This article contains the following information:
Overview
Completing an essay assignment is part of the Texas College Bridge requirements for English: students need to earn a grade of "Pass" on the essay in order to earn a certificate of completion (in addition to a score of at least 90 on both Stages).
Note:
- You can access the essay assignment from both Stage 1 and Stage 2 of Texas College Bridge, but your instructor or school may guide you on when they want you to begin.
- Your school might choose to have students write their essays offline so that a non-Texas College Bridge teacher can grade them: if that is true for you, just ignore the Essay portion of your study path.
Writing the Essay
| Pasting your essay from an external editor may cause unexpected issues. See this article for details: Essay FAQ: Can I Paste My Essay From An External Program? |
Detailed instructions are below, or you can reference these steps in the Student Quick Start Guide - Essay document.
- Access your TX English Bridge study path:
- Log into EdReady
- Click the View your Goals button
- Click the Go to Goal button for your TX English Bridge goal
- Click the View Study Path button for "TX English Bridge - Stage 1 or "TX English Bridge - Stage 2"
- note: you will only be able to access the study path (and essay) if you have access to that study path and have completed the initial diagnostic
- On the right-hand side of your study path you will see the Texas College Bridge Essay, inside the Additional Activities box:
- Click the Open button to access the essay writing center
- The essay writing area will open, displaying the instructions. These instructions will tell you how to write your essay in EdReady, but also provide the essay assignment.
- Each time you visit the essay writing area, you'll see these instructions first. If you don't want that to happen. you can click the "Hide instructions on startup" checkbox at the top of the page.
- Each time you visit the essay writing area, you'll see these instructions first. If you don't want that to happen. you can click the "Hide instructions on startup" checkbox at the top of the page.
- When you are done reading the instructions, click the Continue button to close the instructions.
- The essay writing center will open: you will write your essay in the big textbox area
- Your writing will be periodically saved automatically, but you can always click the Save button in the purple banner to save as well. If you want to see the instructions again, click the Instructions button in the purple banner. Click on the printer icon in the bottom-left to print your essay.
If you are not done writing your essay:
You do not have to write your essay in a single visit: you can leave the essay area and return later. Click the BACK TO STUDY PATH button at the top of the page to return to your study path.
You will still see the essay from your study path and can click the Open button to return to your writing.
When you are done writing your essay:
You need to submit your essay for grading.
NOTE: you will not be able to read or change your essay after it has been submitted for grading.
- When you are ready, click the Submit button at the bottom of the page
- You will see a pop-up window, confirming you would like to submit your assignment. If you are sure you are done writing, click the Yes button.
- You will see an on-screen confirmation that your essay has been submitted. Click the BACK TO STUDY PATH button at the top of the page to return to your study path.
- Your study path will show you that the essay has been submitted. You won't be able to open or edit your essay until your teacher is done grading it.
How to know your essay has been graded
When your essay has been graded, the notification center icon in the header will have a red dot on it, letting you know that you have a new message:
If you click on the bell, you will be taken to your notification center. Here you can click on the message to get to your essay:
When your essay has been graded, you'll also see that the Open button for your essay on your study path is available too:
Revising your Essay
Once you have opened your essay (either from the notification center, or by clicking the Open button on your study path):
- When you first open your essay you will see instructions on how to read your teacher's feedback and make edits to your essay.
- Just like before, you can select the "Hide instructions on startup" checkbox if you don't want to see these instructions when you next open your essay.
- Click the Continue button at the bottom of the page to get to your essay.
- You will see your essay, and your current grade (Incomplete or Pass) will be displayed in the top purple banner:
- Incomplete means that you need to make edits and return it to your teacher for grading again.
- Pass means that you have passed and completed this assignment: there is nothing more for you to do
- You will also see any comments your teacher has left you along the right-hand side of your essay.
- IMPORTANT: Read all of the instructor's comments on the right side of the screen before you begin to edit.
- When you edit your essay text, the connection between the text and the comment will often be eliminated and the highlights will no longer function. This is why it is important to read ALL comments before you start making changes.
- Click on the + or - at the top left of a comment box to open it and highlight the associated essay text.
- IMPORTANT: Read all of the instructor's comments on the right side of the screen before you begin to edit.
- Just like when you first wrote your essay, you can click into the large textbox area to edit, revise, and continue writing your essay.
- Click the Submit button when you are ready to share your updated essay with your instructor for review.