Welcome to the Saginaw Community Writing Center s Scholarship Letter Writing Workshop!

Transcription

1 Welcome to the Saginaw Community Writing Center s Scholarship Letter Writing Workshop! Workshop Goals All workshops: Provide a safe, non-judgmental, and productive space for writers of all levels and at all stages in the writing process Provide the strategies and materials writers need to take their writing to the next level Encourage collaboration between writers This workshop aims to: Review the format of a scholarship letter Brainstorm, draft, and/or revise scholarship letters from common questions and trouble spots Provide and receive feedback on writing Expectations Respect others and respect others work. Be open to giving AND receiving feedback on your writing or the writing of others. Ask questions and actively contribute to the workshop. Challenge yourself and your writing.

2 Common Scholarship Essay Questions Tell us about yourself. What are your most notable and/or relevant academic or extracurricular accomplishments Please describe. (Be prepared to list dates and organizations for each extracurricular activity.) List your special achievements and awards. What has high school meant to you? What are your career goals as a future college student? How do you plan to contribute to the university through academic or extracurricular activities? Why do you want to attend this institution?

3 How would this scholarship help you achieve your goals and contributions? Write Now! Let s work on answering these questions. Try to list 3-5 potential answers for each of the questions above. Developing Your Answers & Avoiding Trouble Spots Two common problems with scholarship essay writing are development and relevance. Answering the questions posed is the minimum. You must also expand on your answers and explain how they relate to the scholarship you re applying for. Here are some examples of essay responses: EXAMPLE 1: Community Service Scholarship Q: What community service activities did you participate in in high school, and how do you see these activities contributing to your undergraduate career? Part 1: Answer the basic question As a high school student, I was actively involved as President of Student Council. Part 2: Develop your answer further As President, I helped to create community service opportunities for my peers. I was responsible for developing these service programs as well as finding students to engage in these programs. I also networked with faculty and community members to create and staff community service programs EVEN BETTER! Provide specific examples: As President, I helped to create community service opportunities for my peers. I was responsible for developing these service programs as well as finding students to engage in these programs. I also networked with faculty and community members to create and staff community service programs. For example, I planned a successful, school-wide food drive in October of 2015, which collected over 500 food items for families in our community.

4 Part 3: Connect your experience to the scholarship and institution I hope to use these leadership skills as an undergraduate to develop and participate in community service projects on campus. I m specifically interested in participating in SVSU s Habitat for Humanity group and Alternative Breaks program. Because of my past experiences, I know what it takes to collaborate with faculty and other students to get a project done. I believe I can add to the university community as a leader in service. EXAMPLE 2: Athletic Scholarship Q: Explain the significance athletics had on your high school career and how you will use what you learned as an undergraduate at SVSU. Part 1: Answer the basic question I was a member of my high school s baseball team all four years of high school. Part 2: Develop your answer further I served as captain of the baseball team during my senior year, and led my team to a 35-5 season. I feel that this experience helped me to develop leadership skills and perseverance. As captain, I was responsible for motivating my teammates and serving and a strong example for them both on and off the field. For example, I maintained a 3.0 GPA throughout my high school career; this showed by teammates that balancing school and sports was possible and important to a successful future. When practices or games were tough, I continued to motivate and inspire, practicing perseverance and continuing to be that example. Part 3: Connect your experience to the scholarship and institution Leadership skills and perseverance are essential qualities in a successful undergraduate student. I hope to use these skills to not only perform well in the classroom, but to serve as leader on SVSU s baseball team. I will continuously exercise these skills to better my team by motivating them and always putting my best effort forward.

5 Write Now! Choose one of the answers to the one of the questions from the earlier brainstorming session. On a new sheet of paper, develop your chosen answer. Connect this answer to your future contributions to the university you have in mind. The Common Scholarship Essay Format Beginning: You & your (relevant) accomplishments - Give specific examples! Middle: Your career goals and future contributions to the university How do your contributions fit into your career goals?

6 End: How this scholarship would help you achieve your goals Consider financial support!