:58 
  Specific Fields 14:43
   Intro 00:00 
   Lesson Overview 00:10 
   Some Things Don’t Change 01:26 
    Same General Qualities 01:29 
    Essay Questions 01:41 
   Question Types and Examples 02:03 
    Experience Prompt 02:30 
    Influence Prompt 02:56 
    Analysis Prompt 03:49 
    Explanation Prompt 04:37 
    'What if?' Prompt 05:17 
   Do Your Research 06:21 
    Read the School's Website 06:47 
    Talk to People 07:27 
   Craft a Major-Specific Resume 08:38 
    Emphasize Relevent Parts of Your Background 09:03 
    Get the Intangibles 09:20 
    Be Creative 09:55 
   When in Doubt, Tell a Good Story 12:07 
    Make a Prioritized List 12:26 
    Why Good Stories Help 13:19 
   When in Doubt 13:59 

Duration: 2 hours, 28 minutes

Number of Lessons: 10

Student Feedback

4.2

6 Reviews

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By Antonio NuceraDecember 14, 2015
Thanks teacher i  ended up your class and it was very useful
By abdulaziz bagabasDecember 8, 2013
hi professor hendershot, i would like  ask you  about what is the meaning of prompt,because i searched in the dictionary for this word over and over again but i couldn't  know its meaning, thank you.  
By osias souzaJuly 1, 2013
Hi Rebekah, I have to say you this, are great teacher!! as I like more numbers than words, I feel bored when I have to study english gramar and writting for my toefl exam, but your teaching approach is very nice, smart and I don't feel bored learning english anymore. good job!!!
By shaduwy galisJune 29, 2013
Thank you. That was very helpful.
By Harpreet SinghMay 12, 2013
i would really like for you to proof-read my essay once I write my essay, can i get your personal email so that i could contact you?
-thank you
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