This semester I am taking English 3310 ~ Principles of Teaching Writing with Dr Levy. We have been exploring the writing process and practice the art of writing small. I discovered an interesting video on the NY Times website. Counting Words explores the extra challenge writing a college essay presents for the disadvantage student. These students remind me of kids I met while working at Osborne High School in Cobb County. Osborne was and may still be the worst performing secondary school in the county and the student population is under served by the system. A mixed population of minorities with a dash of poor whites, these kids do not look at college as a possibility, which is a shame. In the more upward ‘bound’ schools the cirriculum offers college prep programs and drills the requirements into the kids. Usually an english class will practice college essays and work shop the product with the group.If the school doesn’t provide the necessary prep work more affluent parents pay for additional classes outside of school.  The typical poor student does not have the money for this training.  Inspired to work in a school like Osborne I found the article and video on the times site very interesting. I did not add the video due to complication with the NY Times site but just click on the above link and scroll down to the video section. This article (and video) show writing small in classroom use. Instructors guide students in the writing of college essays by helping these kids what is important to them.  The groups distill the thoughts and ambitions of the young people down to an essence that will entice a college admission counselor.  It is a great example of what our studies in action.