Sop How to Write

How to Write  How to Write a Statement of Purpose a Statement of Purpose for the KAUST Discovery Scholarship for the Prof. Reima Al-Jarf College of Languages & Translation KAUST Scholarship Candidates’ Workshop. King Saud University. Malaz Campus. May 11, 2008 Aims of Workshop p At the end of the workshop, attendees will be to: identify what KAUST is looking for in the  statement of purpose. p p make an outline of topics and subtopic to be  included in the statement of purpose included in the statement of purpose write an introduction write body paragraphs write body paragraphs write a conclusion revise the essay write the final draft 2
What Is a Statement of Purpose? The Statement of Purpose is the single most  The Statement of Purpose is the single most important part of your application  It will tell the admissions committee:  who you are  who you are what has influenced your career path so far your professional interests  where you plan to go from here y p g 3 What Do Universities Look for  in a Statement of Purpose? in a Statement of Purpose? A mix of interesting, confident and  enthusiastic people who will make the class a  enthusiastic people who will make the class a stimulating place. Academic achievements and good test scores. Don t try to be something you are not.
Don’t try to be something you are not. Be honest, look inside yourself and do your  best. b t 4 Stages of Writing Your Statement of Purpose Before  Writing the essay • Questions • Brainstorming • Making an outline Making an outline • W iti Writing an introduction i t d ti • Writing body paragraphs • Writing a conclusion ii l i • Revising the essay • Writing the final draft Writing the final draft Writing the essay After  Writing the essay Writing the essay 5 KAUST Requirements in a Statement of Purpose Please write an essay that describes and provide examples for the  following:  following: your grades, courses taken, academic honors . our research experience through your school work, papers,  your research experience through your school work papers projects, internship or work experience. your personal motivation to attend KAUST and personal  your personal motivation to attend KAUST and personal goals  your extracurricular activities in your community and/or  your extracurricular activities in your community and/or school  international experience  Essays must be submitted in English. Please limit your response to  fifty lines of text and leave a 1 1/2 inch (4 cm) top margin on every  page of your uploaded essays. 6

Making an Outline Part 1: Academics achievement grades  grades courses taken  honors  h Part II:   Research Experience papers Projects  internship  internship 7 Making an Outline Part III: work experience: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Part IV: Personal Goals/motivation  to attend KAUST: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 8 Making an Outline g Part V:  extracurricular activities: 1. 2. 3. 3 4. 5. Part VI:  international experience: 1. 2. 3. 3 4. 5. Making an Outline g Part VII: Personal Traits 1. 2. 3. 3 4. 5. Part VIII: Language, Computer  skills & research skills 1. 2. 2 3. 4. 4 5. 10 Writing the Essay g y Introduction
Body For each question, write a paragraph that combines all points. For each question, write a paragraph that combines all points. Conclusion 11 Tips for Writing a successful Essay Your introduction: Must be interesting. Ask yourself:  “why a reader would want  Ask yourself: “why a reader would want to read my entire essay after reading my  introduction? ”  Don’t Summarize in your Introduction. If  y you summarize, the scholarship officer  need not read the rest of your essay. need not read the rest of your essay Create intrigue in your Introduction. 12 Tips for Writing a successful Essay
Answer the Questions   Be Original Be Yourself: B Y lf Write about something meaningful. Describe your feelings, not necessarily your  actions. actions Big words do not make good essays. Use imagery and clear, vivid prose. 13 Tips for Writing a successful Essay Body paragraphs must relate to introduction. Use transition within paragraphs and between  p g p paragraphs to preserve the logical flow of your  p g y essay. The conclusion is your last chance to persuade the  The conclusion is your last chance to persuade the reader or impress upon them your qualifications. Don t summarize. Don’t summarize 14
After Writing Your Essay language tone Editing  Reviewing Flow structure 15 After Writing Your Essay Spend a week or so away from your draft to  p y y decide if you still consider your topic and  approach worthwhile. approach worthwhile. Give your draft to others  with these questions in mind:  ih h i i i d Is my sentence structure varied or do I  y use all long or all short sentences? Do you detect any cliches? Do you detect any cliches? Do I use transition appropriately? 16 After Writing Your Essay Do I use imagery often and does this  g y make my essay clearer? What s the best part of the essay?
What’s the best part of the essay? What’s the worst part of the essay? What parts of the essay are unclear? What parts of the essay do not support What parts of the essay do not support your main argument? Is every single sentence crucial t th I i l t i l to the  essay? 17 After Writing Your Essay What does the essay reveal about your  y y personality? What is your strongest personality trait? What is your strongest personality trait? Do you a philosophy? How would your friends characterize you? 18 After Writing Your Essay What have you done outside of the  classroom that demonstrates qualities  g y sought after by universities?
What are your most important  extracurricular or community activities? or community activities? What made you join these activities? What made you continue to contribute to  them? them? 19 After Writing Your Essay What are your dreams of the future? How does this particular scholarship fit  into your plans for the future? into your plans for the future? Will a scholarship officer remember your  topic after a day of reading hundreds of  t i ft d f di h d d f essays? What will the officer remember about  you? you? 20 21