When writing the actual autobiography, you could use the thesis to explain that you are writing a biography on Person X, or you could change your direction and explain that your paper is on Topic Y, which was the life pursuit of Person X. The latter method would allow you to create an essay which points the reader to the fact that while the paper is about Person X, it is also about how they spent their life in pursuit of Topic Y, which may be a particular goal or feat.
Think twice before using any of the following topics, say these experts. They are overused, and your essay may become lost in the crowd. Remember to write about something that is unique to you and no one else.
There are also plenty of suggestions for what not to write about, like why your Mom/Dad/sibling/coach/pastor is important to you. Why? Because certain subjects are commonplace and overused, and you want your application essay to stand out. That being said, if the need to address one of those topics is strong enough, or if you have an extremely unique experience, you should trust your instincts.
There is no tried-and-true formula for writing the perfect application essay, but there is one rule that all students should follow in their essays: be true to yourself. “They have to learn to trust themselves as a resource,” says Rankin. “They have the information within them, and they should go with that.” Basically, talk about what you know. If you are naturally funny, infuse some humor into your essay. If a fictional character has had a greater impact on your life than any real person, write about that character. Be genuine, and your personality will shine through the words on the page.
A good way to start is to read through all the possible application essay questions, then go with the one that jumps out at you first. Focus on that prompt and forget about the others. (Some schools allow you to choose your own topic, but you can still follow these steps to generate ideas.) Try “interviewing” yourself to find the right life experience to pursue, suggests Rankin. Jot down your thoughts, and look for one particular thing or incident that will grab the reader’s attention—that’s your opening.
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If you're writing a biographical sketch, ask a historian or professor, and if you're writing a personal sketch, send it to a person who works in your field (but not a person who may consider you as an employee.)
We try our best to provide as many resources for your preparation as possible, but if you can add to this list, please feel free to send us links or the reading material.
Sample Essays
Remember it is a General Essay Paper and you should not be highly technical.
Here are some helpful tools for tackling Essay in the UPSC exams, ranging from the syllabus to reading list and other tips.
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To conclude, without much work you can create an interesting biography essay. You need to remember a few tricks and you are on your way to creating an engaging and interesting article that not only keeps your readers interested, but also presents the person you wrote about in a manner which evokes the attention of the reader. Using a clear thesis grab the reader's attention and let them know what it is they will be hearing about. By including facts which compliment main points of the person's life will keep the reader wanting to continue reading because the biography will engage the reader in a manner different than many purely factual biographies by providing insights which may often be overlooked. Good luck, and remember that no matter how factual a paper may be, unless it is interesting no one really cares what it is about.
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A biography is a story about a person's life. Biographies can range in size and detail from just the basic details about a person, their birth and death and what they accomplished or did all the way to the in depth details on their childhood, their friends and family and the more particular intricacies of the life. To begin writing a biography, normally primary or secondary sources are used to gather information on an individual. Primary sources which can include letters, journals, or diaries and as well as secondary sources which are reference books and articles, as well as scholarly content.
Common errors include simple grammar mistakes, like the misuse of homonyms, as well as a lack of attention to detail. For example, if you’re going to send the same essay to multiple schools, edit to make sure any reference to College X doesn’t appear in the copy you send to University Y. “I have come across several admission essays which state the reasons why that student thinks they will be a great fit for another college,” says Jeffers.