Unanswered [5] | Urgent [0]
  

Posts by LewisClark13
Joined: Dec 28, 2009
Last Post: Dec 28, 2009
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LewisClark13   
Dec 28, 2009
Writing Feedback / Essay for a Contest: Living in Suburbia- Looking for some criticism [4]

Hi! I'm entering a contest and the topic is ideally: Life in Suburbia. But they'll accept any writing with any topic. This is (I guess, Personal Essay). Comment, suggestions will be welcome! Min 500 words. no max. This is a first draft

I sat on the cold, cement steps in front of my house waiting. Not waiting for an infrequent call from a distant friend, but for something, anything to happen on this bleak, winter day. I used to play in the thick mounds of snow when I was at an impressionable age of eight. Bundled up in a royal blue jacket, and armed with a lichen covered stick, I became the fearless hunter of the great Artic Chicken of the North! Its native name given to it by the Eskimos in Canada is Nuaaluinikqu, or Beast-That-Clucks-At-The-Sun. The creature is covered in feathers, each as unique as a snowflake. Its talons are like silver daggers and they're attached to large, powerful orange grappling hook- like claws. However, the most terrifying part about it was its eyes. Each eyeball was like a black hole. Stare too hard, and you might find yourself paralyzed, and unable to move.

Stalking the mythical beast takes skill. Oftentimes, my rigorous journey required me to slink through the forest and around the immense, endless frozen lake. Sometimes, the crafty avian would try to hide in the unending rows of identical cave dwellings, only differentiated by the numbers engraved on the rocky surface. During the hunts, I also had to be wary. There was more danger here than in New York subway. I'd rather brave the fusty smelling germ-laden place they call a "public bathroom" than climb the snow covered peaks in search of the elusive Artic Chicken.

Ah! There it is! My mind of a forty-year old hunter nearly asphyxiated itself in glee and terror. Was I ready? Yes, I was. I ran with my spear, screaming like a hawk, towards the Artic Chicken and attacked with the fury of a stampeding elephant. Then, a gunshot rang out and knocked me out of my reverie. My mother was standing at the sliding panel motioning for me to come in. I looked down at the broken lichen covered stick and threw it next to the pool. I ran to retrieve my maroon hat, covered in decaying leaves and also the sad, soggy yellow chicken sitting in the foot-deep snow. As I struggled up the creaky wooden steps to the sliding door, my mother said "Come, Dad bought chicken feet from Chinatown".

I was a braver soul back when I was eight. Have I been reduced to a mindless lump sitting on concrete steps, gazing aimlessly at the cloned houses with neatly manicured lawns? My dinky cell phone buzzed and vibrated impatiently.

"Hello love! You're going to the mall? Well, don't leave me behind in the tundra!" I hung up and walked to the end of my driveway, breathing deeply, wondering where that Artic Chicken went.
LewisClark13   
Dec 28, 2009
Undergraduate / University of Rochester supplement: good fit + diff. point of views. [3]

Hi! I think that for the second one, being off my 10 words isn't too big of a deal. i don't think that the admissions people will be nit picking and counting every word. If they do, then they're wasting thier time.

Again, for the second one, I liked how you included that you are an individual. However, I thought that it was a bit plain. Maybe cut out the first sentenceIn high school, I loved to do most activities with only one exception: science lab and jump right into the lab activity with the teamwork. I think that it'll bring so much more depth to the short piece and bring some fun to it as well!

I found several qualities of Rochester to be a good fit for me.

I don't think that the sentence is really necessary. Maybe use those words to include some more "why I love rochester" conversations with the students. Overall, I believed that you like Rochester!

Please take a look at my essay and tell me what you think!
LewisClark13   
Dec 28, 2009
Undergraduate / UPenn Supplement: The Dreaded Page 217/300 [6]

LOL I agree! Optional, yeah right. I had to do this too XP.

If your looking for topic ideas, why not pretend that you're in the future? Maybe just let your creativity flow!!

but if you want to keep this essay, here are some suggestions:

1.

Then doubt reared its ugly head

I think that this sentence is a bit cliche-ey. A better sentence would maybe be something to describe the doubt chewing away at your mind, or in short, something more descriptive.

2.

If the league of super-villains that is the admissions office

I don't know if calling the admissions people super-villians is the best idea. It could go badly LOL.

I actually liked the bit about not being the superstudent by day and superhero by night. Maybe you could instead write the page about how you WERE a superhero by night. It doesn't have to be true to the letter. I'm sure that the admissions people would like some creativity and they wouldn't mind if you stretched the truth and pretended that the event was some marvallous feat when in actuality, it wasn't.

Good luck! Please take a look at my essay too!
LewisClark13   
Dec 28, 2009
Undergraduate / "every man is a piece of the continent" - Trinity supplement essay [2]

One thing happened in senior two convinced me of the power of consideration of others.

I think that this sentence weakens the piece. A better opening sentence here would be to jump directly into the situation by saying "As Chief Editor..."

he became impatient to success.

Did you mean he was impatient for success?

But I also knew the consequence to do so: he would be severely censured and what he did would be known by his parents and classmates so the boy would be weighed down by his own mistakes in the future, which was not what I wanted to see

This is a weighty sentence and i think that it would be better if it were broken up into smaller bits.

Overall, I like the idea that humans need to take other people into consideration when making thier actions. I think that the dialog is good, but some more flair and details would help. Personally, I would have LOVED to see more sensory details to really make the piece come alive. Please take a look at my essay and give me your critiques! thanks
LewisClark13   
Dec 28, 2009
Undergraduate / Williams Essay: My First Run-In with the Police [4]

Hi! I really like your essay. I think that it could be cut down by eliminating these words : "Tag, game over", "Sneaky Waldo", "If you had told me three hours earlier that my visit to the Senate Offices would warrant an armed escort out of the building, I would have laughed." <-- not that necessary becuase it's described already later. Maybe you could cut this down a bit then? and finally: "representing Empire State Pride Agenda" isn't too necessary

Overall, good job! I like the diction especially. Please take a look at my essay and tell me what you think!
LewisClark13   
Dec 28, 2009
Undergraduate / "going to enojoy my ups" - UPENN supplimentary. [17]

I actually like your topic, and I don't really think that you go off the topic too much. I mean, I think that the whole topic is just asking what will you contribute to the campus and you do address that. I would elaborate on the experience and add some more detail.
LewisClark13   
Dec 28, 2009
Undergraduate / Calvin and Hobbes influenced my life - Common App [8]

Hi! I just didn't understand this sentence "I was reminded every day by my parents that they did not go to college so that I could" You could what? I feel like it's incomplete.

I think that the essay is good, but it needs a paragraph of inner reflection or a paragraph to really unite how Calvin+Hobbes influenced you. For example, you could insert something about how you were able to grow (creatively or become more hyperness) because of C+H. Maybe you should shorten the 2nd paragraph to a couple sentences and latch it to the first
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