College's Directions For The Essay example essay topic
450 words
Use structure A good essay begins with a well-conceived main idea or point you are trying to get across to your reader. Each paragraph should relate to your main idea in some way. And as with any good piece of writing, your essay should have a discernible beginning, middle and end. Be creative but answer the question Some applications will ask you to describe yourself in the essay, or discuss a person who has significantly influenced your life, or why you have chosen to apply to college such-and-such. Be honest, original, and creative, but above all else, answer the question asked. Too many students think the essay is a license to write an angry poem, or diary confession, or something other than what was asked for in the essay. Stick to your point Avoid writing your life story, a catalog of your achievements, an editorial, or writing more than is necessary. Also avoid exaggeration, silliness, cheesy humor, and whining. On the other hand, do write with passion and conviction. And apply the five basic rules of good writing: Tip number one: show don't tell. This means use adjectives and adverbs to create picture-making detail instead of simply telling your reader what happened. Try to evoke an image.
Weak Version: My father bought me a bike for my fifth birthday. Better Version: I remember my father shelling out a fist full of crinkled dollar bills at the bike shop. He bought me the shiny red bike I had my eye on for months for my fifth birthday. Tip number two: prefer the positive to the negative.
In other words, avoid the word 'not' when possible. Weak Version: I did not make class on time. Better Version: I failed to make class on time. Needless to say, you can't have a strong college application without a strong application essay.
So invest as much time and effort as it takes to turn out a well-crafted piece of prose. Follow the directions How do you write a winning essay? Well, before you do anything read the college's directions for the essay thoroughly. You may be required to type the essay, adhere to a specific word length, staple additional pages, or write on a particular theme or topic. Do exactly what the directions tell you to do.
Find a good topic Once you understand the directions, you are ready to begin. In general, your essay should: Be focused Be thoughtful Reveal something about yourself not easily derived from other parts of the application Make the admissions committee like you.
