When writing your college application essay, it is very important for you to be on the lookout for possible problems in your writing techniques. Find out how you can correct them. Learn the art of evaluating your own writing style, not having to wait for another person to be a critic of your work.
Check if your written essay appears too wordy or passive. There are times when your sentences would appear longer but ineffective, or shorter but effective, or stronger than necessary. Sometimes, you think your writing is perfect already, not knowing that your reader cannot actually understand your point. Writing an essay is not purely having to write with correct grammar and punctuations. It actually has to do with putting together a sentence or group of sentences to make one coherent thought.
Determining your own writing style
Determining your own writing style is very much a requirement when writing your personal statement. Why? Simply because readers have different ways of looking at one’s writing style. Establish a reputation that you are the type of writer who will only say what you mean. Remember, what the admission officers are looking for is not how intelligent or academically proficient you are, but how you intelligently convey your message.
Evaluating your writing style
If you know how to evaluate your own writing style, then you will gain better control of your writing. You should always check for wordiness, when you tend to use more words than necessary and write so many things when there is no need to say something anymore.
Tips in improving your writing style
There are so many things that you can do as a writer to improve your writing style. The best way to start is by writing things in a very appropriate tone. Another is avoid word stuffing, or the common practice of ineffective writers where they use filler words, thereby, making the reader confused as to the real message of the essay.
If you are guilty of wordiness in your essay, check for any uncertainty in your topic. Your essay might be lacking in argument, or perhaps lacking in evidence to support your essay?s main theme. If this happens, take time out to redeem yourself and know which topic you are writing about, why you are going for it, and whether you have evidences to support your belief or not.
Related links:
Connecting to readers – About how to connect to your readers
Personal statements – All about writing personal statements
Effective college essays – About effective college admission essays
Admission essay tips – About writing a winning college admission essay
Common writing mistakes – Common mistakes to avoid when writing your personal statement
