ESSAY WRITING TIPS
WRITE ABOUT WHAT YOU LOVE
The college application essay is one of the most dreaded steps in the process for students. Chances are they already get their fill of writing homework assignments, and the prospect of authoring something that gives total strangers a unique window into their life can be intimidating. But with a little creativity, the process can actually be insightful and even fun. NO SUCH THING AS A ‘BORING LIFE’ Many students feel that finding a subject to write their essay on is a lost cause from the start. They may have friends who grew up seeking out incredible adventures or who overcame great adversity to get where they are, and it’s easy to let those stories make their life seem mundane. But the simplest routine, hobby, or moment can make for great reading as long as your student is passionate about it. ANYTHING GOES Writing about something seemingly mundane and explaining why it’s actually a valuable, meaningful, or otherwise formative part of your life is a particularly powerful essay style. The surprising premise hooks readers in, and the personal angle says a lot about the author — just as any great
college application essay should. Anything from a guitar or video game to memories of soccer practice or a family vacation can be great launching points for this. What matters is that your student cares about it and would be excited to share why. INSPIRATION ABOUNDS Knowing how to take one of these seemingly simple passions and turn it into an essay can seem difficult at first. However, there are plenty of great examples of compelling writing in this style. Anthologies like “The Best American Essays 2019” can contain many stunning examples of writers who took a small subject and made it meaningful. While not in print format, YouTube can also be a surprisingly good source of inspiration, with video essay series like “Lessons Animation Taught Us” showing how even the cartoons of our childhood can be profoundly important. But most importantly of all, this approach can be exciting. Rather than trying to tackle a subject that seems like “college material” and stretching to fill the word count, students should write about what they love. Chances are they’ll find they have more to say than can fit in one essay.
VEGAN BANANA PANCAKES
HAVE A LAUGH
INGREDIENTS • 1 1/2 cups flour • 2 1/2 tsp baking powder • 1/2 tsp salt • 2 extra ripe bananas, mashed • 1 cup soy milk DIRECTIONS 1. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
• 2 tbsp maple syrup • 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted • 1 tsp vanilla extract • Cooking spray
2. In a separate bowl, whisk bananas, soy milk, maple syrup, oil, and vanilla together. 3. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir. Don’t overmix. Lumps are okay. 4. Spray a heated pancake griddle with cooking spray, and scoop 1/4 cup of the mixture onto the griddle. Repeat until the griddle is filled. 5. After 3 minutes or when bubbles appear, flip each pancake. 6. After each pancake has risen to double its initial height, remove from griddle. Repeat as necessary until batter is gone. 7. Serve with your favorite toppings!
Inspired by My Darling Vegan
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