Week 1 - Personal Statement

Writing your personal statement:[1]
Write a positive and interesting personal statement to hold the attention of the reader.
Make sure that you address any specific questions that are asked - do not ignore them or think you can get away without answering them.
Be specific and provide appropriate evidence, e.g. if you are applying for a teacher training course, don't just say that you would make a good teacher; give examples of previous experience working in a classroom and activities where you have been involved with children.
Try to make your personal statement unique or distinctive in some way. One way to make it individual is to give a detailed example of something specific to your own experience, such as an event that influenced your decision to pursue a particular course or career.
Be succinct and avoid using long and ambiguous words or overly long sentences.
Adhere to the stated word limits - personal statements are often limited to 250-500 words, or one typed page, so write concisely while still providing enough detail.
Tailor your personal statement to the job or course you are applying for - do not use exactly the same one for different jobs.
Questions to ask yourself when writing a personal statement[2]
What in your life story makes you special, unique or impressive?
What interests you about the field of work/study for which you are applying and how did you learn about it?
What are your relevant work experiences?
What are your career goals?
What skills do you have (e.g. problem solving, willingness to learn, leadership, communication skills) and can you provide evidence to back up your claims?
What personal characteristics do you possess (e.g. integrity, compassion, persistence) and, again, can you provide evidence to back up your claims?
What responsibilities have you undertaken?
What difficulties have you overcome?
Why should you be chosen above the other applicants?
For additional information and examples of personal statements, check the following website: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/pw/p_perstate.html
[1] http://www.le.ac.uk/careers/personalstatementtips.html
[2] http://www.le.ac.uk/careers/personalstatement.html

Week 1 - College Writing – Résumés, Cover Letters, and the Scholarship Essay

College Writing – Résumés, Cover Letters, and the Scholarship Essay

Day 1 – Introduction

Read “Writing your way into college.”
Read pages 93 – 97. Answer the Critical Thinking questions on page 96.

Day 2 – Prewriting

Go to Student Services for more information on writing résumés, cover letters, and scholarship essays.

Complete Exercises 45 – 46 on pages 97-98. Begin collecting ideas for your personal statement in each of the following areas: character development, educational plans, and occupational plans.

Day 3 – Drafting

Begin drafting a sample résumé and cover letter for a job, college application, or scholarship application. See Exercise 47 and 48 on page 98.

Watch Legally Blond. What does Reese Witherspoon’s character do to stand above the crowd? Create a list of dos and don’ts for writing cover letters, résumés, and personal statements.

Begin writing your personal statement. The purpose of a personal statement is to an employer or college admissions director an idea of who you are through your past experiences, present situations, and future goals. Be as unique and precise as possible. You want your applications to stick out from the rest rather than blend into the crowd.

Day 4 – Revising and Editing

Work in groups to revise and edit drafts of résumés, cover letters, and personal statements. Use the dos and don’ts list to critique and revise each other’s work.

Day 5 – Final Drafts

Print and turn in final drafts of résumés, cover letters, and personal statement.