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Essay #1: Introduction.
You will use what you brainstormed in the bullet activity to write an application letter. You will choose only one of the following, based on whether or not you have graduated from high school.
High School Students
Not yet graduated from high school? Use the sentences you composed from your bullet points to develop paragraphs that answer one of the following Apply Texas Common Application questions:
Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?
OR
- Most students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. Tell us about yourself.
Format your Apply Texas Common App essay in correct
MLA format (Links to an external site.)
.
High School Graduates
Already a high school graduate with some work experience? Use the ideas you brainstormed in your bullet points assignment compose a college application letter or a scholarship application letter or a job application cover letter.
Format your letter in correct block
business letter format (Links to an external site.)
.
Resources about writing college or scholarship application essays and letters:
The purpose of your college application essay or program application letter is to show the committee who you are as a person, what you value, what you hope to do with your life. Equally important, the application letter or essay serves as a sample that the committee can use to assess not just your grasp of grammar and vocabulary but also your ability to think critically and construct an argument (the argument that you, more than the thousands of other applicants, deserve to be selected.
Think hard about your reader’s expectations. Sometimes it helps to imagine your reader as a teacher in your school-one who doesn’t know you or your work. That reader will expect a good essay, on topic, free from errors. Also bear in mind that your reader is probably reading a lot of other essays in addition to yours; do your very best to make his experience pleasant and rewarding.
Brainstorm extensively for these essays, both before you start your draft and during revision. Make sure your content is the best it can possibly be. Because this is a formal essay, you can be sure that your reader will be looking at how you’ve organized it. Is your structure logical? Take some time to outline your essay, and don’t be afraid to reorganize it once you’ve drafted it; essays often evolve as you write them and may need to be reoutlined and adjusted during the revision phase.
Expect to go through several drafts before you finalize your essay. Give yourself plenty of time to write, revise, and rewrite. Don’t feel you’ve failed if you don’t write a perfect draft the first time through: editing and rewriting are part of the writing process. Proofreading is a critical part of the revision process. For obvious reasons, your spelling, punctuation, and grammar must be perfect.
DOs and DON’Ts of College Admissions Letter or Essay Writing
Do
Don’t
Write it yourself. It’s a good idea to have trusted friends, family, or advisers read your drafts and make suggestions. However, the essay must be completely your own work from start to finish. Admissions committees are very adept at detecting when someone else has written an essay for you.
Don’t let anyone else write any part of it for you. Your essay must be your work, and your work alone. The admissions committee will definitely know if your mom wrote even a little: nothing is more obvious to an experienced reader than changes in tone, vocabulary, and attitude. When you get feedback from friends or family, don’t let them rewrite those sections for you. Absorb what they’ve said to you, and put it in your own words.
Answer the question (or “prompt”} exactly as it’s posed. Some schools use the Common Application (often known as the Common App), which allows students to complete a single application packet for submission to multiple schools. However, not all schools use the Common App, and some might even require additional essays. If you’re applying to multiple schools, it can be a hassle to customize your essays to meet their requirements, but doing so is absolutely critical to your success.
Don’t rehash quantitative information that appears elsewhere in your application. The admissions committee will look at your application as a whole including data such as test scores and grades. Don’t waste the precious opportunity the essay affords by restating this information, no matter how impressive it may be.
Answer the whole question. Many questions have multiple parts. One typical question is to ask you to identify an important issue or person in your life and then to explain why. Don’t neglect the “why” part of the question. That section is your opportunity to reflect, analyze, and show what’s important to you as a potential member of the college community. Read the question carefully and be sure to answer it fully.
Don’t use fancy words where ordinary ones will do. If you mean “praise,” don’t use “laud.” If you mean “think,” don’t use “cogitate.” If you mean “walk,” don’t use “perambulate.” You don’t get extra points for extra syllables. Write in your own, natural, intelligent voice.
Observe the conventions of a formal essay. Your essay should have a clear structure, with a consistent point of view, and it should be written with an eye to keeping the reader’s interest.
Don’t indulge in excessive praise of the school you’re applying to. Good schools already know how good they are. It’s wise to show that you know something about the school you’re applying to, but it’s best to show this knowledge when you explain that you’re an ideal fit for the culture and values of the school.
Your essay is not an e-mail to a friend, or a friendly conversation, or a list of accomplishments. It’s a formal piece of writing with an introduction and conclusion-a clear beginning, middle, and end. Ideally, your essay should be interesting for anyone to read, not just the admissions committee.
Don’t overemphasize what the university can do for you. You should show that you’re aware of their offerings and emphasis, but you should put more emphasis on what you can do for the university community.
Be yourself. The committee wants to know who you are, so your essay should employ your natural voice, albeit in the context of a formal essay. Don’t try to impress by using big words, convoluted sentences, or pretentious ideas. Show the very best of who you really are.
Don’t submit an essay with typos, misspellings, and punctuation errors. This essay is your writing sample, and it also demonstrates how much you care about your application. If you allow sloppy mistakes in your application essay, the admissions committee has every right to decide that you won’t care about the work you do in college. Get several people you trust to proofread your essay before you submit it.
Use humor sparingly: don’t go overboard. Many students think that a jokey tone will convey their personality better or set them apart from other applicants. Be wary of self-deprecating humor, especially if it’s used to provide reasons for a less-than-stellar academic record. This kind of approach almost always fails. If you have concerns about your test scores or grades, address them in a straightforward, serious way.
Proofread, proofread, proofread. Do not rely on spell-check or grammar-check programs; they sometimes make mistakes. Proofread the essay carefully yourself; then give it to at least two other competent people (not your best friend who got a C in English) to proof it. It’s even well worth the investment to pay a professional to proofread your final draft before you submit
Resources about writing job application cover letters:
- Harvard Business Review’s, “How to Write a Cover Letter (Links to an external site.)”
- Columbia University’s, “How and Why to Write a Good Cover Letter (Links to an external site.)”
- Forbes’ Magazine’s “6 Secrets To Writing A Great Cover Letter (Links to an external site.)”
- indeed.com’s “7 Powerful Ways to Start a Cover Letter (With Examples) (Links to an external site.)”
DOs and DON’Ts of Cover Letter Writing
Do
Don’t
Tailor your cover letter to the particular job you’re applying for. If you are applying for a hundred jobs, plan to write 100 letters. Develop a few different templates to use as a basis for your different letters, but be sure the cover letter you send is customized for the job you’re applying for.
Don’t rehash the information on your resume. Your cover letter should motivate the reader to look carefully at your resume, not simply reiterate the information there.
Address a particular person in your salutation. Try to avoid “To Whom It May Concern,” if possible.
Don’t explain the company to the reader. Your reader knows that her employer is the world’s leader in vaccine production, for example. Your job in the cover letter is to explain why you’re the best fit for the job in that company.
State why you are writing and which job you’re applying for. If someone recommended you apply for the position, say so and how you know that person.
Don’t fudge about salary issues. Companies ask about salary history because they need to know if you fit within their budget. If you are uncomfortable talking salary expectations, provide a salary range you’d be willing to accept.
Refer to the relevant information on your resume that fits with this job.
Focus on what you have to offer the employer, not what the job can offer you.
Write in your own voice. This is a business letter, so it should be businesslike, but you will make a stronger impression writing like your voice instead of “business-ese.”
Keep it brief. Don’t ramble. Instead, pique the reader’s interest. Don’t give yourself completely away.
Rubric
Essay 1 Intro YourselfEssay 1 Intro YourselfCriteriaRatingsPtsThis criterion is linked to a learning outcomeIntroduction grabs the reader’s attention and sets up the essay topic. Conclusion brings the essay full-circle, reminding the reader of what was said in the introduction.15 pts
This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeEssay is composed of complete and concise sentences, utilizing vivid verbs and a variety of sentence styles.15 pts
This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeParagraphs are focused on one topic and are developed with a topic sentence and details.15 pts
This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeEssay is typed in correct format.15 pts
This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeEssay is organized logically, with transitional words and phrases.15 pts
This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeEssay is written concisely, free of sentence-level errors, and not distracting with other grammatical errors.25 pts
Total points: 100
1
Essay #1: Introductions
You will use what you brainstormed in the bullet activity to write an application letter. You will choose
only one of the following, based on whether or not you have graduated from high school.
High School Students
Not yet graduated from high school? Use the sentences you composed from your bullet points to
develop paragraphs that answer one of the following Apply Texas Common Application questions:
1. Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout
your high school career that have shaped who you are today?
OR
2. Most students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way.
Tell us about yourself.
Format your Apply Texas Common App essay in correct MLA format.
High School Graduates
Already a high school graduate with some work experience? Use the ideas you brainstormed in your
bullet points assignment compose a college application letter or a scholarship application letter or a
job application cover letter.
Format your letter in correct block business letter format.
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_sample_paper.html
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/professional_technical_writing/basic_business_letters/index.html
2
Resources about writing college or scholarship application essays and letters:
The purpose of your college application essay or program application letter is to show the
committee who you are as a person, what you value, what you hope to do with your life.
Equally important, the application letter or essay serves as a sample that the committee can
use to assess not just your grasp of grammar and vocabulary but also your ability to think
critically and construct an argument (the argument that you, more than the thousands of other
applicants, deserve to be selected.
Think hard about your reader’s expectations. Sometimes it helps to imagine your reader as a
teacher in your school-one who doesn’t know you or your work. That reader will expect a good
essay, on topic, free from errors. Also bear in mind that your reader is probably reading a lot of
other essays in addition to yours; do your very best to make his experi-ence pleasant and
rewarding.
Brainstorm extensively for these essays, both before you start your draft and during revision.
Make sure your content is the best it can possi-bly be. Because this is a formal essay, you can
be sure that your reader will be looking at how you’ve organized it. Is your structure logical?
Take some time to outline your essay, and don’t be afraid to reorganize it once you’ve drafted
it; essays often evolve as you write them and may need to be reoutlined and adjusted during
the revision phase.
Expect to go through several drafts before you finalize your essay. Give yourself plenty of
time to write, revise, and rewrite. Don’t feel you’ve failed if you don’t write a perfect draft the
first time through: editing and rewriting are part of the writing process. Proofreading is a critical
part of the revision process. For obvious reasons, your spelling, punctuation, and grammar
must be perfect.
DOs and DON’Ts of College Admissions Letter or Essay Writing
Do Don’t
Write it yourself. It’s a good idea to have
trusted friends, family, or advisers read
your drafts and make suggestions.
However, the essay must be completely
your own work from start to finish.
Admissions committees are very adept
at detect-ing when someone else has
written an essay for you.
Don’t let anyone else write any part of it
for you. Your essay must be your work,
and your work alone. The admissions
committee will definitely know if your
mom wrote even a little: nothing is
more obvious to an experienced reader
than changes in tone, vocabulary, and
attitude. When you get feedback from
friends or family, don’t let them rewrite
those sections for you. Absorb what
they’ve said to you, and put it in your
own words.
Answer the question (or “prompt”}
exactly as it’s posed. Some schools use
the Common Application (often known
as the Common App), which allows
students to complete a single
application packet for submission to
Don’t rehash quantitative information
that appears elsewhere in your
application. The admissions committee
will look at your application as a whole
including data such as test scores and
grades. Don’t waste the precious
3
multiple schools. However, not all
schools use the Common App, and
some might even require additional
essays. If you’re applying to multiple
schools, it can be a hassle to customize
your essays to meet their requirements,
but doing so is absolutely critical to your
success.
opportunity the essay affords by
restating this information, no matter
how impressive it may be.
Answer the whole question. Many
questions have multiple parts. One
typical question is to ask you to identify
an important issue or person in your life
and then to explain why. Don’t neglect
the “why” part of the question. That
section is your opportunity to reflect,
analyze, and show what’s important to
you as a potential member of the
col-lege community. Read the question
carefully and be sure to answer it fully.
Don’t use fancy words where ordinary
ones will do. If you mean “praise,” don’t
use “laud.” If you mean “think,” don’t use
“cogitate.” If you mean “walk,” don’t use
“perambulate.” You don’t get extra
points for extra syllables. Write in your
own, natural, intelligent voice.
Observe the conventions of a formal
essay. Your essay should have a clear
structure, with a consistent point of
view, and it should be written with an
eye to keeping the reader’s interest.
Don’t indulge in excessive praise of the
school you’re applying to. Good schools
already know how good they are. It’s
wise to show that you know something
about the school you’re applying to, but
it’s best to show this knowledge when
you explain that you’re an ideal fit for
the culture and values of the school.
Your essay is not an e-mail to a friend, or
a friendly conversation, or a list of
accomplish-ments. It’s a formal piece of
writing with an introduction and
conclusion-a clear beginning, middle,
and end. Ideally, your essay should be
interesting for anyone to read, not just
the admissions committee.
Don’t overemphasize what the
university can do for you. You should
show that you’re aware of their offerings
and emphasis, but you should put more
emphasis on what you can do for the
univer-sity community.
Be yourself. The committee wants to
know who you are, so your essay should
employ your natural voice, albeit in the
context of a formal essay. Don’t try to
impress by using big words, convoluted
sentences, or pretentious ideas. Show
the very best of who you really are.
Don’t submit an essay with typos,
misspellings, and punctuation errors.
This essay is your writing sample, and it
also demonstrates how much you care
about your application. If you allow
sloppy mistakes in your application
essay, the admissions committee has
every right to decide that you won’t care
about the work you do in college. Get
several people you trust to proofread
your essay before you submit it.
Use humor sparingly: don’t go
overboard. Many students think that a
4
jokey tone will convey their personality
better or set them apart from other
applicants. Be wary of self-deprecating
humor, especially if it’s used to provide
reasons for a less-than-stellar aca-demic
record. This kind of approach almost
always fails. If you have concerns about
your test scores or grades, address them
in a straightforward, serious way.
Proofread, proofread, proofread. Do not
rely on spell-check or grammar-check
programs; they sometimes make
mistakes. Proofread the essay carefully
yourself; then give it to at least two
other competent people (not your best
friend who got a C in English) to proof it.
It’s even well worth the investment to
pay a professional to proofread your
final draft before you submit
Resources about writing job application cover letters:
• Harvard Business Review’s, “How to Write a Cover Letter ”
• Columbia University’s, “How and Why to Write a Good Cover Letter ”
• Forbes’ Magazine’s “6 Secrets To Writing A Great Cover Letter ”
• indeed.com’s “7 Powerful Ways to Start a Cover Letter (With Examples) ”
DOs and DON’Ts of Cover Letter Writing
Do Don’t
Tailor your cover letter to the particular
job you’re applying for. If you are
applying for a hundred jobs, plan to
write 100 letters. Develop a few different
templates to use as a basis for your
different letters, but be sure the cover
letter you send is customized for the job
you’re applying for.
Don’t rehash the information on your
resume. Your cover letter should
motivate the reader to look carefully at
your resume, not simply reiterate the
information there.
Address a particular person in your
salutation. Try to avoid “To Whom It May
Concern,” if possible.
Don’t explain the company to the
reader. Your reader knows that her
employer is the world’s leader in vaccine
production, for example. Your job in the
https://hbr.org/2014/02/how-to-write-a-cover-letter
https://www.careereducation.columbia.edu/resources/how-and-why-write-great-cover-letter
https://www.forbes.com/sites/sethporges/2012/08/29/6-secrets-to-writing-a-great-cover-letter/?sh=67bff3fb73d7
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/powerful-ways-to-start-a-cover-letter
5
cover letter is to explain why you’re the
best fit for the job in that company.
State why you are writing and which job
you’re applying for. If someone
recommended you apply for the
position, say so and how you know that
person.
Don’t fudge about salary issues.
Companies ask about salary history
because they need to know if you fit
within their budget. If you are
uncomfortable talking salary
expectations, provide a salary range
you’d be willing to accept.
Refer to the relevant information on
your resume that fits with this job.
Focus on what you have to offer the
employer, not what the job can offer
you.
Write in your own voice. This is a
business letter, so it should be
businesslike, but you will make a
stronger impression writing like your
voice instead of “business-ese.”
Keep it brief. Don’t ramble. Instead,
pique the reader’s interest. Don’t give
yourself completely away.
1
1
1
Brainstorming Activity for Introduction Essay
Use bullet points to answer the following questions about yourself (if you don’t have an answer to one or two of these questions, then skip that question). You may add more than one bullet point to answer any question. You will use the ideas that you brainstorm to write an application letter about yourself, which will be your first major essay due.
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Question you will answer
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Your answer, in bullet point style and not in paragraph form
|
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Who
|
are you as a student?
|
· I am a student who is uncomfortable about the way we conduct our education.
· I think the way we teach and are taught are deeply flawed and in dire need of change.
· But paradoxically I am fond of learning and it gives me immense pleasure to be able to learn something new .
|
|
are you as a family member?
|
· I am not a very active member of the family and usually am indifferent about most of the things going on in the family.
· They differ with me in the very basis of what life must constitute that I can never have proper communication with them.
· But I really respect them as everyone in my family are really hardworking people with sincere love and dedication towards their family.
|
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are you as a neighborhood or community member?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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I am usually secluded from the neighborhood or communal activities except for the occasions I feel I cannot avoid.
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Although I love talking to people of the community and working together with them. It is one of the few joys of human life that come almost free of cost and provides so much more in return.
|
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inspired you to do something you never thought you could do?
|
· It was the winter of my junior year in high school, I was walking home from a long day at school by the side of Bagmati (it is a river in Pakistan , and also kind of important for this story ).
· At that time, I was really sad about the state I found my country and the river beside me symbolized the true state of my country.
· A river that was supposed to pristine and blooming with life was now a glorified sewer with a beautiful name.
· It came to me as a slow realization that it wasn’t that people didn’t care, it was just that they didn’t think there was much they could do.
· On that day I decided, I am going to become someone who
|
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can do something about the things that they care about.
|
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What
|
have you accomplished so far in your high school and college career that you are proud of?
|
|
|
|
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So far, I don’t think I have done anything that I can especially be proud of.
Although my parents may differ, they are quite fond of talking about me with their peers.
|
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do you want to learn about in college?
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I want to do two things in my time in college.
First is the technical knowledge of the field I will be studying in (Knowledge of Civil Engineering as far as my major goes).
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The second is to be able to convey the things I want to say in precise and clear manner.
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are you most passionate about (what do you spend most of your time and energy doing?)
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I am and have always been passionate about learning. The human capacity to observe objects in nature and derive knowledge from them is one of the most fascinating things about us.
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Most of my day is spent in reading something or the other that I’ve found that day.
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I wish I could enroll in a college where they let me sleep in the library and don’t require me to take any classes.
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I would be really happy man if that were a reality.
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do you want to do after you earn your degree or certificate?
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I want to go to university and finish my bachelors and then go off to study for my master’s degree.
And as soon as my master’s is completed, I want to go back home and start cleaning the river , I so adore.
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Where
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are you from?
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I am from Mubarak , Pakistan .
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Which is a small town in an already small country.
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do you see yourself after college?
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Back home working on a project hopefully.
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Why
|
did you decide to enroll as a college student?
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Because I love the idea of going to a place where you can learn skills that you can then use to enrich your life and the lives of others around you.
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How
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will you keep pursuing what you love even after college?
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I plan to join a government agency or maybe even start a project so that I can work on building efficient water treatments plants in my country.
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will you make yourself and your family and community members proud?
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I think if I live responsibly and take care of people around me and actually dedicate myself to this cause.
It will be more than enough for anyone to be proud of me.
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