An Old Story: If you really want to learn how to write the college essay, you've come to the right place. Mastery of writing skills not only increases the likelihood of success in college, but success in a career as well

Think of the entrance essay as a story. That's right! You're telling a story about you. It's not an accident that stories are the oldest form of writing, stretching from the Epic of Gilgamesh in 2000 B.C, to Stephen King in the present.

What are the elements of a good story?

• A catchy or interesting opening, sometimes
  called the hook
• Word pictures/mental images
• Economy of words
• Sufficient detail
• A sense of progression or movement: Many stories, ancient and modern, use the device of a journey.
• A beginning, middle and end
• Simple, easy to follow structure
• Tension: a little drama doesn't hurt
• An interesting closing

What are the signs of a good story teller?

• Audience awareness--the writer keeps in mind that he is not just writing for himself.
• Brevity! Get to the point. Remember what Mark Twain said: "If I had the time, I'd have written a shorter letter."

Fact and Fiction: Does your college entrance essay have to be the finest piece of word sculpture on the planet? No!

Does it have to be an A or an A+ essay? No!

Does it have to be perfect? No!

Does it have to be interesting? Absolutely Yes!

Does it have to be real or authentic? Yes

Do you have to be the next Stephen King? No!

Colleges and universities are not looking for perfection; they are looking for the real thing.

They can spot fakes or posers almost as quickly as you can.

The readers of those college essays get exhausted and bored if they have to read the same mediocre canned stuff over and over.

So it's in your best interest to see that when they get to your essay, their eyes pop open and their ears perk up. 

What are the signs of an interested reader?

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First the joke: A duck went into a bar one day and asked the barkeeper for some grapes. "Don't have any grapes," the barkeep replied. Next day the duck waltzes in again, hops up on a stool and asks, "Got any grapes?" "I have no grapes," the barman shouts, "This is a bar, not a grocery store." The following day the duck arrives at the bar again and repeats the same question. "Got any grapes?" "For the last time," the barman roars: "I have no grapes and if you come back in here again asking the same stupid question, I'll nail your @#$!! feet to the counter."
Day four and the duck saunters into the bar. "Got a hammer?" "NO!" "Got any nails?" "NO!" Got any grapes. . . . .?


(If you are wondering how a duck could talk, then you probably are not the next Stephen King-in-waiting, but you can still learn how to write a powerful college essay.)

Maybe this joke does not work for you, then go find a joke you like and analyze it according to the elements of good story telling.

You will learn a lot from this, because in a very short narrative like a joke, you will discover the nuts and bolts of good writing. Then put your essay up against the joke and see how favorably it compares for those elements.

Essay Tips:

• Write your essay as if you were going to read it to an audience the next day.
• Economy of words: Few are better than many. Remember what Mark Twain said: "I would have written a shorter letter if I had the time." Rachet down or tighten up your sentences by eliminating unnecessary words or phrases.
• Think of your essay as a story: A story about one of the most important people in your life--You.

Caution: The idea behind using the joke was to highlight some of the elements of good story or essay writing, not to suggest that essays have to be funny to be good. However, a good essay will certainly have some of the elements of the joke we've analyzed. Humor can be very effective, used wisely.

More Details

O.K let's put this joke under the microscope. Look at the opening line: 
A duck wanders into a bar and asks for grapes.

• What elements of the essay are present here? Catchy start. known as the hook, The unexpected and bizarre opening grabs the listeners' attention .Audience awareness and interest.

"The continuing visits and the repetition of the same question: "Got any grapes?"

• This sequence provides the reader with a sense of progression or movement. Also builds tension and therefore increases the listeners (readers) attention. This is all done with a few well chosen phrases: Economy of words. 
  

"I have no grapes, this is a bar, not a grocery store. . ."

• The reader senses the barman's frustration and knows this thing is building to a climax. This creates anticipation and keeps the audience tuned in. The apparent stupidity of the duck and the rising frustration of the barman increases the drama or tension.

The duck waltzes in, hops up on the bar stool. The web feet, the hammer and the nails.

• Good mental pictures. It's impossible not to picture this plucky duck on the bar stool; the waltzing duck is not hard to picture either. When readers are provided with word or mental pictures, they keep turning pages because it simply makes the tale or essay more intriguing. If readers are turning pages, they are not bored. This is key.

Closing: "Got a hammer. . .got any nails . . got any grapes?"

Notice the economic use of words--few, but well chosen. Powerful impact.