Friday, December 27, 2019

Process Essay

As a matter of fact, process essay is among the most frequent written tasks in colleges and universities. The main aim of such kind of work is to measure the ability of students to allocate and identify any particular process while keeping all the details of the process. As such, students have to provide a detailed explanation of the process along with its relevance and importance. Hence, the underlying intention of such work is to represent a certain process in such a way that will leave no questions to the audience. In this respect, it is crucial to consider all the major steps of writing a process essay. The Procedure of Writing a Process Essay In fact, the overall procedure of writing such kind of paper requires a well-though-out and thoughtful approach. The first task of the author is to explain the overall importance of the analyzed process. Secondly, it is needed to explain the possible effects the process may have both on objects and people. Thirdly, it is of utmost importance to provide all the relevant information about the process to make the audience fully comprehend its scope. To make a process essay logical it is needed to choose an appropriate number of steps in the particular process along with the difficulties of each step. The Structure of a Process Essay Such kind of essay has a general structure depending only on the amount of the described steps of the process. The introduction should reveal the primary objective of the provided process excluding all the specific characteristics. Besides, it is crucial to mention the actual meaning of the process as well as its common application in everyday life. In fact, this will provide the opportunity for the readers to understand promptly in which spheres it is possible to utilize the knowledge of the process. The overall amount of body paragraphs depends on the number of the stages of the process. In such a way, the body of the paper is a guide to how to perform the process. Each stage or step should have its actual purpose the audience needs to comprehend. The steps also should contain all the required details for the provided procedure involving the main difficulties of the stage and equipment. Finally, the conclusion paragraph demonstrates the results of the process and reveals the overal l significance of the given procedure. Final Steps Like any other kind of written tasks, process essay could be formatted in APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian and others. As such, it depends on the topic of the paper, the assignment requirements, as well as the subject area. It is crucial to be consistent and follow the one style of the format of all the elements of the paper. Eventually, it is critical to emphasize that during the process of writing such type of an essay, every stage is equally important. Organizing ideas, choosing a topic, arranging a rough draft, editing an essay, as well as creating a citation page are the main elements for writing that enable the writer to deliver a well-thought-out and well-developed work.

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Information Technology And Methods Of Risk Management Essay

IT Risk Management Name: Professor: Course Name: Date: IT Risk Management Abstract This paper explores three published articles that report on the results of researches conducted on risks related to Information Technology and methods that can be used in the management of the same. Some of the articles agree on the definition of risks and its management while others differ. This presents a wide range of results from which a uniform conclusion can be acquired. According to Gibson (2010), a risk is the likelihood that a loss will be experienced, this happens if a certain threat has exposed a vulnerability in the organization’s system. This paper examines Gibson’s (2010) article on risk management in relation to two other articles in order to come up with a control measure for the threat facing The Home Depot. Keywords: Risk, Threat, Vulnerability, Loss. Introduction Ever since IT was introduced into the organizational management systems, numerous studies on the various facets of information technology risk management have been carried out, focusing on t he extent of losses that may be experienced in case a threat exposed vulnerability. Every organization that relies heavily on IT to conduct its daily processes makes it obligatory to identify risks in their data and IT systems, in order to manage or reduce those risks. These organizations also develop response systems that can be turned to immediately an IT crisis occurs. Gibson (2010), states that risk managementShow MoreRelatedReviewing State Of Maryland Information Security Program Documentation917 Words   |  4 Pagespaper is to review State of Maryland information security program documentation and to determine the security standards used to create the program in order to protect confidentiality, integrity and availability of agency operations, organizational assets or individuals which is the main agenda of State of Maryland Department of information technology. We will also discuss about other standards that can be useful for the State of Maryland Information technology and compare and contrast the standardsRead MoreDeveloping Vehicular Data Cloud Services795 Words   |  4 PagesServices in the IoT Environment. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, 10(2), 1587–1595. http://doi.org/10.1109/TII.2014.2299233 The authors presented a multilayered approach to protect the vehicular data using the cloud platform and IoT technologies. The IoT platform’s functional, performance, and security requirements for hosting vehicular data in cloud based IoT platforms were discussed. The gaps in the existing security encryption algorithms and performance requirements were enumeratedRead MoreThe Importance Of A Safe Environment For E Business1024 Words   |  5 Pagesin information technology (IT) projects is risk management. The main aims behind that are to provide a safe environment for E-business because most of the IT projects are outline high degrees of risk. The speedy conversion in information technologies changes in business growth to create surprising fluctuate in cost benefit relationship and feasibility of doing different things in appropriate ways. The bases of IT organizations usually concerned with standards have advertised different methods ofRead MoreU.s. Department Of Homeland S ecurity1668 Words   |  7 Pagesmessages and documents controlled or administered by The Department of Homeland Security. 3. 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However, in the modern era accountants have started taking on new roles in corporations, becoming strategic plannersRead MoreRisks Faced By The Information Technology Projects952 Words   |  4 Pagesunderstand the risks faced by the Information Technology projects and how Risk Management can manage it, in order to complete a project successfully. There are potential possible risks one can come across while implementing a IT project apart from financial aspects. To prevent the unforeseen risks the project manager must analyze risks from all aspects like financial, resource allocation, performance dependencies, vendor dependencies , natural calamities and so on. Day by day the aspects of risks are increasingRead MoreProject Risk Management Of Information Technology1492 Words   |  6 Pages PROJECT RISK MANAGEMENT IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY By POURUSPA ANKLESARIA 18154704 Executive Summary This report revolves around the risks in Information Systems Project and also gives a brief idea on Information technology project management. The project also shows and discusses the importance and the role of project manager in making the project a success. Risk and how to deal with it, risk management using Work Breakdown Structure

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

The Impact of Social Media on Tourism

Question: Discuss about the Impact of Social Media on Tourism. Answer: Emerging technologies is a term that is frequently used because these are the new techniques and systems that are already existing or yet to be discovered. Emerging technologies has a lot of impact on tourism just like it brings impact in other sectors like the production sector and the IT world in general (Emerging Technologies, 2009). This research paper will shed more light on the impact of social media (emerging technology) in tourism. Therefore, the paper aims to gather the view of different scholars about the emerging technology and how it is affecting tourism. Apparently, technology is making the world a global village. Technology has been part and parcel of all the activities taking place in the manufacturing sector, production, and even in the marketing field among other things. Research has proven that technology is the root of the invention and innovations that have been explored in world. In essence, the definition of technology is intuitive in that it depends on the approach or area of focus we are talking about. However, technology can be referred to as new technique and skills used in various fields to foster innovation and simply tasks. The Impact of Social Media on the Tourism Industry. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4071855.html According to this article, the author has attributes to the great impact and role social media is playing in tourism. I conquer with the author`s argument that social media is apparently the source of information for most tourists. The various virtual community groups that have been developed enable the customers to meet and engage with their colleagues to share experience and insights about a particular restaurant. Besides, the customer can do online booking, organize travel trips just by the click of a button. Further, I agree with the author that social media is a major source of information for the tourists and it has a lot influence to the decision making of the tourist. However, the Author does not offer empirical data to prove about the research. In this case, the author has not given any statistical figures to prove the test and results on the frequency or number of tourists who visit a given country. Also, the author failed to articulate the negative implication social media can bring to those restaurants with bad reviews. In general, social media is dominating the industry hence if utilized in a good manner, the results will be outstanding. Halaweh,M. (2013). Emerging Technology: What is it?Journal of technology management innovation,8(3), 19-20. doi:10.4067/s0718-27242013000400010 According to Halaweh (2013), he has not given clear definition of technology but rather stated some of the examples of emerging technologies. He mentioned social media sites, ambient intelligence, computer cloud, and virtual reality as the emerging technologies. In his research he borrowed the definition from the business dictionary stating that emerging technologies are those technologies that are already existing or are yet to be discovered that change the business process and environment. Just like Halaweh, I can also borrow the definition because it unveils the ambiguity of misunderstanding technology has only those innovations that are existing. Some of the characteristics mentioned are valid like the network effect, the cot, its availability, and impact are prevalent. I agree with this research because the author has clarified with convincing evidence the characteristics of emerging technologies. In this article, the misconception about emerging technologies has been pointed out. However some of the characteristics of technology mentioned do not hold much meaning like the characteristic of uncertainty is not legit. This is because we are sure of the implication an emerging technology can pose to the business environment and social life therefore it is only that we assume things rather than saying we are uncertain about the outcome of a given technology. In terms of cost, he denotes that acquiring this technology is very costly. This is true because of the information infrastructure required to model the new technologies is complex hence calling for high cost. Further, Halaweh has not mentioned the industries that emerging technologies are likely to affect but rather focus his research to unveil the meaning of ETs and their characteristics. Therefore, the author does not mention the practical aspect when emerging technologies are applied. Zeng,B. (2013). Social Media in Tourism.Journal of Tourism Hospitality,02(02). doi:10.4172/2167-0269.1000e125 The article has attributed to the significance of social media towards the tourism sector. The author has emphasized that social media is a reliable source of information, that is, tourist search for information and make decisions based on what they see on the platforms. The research was conducted to reveal the influence of social media platform on tourism without putting into consideration other sectors of the economy. It is concluded that emerging technologies can never be exhausted because their application is relevant and divergent and things keep on changing with time. Zeng,B. (2013). Social Media in Tourism.Journal of Tourism Hospitality,02(02). doi:10.4172/2167-0269.1000e125 This article to a great extent has collected and analyzed research from various academic journals to gather information about the consumer and the supplier perspective in regard to social media in tourism. The research identified social media has the key bearer of information to the travelers. The results obtained from the research indicated that both the customers are the management of the host institutions benefit from social media platforms. The author has portrayed that The fact that new technology is beneficial to the society is indisputable. Looking back, from the invention of the web, technology has been the underlying force gearing innovations and efficiency in industries or even work places. Nowadays, technology and human beings in one thing-people have developed a culture that technology means everything in our lives. As we demand technology in our daily live to do various activities. As time progresses, we still feel thirst for better technology. Essentially, we use technology in businesses, learning, communication, to acquire information and most importantly to satisfy our social ego and pleasure by using virtual community groups. At least there can be justifications on the implication of society. Technology can be good or bad depending on the way we use it. However, there are more positive implications technology has brought about in our lives than the negative implications. For example, technology can be good for teenage children if they use the internet to source educational journals and to carry out research on their assignments. On the other hand, technology can be bad if the teenage children misuse it to stream pornographic movies or be exposed to activities that compromise their morals. Other positive implications of technology can be seen in the agricultural sector. Nowadays some countries have embraced mechanization in their firms which is increasing yields (Jeffs,2008). The improvisation of Genetically Modified Maize cannot be neglected. This technology has helped to sort out social problems in our society like hunger. In Business, the expert systems and enterprise resource planning systems are helping in simplifying data analysis and decision making process (The Impact of Social Media on the Tourism Industry, n.d.). As a result, performance and quality of service has improved has been realized. Also, the social media platforms and online stores like Jumia, Alibaba, eBay, and Amazon among many virtual markets have assisted businesses to enjoy the global market place by accessing the wide market coverage. Reflecting on what I have learnt from the bibliography, emerging technologies are making the world a better place. From my point of perspective, technology is everything and without it live can be miserable. We are fortunate we are in the era technology has simplified things for us. The most important thing of emerging technology is that is you want to realize its impact, spend more time on acquitting yourself with the latest technology. The skill of learning new technologies is amazing. Another point to note is that technology has negative and positive implications. Positive implication come as a result of using technology the right way while it has negative implication comes as a result of using it to diminish or destroy our environment and social values. It is observed that most businesses are embracing virtual community platforms to market their products. Many businesses are adopting the online virtual system where clients and customer care agents meet online to interact and give immediate response to questions (Precourt, 2014). In addition, some business websites offer a warehouse on items that are purchased online irrespective on location the product purchased can be availed to you. Notably, the impact of social media on tourism is immense. Tourism is a major income resource to some countries hence, the acquisition of virtual communities enables tourists to book the best hotels, organize conference meetings, tourist get information about the experience of others visiting particular sceneries hence a tourist is able to make an informed decision about a particular trip. Finally, the innovations we see in diverse industries are derived by new technology. We must be sure, technology gets outdated very fast hence always we should be fl exible to adjust to changes of emerging technologies. References Budeanu,A. (n.d.). Sustainability and Tourism Social Media.Tourism Social Science Series, 87-103. doi:10.1108/s1571-5043(2013)0000018008 Emerging Technologies. (2009).DWDM. doi:10.1109/9780470544440.ch6 Fu,L., Zhong,M. (2014). Emerging technologies special issue of ICTIS 2013.Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies,47, 113. doi:10.1016/j.trc.2014.08.003 Halaweh,M. (2013). Emerging Technology: What is it?Journal of technology management innovation,8(3), 19-20. doi:10.4067/s0718-27242013000400010 The Impact of Social Media on the Tourism Industry. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4071855.html Jeffs,E. (2008). What does the future hold?Generating Power At High Efficiency, 190-201. doi:10.1533/9781845694548.190 King,I. (n.d.). What We Are About to Do Is Highly Problematic.International Volunteer Tourism. doi:10.1057/9781137369352.0011 Prashker,J.N. (2008). Special issue on emerging commercial technologies.Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies,16(3), 275-276. doi:10.1016/j.trc.2008.04.004 Precourt,G. (2014). What Do We Know About Social Media?Journal of Advertising Research,54(1), 4-5. doi:10.2501/jar-54-1-004-005 Roupas,P. (2008). Food Innovation: Emerging Science, Technologies and Applications (FIESTA) conference.Innovative Food Science Emerging Technologies,9(2), 139. doi:10.1016/j.ifset.2007.10.001 Sigala,M. (2014). Social Tourism: Perspectives and Potential.Tourism Management,43, 3. doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2014.01.008 Zeng,B. (2013). Social Media in Tourism.Journal of Tourism Hospitality,02(02). doi:10.4172/2167-0269.1000e125

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

The Transformation of Giles Corey Essay Example

The Transformation of Giles Corey Essay Although Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, focuses primarily on other characters, Giles Corey presents an interesting view of how circumstances can force a man to examine his own views and step into becoming a staunch advocate for the truth and a role model for others. In his first appearance, Corey seems to be a fairly typical cantankerous old man. He arrives with John Proctor in Rev. Parris’s house because he’s curious about the rumors of magic. He asks if Betty Parris is â€Å"going to fly again† (16). Yet, he seems more interested in his argument with Parris about whether or not firewood is included in Parris’s salary than he is in witchcraft. He asks Hale if there’s any significance to his wife reading books, but mostly just because his wife won’t tell him what she’s reading. In all, Corey appears as a man more curious than convicted. Soon, however, Corey has a more personal interest in the witchcraft trials. In act two we find out his wife has been accused, and he tells Hale he never meant to cast any doubt on her with his questions about her reading. He says Mr. Cheever will â€Å"burn in Hell† for cooperating with the court (35) and wails to Hale that the accusations â€Å"are a fraud† (37). In act three, Giles begins to take action to defend his wife and others. He presents the court with a petition of good citizens attesting to his wife’s good character. He is dismayed that he has â€Å"broke charity with the woman† (40). We will write a custom essay sample on The Transformation of Giles Corey specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Transformation of Giles Corey specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Transformation of Giles Corey specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer When Danforth demands the name of the man Giles says told him Putnam was forcing his daughter to make false accusations, Giles refuses to give him the name because he has already seen that anyone brought before the court is in great danger. Despite being threatened with prison, Corey stands his ground and refuses to cooperate with a court he has seen to be corrupt. Finally, we hear one more mention of Corey’s character. Elizabeth Proctor tells John that when Corey was accused of witchcraft, he refused to enter a plea, thereby preventing them from putting him on trial. He withstood the cruelty of being pressed to force him to enter a plea, and his stubborn refusal, right before his death, voiced in his request that they pile on â€Å"more weight† (59) becomes an episode treated with reverence by both John and Elizabeth Proctor. After his first appearance as a fairly noncommittal character, Corey is gradually hardened by the obvious injustice of the witchcraft trials until he is able to resist their proceedings and become an example of a man who will not compromise his values, even to save his own life.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Herbicides Used to Control or Kill Woody Stemmed Plants

Herbicides Used to Control or Kill Woody Stemmed Plants The United States Department of Agriculture takes herbicide application practices very seriously. You have to have a state pesticide handlers license to apply many of these chemicals or even to purchase them. I have developed this list of chemicals as a general overview of herbicides used to control of woody stemmed pests. Ways to apply an herbicide are numerous. They can  be applied to foliage or soil, they can be injected into the bark or sprayed on stumps. It all depends on the specific chemical formulation you are using.  Here are some application methods for these chemicals which should be used according to labeling instructions. Woody-stemmed Herbicides and How They are Applied These chemicals are listed by generic name, brand name and application method. Some of these herbicides may now be out of favor or have been added to a restricted list so use this list only as a starting guide. All links are to Cornell Universitys Pesticide Management Education Program. This is not an all-inclusive listing and is intended to give an overall view of available woody stem control chemicals and how they are applied: Amitrole (Amitrol-T) - foliar spray Bromacil (Hyvar) - broadcast treatment 2,4-D (several trade names) - foliar spray Dichlorprop (2,4-DP, Weedone 2,4-DP) - foliar spray Dicamba (Banvel) - cut surface Fosamine (Krenite) - foliage treatment Glyphosate (Roundup) - foliar spray Hexazinone (Velpar) - soil uptake Imazapyr (Arsenal) - foliar, frill, stump treatment Metsulfuron (Escort) - foliar spray Picloram (Tordon) - broadcast, foliar, frill treatment Tebuthiuron (Spike) - broadcast treatment Triclopyr (Garlon) - spray This listing is intended to be used as a general guide only. Before using any herbicide consult the label before using. Remember that labels change frequently and often contain special restrictions reguarding specific use of the chemical. How to Kill a Tree Using HerbicidesHow to Kill a Tree Without ChemicalsList of Approved Tree Control Chemicals

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Personal Research Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Personal Research Project - Essay Example Strindberg et al. (2011), said that it brought challenges as well as opportunities to the region’s Islamist movements through a wave of uprisings and revolutions. Amin et al. (2012), was somehow tempted to ascribe it to unemployment especially among the youths and suppression of political options. However, Beinin & Vairel (2011) believed that it acted as a transition from dictatorship to democracy. In addition, Pollack et al. (2011) believed that it might have been brought up by the continuous reign of some individual for a long period due to lack of democracy. Lastly but not least Peter (2012) shows that this Arab Spring enabled the European Union and the United States to collaborate with various stakeholders in the region to promote human rights as well as bring democracy in those region. So far, none of the scholars has studied the role that the international bodies play in the Arab spring. In addition, none of the scholars has studied on whether the intervention of this international organization on the Arab spring is necessary or not and whether the results that were achieved showed success or failure in the process. This makes this research to be a very important one and that is why I decided to undertake it. This research was conducted using observation and review of various relevant literatures as the methods of information collection. We also collected some data from the internet about the countries that have experienced the Arab Spring to determine which percentage of them was successful. Using these methods the researcher identified a group of Arab states and used observation technique to discover what has been going on in those states as a result of the Arab Spring. To supplement his information the researcher will visit the internet and find the most current literature related to the Arab Spring written by other scholars. The information that will be collected using these three means will be combined and will help us

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Art Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Art Analysis - Research Paper Example The image’s materials comprise diverse plants, fruits and vegetables that normally represent Europe’s annual four seasons. The Initial glance, which entails a casual look usually is more fascinating, which captures a person’s attention besides curiosity captivated by the artist’s fantasy. The image’s mainframe encompasses a tree knotty trunk on which the artist makes holes for the ears, mouth and eyes, whereas other features he employs fruits, vegetables and plant twigs (Kaufmann 45). Arcimboldo in making this image initially he preferred a very knotty trunk as the mainframe where he proceeded on to make holes on it (Kaufmann 26). The holes were for mouth, eyes and ears coupled with making dents at some areas for the knotty trunk to assume the actual shape of a human head. Arcimboldo does not utilize any mode of technique or process but instead employs immensely his creative imagination coupled with fantasy. Consequently, his unique technique contrasted with the then artwork’s styles and genres, which earned him critics who accused him of having defied the accepted art’s regulations (Kaufmann 61). Conversely, these critics did not become a hindrance to his style but continued instead. In this image, Arcimboldo besides using the branched knotty trunk, he also employs moss strands to represent beard or hair, sunflower on the chest and shoulder, plaited straw cloak and fruits (grapes hanging from the twigs and apples) (Kaufmann 170). The most striking features of the 60.4 x 44.7 cm image encompass the protruding twigs and numerous stumps, which seem embedded on the entire man’s face. Hence, this gives the image actual texture of a man’s face, which extends even to the neck like a real portrait. Additionally, the light illuminates mostly in the front contrary to the back, which prompts the image to be having limited space in front than at its rear. This image’s content entails featuring the annual seasons

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Business plan for a media product - The Reading Series Essay

Business plan for a media product - The Reading Series - Essay Example with Riverbank technical manager Paul Winters, the series was first commissioned by then Riverbank manager Denis Clifford in 2004 and it was commissioned again by previous Riverbank manager Marcella Bannon in 2005, in 2006 commissioned again by new manager John O’Brien and due to its success in the community, has been commissioned again for another series by existing Riverbank manager John O’Brien to run for three years. We are planning to form a company which will be working formally on these footings and would engage into professional activities of arranging such gatherings all over the place in order to bring out the most amazing talents of the world and In doing so we believe that we will not only be serving the art but also providing healthy and competitive entertainment to our consumers. We believe that our company will be one of its own as it will offer unique opportunities to brightest talents with ready access to those who can provide them opportunities to show their talent. Our basic aim therefore would be to form a link between the writers and the professional publishers who can publish the talents identified by us. â€Å"The Riverbank Reading Series aims to introduce the community to various types of literature (fiction, non-fiction, columns, journalism and to a lesser extent poetry) by having a broad range of authors, writers and journalists read from their work. We aim to keep our audiences happy and entertained by accompanying readings with video projections, lighting and music and by generally creating a relaxed atmosphere of fun and humor. We also aim to keep the evenings short and sweet (an hour or so) so that the readings can be given their full attention by the audience.† Our company will be primarily a small scale company with initial paid up capital of Euro 1.000 Million. We will be a small scale company with employee level of just 25 people in its initial phase however we intend to increase our human resource base by recruiting our

Friday, November 15, 2019

Effect of Changing Concentration on the Order of Reaction

Effect of Changing Concentration on the Order of Reaction Title : An Investigation into the Effect of Changing the Concentration by Continuous Method on the Order of Reaction Planning A. Hypotheses I predict that the rate of reaction is influenced by the concentration of the reactants; and that the rate of reaction and the concentration of reactants decrease as time intervals increase. I predict that the order of reaction is affected or influenced by the concentration of the reactant. I also predict that the change in concentration of reactants affects the rate of reaction proportionately and hence, the order of reaction. Such that, if the concentration of the reactants is reduced by half, the rate of reaction will also decrease by a certain proportion. The reaction that will be analyzed in this experiment is between a metal (magnesium ribbon) and an acid (sulfuric acid). The reaction is shown by the chemical equation below: Mg (s) + H2S04 (aq) → MgS04 (aq) + H2 (g) In this experiment, 0.15 grams of magnesium ribbon will be used in excess, together with 10 cubic centimeters of 0.3 M sulphuric acid (H2SO4). The continuous method will be used, where the metal is in excess and the reaction goes to completion. The volume of the hydrogen gas (H2) will be collected at a measured time interval of 30 seconds. These volume readings at the time intervals shall be recorded and analyzed. III. Background The rate of a reaction depends in part on the concentrations of the reactants. The rate at which a reactant or reactants is transformed into products is the change in concentration of the reactant or reactants with time, (Wilbraham, et.al., 1997). Mathematically, the rate can be expressed as: Rate = Change in Concentration of Reactants / Change in time The formula implies that the rate of disappearance of the reactants is proportional to its molar concentration. Hence: Change in Concentration of Reactants / Change in time = proportional to the concentration of reactants The reaction rate has to be experimentally determined. From the reaction rate equation, the order of reaction can be obtained. The order of reactions can be classified as zero order, first order, or second order, with respect to only one reactant. IV. Risk Assessment In this experiment, sulphuric acid (H2SO4), will be used as a reactant. Since it is a strong acid and is very corrosive, I will observe the following precautionary measures: Wear protective goggles for the eyes. Avoid pipetting the sulphuric acid by mouth. Avoid inhalation of sulfuric acid. Care in handling the acid should be observed. It should be prevented from being knocked over. V. Fair Test To ensure that the results that I will obtain in the experiment are reliable and accurate, I will observe the following: The volume measurements of the sulphuric acid reactant will be made very accurately by reading from the lower meniscus of the 10 cubic centimeter mark The bung will be securely and tightly placed to prevent the collected hydrogen gas (H2) from escaping. The weight measurements of the magnesium ribbon will be made very accurately. All materials will be thoroughly cleaned before each use in order to prevent contamination. The experiment will have 3 runs or replicates in order to attain a high reliability of results. VI. Procedure of the Experiment: Materials needed: Stopwatch for time interval measurements 100 cc gas syringe for the Hydrogen gas collection 100 cc conical flask for the sulphuric acid 100 ml graduated cylinder for measuring the sulphuric acid Analytical balance for measuring 0.15 grams of magnesium ribbon Procedure: 1. Set up the materials while making sure that they are thoroughly clean and dry. 2. Using a graduated cylinder, measure 10 cc of 0.3 Molar concentration of sulphuric acid. 3. Carefully weigh 0.15 grams of magnesium ribbon using an analytical balance to make sure that the weight measurement is accurate. 5. Put the 0.15 grams of magnesium ribbon into the conical flask with the sulphuric acid. 7. Measure the volume in cubic centimeters of hydrogen gas collected in the gas syringe at every time interval of 30 seconds. 8. Record the volume of collected hydrogen gas at each set time interval. 9. Make 2 more runs of this experiment by repeating steps 1-8 at every run. VII. Results. Below are the tabulated volume measurements at every time interval: Table 1: Volume Measurements for Run 1 The data in Table 1 were plotted in a graph below: Graph 1: Volume vs. Time (Run1) For Run 2, the data were obtained were tabulated below: Table 2: Volume Measurements for Run 2 The data in Table 2 were plotted in a graph below: Graph 2: Volume vs. Time (Run 2) For Run 3, the data were obtained were tabulated below: Table 3: Volume Measurements for Run 3 The data in Table 3 were plotted in a graph below: Graph 3: Volume vs. Time (Run3) All three graphs show the trend that as time increases, the volume of the reactant decreases, while the volume of the product increases. B. Calculation of the Concentration of Reactant From the reaction: Mg (s) + H2SO4 (aq) → MgSO4 (aq) + H2 (aq) Concentration is measured in terms of Molarity, where Molarity is equal to the number of moles of solute divided by liters of solution: Molarity = No. of moles of solute / Liters of solution For Magnesium (Mg), 0.15 grams were added to sulphuric acid. The number of moles is equal to: weight in grams divided by the formula weight. Hence, the number of moles = wt. in grams / FW. Since 0.15 grams were used, 0.15 grams should be divided by the formula weight of Magnesium (Mg), which is 24. So: 0.15 grams / 24 = 0.00625 moles for Mg. To get the molar concentration, the number of moles will be divided by the volume of the solution in liters, which is 0.01. So, the molarity of Mg is : 0.00625 / 0.01 = 0.625 M For the sulphuric acid (H2SO4) used, the molarity is 0.3 M. The number of moles of H2SO4 used is determined by multiplying the molar concentration by the volume of solution in liters. Hence: 0.3 moles/L X 0.01L = 0.003 moles. From the chemical equation of the reaction, for every 0.003 moles of H2SO4 used, the same amount of moles (0.003) of hydrogen gas (H2) is given off. The molar concentration of the hydrogen gas evolved can now be determined for each respective time interval, by dividing the number of moles by the volume obtained. For run 1: The concentration of the product can now be calculated, using the formula for reaction rate, where: Molarity = Number of moles / Liters of solution The data for the concentration of the hydrogen gas are tabulated below: Table 4: Molarity of the hydrogen gas (H2) The molarity values tabulated above are plotted in the graph below: Graph 4: Concentration vs. Time (Run1) Graph 5: Concentration vs. Time (Run 1) Showing the Gradient of the Tangent Curve The rate of reaction was calculated by measuring the gradient of the tangent of the curve above, as depicted by the red line. Hence, the gradient of the tangent is equal to 0.12 – 0.05 / 150 = 0.00046. From the rate equation, the rate constant (k) can be obtained by the formula: k = rate x [H2SO4]. So: k = (0.00046) / 0.3 = 0.153. The rate equation is: Rate = k [H2SO4] Rate = (0.153) (0.003) = 0. 000459 or 0.0046. Hence, this value is equal to the gradient of the tangent of the graph above. This shows that the rate is directly proportional to the concentration of the sulphuric acid (H2SO4). Table 5: Concentration of Gas Collected and Rate of Reaction (Run 1) The plotting of tabulated data above results to the graph below: Graph 6 Rate vs. Concentration (Run 1) The Rate –Concentration Graph for Run 1 above shows that the concentration of hydrogen gas (H2) is directly proportional to the rate of reaction. Thus, the concentration of sulphuric acid (H2SO4) is also directly proportional to the rate of reaction, whereby, as the concentration decreases, the rate of reaction also decreases. Since the Magnesium ribbon is in excess, only the sulfuric acid can be allowed to change. Having it in excess is to make sure that its concentration does not change. Using the rate of reaction: Rate = k [H2SO4] And applying the rate equation to the chemical equation in the reaction: Mg (s) + H2SO4 (aq) → MgSO4 (aq) + H2 (g) The rate equation is now: Rate = k [Mg] Â º [H2SO4]Â ¹. Since Mg concentration does not change in the reaction, it is the zero order. On the other hand, since H2SO4 is in the first order of reaction, the rate is directly proportional to its concentration, as measured in the experiment by the concentration of the H2 gas collected, the overall order of reaction is: 0+1 = 1. For Run 2, the table below shows its concentration. Table 6: Molarity of the Hydrogen gas (Run2) The table of Concentration and Time for run 2 gives the following graph: Graph7: Concentration vs. Time (Run 2) The Concentration –Time Graph for run 2 above shows the same trend as in run 1, where it shows an inverse proportionality: as time increases, the concentration of the sulfuric acid ( H2SO4) decreases as measured by the concentration of the hydrogen gas (H2) collected. The rate of re

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Free Handmaids Tale Essays: Life and Times of Margaret Atwood :: Handmaids Tale Essays

The Life and Times of Margaret Atwood Three Sources Cited Atwood was born in Ottawa, Ontario, on November 18, 1939. She lived in a cabin in the Canadian wilderness for most of her childhood (her father was a forest entomologist), and that is where she gained her love for books and reading - probably from boredom. She also took up writing during this time, at the age of six (Margaret Atwood). Sshe came to want ot be a writer her senior year in high school when she says, "all of a sudden a big thumb came out of the sky and touched my head and a poem was formed." Who would have thought that the young girl who lived in the woods would grow to become a prominent female writer and poet? Atwood went on to attend Victoria College at the University of Toronto. She received a bachelor's degree there in 1961 and went on to receive her Master's from Radcliffe College in Cambridge, Mass. In addition, she attended Harvard University in 1962 - 63 and 1965 - 67 (Information Page). When she made the decision to be a writer she said s he wanted to "lead a double life. (Margaret Atwood). This double life would include going "places I haven't been; to examine life on earth; to come to know people in ways, and at depths, that are otherwise impossible; to be surprised...to give back something of what [I have] received," said Atwood (Margaret Atwood). She certainly achieved this goal of a double life. Atwood managed to live many places around the world in order to "examine life on earth." Here is a time line of the places she lived during certain years of her life. 1939 - 1945: Ottawa 1945: Sault Ste. Marie 1946 - 1961: Toronto 1961 - 1963: Boston 1963 - 1964: Toronto 1964 - 1965: Vancouver 1965 - 1967: Boston 1967 - 1968: Montreal 1968 - 1970: Edmonton 1970 - 1971: England (London), France, Italy 1971 - 1972: Toronto 1973 - 1980: Alliston, Ontario 1980 - 1983: Toronto 1983 - 1984: England, Germany 1985: Alabama 1986 - 1991: Toronto 1992: France 1992 - Present: Toronto As is evident, she liked to move around a lot and to see different people and different things (Information Page). Although Atwood would have preferred to stay home and write all day she did have a number of jobs over the years.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Adolescent Rites of Passage

Bridging the Gap: Adolescent Rites of Passage General Purpose: To inform. Specific Purpose: At the end of my speech, my audience will understand how cultures use adolescent rites of passage to help people mark the transition from childhood to adulthood. Central Idea: Adolescent rites of passage have marked the passage of children into adulthood around the world, and elements of those rituals are being used in modern American society. INTRODUCTION How did you celebrate your eighteenth birthday? Do you recall your graduation ceremony?If you’re like most Americans, such events marked the moment you became an adult. It may have been the day you walked off a lighted stage, clutching your diploma to your chest. Yet if you were an Arunta from Australia, it might be the moment you rose off of the smoking tree branches you were lying upon and were proclaimed an adult. Regardless of which are the most personally significant, we all have moments in our life that we would consider â€Å" rites of passage†Ã¢â‚¬â€moments that carry us across the threshold between two lives.In societies around the world, collective rites of passage have been seen as ways to initiate young people into adult life. In researching on this topic, I have discovered the important role rites of passage play for youth around the world, and I would like to share this with you this afternoon. Today we will look at the ways in which cultures throughout the world have used rites of passage to mark the transition to adulthood for both boys and girls, and how elements of those rituals are being used today in American society. Transition)To begin, let’s look at some of the different rites of passage from around the world that show traditional coming-of-age ceremonies in other cultures that are the basis for new American rituals. BODY I. Rites of Passage in Cultures: Puberty is often a signal in most cultures that a boy or girl is ready to become an adult.A. The Navajo of the American Sou thwest celebrate this milestone with the vision quest. 1. The ritual begins when a fifteen to sixteen-year- old boy is taken into a sweat lodge, where he will be purified in both body and soul before he begins his quest. . During the period before he leaves he will also be advised by a medicine man regarding his coming quest. 3. Finally, he ventures into the wilderness or desert on his own, fasting until he receives a vision that will determine his new name and the direction of his life. 4. When he receives his vision, the community welcomes him back as a man (Transition)Like their male counterparts in the Navajo, females also have special coming of age rituals. B. The Okrika of Nigeria celebrate coming of age with the Iria ceremony for seventeen-year-old girls. 1.The highlight of this ritual is when the girls enter the â€Å"Fattening Room. † 2. Only leaving to travel to the river, the girls stay in the rooms to gain the weight that the tribe considers attractive. Girls are forced to eat large quantities of food. 3. Female friends and family teach the girls how a woman should act. 4. When a girl leaves the Fattening Room, she is considered a woman. (Transition)These examples of the rites of passage for Navajo males and Okrika females show us how different cultures mark the transition from childhood to adult status in the community.Now let’s look at the increasing popularity of traditional rites of passage in the United States. II. Increase in Rites of Passage in United States: The United States is an ethnic melting pot of cultures and traditions. A. Yet our diversity prevents us from having a single experience, common to all, that celebrates our entrance into the adult community. 1. Some ceremonies are religion specific, such as Jewish Bar and Bat Mitzvahs or Christian baptisms and confirmations. 2. Many children, without religious or ethnic heritage, have no sort of recognition outside of high school graduations—if they choose to graduat e.Yet Cassandra Delaney writes about graduates, â€Å"They often are not equipped with the necessary components of a stable adult personality such as a well-reasoned moral code, a faith or world review which sustains them during crisis, and perhaps most importantly, a positive and cohesive self image. † B. With this problem in mind, many Americans are turning to tribal traditions like the ones described earlier to help their children have a positive rite of passage. 1. The African-American community is turning back to its cultural roots to aid social ills among young males. a.The MAAT Program attempts to instruct at-risk African-American males on social behavior through sessions with older mentors that incorporate African tribal tradition. b. Program sessions begin by prayer and an offering of a drink to the ancestors. c. At the end of the program, writes Aminifu Harvey and Julia Rauch of Health and Social Work magazine, the boys â€Å"mark their passage to manhood by giving themselves another African name, based on their personality, at the final retreat. † d. In this way, African-Americans use the rite of passage concept to develop a positive sense of identity for youth. . Even in Washington State, rites of passage are growing. a. An article in the Spokane Spokesman-Review by Jeanette White tells of Stan Crow, who runs a three-week program called â€Å"The Coming of Age Journey. † b. Here activities include challenging hikes and â€Å"vision quest† style nights alone in the wilderness in an attempt to promote self-reliance. c. Rites of passage like these, says psychologist Michael Gurian in the Spokesman-Review article, promote positive self-image because they force children to develop skills to meet challenges, to reflect on goals, and to learn leadership. . In Washington and the entire United States, rites of passage are becoming more popular as a way to fulfill the spiritual and moral needs of youth while identifying them to a community. CONCLUSION In conclusion, adolescent rites of passage mark the transition to adulthood. In the United States, questions have been raised as to whether rites of passage like those used by Africans, Native Americans, or others might be useful in helping with social problems. Some programs have attempted to experiment with the positive potential impact of rites of passage in modern American society.Though coming-of-age ceremonies do not automatically make us adults, they are the milestones of a maturing process we are all on. Think again about what you consider to be your â€Å"rite of passage. † Did the license, the diploma, or the keys to your dorm or apartment make you an adult? Perhaps some are yet mired in that no-man’s land called adolescence. Yet it one day might be different. Your child might one day swelter in a Western-style sweat lodge or eat in the Fattening Room; your child might depart on a vision quest.Regardless of the method, bridging the gap b etween childhood and adulthood is , and will always be , one of the most universal and important milestones of human life. BIBLIOGRAPHY â€Å"Coming of Age as an Australian Aruntas. † Michigan Jewish Online Education. 1999. Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. 9 October 2000 . â€Å"Coming of Age in the Navajo Nation. † Michigan Jewish Online Education. 1999. Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. 9 October 2000 . Delaney, Cassandra Halleh. â€Å"Rites of Passage in Adolescence. † Adolescence 30 (Winter 1995): 891. Elan, Jessica. A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Puberty Rites and Ceremonies for Females. † The Oxford Review. 5 May 1998. Oxford College of Emory University. 8 Oct. 2000 . Harvey, Aminifu R. and Julia B. Rauch. â€Å"A comprehensive Afrocentric rites of passage program for black male adolescents. † Health and Social Work 22. 1 (Feb. 1997): 30-37. White, Jeanette. â€Å"Too few of today’s children experience traditional ri tes of passage, experts say. † Spokesman-Review 4 July 2000: A1. ———————– Emphasize Pause Put on First Visual Pause Use Visual #2– Pause Gesture 1,2,3†¦ Gesture 1,2,3†¦ Slower

Friday, November 8, 2019

How to Write a Perfect UC Essay for Every Prompt

How to Write a Perfect UC Essay for Every Prompt SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you're applying to any University of California campus as an incoming freshman, then you have a special challenge ahead of you. Applicants need to answer four UC personal insight questions, chosen from a pool of eight unique prompts different from those on the Common App. But not to worry! This article is here to help. In this article, I'll dissectthe eight UC essay promptsin detail. What are they asking you for? What do they want to know about you? What do UC admissions officers really care about? How do you avoid boring or repulsing them with your essay? I'll breakdownall of these important questions for each prompt and discuss how to pick the four prompts that are perfect for you. I'll also give you examples of how to make sure your essay fully answers the question. Finally, I'll offer step-by-step instructions on how to come up with the best ideas for your UC personal statements. What Are the UC Personal Insight Questions? If you think about it, your college application is mostly made up of numbers: your GPA, your SAT scores, the number of AP classes you took, how many years you spent playing volleyball. These numbers only reveal so much. The job of admissions officers is to put together a class of interesting, compelling individuals- but a cut and dried achievement list makes it very hard to assess whether someone is interesting or compelling. This is where the personal insight questions come in. The UC application essays are your way to give colleges a sense of your personality, your perspective on the world, and some of the experiences that have made you into who you are. The idea is to share the kinds of things that don’t end up on your transcript. It's helpful to remember that you are not writing this for you. You're writing for an audience of people who do not know you, but are interested to learn about you. The essay is meant to be a revealing look inside your thoughts and feelings. These short essays- with a 350 word limit- are different from the essays you write in school, which tend to focus on analyzing someone else’s work. Really, the application essays are much closer to a short story. They rely heavily on narratives of events from your life, and on your descriptions of people, places, and feelings. If you’d like more background on college essays, check out our explainer for a very detailed breakdown of exactly how personal statements work in an application. Now, let’s dive into the eight University of California essay questions. First I’ll compare and contrast these prompts. Then I’ll dig deep into each UC personal statement question individually, exploring what it’s really trying to find out and how you can give the admissions officers what they’re looking for. Once upon a time, there was a mouse who really, really wanted to get into your college. Comparing the UC Essay Prompts Before we can pull these prompts apart, let's first compare and contrast them with each other. Clearly, UC wants you to write four different essays, and they're asking you eight different questions. But what are the differences? And are there any similarities? The Actual UC Essay Prompts #1: Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time. #2: Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. #3: What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? #4: Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced. #5: Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement? #6: Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. #7: What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? #8: Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? How to Tell the UC Essay Prompts Apart To help tell the UC personal statement prompts apart, sort them into big-picture categories, so when you’re brainstorming ideas you can see where your event or life experience would fit: Topics 1 and 7 are about your engagement with the people, things, and ideas around you. Consider the impact of the outside world on you and how you handled that impact. Topics 2 and 6 are about your inner self, what defines you, and what makes you the person that you are. Consider your interior makeup, the characteristics of the inner you Topics 3, 4, 5, and 8 are about your achievements. Consider what you’ve accomplished in life and what you are proud of doing These very broad categories will help when you’re brainstorming ideas and life experiences to write about for your essay. Of course, it's true that many of the stories you think of can be shaped to fit each of these prompts. Still, think about what the experience most reveals about you. If it’s an experience that shows how you have handled the people and places around you, it’ll work better for questions in the first group. If it’s a description of how you express yourself, it’s a good match for questions in group two. If it’s an experience that tells how you acted or what you did, it’s probably a better fit for questions in group three. For more help, check out our article on coming up with great ideas for your essay topic. "And that's the last time I went to a psychic." Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now: How Is This Guide Organized? We analyze all eight UC prompts in this guide, and for each one we give the following information: The prompt itself and any accompanying instructions What each part of the prompt is asking for Why UC is using this prompt and what they hope to learn from you All the key points you should cover in your response so you answer the complete prompt and give UC insight into who you are Dissecting Personal Insight Question 1 The Prompt and Its Instructions Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time. Things to consider: A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking a lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about your accomplishments and what you learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities? Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church in your community or an organization? And your leadership role doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family? What’s the Question Asking? The prompt wants you to describe how you handled a specific kind of relationship with a group of people- a time when you took the reigns and the initiative. Your answer to this prompt will consist of two parts: Part 1: Explain the Dilemma Before you can tell your story of leading, brokering peace, or having a lasting impact on other people, you have to give your reader a frame of reference and a context for your actions. First, describe the group of people you interacted with. Who were and what was their relationship to you? How long were you in each others’ lives? Second, explain the issue you eventually solved. What was going on before you stepped in? What was the immediate problem? Were there potential long-term repercussions? "We couldn't decide between butter and cream cheese frosting in the final round of the baking competition!" Part 2: Describe Your Solution This is where your essay will have to explicitly talk about your own actions. Discuss what thought process led you to your course of action. Was it a last-ditch effort or a long-planned strategy? Did you think about what might happen if you didn’t step in? Did you have to choose between several courses of action? Explain how you took the bull by the horns. Did you step into the lead role willingly or were you pushed despite some doubts? Did you replace or supercede a more obvious leader? Describe your solution to the problem, or your contribution to resolving the ongoing issue. What did you do? How did you do it? Did your plan succeed immediately or did it take some time? Consider how this experience has shaped the person you have now become. Do you think back on this time fondly as being the origin of some personal quality or skill? Did it make you more likely to lead in other situations? What’s UC Hoping to Learn about You? College will be an environment unlike any of the ones you’ve found yourself in up to now. Sure, you will have a framework for your curriculum, and you will have advisers available to help- but for the most part, you will be on your own to deal with the situations that will inevitably arise when you mix with your diverse peers. UC wants to make sure: That you have the maturity to deal with groups of people That you can solve problems with your own ingenuity and resourcefulness That you don’t lose your head and panic at problems "And that's how I saved Christmas with a single crushed can!" How Can You Give Them What They Want? So how can you make sure those qualities come through in your essay? Pick Your Group The prompt very specifically wants you to talk about an interaction with a group of people. Let’s say a group has to be at least three people. Raise the Stakes Think of the way movies ratchet up the tension of the impending catastrophe before the hero swoops in and saves the day. Keeping an audience on tenterhooks is important- and makes the hero look awesome for the inevitable job well done. Similarly, in your essay the reader has to fundamentally understand exactly what you and the group you ended up leading were facing. Why was this an important problem to solve? Balance You vs. Them Personal statements need to showcase you above all things. Because this essay will necessarily have to spend some time on other people, you need to find a good proportion of them-time and me-time. In general, the first, setup, section of the essay should be shorter, since it will not be focused on what you were doing. The second section should take the rest of the space. So, in a 350 word essay, maybe 100-125 words go to setup, while 225-250 words to your leadership and solution. Find Your Arc Not only do you need to show how your leadership met the challenge you faced, but you also have to show how the experience changed you. In other words, the outcome was double-sided: you affected the world, and the world affected you right back. Make your arc as lovely and compelling as a rainbow. Dissecting Personal Insight Question 2 The Prompt and Its Instructions Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. Things to consider: What does creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that is important to you? What have you been able to do with that skill? If you used creativity to solve a problem, what was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the problem? How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom? Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career? What’s the Question Asking? This question is trying to probe the way you express yourself. Its broad description of â€Å"creativity† gives you the opportunity to make almost anything you make that didn’t exist before fit the topic. What this essay question is really asking you to do is to examine the role your brand of creativity plays in your sense of yourself. The essay will have three parts. Part 1: Define Your Creativity What exactly do you produce, make, craft, create, or generate? Of course, the most obvious answer would be a visual art, a performance art, or music. But in reality, there is creativity in all fields. Any time you come up with an idea, thought, concept, or theory that didn’t exist before, you are being creative. So, your job is to explain what you spend time creating. Part 2: Connect Your Creative Drive to Your Overall Self Why do you do what you do? Are you doing it for external reasons- to perform for others, to demonstrate your skill, to fulfill some need in the world? Or is your creativity private and for your own use- to unwind, to distract yourself from other parts of your life, to have personal satisfaction in learning a skill? Are you good at your creative thing or do you struggle with it? If you struggle with it, why is it important to you to keep doing it? Part 3: Connect Your Creative Drive With Your Future The most basic way to do this is if you envision yourself actually doing your creative pursuit professionally. But this doesn’t have to be the only way you draw this link. What have you learned from what you’ve made? How has it changed how you interact with other objects or with people? Does it change your appreciation for the work of others or motivate you to improve upon it? "As the sole living practitioner of the ancient art of rock bodybuilding..." What’s UC Hoping to Learn about You? Nothing characterizes higher education like the need for creative thinking, unorthodox ideas to old topics, and the ability to synthesize something new. That is what you are going to college to learn how to do better. This essay wants to know whether this mindset of out-of-the-box-ness is something you are already comfortable with. They want to see: That you have actually created something in your life or academic career That you consider this an important quality within yourself, and that you have cultivated your skills That you can see and have considered the impact of what you’ve done on yourself or on the world around you Think outside the box- unless there are donuts in the box. How Can You Give Them What They Want? How can you really show that you are committed to being a creative person? Be Specific and Descriptive It’s not enough to vaguely gesture at your creative field. Instead, give a detailed and lively description of a specific thing or idea that you have created. For example, I could describe a Turner painting as â€Å"a seascape† or I could call it â€Å"an attempt to capture the breathtaking power and violence of an ocean storm as it overwhelms a ship.† Which painting would you rather look at? Give a Sense of History The question wants a little narrative of your relationship to your creative outlet. How long have you been doing it? Did someone teach you or mentor you? Have you taught it to others? Where and when do you create? Hit a Snag and Find the Success Anything worth doing is worth doing despite setbacks, this question argues- and it wants you to narrate one such setback. So first, figure out something that interfered with your creative expression. A lack of skill, time, or resources? Too much or not enough ambition in a project? Then, make sure this story has a happy ending that shows you off as the solver of your own problems. What did you do to fix the situation? How did you do it? Show Insight Your essay should include some thoughtful consideration of how this creative pursuit has shaped you, your thoughts, your opinions, your relationships with others, your understanding of creativity in general, or your dreams about your future. (Notice I said â€Å"or† not â€Å"and†- 350 words is not enough to cover all of those things!) "And that's when I knew I was destined to become a master confectioner!" Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Dissecting Personal Insight Question 3 The Prompt and Its Instructions What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? Things to consider: If there’s a talent or skill that you’re proud of, this is the time to share it. You don’t necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you? Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule? What's the Question Asking? Basically, what’s being asked for here is a beaming rave. Whatever you write about, picture yourself talking about it with a glowing smile on your face. Part 1: Narrative The first part of the question really comes down to this: tell us a story about what's amazing about you. Have you done an outstanding thing? Do you have a mindblowing ability? Describe a place, a time, or a situation in which you were a star. A close reading of this first case of the prompt reveals that you don’t need to stress if you don’t have an obvious answer. Sure, if you’re playing first chair violin in the Symphony Orchestra, that qualifies as both a â€Å"talent† and an â€Å"accomplishment.† But the word "quality" really gives you the option of writing about any one of your most meaningful traits. And then, the words â€Å"contribution† and â€Å"experience† open up the range of possibilities that you could write about even further. A contribution could be anything from physically helping put something together, to providing moral or emotional support at a critical moment. But the key to the first part is the phrase â€Å"important to you.† Once again, what you write about is not as important as how you write about it. Being able to demonstrate the importance of the event that you’re describing reveals much more about you than the specific talent or characteristic ever could. Part 2: Insight and Personal Development The second part of the last essay asked you to look to the future. The second part of this essay wants you to look at the present instead. The general task is similar, however. Once again you're being asked to make connections- how do you fit this quality you have or this achievement you accomplished into the story of who you are? A close reading of the second part of this prompt lands on the word â€Å"proud.† This is a big clue that the revelation this essay is looking for should be a very positive one. In other words, this is probably not the time to write about getting arrested for vandalism, unless you can spin that experience into a story about how you been on the straight and narrow path ever since. Even if your vandalism was really, really, cool, don't write about it. What's UC Hoping to Learn About You? Admissions officers have a very straightforward interest in learning about your accomplishments. By the end of high school, many of the experiences that you are most proud of don’t tend to be the kind of things that end up on your resume. They want to know what makes you proud of yourself. It is something that relates to performance, to overcoming a difficult obstacle, to keeping a cool head in a crisis, to your ability to help others in need? At the same time, they are looking for a sense of maturity. In order to be proud of an accomplishment, it’s important to be able to understand your own values and ideals. This is your chance to show that you truly get the qualities and experiences that make you into a responsible and grown-up person, someone who will thrive in the independence of college life. In other words, while you might really be proud that you managed to tag 50 highway overpasses with graffiti, that’s probably not the achievement to brag about here. Unless you were hired to paint the overpasses. Then definitely brag about it. How Can You Give Them What They Want? The trick with this prompt is how to show a lot about yourself without listing accomplishments or devolving into cliche platitudes. Let's take it step by step. Step #1: Explain Your Field Make sure that somewhere in your narrative (preferably closer to the beginning) you let the reader know what makes your achievement an achievement. Not all interests are mainstream, so it helps your reader to understand what you’re facing if you give a quick sketch of, for example, why it’s challenging to build a battle bot that can defeat another fighting robot, or how the difficulties of extemporaneous debate compare with debating about a prepared topic. Keep in mind that for some things the explanation might be obvious. For example, do you really need to explain why finishing a marathon is a hard task? Step #2: Zoom in on a Specific Experience Think about your talent/quality/accomplishment in terms of experiences that showcase it. Conversely, think about your experiences in terms of the talent/quality/accomplishment they demonstrate. Since you're once again going to be limited to 350 words, you won’t be able to fit all the ways in which you exhibit your specific piece of awesomeness into this essay. This means that you’ll need to figure out how your ability can best be shown through one event when you displayed it. Or if you’re writing about an experience you had or a contribution you made, you’ll need to also point out what personality trait or characteristic it reveals. Step #3: Find a Conflict or a Transition The first question asked for a description, but this one wants a story- a narrative of how you do your special talent, or how you accomplished the thing you were so great at. The main thing about stories is that they have to have: A beginning: This is the setup, when you weren’t yet the star you are now. An obstacle or a transition: Sometimes a story has a conflict that needs to be resolved: something that stood in your way, a challenge that you had to figure out a way around, a block that you powered through. Other times, a story is about a change or a transformation: you used to believe/think/be one thing and now you are different/better. A resolution: When your full power/self-knowledge/ability/future goal is revealed. "And that's how I negotiated peace with the aliens of Tarkon V." Dissecting Personal Insight Question 4 The Prompt and Its Instructions Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced. Things to consider: An educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for college. For example, participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an academy that’s geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses that interest you - just to name a few. If you choose to write about educational barriers you’ve faced, how did you overcome or strive to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills did you call on to overcome this challenge? How did overcoming this barrier help shape who are you today? What's the Question Asking? Cue the swelling music, because this essay is going to be all about your inspirational journey. You will either tell your story of overcoming adversity against all (or some) odds, or of pursuing the chance of a lifetime. If you write about triumphing over adversity, your essay will include: A description of the setback that befell you: The prompt wants to know what you consider a challenge in your school life- and definitely note that this challenge should have in some significant way impacted your academics rather than your life overall. The challenge can be a wide-reaching problem in your educational environment or something that happened specifically to you. The word â€Å"barrier† also shows that the challenge should be something that stood in your way: if only that thing weren’t there, then you’d be sure to succeed. An explanation of your success: Here, you’ll talk about what you did when faced with this challenge. Notice that the prompt asks you to describe the â€Å"work† you put in to overcome the problem- so this piece of the essay should focus on your actions, thoughts, ideas, and strategies. Although the essay doesn’t specify it, this section should also at some point turn reflexive. How are you defined by this thing that happened? You could discuss the emotional fallout of having dramatically succeeded, or how your maturity level, concrete skills, or understanding of the situation has increased, now that you have dealt with it personally. Or, you could talk about any beliefs or personal philosophy that you have had to reevaluate as a result of either the challenge itself, or of the way that you had to go about solving it. If you write about an educational opportunity, your essay will include: A short, clear description of exactly what you got the chance to do: In your own words, explain what the opportunity was, and why it’s special. Also explain why you specifically got the chance to do it. Was it the culmination of years of study? An academic contest prize? An unexpected encounter that led to you seizing an unlooked-for opportunity? How you made the best of it: It’s one thing to get the opportunity to do something amazing, but it’s another to really maximize what you get out of this chance for greatness. This is where you show just how much you understand the value of what you did, and how you’ve changed and grown as a result of it. Were you very challenged by this opportunity? Did your skills develop? Did you unearth talents you didn’t know you had? How does this impact your future academic ambitions or interests? Will you study this area further? Does this help you find your academic focus? "When I had a chance to go to Wizarding School..." What's UC Hoping to Learn About You? Of course, whatever you write about in this essay is probably already reflected on your resume or in your transcript in some small way. But UC wants to go deeper, to find out how seriously you take your academic career, and how thoughtfully you’ve approached either its ups or its downs. In college, there will be many amazing opportunities, but they aren’t necessarily simply there for the taking. Instead, you will be responsible for seizing whatever chances will further your studies, interests, or skills. Conversely, college will necessarily be more challenging, harder, and potentially much more full of academic obstacles than your academic experiences so far. UC wants to see that you are up to handling whatever setbacks may come your way with aplomb rather than panic. How Can You Give Them What They Want? Define the Problem/Opportunity Not every challenge is automatically obvious. Sure, everyone can understand the drawbacks of having to miss a significant amount of school due to illness, but what if the obstacle you tackled is something a little more obscure? Likewise, winning the chance travel to Italy to paint landscapes with a master is clearly rare and amazing, but some opportunities are more specialized and less obviously impressive. Make sure your essay explains everything the reader will need to know to understand what you were facing. Watch Your Tone An essay describing problems can easily slip into finger-pointing and self-pity. Make sure to avoid this by speaking positively or at least neutrally about what was wrong and what you faced. This goes double if you decide to explain who or what was at fault for creating this problem. Likewise, an essay describing amazing opportunities can quickly become an exercise in unpleasant bragging and self-centeredness. Make sure you stay grounded- rather than dwelling at length on your accomplishments, describe the specifics of what you learned and how. "But learning to be a wizard wasn't easy..." Dissecting Personal Insight Question 5 The Prompt and Its Instructions Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement? Things to consider: A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you’ve faced and what you’ve learned from the experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone? If you’re currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, â€Å"How has my life changed at home, at my school, with my friends, or with my family?† What's the Question Asking? It’s time to draw back the curtains and expand our field of vision, because this is going to be a two-part story of overcoming adversity against all (or some) odds. Part 1: Facing a Challenge The first part of this essay is about problem-solving. The prompt asks you to point at something that could have derailed you, if not for your strength and skill. Not only will you describe the challenge itself, but you’ll talk about what you did when faced with it. Part 2: Looking in the Mirror The second part of Topic B asks you to consider how this challenge has echoed through your life- and more specifically, how your education has been affected by what happened to you. What's UC Hoping to Learn About You? In life, dealing with setbacks, defeats, barriers, and conflicts is not a bug- it’s a feature. And colleges want to make sure that you can handle these upsetting events without losing your overall sense of self, without being totally demoralized, and without getting completely overwhelmed. In other words, they are looking for someone who is mature enough to do well on a college campus, where disappointing results and hard challenges will be par for the course. They are also looking for your creativity and problem-solving skills. Are you good at tackling something that needs to be fixed? Can you keep a cool head in a crisis? Do you look for solutions outside the box? These are all markers of a successful student, so it’s not surprising that admissions people want you to demonstrate these qualities. "I realized that if I wanted to become the Junior Champion Snake Shifter, I would have to do something drastic." How Can You Give Them What They Want? Let's explore the best ways to show off your problem-solving side. Show Your Work It’s one thing to be able to say what's wrong, but it’s another thing entirely to demonstrate how you figured out how to fix it. Even more than knowing that you were able to fix the problem, colleges want to see how you approached the situation. This is why your essay needs to explain your problem-solving methodology. Basically, we need to see you in action. What did you think would work? What did you think would not work? Did you compare this to other problems you have faced and pass? Did you do research? Describe your process. Make Sure That You Are the Hero This essay is supposed to demonstrate your resourcefulness and creativity. The last thing you want is for you to not actually be the person responsible for overcoming the obstacle. Make sure that your story is clear that without you and your special brand of XYZ, people would still be lamenting the issue today. Don't worry if the resource you used to affect a good fix was the knowledge and know-how that somebody else brought to the table. Just focus on explaining what made you think of this person as the one to go to, how you convinced them to participate, and how you explained to them how they would be helpful. This will shift the attention of the story back to you and your doings. Find the Suspenseful Moment The most exciting part of this essay should be watching you struggle to find a solution just in the nick of time. Think every movie clichà © ever about someone defusing a bomb - even if you know 100% that the guy is going to do it, the movie still ratchets up the tension to make it seem like, well, maybe... You want to do the same thing here. Bring excitement and a feeling of uncertainty to your description of your process to really pull the reader in and make them root for you to succeed. You're the superhero! Dissecting Personal Insight Question 6 The Prompt and Its Instructions Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. Things to consider: Many students have a passion for one specific academic subject area, something that they just can’t get enough of. If that applies to you, what have you done to further that interest? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom - such as volunteer work, internships, employment, summer programs, participation in student organizations and/or clubs - and what you have gained from your involvement. Has your interest in the subject influenced you in choosing a major and/or career? Have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject (honors, AP, IB, college or university work)? Are you inspired to pursue this subject further at UC, and how might you do that? What's the Question Asking? This question is really asking for a glimpse of your imagined possibilities. For some students, this will be an extremely straightforward question. For example, say you’ve always loved science to the point that you’ve spent every summer taking biology and chemistry classes. You can just pick a few of the most gripping moments from these experiences and discuss the overall trajectory of your interests, and your essay will be a winner. But what if you have many academic interests? Or what if you only discovered your academic passion at the very end of high school? Let’s break down what the question is really asking into two parts. Part 1: Picking a Favorite At first glance, it sounds as if what you should write about is the class where you have gotten the best grades, or the class that easily fits into what you see as your future college major or maybe even your eventual career goal. There is nothing wrong with this kind of pick- especially if you really are someone who tends to excel in those classes that are right up your interest alley. But if we look closer, we see that there is nothing in the prompt that specifically demands that you write either about a particular class or an area of study where you perform well. Instead, you could take the phrase â€Å"academic subject† to mean a wide field of study and explore your fascination with the different types of learning to be found there. For example, if your chosen topic is the field of literature, you could discuss your experiences with different genres or with foreign writers. You could also write about a course or area of study that has significantly challenged you, and where you have not been as stellar a student as you want. This could be a way to focus on your personal growth as a result of struggling through a difficult class, or the way you’ve learned to handle or overcome your limitations. Part 2: Relevance The second part of this prompt, like the first, can also be taken in a literal and direct way. There is absolutely nothing wrong with explaining that because you love engineering and want to be an engineer you have pursued all your school’s STEM courses, are also involved in a robotics club, and have taught yourself to code in order to develop apps. On the other hand, you could focus on the more abstract, values-driven goals we just talked about. Then, the way you explain how your academics will help you can be rooted not in the content of what you studied, but in the life lessons you drew from it. In other words, for example, your theater class may not have created a desire to be an actor, but working on plays with your peers may have shown you how highly you value collaboration. And the experience of designing sets was an exercise in problem-solving and ingenuity. These lessons would be useful in any field you pursue and could easily be said to help you achieve your lifetime goals. My favorite subject is underwater basketweaving. What's UC Hoping to Learn About You? If you are on a direct path to a specific field of study or career pursuit, admissions officers definitely want to know that. Having driven, goal oriented, and passionate students is a huge plus for a university. So if this is you, be sure that your essay conveys not just your interest but also your deep and abiding love of the subject, and maybe even includes any related clubs, activities, and hobbies that you’ve done during high school. But of course, more traditionally, college is the place to find yourself and the things that you become passionate about. So if you’re not already committed to a specific course of study, don’t worry. Instead, you have to realize that in this essay, like in all the other essays, the how matters much more than the what. No matter where your eventual academic, career, or other pursuits may lie, every class that you have taken up to now has taught you something. You learned about things like work ethic, mastering a skill, practice, learning from a teacher, interacting with peers, dealing with setbacks, understanding your own learning style, and perseverance. In other words, the admissions office wants to make sure that no matter what you study you will draw meaningful conclusions from your experiences, whether those conclusions are about the content of what you learn or about a deeper understanding of yourself and others. They want to see that you’re not simply floating through life on the surface, but that you are absorbing the qualities, skills, and know-how you will need to succeed in the world- no matter what that success looks like. How Can You Give Them What They Want? Focus on a telling detail. Because personal statements are short, you simply won't have time to explain everything you have loved about a particular subject in enough detail to make it count. Instead, pick one event that crystallized your passion for a subject, or one telling moment that revealed what your working style will be, and go deep into a discussion of what it meant to you in the past and how it will affect your future. Don’t overreach. It’s fine to say that you have loved your German classes so much that you have begun exploring both modern and classic German-language writers, for example, but it’s a little too self-aggrandizing to claim that your 4 years of German have made you basically bilingual and ready to teach the language to others. Make sure that whatever class achievements you describe don’t come off as unnecessary bragging rather than simple pride. Don’t underreach. At the same time, make sure that you have actual accomplishments to describe in whatever subject you pick to write about. If your favorite class turned out to be the one you mostly skipped to hang out in the gym instead, this may not be the place to share that lifetime goal. After all, you always have to remember your audience. In this case, it's college admissions officers who want to find students who are eager to learn and be exposed to new thoughts and ideas. "This is how I realized my passion for horticulture." Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now: Dissecting Personal Insight Question 7 The Prompt and Its Instructions What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? Things to consider: Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place - like your high school, hometown or home. You can define community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem that you wanted to fix in your community? Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community? What's the Question Asking? This topic is trying to get at how you engage with your environment. It’s looking for several things: #1: Your Sense of Place and Connection Because the term â€Å"community† is so broad and ambiguous, this is a good essay for explaining where you feel a sense of belonging and rootedness. What or who constitutes your community? Is your connection to a place, to a group of people, or to an organization? What makes you identify as part of this community- cultural background, a sense of shared purpose, or some other quality? #2: Your Empathy and Ability to Look at the Big Picture Before you can solve a problem, you have to realize that the problem exists. Before you can make your community a better place, you have to find the things that can be ameliorated. No matter what your contribution ended up being, you first have to show how you saw where your skills, talent, intelligence, or hard work could do the most good. Did you put yourself in the shoes of the other people in your community? Understand some fundamental inner working of a system you could fix? Knowingly put yourself in the right place at the right time? #3: Your Problem Solving Skills How did you make the difference in your community? If you resolved a tangible issue, how did you come up with your solution? Did you examine several options or act from the gut? If you made your community better in a less direct way, how did you know where to apply yourself and how to have the most impact possible? "And that's how I saved the children of MiceTown." What's UC Hoping to Learn About You? Community is a very important thing to colleges. You'll be involved with and encounter lots of different communities in college, from the broader student body, to your extracurriculars and classes, to the community outside the University around you. UC wants to make sure that you can engage with the communities around you in a positive and meaningful way. How Can You Give Them What They Want? Make it personal. Before you can explain what you did in your community, you have to define and describe this community itself- and you can necessarily only do that by focusing on what it means to you. Don’t speak in generalities, but instead show the bonds between you and the group you are a part of through colorful, idiosyncratic language. Sure, they might be â€Å"my water polo team,† but maybe they are more specifically â€Å"the twelve people who have seen me at my most exhausted and my most exhilarated.† Feel all the feelings. This is a chance to move your readers. As you delve deep into what makes your community one of your emotional centers, and then as you describe how you were able to improve it in a meaningful and lasting way, you should keep the roller coaster of feelings front and center. Own how you felt at each step of the process: when you found your community, when you saw that you could make a difference, when you realized that your actions have resulted in a change for the better. Did you feel unprepared for the task you undertook? Nervous to potentially let down those around? Thrilled to get a chance to display a hidden or underused talent? "After brokering peace between the two rival cat clans of my neighborhood, I feel like I can do anything!" Dissecting Personal Insight Question 8 The Prompt and Its Instructions Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? Things to consider: If there’s anything you want us to know about you, but didn’t find a question or place in the application to tell us, now’s your chance. What have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help us know you better? From your point of view, what do you feel makes you an excellent choice for UC? Don’t be afraid to brag a little. What's the Question Asking? If your particular experience doesn’t quite fit under the rubrics of the other essay topics, or if there is something the admissions officers need to understand about your background in order to consider your application in the right context, then this is the essay for you. Now, I’m going to say something a little counterintuitive here. The prompt for this essay clarifies that even if you don’t have a â€Å"unique† story to tell, you should still feel free to pick this topic. But, honestly, I think you should only choose this topic if you have an exceptional experience to share, and that any everyday challenges or successes of regular life could easily fit one of the other insight questions instead. What this means is that evaluating whether your experiences qualify for this essay is a matter of degrees. For example, did you manage to thrive academically despite being raised by a hard-working single parent? That’s a hardship that could easily be written about for Questions 1 or 5, depending on how you choose to frame what happened. Did you manage to earn a 3.7 GPA despite living in a succession of foster families only to age out of the system in the middle of your senior year of high school? That’s a narrative of overcoming hardship that easily belongs to Question 8. On the flip side, did you win a state-wide robotics competition? Well done, and feel free to tell your story under Question 4. Were you the youngest person to single-handedly win a season of BattleBots? Then feel free to write about it for Question 8. What's UC Hoping to Learn About You? This is pretty straightforward. They are trying to identify students that have unique and amazing stories to tell about who they are and where they come from. If you’re a student like this, then the admissions people want to know: What happened to you When and where it happened How you participated or were involved in the situation How it affected you as a person How it affected your schoolwork How the experience will be reflected in the point of view you bring to campus The reasons that the university wants this information are: It gives context to applications that otherwise might seem mediocre or even subpar It can help explain times in a transcript where grades significantly drop It creates them the opportunity to build a lot of diversity into the incoming class It’s a way of finding unique talents and abilities that otherwise wouldn’t show up on other application materials How Can You Give Them What They Want? Let's run through a few tricks for making sure your essay makes the most of your particular exceptionalism. Double-Check Your Uniqueness There are many experiences in all of our lives that make us feel elated, accomplished, and extremely competent, that are also near-universal. This essay isn’t trying to take the validity of your strong feelings away from you, but I think it would be best served by for stories that are on a different scale. Wondering whether what you went through counts? This might be a good time to run your idea by a parent, school counselor, or trusted teacher. Do they think your experience is widespread? Or do they agree that you truly lived a life less ordinary? Connect Outward The vast majority of your answer to the prompt should be telling your story and its impact on you and your life. But the essay should also point toward how your particular experiences set you apart from your peers. One of the reasons that the admissions office wants to find out which of the applicants has been through something unlike most other people is that they are hoping to increase the number of points of view in the student body. Think about, and include in your essay, how you will impact campus life. This can be very literal- if you are a jazz singer who has released several acclaimed albums, then maybe you will perform on campus. Or it can be much more oblique- if you are disabled, then you will be able to offer a perspective that differs from the able-bodied majority. Be Direct, Specific, and Honest Nothing will make your voice sound more appealing than writing without embellishment or verbal flourishes. This is the one case where what you’re telling is just as- if not more- important than how you’re telling it. So the best strategy is to be as straightforward in your writing as possible. This means using description to situate your reader in a place/time/experience that they would never get to see firsthand. You can do this by picking a specific moment during your accomplishment to narrate as a small short story, and not shying away from explaining your emotions throughout the experience. Your goal is to make the extraordinary into something at least somewhat relatable- and the way you do that is by making your writing down to earth. "Is it accurate to say that I saved the entire world?" "No." Writing Advice for Making Your UC Personal Statements Shine No matter what personal insight questions you end up choosing to write about, here are two tips for making your writing sparkle: #1: Be Detailed and Descriptive Have you ever heard the expression â€Å"show, don’t tell†? It’s usually given as creative writing advice, and it will be your best friend when you're writing college essays. It means that any time you want to describe a person or thing as having a particular quality, it’s better to illustrate with an example than to just use vague adjectives. If you stick to giving examples that paint a picture, your focus will also become narrower and more specific. You’ll end up focusing on details and concrete events, rather than not particularly telling generalizations. Let’s say, for instance, Adnan is writing about the house that he’s been helping his dad fix up. Which of these do you think gives the reader a better sense of place? Version 1 My family bought an old house that was kind of rundown. My dad likes fixing it up on the weekends and I like helping him. Now the house is much nicer than when we bought it and I can see all our hard work when I look at it. Version 2 My dad grinned when he saw my shocked face. Our â€Å"new† house looked like a completely rundown shed: peeling paint, rust-covered railings, shutters that looked like the crooked teeth of a jack-o-lantern. I was still staring at the spider web crack in one broken window when my dad handed me a pair of brand new work gloves and a paint scraper. â€Å"Today, let’s just do what we can with the front wall,† he said, and then I smiled too, knowing that many of my weekends would be spent here with him, working side by side. Both versions of this story focus on the fact that the house was dilapidated and that Adnan enjoyed helping his dad do repairs. But the second does this by: Painting a picture of what the house actually looked like by adding visual details ("peeling paint," "rust-covered railings," "broken window"), and through comparisons ("shutters like a jack-o-lantern," "spider web window crack") Showing emotions by describing facial expressions ("my dad grinned," "my shocked face," "I smiled") Using specific and descriptive action verbs ("grinned," "shocked," "staring," "handed") The essay would probably go on to describe one day of working with his dad, or a time when a repair went horribly awry. Adnan would make sure to keep adding sensory details (what things looked, sounded, smelled, tasted like), using active verbs, and illustrating feelings with spoken speech and facial expressions. If you're having trouble checking whether your description is detailed enough, read your work to someone else. Then, ask that person to describe the scene back to you. Are they able to conjure up a picture from your words? If not, you need to beef up your details. It's a bit of a fixer-upper, but it'll make a great college essay! #2: Show Your Feelings All good personal essays deal with emotions. And what marks great personal essays is the author’s willingness to really dig into negative feelings as well as positive ones. As you write your UC application essays, keep asking yourself questions and probing your memory. How did you feel before it happened? How did you expect to feel after, and then how did you actually feel after? How did the world that you are describing feel about what happened? How do you know how your world felt? Then write about your feelings using mostly emotion words ("I was thrilled/disappointed/proud/scared"), some comparisons ("I felt like I'd never run again/like I'd just bitten into a sour apple/like the world's greatest explorer"), and a few bits of direct speech ("'How are we going to get away with this?' my brother asked.") Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. There's "it was exciting." And then there's "I felt at once exhilarated and terrified, as if I had just jumped out of an airplane for the first time." What’s Next? This should give you a great starting point to attack the UC essay prompts and consider how you'll write your own effective UC personal statements. The hard part starts here- work hard, brainstorm broadly, and use all my suggestions above to craft a great UC application essay. Making your way through college applications? We have advice on how to find the right college for you, how to write about your extracurricular activities, and how to ask teachers for recommendations. Interested in taking the SAT one more time? Check out our highly detailed explainer on studying for the SAT to learn how to prepare best. Worried about how to pay for college after you get in? Read our description of how much college really costs, our comparison of subsidized and unsubsidized loans, and our lists of the top scholarships for high school seniors and juniors. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: