Writing Effective Scholarship Essays

Before you start… CAREFULLY READ THE PROMPT Note requirements (such as length) and closely follow them. Brainstorm ideas for each question or prompt. Don’t censor yourself at this stage of writing. Decide on a pattern of organization. Many scholarship essays take on a narrative form, so chronological order is effective and logical. Conduct any necessary research. If format is not specified, use a standard format like MLA format. 12-point font, Times New Roman, double-spaced

The parts of an essay Introduction Don’t begin with any variation of “Hi, my name is…” Instead, find an engaging opening that excites or intrigues your reader. Give some background or context to the scenario Consider including a “thesis statement” that summarizes the main points from your essay as the last sentence in the introductory paragraph. Note: It may be easier to write the thesis statement after you write the essay, since you will know your main ideas.

The parts of an essay Body Paragraphs Create one clear focus/main idea per paragraph, usually stated in the “topic sentence” (first sentence). Follow a logical organizational pattern. Develop the main idea using a few pieces of evidence. Explain in your own words how the evidence supports your ideas. Use transitional words and phrases to create a smooth flow. Each paragraph could respond to separate parts of the prompt.

The parts of an essay Conclusion Wrap up all your ideas. Summarize why you’re a great candidate for the award. Thank the committee for reading your essay. Do not repeat ideas or exact language from essay/introduction. End with a powerful final statement. It may be the thing the reader will remember the most!

Other tips Accentuate the positive, but do not lie about anything. Don’t be afraid to show your personality, but maintain proper formality. Use striking, vivid language. Avoid clichés. Avoid repetitive writing. Don’t begin several sentences in the same way (perhaps by starting with “I”). Use strong organization. Keep similar ideas close together in paragraphs. Avoid grammatical, mechanical, and spelling errors. Write for the audience specified by the prompt, or imagine a committee reading your work. Most essays use standard five-paragraph format: Introduction Three body paragraphs Conclusion When in doubt, use this format.

Other tips Strike a balance between distinguishing yourself and oversharing. Unless there is a clear, compelling prompt to do so, avoid disclosing traumatic or very personal events. You can discuss important life events in a way that doesn’t feel like a diary entry or sob story. For example, a writer pursuing a scholarship for psychology could mention how a therapist helped her as a child--without necessarily going into the personal details of why it was necessary in the first place.

Other tips Many scholarship essays are narrative or persuasive. Basics of a good narrative essay: --It reveals something significant to you and includes the major events of the story --It enlivens those events by using concrete, vivid language to create memorable images. --It orders the events clearly, usually according to when they happened. Basics of a good persuasive essay: --It convinces your reader to adopt your point of view or to take a specific course of action (for this essay, you will want to persuade the committee to grant you a scholarship). --It includes specific persuasive claims that you support with evidence in the form of examples, facts, statistics, etc.

Revision checklist You may wish to use this checklist to help revise your draft: Does the essay meet all the requirements as laid out in the prompt? (Consider creating a checklist of each requirement from the prompt.) Does my introduction feature an engaging opening sentence, some appropriate background, and a thesis statement that previews my main ideas? Does each body paragraph have one clear main idea? Is each paragraph developed using evidence and explanations? Have I used transitional words and phrases in and between paragraphs to create a smooth flow of ideas? Does my conclusion wrap up all my ideas, summarize my main points, and end with a powerful closing sentence? How can I improve my spelling, grammar, and mechanics?

For help & more information Writing Center Nora Villarreal, Director Learning Commons, D-201 815-224-0637 www.ivcc.edu/writingcenter Free related handouts at our website!

Questions?