STAGE 3: Casting Your Role

Congratulations! You’ve officially chosen your story and your Common Application(R) essay prompt! However, the casting isn’t quite complete. Now we need to add details! In STAGE 3, we will:

Discuss the importance of details in a story
Brainstorm the major events, people, and moments in your story
Recall details by reflecting on sensory experiences and “scenes” in your memory

“IT’s All in the Details”

When an actor is cast for a role, they must think about HOW to make their character and story come to life. And as they say, “it’s all in the details!” Every small decision, from clothing to facial expressions to speech, creates meaning and helps the audience feel like they are right there in the moment with you. Details are critical for making any story authentic, relatable, and interesting – all of the qualities we want to see in your college essay.

For example, the “Donald J. Woodruff and the Famous Tie Challenge” sample essay you read in STAGE 1 included many specific details that made the story engaging. Instead of the writer simply telling us that he was uncomfortable, he SHOWED us this feeling through sweaty armpit stains on his white dress shirts. He also SHOWED us just how intimidating the teacher could be by recalling the historical swords on the classroom wall. These are examples of showing rather than telling - a factor that makes for a great college essay, as you learned in STAGE 1.

So how did this student writer remember such seemingly tiny details? He brainstormed! And that’s what you’ll be doing in this stage. You’ll be transported back in time to recall details from your story as though you are reliving it. And no detail is too small or significant. The goal is to write down everything you can remember seeing, doing, and feeling. Some details might not end up having a lot of meaning, and there are plenty of details that won’t make it into the final performance of your essay. That’s perfectly okay! We’ll make those decisions later. For now, just focus on your memories. We know this might be a challenge for you, especially if the story took place years ago, but be patient and trust the process. You might be surprised by what you can recall when you cast your role! Lastly, don’t hesitate to pick the brains of your friends and family to see if their own memories shed additional light. Maybe the writer’s best friend from eighth grade remembered that Woodruff called himself “The Genuine Relic,” or his mom remembered that four dress shirts were ruined!

Your Assignment:

Open your STAGE Essay Program Materials Google Drive folder and complete your “Casting Your Role” worksheet. Use the buttons below to submit your worksheet and book your next meeting (if you haven’t already).

The STAGE Program

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