ASSIGNMENT # 6 College Application - parallel structure.

 

Your task is to write the ultimate college application letter. Exaggerate your accomplishments and add humor by contrasting some of your extraordinary feats with examples of very ordinary ones. Your goal is to work on three aspects of writing: 

 

1. You must include at least four examples of parallel structure. HIGHLIGHT or UNDERLINE your four examples of parallel structure.

2. You must include at least two very short sentences - three words or fewer.

3. You must include sentence variety - make sure you do not begin too many sentences with "I".

 

This student example is good but has a few too many sentences beginning with "I".

 

College Application Letter

            I am the one who wrote the dictionary. I am the mastermind behind Newton’s laws of motion. I am the real Slim Shady. On Mondays, I perform lifesaving surgeries. On Wednesdays, I write award winning novels. On Fridays, I build houses for children in Africa. And on Saturdays, I do my homework.

My parents did not raise me, I raised my parents. My teachers did not educate me, I educated my teachers. And I do not fear the Reaper, the Reaper fears me. When there is something strange in the neighborhood, I am the one the Ghostbusters call. Beyoncé comes to me for vocal lessons. I showed Miley Cyrus how to twerk. I taught Cali Swag District how to dougie.

Teachers adore me. My peers worship me. If I punched someone in the face, they would thank me. I have won a cook off against Gordon Ramsay. I have won a 400-meter race against Usain Bolt. I have won a game of scrabble against my mom.

I know the alphabet in twenty languages. I can recite the Bible from cover to cover. I have memorized every song by Taylor Swift. I know Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny. Russell Peters laughs at me. Bruce Lee begs me for mercy. I have won eight Olympic gold medals.

I have set foot on all seven continents and swam the seven seas. I have climbed to the top of Mount Everest. Twice. And I have solved a rubric cube in less than ten seconds. But I have not yet gone to college.

ASSIGNMENT # 5 Writing with Detail

 



An effective way to bring the reader into your experience is to use specific detail. Don't rely on our dominant sense - sight. Include detail that describes smells, sounds, tastes, and physical feelings, (not just emotional feelings.)

This is an IMPORTANT exam! You are not at all prepared. What is it like to walk into that room?Bring the reader into that experience in a prargraph of at least 200 words.

A simile and metaphor here and there can be effective - don't over do it.

Focus on your diction.

Include at least one very short sentence for variety.

Make sure your title is interesting.