Transcript JEC EW2S 9 - Statement of Purpose 2a

English Writing
Part 9:
Statement of Purpose,
part 2
John E. Clayton
Nanjing University, Spring, 2005
Syllabus
03/02 Introduction; Overview; Writing a good paragraph
03/09 Information Form; Essays – structure, thesis
03/16 Thesis Focus; Movie: Johnny Lingo
03/23 Essay Introduction and Conclusion
03/30 Movie: Dave
04/06 Review for mid-term exam; Overcoming Fear
04/13 Mid-term exam
04/20 Resume - 1
04/27 Resume - 2
05/04 Holiday
05/11 Business Letters
05/18 Statement of Purpose
05/25 Statement of Purpose
06/01 Review for final exam
06/08 Final exam
Journal 1
Journal 2
Journal 1
Journal 2
Journal 1
Journal 2
Going Away Party
Please join Mr. and Mrs. Clayton at their giant
end-of-school year going away party, as they
return to America.
Thursday, June 9th
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Li Xing Guan Student Center
Pukou Campus
Activities to include:
Speech contest, with prizes
Drawings and give-aways
Music
Songs Who is invited? Any
Games
of Mr. or Mrs.
Clayton’s students - last year or this year.
Homework
Please turn-in
your journals,
1 & 2.
Last time!
3 Stages of the Writing Process
• 1 stage: Preparation
• 2 stage: Writing
• 3 stage: Revision
Stage 1: Preparation
• Arrange a month or so to write a
successful SOP
• Conduct brainstorming of your
advantages and disadvantages
• What is special and unique about you
and what distinguishes you from others
• Why exactly does this program and this
university match your goals and
interests, and why you apply to them
Stage 2: General Advice
• Make an outline of your SOP with logical
sequence and reasoning of main ideas you
wish to present.
• Work on your first sentence and first
paragraph. Imagine that the first sentence
is the only chance for you to make sure
that the admissions official that reads
your application remembers you and
wishes to read further about you. Same
for first paragraph and a final conclusion
sentence. They are of key importance!
Stage 2: General Advice, CONT.
• Be clear, specific, interesting and say
only what is important. Brevity is
important, so exclude sentences or
ideas that are not necessary.
• Do not lie or exaggerate, be sincere
• Be positive (try to omit negative
information, instead try to view and
present it in a positive way)
• Write several drafts and allow each to
“rest” for a few days.
Stage 2: General Advice, CONT.
What makes you different and unique?
Why?
Consider:
• Your family, relatives and even pets,
• Your role models and inspirations,
• The time you helped a friend through a
personal trauma (or vice versa),
• The remote place where you spent a
portion of your formative years,
• Your trophies and awards.
Stage 2: General Advice, CONT.
What makes you different and unique?
• Your unusual skills, talents, and abilities
• A learning disability
• A physical handicap or other feature that
might make you different (in a positive
sense in achieving your progress and
goals)
• Your disadvantaged background or
minority status that contributed to make
you different in achieving your goals or
progress
Stage 1: Preparation
Name one thing that
makes you
different from
everyone else
Stage 2: Contents
Do not just write a summary of your
background (education, experience,
social activities etc) in your SOP.
The winning SOP should not repeat the
information you provide elsewhere in
your application. It should provide NEW
information and MORE, OTHER
interesting and important information on
you, your goals, interests and personality.
Stage 3: Revision
Let the draft “rest” for a day or two, then
have a fresh look at it.
Request someone knowledgeable and
objective read your draft and provide
comments (even criticize).
Write several drafts in similar way, then
review and choose the best or combine
some ideas.
Outline
I Introduction
Tell a story--grab the reader’s interest
Share a life experience--what is special, unique
or distinctive about you.
Outline
II. Body of the Paper
A. Explain background
» Where and what studied
» If coming from a different field
of study, explain how skills
learned in earning your degree
can be applied to the new field
B. Describe professional goals
» Why that field of study interesting/ what
influenced you to choose that field
» Future plans after receiving degree
C. What you wish to study in graduate school
» Your specific interests in your field
» Why this program is needed for your
professional development
» Why you wish to study in the US
» Why you’re applying to this university
III. Conclusion
• A. Summing up the main points
• B. What you can contribute to the
program (to the university)
Describe what drives you – i.e. what
motivates you in past experiences and
activities and now,
Do not just describe your experiences,
evaluate them and write how they changed
you (your values, interests, behavior, etc),
Be creative and imaginative especially in
opening sentences that should catch the
attention of the reader, make him/her
intrigued in continuing to read and make
them remember your statement of purpose
out of hundreds of others,
Homework
Finish your statement of
purpose – print to hand-in
next week
Start reviewing your notes
for the final exam
SOP Tips
• Covering the basic points is not enough.
• You should create your SOP in a unique style.
• Many applicants simply list their academic facts,
goals and reasons they choose the school,
• But to distinguish yourself, it is a good idea to start
with an idea or story related to your field. The idea
you choose, and your comments on it, often tell an
admissions committee more about you than your
own self-descriptions can.
SOP Tips
Do's
•Demonstrate your considerable dedication to earn a master's and even
a doctorate degree.
•Clearly state your reasons to choose a particular school.
•Have someone else proofread your essay.
Don'ts
•Bring up topics or something of no interest to a prospective
admissions committee.
•Excessive words on your extracurricular activities.
•Reuse the same statement of purpose for each school you apply to.
SOP Tips
Writing Your Statement of P
graduate school statement of purpose is your chance to demonstrate your unique qualifications for and commitm
ccess by focusing on a few illustrative incidents as opposed to giving a superficial overview. Remember: Detail
Following "Ten Do's and Don'ts for Your Statement of Purpose" will help you write a compelling, focused essay
Ten Do's and Don'ts for You
The Do
Unite your essay and give it direction with a theme or thesis.
Before you begin writing, choose what you want to disc
Use concrete examples from your life experience to support yo
Write about what interests you, excites you. Tha
Start your essay with an attention-grabbing lead -- an anecdo
End your essay with a conclusion that refers b
Revise your essay at l
In addition to your editing, ask someone else to c
Proofread your personal statement by reading it out loud or re
Write clearly, s
The Don
Basic Pieces of Information
1.What you'd like to study.
2.Why you choose this field.
3.What background you have in the field.
4.Why you choose a particular school.
5.What you plan to do after you graduate.
• With such information, the admissions committee
will be able to determine whether you are
seriously interested in and have sufficient
experience in the field you’ve chosen.
• The committee also considers your fit to the
school.
SOP Tips
Statement of Purpose/Essays plays a major role in admissions. This is the on
If more than one students have marginal score for a particular University the
The most important part of your essay is the subject matter. You should give
How to do it?
Get Complete information of the major your are applying and details of that
See the facilities number of courses provided in that major. Does it matches
If your interests research) doesn't matches you will most probably be rejecte
Some students got rejection letter stating "Your Research Interest doesn't ma
Direct experience with your field of study is the best kind to have in your ess
A word of caution: Do not focus solely on your research topic unless this is t
Even if you have no formal experience, you might still have field experience