An essay is good if it has sprung from necessity. Imagine if we could teach it that way.
This feels like the main point of the whole essay. Writing works best when it comes from something you actually need to work through, not just because it’s assigned.
Thirty essays in an hour means two minutes per essay.
The math here is kind of wild. Two minutes to judge someone’s “complexity of thought” doesn’t seem realistic at all.
What you do need is That Thing; maybe a question, a fear or a fury.
I like how Sielstra says you don’t need a traditional intro, just “That Thing” that really matters to you. It makes essays feel more personal.