I heard about the parents forum being the best place to ask for critiques.

Parents Forum
1

<p>I have written a risky, emotional prose type essay, and I was wondering if any of you kindly souls would be willing to glace at it for me. I've heard the parent forum is the place to go for these kinds of questions. :)</p>

2

<p>Send it to me by PM.</p>

3

<p>Send it to me too by PM.</p>

4

<p>Please feel free to send it to me.</p>

5

<p>The more input you get on your essay, the more in danger you are of losing "your voice." Brian Nance at MIT Admissions says to get no more than three critiques.</p>

6

<p>digmedia: I agree that the "loss of voice" issue is important to consider. However, there are ways to deal with the problem.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Sensitivity of the reviewer to the "voice" issue. Reviewers should not suggest changes that would compromise the voice of the writer. The role of the reviewer is to free or to uncover the authentic voice from whatever problems may exist in the draft, not to substitute his/her own views or voice. </p></li>
<li><p>Responsiveness of the writer to proposed changes. The writer doesn't have to make any changes at all, obviously. The writer should never make changes that don't "feel" right, regardless of how sensible they may theoretically seem to be and regardless of who proposed those changes.</p></li>
</ol>

7

<p>I think both digmedia and Adad are "right." A good reviewer respects the author's voice. However, there can be - in the context of college essays and the time horizon most kids leave themselves for review and revision, anyway - such a thing as too many reviewers. Not referring to the OP here, but there are some kids who have received several offers to review an essay, with the kid coming back on the thread to "bump" and ask "Others?"</p>

<p>I am one who often volunteers to review and help. When I see, however, that a parent or two has volunteered, I don't chime in. I feel the requestor is "well-covered." </p>

<p>So that's a long way of saying, Adad and digmedia are both right, imho.</p>

8

<p>Thanks for those who offered to help. I definitely understand how a student could lose his voice.</p>