The topic explained
Applications and personal statements; Writing samples; Discussion essays; Paragraph 1: Introduction; Formal letters; Paragraph 5: Conclusion
Applications and personal statements
How to write about yourself on an application
Sometimes there is a section of an application form (for a job or a course) which asks you to write something about yourself.
| DO … | DON’T … |
|---|---|
| say why you are applying (and why for this course in particular) | make general statements (e.g. ‘I have always been interested in Economics.’) |
| explain what makes you suitable (e.g. the skills you have) | make unsupported claims (e.g. ‘I am a very determined person.’) |
| give examples of things you’ve done outside education (but only if they show something about you) | mention negative points or make excuses for things you haven’t done |
| say what your future aims are (if you’re not sure, just say what you hope to gain from the course) | use famous quotations (they want to know what you think, not someone else) |
| make yourself stand out from other applicants | try to be funny (it usually doesn’t work) |
| check your spelling and grammar (and get someone else to look at it too) | use underlining, bold type, etc. for emphasis |
| plan your statement and do plenty of research | copy from online examples (universities have ways of checking this) |
| make sure you keep under the word limit (if there is one) | leave it till the last minute |
Writing samples
The book says: notice the underlined tenses and verb forms in the sample.
Discussion essays
Four kinds of discussion essay and how to plan them
There are several types of essay titles that ask you to discuss something. The most common ones are:
- comparing (e.g. What are the main differences between x and y?)
- for and against / advantages and disadvantages
- agreeing or disagreeing (e.g. Some people think ... How far do you agree?)
- opinion (e.g. What do think about …?)
First the plan for the first three types: the Introduction opens it and the Conclusion is the fourth paragraph.
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Then the opinion essay plan, which runs over five paragraphs from the Introduction to the Conclusion.
Formal letters
A formal enquiry letter and its useful phrases
We write formal letters to people that we don’t know or have never met, for example covering letters and letters asking for information.
Business letters
Two business letters: an answer and an enquiry
The style of business letters is mostly the same as other formal letters. It is important to keep to the main point / purpose, but remain polite (without being too personal).
Summaries
Cutting a text down to its main message
You may sometimes be asked to write a summary of a longer text.
What you can usually take out, as the book lists it:
- examples
- information repeated in different words
- extra comments and opinions
