Writing Personal Statements for Applications A presentation by The Graduate Writing Center of the The Center for Excellence in Writing

Writing Personal Statements for Applications Instructor: Rosalyn Collings Eves Graduate Writing Center coordinator

Goals ► To help you analyze application materials for “between-the-lines" requirements. ► To help you write a narrative of your experiences that addresses the rhetorical situation presented by an application.

About the Graduate Writing Center ► One-on-one consultations ► All types of writing ► All stages of the writing process ► To schedule, see the Center’s website:  ► Or go directly to the online schedule: 

Personal Statements: An Overview ► Humanize your application ► Make specific argument about your qualifications and abilities

Exercise #1 ► Working in groups of three, answer the following questions about the fellowship application on pp. 2-3 of your packet: ► 1) What are the key words/concepts in each part of this fellowship description? ► 2) What can we learn from these materials about our readers’ values, interests, and concerns? ► 3) Given this understanding of our readers, what strategies could a writer use to tailor a statement to the readers’ values, interests, and concerns?

Drafting Considerations ► Generating Material  What do you want the committee to know about you? ► Considering Arrangement  How do you want to organize this material?

Exercise #2: Brainstorming ► Spend 5 minutes generating answers to the questions on p. 4 of your packet. ► If you have already written a personal statement, consider which of these questions you have already answered, and what information you might add to your statement.

Some specific tips on organization ► Introduction  Opening “hook”  Thesis statement ► Body paragraphs  Use topic sentences  Provide evidence of experience and abilities ► Conclusion  Target specific program

Exercise #2 ► Consider the sample personal statement on the overhead and answer the following questions: ► What problems does this statement have? ► What has this statement done well?

General Advice ► Connect personal and academic experience ► Use an engaging opener ► Articulate focus and long-term objectives ► Emphasize your strengths ► Discuss specifics about the program ► Consider language ► Revise!

Revision Concerns ► Paragraph Patterns ► Increasing Coherence ► Improving Word Choice

Paragraph Patterns ► Topic Sentences  Make specific assertions about your experience or abilities  Use topic sentences as “signposts” ► Paragraph Body  Give concrete examples to support your assertions

Increasing Coherence ► Move from “old” to “new” information ► Use transitional phrases ► Use pronouns and recycling

Improving Word Choice and Conciseness ► Avoid empty words ► Avoid unnecessary repetition ► Use action verbs

The Rhetorical Situation for your Personal Statement ► Purpose: Why are you writing a personal statement? ► Content: What will your personal statement add to your application? ► Audience: Who will be reading your application? ► Values: What does your audience value? ► Fitting in: How can you demonstrate that your interests and abilities fit with the target program?

Exercise 4 ► If you brought your personal statement with you, trade with a partner and identify the following:  One paragraph with a good topic sentence. Star it.  One paragraph that could use a stronger topic sentence. Circle it.  One transition between paragraphs or sentences that is particularly strong. Underline with a wavy line.  One transition that could be improved. Underline with a straight line. ► What advice would you give your partner for revising their personal statement?

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