Unanswered [5] | Urgent [0]
  

Posts by jkjeremy
Joined: Jan 13, 2013
Last Post: Aug 27, 2013
Threads: -
Posts: 380  
Likes: 72
From: United States of America

Displayed posts: 380 / page 9 of 10
sort: Oldest first   Latest first
jkjeremy   
Jul 23, 2013
Undergraduate / "Which one is the smarter twin?"- Common App; background or story [9]

We think the same

Aha! This merits a comment/observation/point of criticism:

Superficially, it might appear that you "think the same." The overriding point of this essay, however, needs to be that you DON'T.

As is the case with the other essay (and probably with everything you write), this is very engaging. However, whether this essay's mostly about YOU and your identity as opposed to your relationship with your sis is another matter entire.

It's fun to work with students like you because I can focus on subtle things like this...

truly treasure the kind of closeness

Read it aloud and tell me whether you wished to create this alliterative effect.

Paradoxically, although you're obviously a gifted student, I think that a slight "dumbing down" of this task (that is, the instructions that I'd give---NOT the quality of your writing) might be in order.

I hope I'm making sense with all this.

If we don't discuss these papers again, I hope you enjoy the remainder of your summer!
jkjeremy   
Jul 23, 2013
Writing Feedback / An introduction for capital punishment [18]

You are right. Your teacher is wrong.

Writing teachers are often wrong.

However, if your grade or anything else important depends on this essay, you are to do as she says.

If there's any doubt in your mind as to your teacher's ability to comprehend the relatively simple idea conveyed by that sentence, delete it.
jkjeremy   
Jul 23, 2013
Undergraduate / "Which one is the smarter twin?"- Common App; background or story [9]

As cliché as it sounds, we sorta complete each other.

If it sounds cliche, then it probably is cliche and, as such, does not belong in your paper.

Also, you know better than to use slang like "sorta" in an important essay like this.

(I hope that doesn't sound cruel...)
jkjeremy   
Jul 23, 2013
Undergraduate / My eyes were set on UT for quite some time; UT Austin Transfer/SOP [11]

When I was in my senior year of high school, I had the privilege of holding the position of student body president in my school's student council. A traditional role of being student body president is giving a talk during the grandparent's day event held at the school.

I was grateful for this opportunity to speak to two thousand grandparents about the instances that influenced my life. With this rare opportunity, I felt lead to speak about the influence that my great-grandfather had on my aunt's Christian faith. The ability to discuss the lessons he taught about leaving a Godly heritage for your family extended not only to the grandparents, but also to my fellow students as a result of being enrolled in the chapel practicum class at my school.

Being enrolled in this class allowed me to speak to my fellow students during our daily chapel about the important things that God has put on my heart to share with them. I have spoken to them about such things from finding light in darkness to their identity in Christ.

Without checking, this excerpt looks to be about 175 words.

I want you to take it down to fewer than 150 words by getting rid of the repeats I've put in bold. You can probably get it down to 100.

On the whole, this paper has some strong ideas but it's much longer than it needs to be.

Two questions:

1. When is this essay due?
2. How long does it need to be?
jkjeremy   
Jul 23, 2013
Undergraduate / My eyes were set on UT for quite some time; UT Austin Transfer/SOP [11]

as you're not just adding words to make your essay longer

This is what you're doing (even though you don't mean to).

In order to finish by August 1, we need to get going.

You need to start by doing what I suggested above.
jkjeremy   
Jul 23, 2013
Writing Feedback / People have so many possibilities. We can learn new things by only writing the term in Google Search [7]

You began with this part of the assignment:

Nowadays nobody can imagine life without modern technology. It develops very fast, with new features appearing every day that make our daily tasks much easier.

Go back and find the rest of the assignment---the part that ends with a question mark---and then add it here.

Neither I nor anyone else can help until we know the entire essay question.
jkjeremy   
Jul 23, 2013
Undergraduate / "Which one is the smarter twin?"- Common App; background or story [9]

You have to be one of the most fun essay revisers(?) I've worked with.

I'm a writing instructor. Thanks for the compliment. You're a bright "kid."

I can handle it and actually do much better than when someone tries to be "nice."

Although they aren't necessarily mutually exclusive, being "nice" isn't the same as teaching. If more teachers understood this, then forums like this (and the one I just created) wouldn't have to exist.

Should I attempt to take a different angle on it

Yes. Below are the "dumbed down" instructions to which I alluded to earlier. I hope they don't come off as patronizing.

Make a list (as long as you can make it) of things you've learned about yourself as a result of being a twin.

Don't worry; there will be more to come.
jkjeremy   
Jul 23, 2013
Writing Feedback / An introduction for capital punishment [18]

An introduction has to introduce some points that will be addressed in an essay.

That's what they say...

This notion has been reinforced for so long that everyone assumes it to be true.

YOU, Mare, had better not do this on the AP test (which you must take even if I have to pay for it myself).
jkjeremy   
Jul 23, 2013
Writing Feedback / An introduction for capital punishment [18]

I m not convinced why considerably is redundant.

Sorry that I wasn't clear. I should have been asleep.

It's more of an implied redundancy---if you are going to claim that "supporters of capital punishment has decreased in number," then we KNOW that you mean "considerably." If the decrease had been insignificant, you wouldn't have mentioned it at all.

You may call me John if you'd like.

I should have come up with a more creative screen name (or at least one that didn't force me to read my initials and surname dozens of times a day).
jkjeremy   
Jul 23, 2013
Undergraduate / My Mom Isn't a Superhero - transition from childhood to adulthood [27]

Be as patient as you can...

I understand the true adult concept of putting someone else's happiness before my own.

List for me some other "adult concepts" you now understand.

Use sentence fragments, each beginning with a present progressive verb (an "ing" word).

You have one:

---putting someone else's happiness before my own

Add some more.
jkjeremy   
Jul 23, 2013
Undergraduate / My Mom Isn't a Superhero - transition from childhood to adulthood [27]

Okay...

Now we have to bring this back to the actual prompt.

These things all seem to connect to your mom's injury rather than the reading part. That's fine.

Discuss an event...that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your... familyin 650 words or less.

EVENT:
---Mom's surgery

WHAT YOU WERE LIKE AS A CHILD:
---That's what we'll do next. See below

TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD: the "adult" stuff you learned
---putting someone else's happiness before my own
---being responsible for not only onself, but another
-- recognizing one's inherent "flaws"
-- enjoying the small things

So far so good. (Don't use clichés in this paper.)

Now I want you to list a few more phrases (not individual words)...

What childlike behaviors, attitudes, or tendencies did you have---and to at least some extent relinquish---PRIOR to having to care for your mom?

Give me sentence fragments only, and don't repeat a single syllable (except maybe "ing") from the "adult" list you just made. Each item must contain more than one word.
jkjeremy   
Jul 24, 2013
Writing Feedback / IELTS:Children can learn efficiently by watching television [3]

Topic:Children can learn efficiently by watching television. Should children watch television regularly both in school and at home? Do you agree or disagree?

Without looking at your essay, list three reasons WHY kids shouldn't be watching TV at home and school.

1.

2.

3.
jkjeremy   
Jul 24, 2013
Writing Feedback / CITY&GUILDS: Human beings do not need to eat meat in order to maintain good health... [5]

Topic: Human beings do not need to eat meat in order to maintain good health because they can get all their food needs from meatless products and meatless substitutes. A vegetarian diet is as healthy as a diet containing meat. Argue for or against the opinion above.

Is this for a test?

If so, which test?
jkjeremy   
Jul 24, 2013
Undergraduate / My Mom Isn't a Superhero - transition from childhood to adulthood [27]

Sorry if I appear to be dragging my feet; the pre-writing process tends to be a painful one for me. I'm one of those people who jots a few ideas down and just goes, and then I end up doing multiple drafts. This may be why. Thank you for your help :)

Don't be sorry.

I have found "prewriting" (at least as it's usually done) to be overrated.

Your approach ("jotting down ideas") has merit.

Years working in high school and college classrooms have taught me what NOT to do.

Multiple drafts are necessary (especially on admissions essays). On timed writings (like the AP English test), the process needs to come instinctively.

By the way, have you taken the AP test(s) yet?
jkjeremy   
Jul 24, 2013
Undergraduate / My Mom Isn't a Superhero - transition from childhood to adulthood [27]

Yes I have: I got a 5 on the AP Language and Composition test

What the hell are you doing here?

At the risk of sounding rude, there aren't many people here who can help you.

I feel like hiring you to work with me.

By the way I'd love to see copies of your Language test essays.

I have a feeling your work is proof of all my teaching philosophies (even though I wasn't your teacher).
jkjeremy   
Jul 25, 2013
Undergraduate / Yes, I'm a maverick; Personal Statement [8]

What's the essay prompt?

For the most part, your usage is fine. Most of the mistakes I caught wouldn't have been noticed by admissions readers.

I'm not an average senior in High School.

Don't capitalize "high school."

epitome of people

You can't be the epitome of "people." Ideas, not people, are epitomized.

the war and it's

There's no apostrophe in this form of "its."

I'm a seventeen year homosexual

Hyphenate "seventeen year" and than add the word "old."

safe, until

no comma

made me acknowledge with a fact that I was aware of but was also in denial of

Do you mean...

forced me to acknowledge a fact of which I was aware but that I had denied ?

safe, until

no comma here

person who I'd always

"Who" is redundant. All people are "whos."

There may be a couple more, but mostly these are pretty subtle errors.

Stylistically, there are a couple more serious issues. Whether you want them solved depends on how important this paper is.
jkjeremy   
Jul 25, 2013
Writing Feedback / 'all round education is vital to a studen' - GRE Issue Essay [3]

This is a five. Nice work.

Here's what precludes a six:

---a couple of questionable word choices
---some repetition (more than would occur in a six)
---sentence variety (above average but not superior)

As you can imagine, It's hard to get a perfect score. I've written a little about this here. (The article focuses on the SAT but it's true of all timed essays.)
jkjeremy   
Jul 25, 2013
Undergraduate / Yes, I'm a maverick; Personal Statement [8]

Thank you so much for the help. I will post the next two paragraphs by tomorrow. Would you please, proof read paragraphs too?

Of course.

Although I'd rather edit and proofread it at my own site (which I've just created), I'll do it here if you'd prefer.

Wherever, so long as you get this done properly.

Keep in mind that I generally don't do a lot of this on Fridays and Saturdays, but I'll try to check in.
jkjeremy   
Jul 25, 2013
Undergraduate / Yes, I'm a maverick; Personal Statement [8]

Hyphenate "seventeen year" and than add the word "old."

I forgot to tell you to hyphenate the "old," too:

seventeen-year-old
jkjeremy   
Jul 27, 2013
Undergraduate / Yes, I'm a maverick; Personal Statement [8]

I'll be glad to, but I'd rather see the remainder of your paper first.

To identify errors at this point would complicate matters and make your job more difficult (which is the last thing I'd want to do).

This much I will tell you now: far too many sentences begin with first-person pronouns like "I."
jkjeremy   
Jul 28, 2013
Scholarship / I'm applying 4 cosmetology scholarships. I haven't been in school inover 10yr S.O.S [4]

Is there a length requirement for this?

You have the beginnings of a strong essay.

Answer the following questions:

Enrolling in to cosmetology is a biggest accomplishment for me that I am proud of

1. How is it a big accomplishment?

2. Why does it make you proud?

Right after high school I entered the work force not really thinking about the future.

3. What kind of person were you ten years ago? How have you changed?

I have spent the past couple of years thinking about my passion in life and always come back to cosmetology.

4. Why cosmetology as opposed to, say, fashion design. In other words, why THIS career?

As I got older I started wanting a career.

5. In your mind, what's the difference between a job and a career?
jkjeremy   
Jul 28, 2013
Undergraduate / Why I'm a top cadidate for Einstein MC Philadelphia program - Radiologic Technology [7]

​I am pursuing a career in radiologic technology because while working at Temple University Hospital, I have had the opportunity to observe multiple radiologic procedures as well as being treated as a patient for a shoulder dislocation.

Having watched someone perform radiology isn't a reason to spend the rest of your life doing it.

The grammar problem here is that almost every sentence begins with the word "I" (and the one that doesn't begins with "my").

Check this out:

​I am pursuing a career in radiologic technology because while working at Temple University Hospital, I have had the opportunity to observe multiple radiologic procedures as well as being treated as a patient for a shoulder dislocation. I am very intrigued with how the studies reveal the anatomy and physiology of the human body

While working at Temple University Hospital, I became intrigued with the human anatomy and physiology.
jkjeremy   
Jul 28, 2013
Undergraduate / Why I'm a top cadidate for Einstein MC Philadelphia program - Radiologic Technology [7]

While working at Temple University Hospital, I became intrigued with the human anatomy and physiology.

I made a typo above. This is what I really meant:

While working at Temple University Hospital, I became intrigued with human anatomy and physiology.

I forgot to delete the word "the."

Sorry about that.
jkjeremy   
Jul 28, 2013
Scholarship / I did not have an American dream; QuestBridge Scholarship / Biographical essay [11]

Please describe the factors and challenges that have most shaped your personal life and aspirations. How have these factors caused you to grow?

If I were to ask you to LIST sentences that pertain to "factors and challenges," could you do it?

The stuff about the guitar is fun to read (and that's a compliment), but it doesn't really connect to the prompt.

You can mention the guitar, but as it stands I'm not sure whether guitar playing qualifies as a challenge.
jkjeremy   
Jul 28, 2013
Scholarship / I did not have an American dream; QuestBridge Scholarship / Biographical essay [11]

We had calefaction problems

Despite anything I wrote above, your writing style is engaging and readable.

However, you should avoid words that your reader has never seen or heard. In my case, the word "calefaction" is one.

If you're using a thesaurus, you might want to read this. Usually, the bigger word isn't the right word.
jkjeremy   
Jul 29, 2013
Writing Feedback / Everyone makes 100s of simple,spontaneous decisions daily;2 Most Difficult Options [6]

Everyone of us needs to make tons of decisions throughout our lives . Most of the decisions are easy to make , while a few of them require much more careful considerations. Choosing the university major is definitely the hardest decision to make , as very often people are faced with two options - the major that interests them but provides a less bright future, and the one that has a better future prospect yet is less interesting. The reasons for this are thatpeople are concerned about money, social status and their own abilities.<---Why waste space and time writing something you're just going to repeat? I know...everyone does this. Check out the average essay score on ANY standardized test before deciding to do what "everybody" does.

First, the major that we are interested in may require a larger sum of tuition but less financially rewarding in the long term than other option. Consider my own situation, I was wondering whether to study biochemistry or medicine (which is offered as an undergraduate course in my country) during my college application. Becoming a scientist and conducting research is my childhood dream, but being a doctor can enjoy a higher job security and salary. Besides, to study science in the best place in the world - the US, requires more than $50k a year, which is a couple times more expensive than to study medicine. This sad reality makes me wonder if I should pursue my dream as a scientist.

Second, one option of college major may lead to a career that has a higher social status than the one people really interested in. Take studying law and literature as an example, the former is usually more respected by people, because professionals are usually perceived to be more successful. Those who study literature might be looked down by society, unless they become Nobel Laureates in the future. Given the potential low social status, people may find it hard to decide whether to do the things they enjoy or go and seek a higher social status, which is the concern of many people.

Third, people may be uncertain of their abilities in more advanced study if they choose the major they are interested in. What we study in high schools is just introductory stuff, while the materials covered in college or even grad schools may require more natural talent. For instance, students who become fascinated by physics and aspire to become physicists after studying Newton's Laws in high school may re-consider their ambitions again after they discover that many undergraduates fail to comprehend the more advanced theories in college. They doubt their own abilities may not be sufficient to handle the major they really like.

Most people are told to choose the fields that are interested and passionate to study, but in reality the decision does not depend on one's interests only. Therefore, when faced with the options of interests versus future prospects when applying for college, many people find that making the appropriate decision, which can have profound impacts on their latter lives, very difficult.

---You need to use fewer words to convey your thoughts.
---You need to expand each paragraph by conveying MORE thoughts.

For reasons I don't understand, you've focused entirely on academic matters (as though that's what the prompt asked you to do).

You could and should have focused ONE paragraph on school-related stuff and then another one or two on different kinds of decisions.
jkjeremy   
Jul 30, 2013
Writing Feedback / ILETS: Should Crime be penalized with fixed or variable sentences ? [10]

This is a little like asking, "Where can I get feedback regarding happiness?"

Search online for the phrase "basic English grammar errors." That's probably as good a place to start as any.

However, becoming fluent in any foreign language---especially in its written form---requires years of exposure.

Start watching American television, listening to American talk radio, and reading modern American nonfiction.
jkjeremy   
Jul 31, 2013
Writing Feedback / Increasing amount of violence on TV has a negative impact on children's behavior [5]

Because i do not want a repeatation of the word "negative" so i try to use another one

You were smart to avoid repeating the word "negative." However, you can't just "use another one."

No two words mean the same thing.

The whole essay is about TV being a "negative" influence.

Each body paragraph needs to deal with a different negative thing:

Tell me (right now if you'd like) what IDEA each body paragraph focuses on. The fact that I can't easily tell indicates that there's a problem.
jkjeremy   
Jul 31, 2013
Writing Feedback / 1.) Prompt: Again and again we hear the complaint that we have no heroes anymore. [4]

Answer these questions in as few words as possible:

1. Is it possible to be a hero in the modern world? I'll answer this one for you: YES

2. Give me one reason (in one sentence) WHY it's possible to be a hero today.

3. Give me another reason (in one sentence) WHY it's possible to be a hero today.
jkjeremy   
Aug 8, 2013
Undergraduate / NO TWO PEOPLE ARE THE SAME; FAMU Essay Prompt. [5]

This is a good start, BUT...

Almost every college student is diligent. How are YOU different from every other kid? How will YOU be different from EVERY other FAMU student?

How do YOU define success?

In other words, despite having acknowledged that "no two people are the same," the way you've defined yourself defines lots of other students.

PS I think it's awesome that you're seeking to become a first-generation college student! You might not realize how unusual that is.

(That might be a hint as to what to add to your essay.)
jkjeremy   
Aug 11, 2013
Undergraduate / I went through some small personal difficulties; Personal essay - UT [7]

What's the exact question you're answering here?

Also, what's the length requirement?

This has its moments but it's quite a lot longer than it needs to be.

I'll be glad to help you with the grammar (which will solve the problem I mentioned above) but I first want to ensure that you've addressed the prompt completely and thoroughly.

Do You Need
Academic Writing
or Editing Help?
Fill in one of the forms below to get professional help with your assignments:

Graduate Writing / Editing:
GraduateWriter form ◳

Best Essay Service:
CustomPapers form ◳

Excellence in Editing:
Rose Editing ◳

AI-Paper Rewriting:
Robot Rewrite ◳