How to Write Great Essays

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Untimed Essay Writing Strategies  CHAPTER 6 
HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS

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Another potential problem with this topic is that you can alienate yourself from
your reader. You don’t know if your essay will be read by a 20-something, a 70-some-
thing, democrat or republican, male or female. Be careful not to dismiss or harshly
critique the other side of your argument while presenting your own.
Since this topic is not among the most popular, you may stand out simply by
choosing it. Just avoid the potential problems, and display your knowledge of the
issue, while keeping the focus highly personal.
3. Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that
influence.
Be wary of choosing a famous person as an influence. The admissions officers have
read many essays about Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Theresa, and Charles Lind-
bergh. If you write about a famous person, you need to get highly creative in your
explanation of how he or she influenced you.
Successful essays on this topic typically center on someone known personally to
the writer (although be aware that parents are favorites with many essay writers,
meaning again that you will need to be highly creative in order to write a unique
essay). No matter whom you write about, remember that the question is a catalyst
for revealing information about you, not about your role model. Do not simply
describe the person. Show evidence of yourself throughout your essay by relating
everything back to you.
4. Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art,
music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you.
As with number three above, you need to keep the focus on you, not the character
or creative work. Your choice of topic does reveal something about you, but you
need to reveal even more by showing how she/he/it has influenced you. This is not
one of the most popular topics, so you will have a good chance of standing out just
by choosing it. Just be certain to keep it personal.
5. Topic of your choice.
This question is found on dozens of applications (other than the Common Applica-
tion) in many different forms. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) asks “We
want to get to know you as a person. Make up a question that is personally relevant
to you, state it clearly, and answer it. Feel free to use your imagination, recognizing
that those who read it will not mind being entertained.” Seton Hall University puts
it this way:“The application lists several topic suggestions, but feel free to write about
any subject that you feel is relevant and will enable us to get to know you.”
As with the request for a writing sample below, this topic lends itself to essay “recy-
cling.” If you already have a well-written, vivid piece on something of great signif-
icance to you, something you know well, and that has changed or greatly impacted
upon you, you may use it here.

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