Guidelines for Writing Tutors Working with Scholarship ...



Guidelines for Writing Tutors Working with Scholarship Applicants

While a scholarship application essay resembles other types of analytical essays that students are asked to write for college courses, a scholarship/grant funding application essay has several unique qualities. Scholarship essays expect the author to reflect on personal experiences, using the first-person “I” pronoun. This is very different from scholarly research writing. Scholarship essays must present clear, logically developed, well-illustrated sets of points, which incorporate personal stories that reflect the character, personal values, and experiences of the writer. Particularly strong essays are both critically astute and deeply personal.

When reviewing the scholarship essay draft, ask the following questions:

1. Does the essay directly address the topic question at hand? Does it provide sufficient details about the research project/personal profile of the author?

2. Is there a connecting thread that unifies different parts of the essay (an idea or theme)?

3. Does the essay build momentum up to its most interesting and important point?

4. Does the author give specific, detailed examples to illustrate the points made in the essay?

5. Does the author show him/herself in action, rather than simply listing skills and credentials?

6. Are the topic sentences (first sentence of each paragraph) fully developed in the following paragraphs?

7. Does the opening sentence catch the reader’s attention? Does the closing sentence pull ideas together in a visionary way, rather than as a flat summary?

8. Are any points vague or incompletely illustrated?

9. Does the essay use unnecessary adjectives? Cutting out adjectives and adverbs may result in a more powerful sentence.

10. Pinpoint sentences in the essay that best identify the author’s passion in life. Could the essay begin with, or more fully highlight, these sentences?

11. Does the essay adhere to character or word limits?

12. Is the essay thoroughly edited?

This information was gathered from Guidelines for Writing Center Tutors Working with Scholarship Applicants, DePauw University, 11/04/20009.

Guidelines for Scholarship Applicants

The following essay components specifically apply to Fulbright and Stanley Award applicants. When reviewing your project narrative/statement of proposed study, make sure that you’ve covered the following questions:

1. What do you propose to do? What is exciting or unique about your particular project? How will your project promote cross-cultural interaction and mutual understanding?

2. With whom do you propose to work?

3. When will you carry out your research? Include a timeline.

4. Where do you propose to conduct your research? Why is it important to go abroad to complete your project?

5. How will you carry out your project? Discuss methodology and goals for the project.

6. How will this project help to further your academic, professional, and personal development?

When reviewing your personal statement, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is your personal statement tied to your project narrative?

2. Does your personal statement explain who you are and how you came to be that person?

3. Does your personal statement discuss your personal growth and development as it relates to your interests?

4. Does your personal statement include your personal history, insights, stories, etc.?

5. Does your personal statement connect your academic life/interests to your personal life and history?

6. Does your personal statement explain how the research project or study will enhance your future plans?

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