Writing Personal Statements for Applications

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Writing Personal Statements for Applications

• A presentation by
• The Graduate Writing Center
• of the
• The Center for Excellence in Writing

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Writing Personal Statements for Applications

• Instructor Rosalyn Collings Eves
• Graduate Writing Center coordinator
• rmc216_at_psu.edu

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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.

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About the Graduate Writing Center

• One-on-one consultations
• All types of writing
• All stages of the writing process
• To schedule, see the Centers website
• http//www.psu.edu/dept/cew/grad/gwc.htm
• Or go directly to the online schedule
• https//secure.gradsch.psu.edu/wccal/studentview.c
  fm

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Personal Statements An Overview

• Humanize your application
• Make specific argument about your qualifications
  and abilities

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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?

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Drafting Considerations

• Generating Material
• What do you want the committee to know about you?
• Considering Arrangement
• How do you want to organize this material?

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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.

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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

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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?

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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!

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Revision Concerns

• Paragraph Patterns
• Increasing Coherence
• Improving Word Choice

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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

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Increasing Coherence

• Move from old to new information
• Use transitional phrases
• Use pronouns and recycling

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Improving Word Choice and Conciseness

• Avoid empty words
• Avoid unnecessary repetition
• Use action verbs

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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?

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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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The End

• Thank you for coming!
• Please fill out and return your evaluation form
  as you leave.