Mr. Moreno's Resources
Pebble Project
A few videos from pandemic 2020 about getting started with personal statement writing for UC's Personal Insight Questions and Common App's Personal Statement.
I post this in Fall of 2022.Watching these videos reminded me how difficult distance-learning was for our students. I had a mini-studio in my garage. It was a sea of blank zoom screens and shiny foreheads and ceiling fans.Here was something good that came from that chaos.- Mr. Moreno
revising personal statements
intro
First video: an introduction to personal statements and college application writingsWhat's in the video?
1. Moreno's philosophies: "Writing is the most powerful technology that humans have; it binds humans."
2. writing process: Drafting, major revisions, minor revisions, editing, proofreading.
3. workshop overview:
Meeting with Mr. Moreno in person! (or online)
finding your pearl
pearls
Second Video: figuring out what to write about! Mr. Moreno explains how to dig deep to find what to write about. He discusses the UC personal insight questions and the Common Application first-year prompt. Most of all, he discusses how you can look at your experiences as inspiration.What's in the video?
1. dig deep for the prompts: "It's been a long day, without you my friend and I'll tell you all about it when I see you again."
2. mother-of-pearl: if the tough moments changed you, how did they make you stronger, shine brighter, iridescent?
3. what's next?: multiple drafts, multiple topics, try again and again
writing about a pebble
revise
Third Video: Mr. Moreno explains how once you have a topic (and maybe a first draft) you can start shaping it around a basic structure. First you tell what happened, then you explain how it affected you.
He will tell you to write about "A pebble", not to write about "pebbles".What's in the video?
1. about a pebble: Write about this summer day, your dog, your friend that day he made you laugh so hard, that time you saw the crowd cheer for your score, that book that kept you up all night . . . write about that pumpkin you carved.
2. an outline: opening, set up your story, develop your qualities, closing
3. how to start?: tell us about that moment that started it all