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English: Application Essays Prof. Rebekah Hendershot
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4.2

186 ratings • 6 reviews

Level Intermediate
10 Lessons (2hr : 28min)
2,459 already enrolled!
4.2 186 Ratings & 6 Reviews
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
Course Details


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

17%

83%

By Antonio Nucera•December 14, 2015

Thanks teacher i ended up your class and it was very useful

By abdulaziz bagabas•December 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 souza•July 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 galis•June 29, 2013

Thank you. That was very helpful.

By Harpreet Singh•May 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