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1、Personal Statement 个人陈述详解 BerkeleyWriting your personal statement can be one of the most satisfying-or frustrating-writing experiences youll ever have.The personal statement is an important part of your application package. Depending on the topic you choose, the essay you write provides additional e
2、vidence of your intellectual and creative achievement. The essay is also the only opportunity for the readers of your application to get a feel for you as a person as well as for you as a student. The essay is also the place where you can put your academic record into the context of your opportuniti
3、es and obstacles.There is no one correct way to write a personal statement, but in general those who will read your essay are looking for two important things:? HOW the essay provides evidence of your achievements that isnt reflected in other parts of your application? HOW and WHY the events that yo
4、u describe have shaped your attitude, focus, and, most of all, your intellectual vitality.This information will help you think about and craft a personal statement by taking you step by step through a process of brainstorming, drafting and revising. At the end, we hope that you will produce a person
5、al statement that you are proud of and that will provide admissions officers with an accurate portrait of who you are and why a college education is important to you. Characteristics of a Good Personal StatementBut before you write a single word, make sure you know what is expected of a successful c
6、ollege essay.A good essay.-Is thoughtful and honestA strong personal statement is reflective; that is, it demonstrates that you have thought about and gained a clear perspective on your experiences and what you want in your future. It does not simply tell a reader what you think he/she wants to know
7、. Instead, it gives the reader a vivid and compelling picture of you-in essence, telling the reader what he or she should know about you. Remember that the focus of the essay is YOU-your achievements, your obstacles, your goals, your values.-Strives for depth, not breadthA good essay is not a list o
8、f your accomplishments. Remember when your mom told you that its quality, not quantity, that counts? Well, the same adage applies for your college essay. A reader will be much more interested in how your experience demonstrates the theme of your essay, not the number of accomplishments you can list.
9、 What is NOT interesting: an essay that devotes one paragraph each to a variety of different topics. This type of approach denies you the ability to give depth to your essay.-Follows the conventions of good writingA good essay uses appropriate grammar and syntax, uses precise and vivid language, and
10、 does not contain any spelling errors.-Conforms to guidelinesIf the essay instructions tell you that the essay should be two pages long, on white 8.5x11 inch paper, then the essay should be two pages long, on white 8.5x11 inch paper. Less is not more, and more is not better, either.-Answers the ques
11、tion!A good essay is the result of a writer who has examined the essay question and written an essay that explicitly addresses that question. For example, if you are asked to describe your greatest accomplishment or any unusual circumstances or challenges you have faced, then your reader will expect
12、 you to use vivid language that will enable the reader to visualize your accomplishment and share your sense of success.-Benefits from several drafts and feedback from othersRevision allows an essay to grow. Revising is not editing; revising is the act of re-seeing and of looking for those parts of
13、the essay that would benefit from more explication, more (or less) vivid language, or even deleting parts that simply dont work to move your primary theme forward. Similarly, feedback from others can help you identify those parts of the essay that work well-and those that dont.-Contains a catchy int
14、roduction that will keep the reader interestedIt is important to recognize that essay readers will read hundreds, maybe even thousands, of essays during the application review period. That means that an essay with a catchy introduction, one that gets right to the point and uses precise language and
15、vivid imagery, is going to stand our more than an essay that is predictable and conventional in its opener.-Transforms blemishes into positivesIts okay to have flaws! The essay is your chance to show how you have transformed blemishes. For example, if your essay theme is overcoming obstacles and you
16、 earned a poor grade in a class, but went to a community college at night to repeat the course, it is important for your reader to know this because it is an example of your perseverance. The reader does not want to hear complaints about poor grades or circumstances, but rather wants to know how you have overcome them.-Demonstrates your knowledge of the major/collegeNo one expects you to know everything abou
