PEERFORWARD NAVIGATOR reflect... UNIT 2: REFLECT LESSON 7 YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT LESSON PLAN overview Students review the purpose and conventions of personal statement writing by reading a series of model personal statements. Then, students brainstorm through freewriting and goldmining to select a guiding idea for their personal statements and write a first draft. outcome Students will draft a personal statement demonstrating one or more of their personal strengths. learning objectives Students will be able to: ❏ STEP 1: List the qualities that powerful stories share. ❏ STEP 2: Define personal statement and review the conventions of personal statement writing. ❏ STEP 3: Evaluate a series of personal statements to identify the guiding idea, personal strengths, and heartbeat in each piece. ❏ STEP 4: Review the steps of the writing process. ❏ STEP 5: Freewrite about a meaningful activity, experience, or topic. ❏ STEP 6: Collaboratively goldmine a classmate's freewrite to pull out "golden nuggets." ❏ STEP 7: Goldmine their freewrite in a small group or with a partner to identify a guiding idea for their personal statement. ❏ STEP 8: Articulate their guiding idea. ❏ STEP 9: Write a draft of their personal statement. assessments * Personal Statement Evaluation Activity * Whole Group and Partner Goldmining sessions * My Guiding Idea * First Draft materials * Sample personal statements written by students from your school, if desired * Chart paper and markers for goldmining educator preparation * Be sure to review both Lessons 7 and 8 now; they are connected and interrelated. * Read through the sample personal statements provided, and select one to read aloud during class as a model. Choose the piece that you feel will have the most "heartbeat" for your students, or which you feel they will connect with the best. * Write each class member's name on a slip of paper and put them in a hat or a bowl for use during the Warm-Up. Be sure to add yourself to the mix! 106 lesson 7: Your Personal Statement