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Kk-306Week6PPT.pptxExpository Writing
Week 6
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Expository Writing
Personal Statements
Personal Statements
What is a Personal Statement (often called a “Statement of Purpose”)?
The general, comprehensive personal statement
The response to very specific questions
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Examples of Requirements for California State University, San Bernardino
Masters of Arts in Child Development
1-2 page typewritten description of your preparation for graduate study, goals for the graduate training program, and professional aspirations following receipt of the Master's Degree
Master of Science in Biology
A statement of preparation and goals
Masters in Business Administration
Statement of Academic Motivation and Personal Qualifications: This statement should be on a separate sheet of paper and approximately 250 words in length. It should state the reasons for pursuing a Master’s degree in Business Administration and choosing this University. It may comment on any special honors or accomplishments you have achieved. (Resume and two letters of recommendation are optional, but highly desirable).
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Determining Content
When thinking about content, determine first what makes your life meaningful and interesting
Volunteer experiences
Extracurricular activities
Lessons learned from family, friends, community, life experiences
Why do these events, people, or memories define who you are?
Evaluate how specific experiences/activities have shaped your ambitions, career goals, personal qualities, etc.
Admissions committee members are looking for interesting, insightful, revealing and non-generic essays that suggest you have successfully gone through a process of careful reflection and self-examination.
Not an autobiography
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Personal Statement Do’s
Concentrate on your opening paragraph
something that grabs attention and sets the tone for the rest of the essay
Tell a story: By distinguishing yourself through your story – by setting yourself apart from other applicants – you’ll make yourself memorable
Be specific (Back up assertions with specific examples)
Balance a discussion of your past experience with an explanation of your goals, plans, and aspirations.
If you have ordinary or poor grades, offer an explanation without sounding like you are making excuses – explain how these grades are not reflective of your future ability to do well in graduate school
Do some research if needed
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From “How to Write a Winning Personal Statement”
As a native of Los Angeles’s inner city, where gang violence and drugs are key aspects of the landscape, I was one of the lucky few to survive childhood with spirit and ambitions intact. The poverty and despair that were all around me crushed the hopes and dreams of many of my peers; few finished high school, and even fewer went on to college. Most are now unemployed, in jail, or dead. This sad circumstance is something that is never far from my consciousness even now, as I face the exhilarating prospect of entering law school and begin to prepare myself for the legal career that has long been a cherished goal.
I am the only member of my family ever to go to college, but at one time it seemed that this might not happen. I started my undergraduate career on a football scholarship, but a midseason gridiron injury hospitalized me and temporarily derailed my academic pursuits. Discouraged by my month long incapacitation, I decided to defer college and instead go to work. For two years I worked as an assistant buyer for a stereo store; for two additional years, I served as an inventory analyst for a major national toy maker. This latter job gave me the opportunity to interact regularly with both accountants and business executives, an experience which helped refuel my ambition to prepare myself for a professional career. Reentering college, I earned virtually all A’s while studying economics. My success in this endeavor bolstered my confidence and helped me cope with the challenges I faced later upon transferring to a top-rated West Coast university.
Like many law applicants, I kept an active extracurricular agenda…
From “How to Write a Winning Personal Statement”
As a doctor’s son I have been exposed to medicine all my life and independently developed a special interest in the sciences at an early age. It wasn’t until my junior year in high school, however, when I saw my father bring a new child into the world, that I knew for sure that I wanted to become a doctor myself.
As I watched my father interacting with the expectant mother, trying to help her relax, then delivering her infant, I was profoundly moved: the expression “the miracle of life” assumed new meaning for me. I realized at that moment that doctors are involved in both the worst and the most wonderful moments in the lives of others and are in a unique position to help out on either type of occasion…
I believe that my summer work in various medical facilities demonstrates my strong interest in and dedication to becoming a doctor, and I believe my grades indicate my aptitude in dealing with the kinds of courses that are part of every medical school’s curriculum…
From “How to Write a Winning Personal Statement”
Martial Arts and Medicine. They seem worlds apart, but they both have played significant roles in my life and for reasons that are surprisingly similar. They both offer challenge, require great discipline, and necessitate a goal oriented approach.
I first became involved with martial arts when I was only 13 years old. At the time I began studying karate in my hometown in northern California. Even then I was a goal-oriented individual who was attracted to the step-by-step progression involved in studying karate...
Personal Statement Do’s Contd.
Keep in Mind the purpose of your essay
To show that you can communicate clearly
To convey a sense of who you are within the parameters of the questions asked.
Adhere to the stated word limits
Type and proofread your essay carefully
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Personal Statement Don’ts
In general references to experiences or accomplishments during your high school years or earlier should not be included
(exception: if there was an extraordinary achievement or traumatic event that had a significant impact on your development or career plans)
Don’t mention subjects that are potentially controversial (i.e. personal political views)
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Organization of Personal Statements
Introduction (1-2 paragraphs) – How you decided on graduate school
Catchy opening (distinctive personal example)
Connect the example to the actual program/position for which you are applying or your career goals
Provides the essay’s controlling theme
Detailed Supporting Paragraphs
2-4 body paragraphs that develop your theme through examples and detailed experiences and build upon each other
Address any specific questions from the application, which might deal with the strengths of the program/position, your own qualifications, your compatibility with the program/position, your long term goals, etc.
GPA and accomplishments (Clubs, scholarships, awards)
Specific work, volunteer experience – explanation of how these experiences tie into the degree you are pursuing
Why you chose the particular program
Future goals – how is this job or degree a step towards a long term goal
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Organization Contd.
Conclusion
Tie together the various issues that you have raised in the essay, and reiterate your interest in this specific program or position.
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The Inside Perspective: Personal Statements
“We look for some originality because nine out of ten essays leave you with a big yawn. ‘I like science, I like to help people and that’s why I want to be a doctor.’ The common uninteresting, and unoriginal statement is one that recounts the applicant’s academic pursuits and basically repeats what is elsewhere in the application. You look for something different, something that will pique your interest and provide some unique insight that will make you pay some notice to this person who is among so many other qualified applicants. If you’re screening 5,500 applicants over a four- or six-month period, you want to see something that is really interesting.” – Dr. Daniel R. Alonso, Associate Dean for Admissions, Cornell University Medical College
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The Inside Perspective Contd.
“We’re trying to gauge the potential for a student’s success in law school, and we determine that, principally, on the basis of what the student has done in the past. The personal statement carries the responsibility of presenting the student’s life experiences. Applicants also tend to state and not evaluate. They give a recitation of their experiences but no evaluation of what effect that particular experience had on them, no assessment of what certain experiences or honors meant…
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…They also fail to explain errors or weaknesses in their background. Even though we might wish to admit a student, sometimes we can’t in view of a weakness that they haven’t made an effort to explain. For example, perhaps they haven’t told us that they were ill on the day they took the LSAT or had an automobile accident on the way. Such things are legitimate reasons for poor performance. I mean, we understand that life is tough sometimes. We need to know what happened, for example, to cause a sudden drop in the GPA.” - Beth O’Neil, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, University of California at Berkeley School of Law
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Expository Writing
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Presenting Your Research
Purpose of Presenting Research
Question to Ask Yourself Prior to Presenting Your Research:
What goal do I have in presenting my research/why is the presentation of my research important?
Tip to Remember: Presentation is only 5 min – You cannot include everything in your research paper!
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Introduction
The purpose of your introduction is education about your research problem
Topic: I am talking today about [your topic].
Question: I want to show you […]
Rationale: I’m doing so in order to explain/improve/understand […]
Significance: I believe that my findings are significant regarding [how they relate to your field of study and to the audience].
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“The Real Root Causes of Violent Crime: The Breakdown of Marriage, Family, and Community” by Patrick Fagan
Topic: I am talking today about the impact of family life on criminal behavior
Question: I want to show you the connection between the breakdown of American families and various social problems
Rationale: I’m doing so in order to understand the connection between a lack of parental attachment and violent crime.
Significance: I believe that my findings are significant because without an understanding of the root causes of criminal behavior – how criminals are formed – Members of Congress and state legislators cannot understand why whole sectors of society, particularly in urban areas, are being torn apart by crime. And without that knowledge, sound policy making is impossible.
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Body
Present your most important points and give support for them
Respond to the most significant criticisms that can be made against your thesis
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“The Real Root Causes of Violent Crime: The Breakdown of Marriage, Family, and Community” by Patrick Fagan
Main Thesis: the root causes of crime are to a greater degree the result of familial relationships rather than poverty or race.
Competing Views
Poverty is the cause of crime (This is the view espoused by Washington)
Race is the cause of crime
Response to these views
How Criminal Behavior Develops
Stage 1: The broken family
Stage 2: Juvenile Delinquency
Stage 3: The Collapse of Community
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Conclusion
Reinforce major conclusions, in their order of significance
If appropriate, provide practical solutions to problems you have addressed, suggest areas where further research can be done or where action can be taken
Handling Questions and Answers
If you don’t know the answer, don’t bluff or be defensive
Consider questions to which you don’t have the answers as the means to refine your search
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Expository Writing
Persuasive/ Research Paper
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General Format
Typed and double-spaced
12 point Times New Roman font
1” margins on all sides
Staple (upper left hand corner)
Indent the first line of each paragraph one-half inch (or five spaces) from the left margin.
Major Paper Sections
Title Page
Abstract
Main Body
References (APA)
End Notes /Bibliography (Chicago)
Grading Rubric
What Should Your Title Include?
Your title should introduce the key themes that are in your main claim
Two-line titles will give you more scope to specify the key terms in your paper. End the first line with a colon that introduces a more specific second line.
“End It Don’t Mend It: What to Do With No Child Left Behind”
“The Real Root Causes of Violent Crime: The Breakdown of Marriage, Family, and Community”
Brainstorm
First identify key themes in your main claim
With these key themes in mind try and list a couple of possible titles
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Title Page - APA
Page Header
Change font to Times New Roman
Running head
Page number
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W2cfrJ6FCY
Title
Name/Author affiliation
Plagiarism Statement
Title Page - Chicago
Title
Name
Course
Date
Plagiarism Statement
Page numbers (do not show on first page)
Writing an Abstract
An abstract concisely summarizes the main claim and argument of the paper, highlighting all of the major points.
Make a statement concerning the work’s purpose (premise, theme)
Discuss major aims (objective) of the work
Write a coherent paragraph or two summarizing the contents of the work.
Tips for Writing an Abstract
Reread your research paper with the purpose of abstracting in mind.
After you have finished rereading your research paper, write a rough draft of WITHOUT LOOKING BACK AT YOUR REPORT.
Example Abstract
Title: Constitutionalism, Judiciary, and Democracy in Islamic Societies
Author: Tezcür, Güneş Murat
Journal Name:Polity
Source:Polity v. 39 no. 4 (October 2007) p. 479-501
Publication Year: 2007
Abstract: This article reconsiders the relationship between secularism, liberalism, and democracy in non-secularized societies by focusing on judicial activism. The goal is to identify the forms of constitutionalism and judicial review that are necessary for the sustainability of democracy in societies where exclusive and holistic interpretations of religion remain pervasive. How is it possible to prevent majority rule from decaying into the tyranny of the majority in such societies? Neither the guardianship regimes embodied by the Iranian and Turkish republics nor Islamic democracy provide viable models that overcome the tension between constitutionalism and democracy. However, a conflict between these two principles in Islamic societies is avoidable. Judicial review, sanctioned by democratically written liberal constitutions and not guarded by non-elected institutions such as military, would be a guardian of individual and minority rights in Islamic societies.
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Abstract Page
APA
Short version of title in header (without Running head)
Abstract (centered)
Text (do not indent)
Chicago
No title header
Page 2
Abstract (centered)
Text
Main Body (Text)
Number the first text page as page number 3.
(APA) Type and center the title of the paper centered, at the top of the page.
Type the text double-spaced with all sections following each other without a break. (see Headings)
Identify the sources you use in the paper in parenthetical in-text citations (APA) or notes (Chicago).
Headings
| Level | Format |
| 1 | Centered, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase Headings |
Reference Page - APA
Chicago - Bibliography
Revising Your Organization and Argument
Identify the outer frame of your paper - mark where each section of your paper stops and the next begins
Make sure that each section relates to the previous one and supports your overall theme in an organized way (Strengthen transitions wherever the plan of organization is likely to be unclear to the reader).
Make sure that each paragraph has a topic sentence or main point and that every paragraph supports the thesis
Evaluate the quality of your argument
Is your evidence reliable and clearly connected to your claims?
Have you accounted for opposition to your argument?
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