Simba's College Application Essay

Basic Plot Simba is born. Mufasa is killed by Scar. Simba blames himself and runs away. Simba lives a care-free life with Timon and Pumba. Nala finds Simba and tries to convince him to come back and fight Scar. Simba runs away again. Simba is visited by the ghost of his father, who tells him not to run away

from the past. Simba returns to his home and overthrows Scar.

How do we create a character with personality?

“Show don't tell”

(...what does that actually mean?)

SCAR!!!

How might we introduce Scar in an essay?

“Scar was an evil lion, mean and cruel to all of the other animals.”

How does the film do it?

(play 4:38)

How could we write what the film does?

“Scar watched the innocent, lost mouse scurry along. He waited, and then he dropped his huge paw on top of it, picking it up, still alive, to eat it.”

Based on that statement? What would you say about Scar?

Did you need me to “tell” you those things?

What words would you use to describe Simba?

Brave?

“A King needs to be brave. It might be the most important characteristic that a King can have. My father was the king, and he was always very brave, and he taught me to be brave. Every morning, I do everything I can to be brave, so I can be a better and stronger King for my people.”

Show! Don't tell.

My father always tried to teach me to be brave. When he died, it was my chance to be brave.

My Uncle Scar took control of the kingdom after my father's death, and he was an awful king. He let the hyenas run wild, abusing all of the animals. The rains stopped, so the rivers dried up, and – pretty soon – there was not one drop of water left in the kingdom.

I defeated my Uncle Scar. He was very scary and much bigger and older than I, but my father always said that being brave didn't mean not being afraid, but rather being afraid and doing what needed to be done anyway. By listening to my father's advice, I was able to be brave, like my father taught me.

A story is about what changes, not what stays the same.

(So let's keep the ending, but change the beginning, so that we see the evolution)

I had not been home in so long. For years, I had been too embarrassed to come home and face what happened when I was a child. I chose, instead, to run away, but now it was my chance to change that.

One night, I heard the voice of my father, reminding me of what he had taught me about doing the right thing and standing up for what you believe in

I defeated my Uncle Scar. He was very scary and much bigger and older than I, but my father always said that being brave didn't mean not being afraid, but rather being afraid and doing what needed to be done anyway. By listening to my father's advice, I was able to be brave, like my father taught me.

"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than

in a year of conversation."

- Plato

Now you try!

- Like every other day, I was _____________.

- Suddenly, _______________.

- So, I _______________.

- Until, __________________.

- As a result, ___________________.

Like every other day, I was getting ready to go to school.

Suddenly, the building exploded.

So, I stayed at home and watched TV.

Until, the school was rebuilt.

As a result, I was behind.

What do we know about this person?

Like every other day, I was getting ready to go to school.

Suddenly, the building exploded.

So, I studied very hard at home.

Until, the school was rebuilt.

As a result, I was ahead of my classmates.

- Like every other day, I was _____________.

- Suddenly, _______________.

- As a result, I _______________.

- Until, __________________.

- Then, ___________________.