|
Writing With Flair In order to be effective, your writing must be lively and entertaining. You must do more than write with precision, you must write with flair. Follow the steps below and you are guaranteed to create an essay that commands attention. This article was originally written for college applicants, however the writing tips are valuable for other types of writing as well. 1. Turn verbs of being into verbs of doing. Is, are, were, and has are all verbs of being. An essay filled with only these lifeless verbs is guaranteed to bore the admissions committee. Where you are able, replace these flat verbs with more lively, descriptive, and action oriented verbs.
For example, instead of saying, “I had straight A’s throughout high school, and was at the top of my senior class,” say “I earned straight A’s throughout high school, and graduated at the top of my class.” 2. Write concretely, not abstractly.
When generalizations are all that a reader has to go on, a paper blends into the crowd, but with concrete examples the paper takes on form and presents a person.
For Example: “In Central America I had many experiences that gave me an appreciation for different cultures. I will never forget it.” Or “The most colorful person I met in Central America was an old seamstress. She had very little income, but took great pride in her work and the grandchildren that played around her shop. Those things gave her life more meaning than any sports car or diamond ring ever could have. That is a lesson I will never forget.” 3. Write precisely and concisely.
A precisely written essay communicates more ideas, with greater impact. When you are composing your personal statement always try to get your ideas in as few words as possible. The following two sentences demonstrate the difference between precise and imprecise writing: “During my freshman year of high school I made the decision to join the speech team. I enjoyed being on the speech team very much, and participated in speech competitions for my entire four years of high school.” Vs. “Throughout high school I enjoyed competing on the school’s speech team.” 4. Personalize numbers and statistics.
Instead of writing, “As the president of my high school’s SADD chapter, I recruited most of the chapter’s members,” you could write, “As the president of my high school’s SADD chapter, I successfully recruited 25% of the student population to participate in chapter activities.” 5. Write in active voice.
A sentence written in active voice has far more impact than one that has been written in passive voice. Compare the following two sentences: Passive voice - “I was picked for the all-district debate team because I had good counter-arguments.” Active voice - “My effective counter-arguments helped me to earn a spot on the all-district debate team.” Need professional writing? Inquire about DivaDesignWorld's affordable copywriting services.
About the Author: Monique Danielle owns Portland Marketing Agency, DivaDesignWorld.com, a full service firm that offers web development, graphic design, consulting, and a wide variety of creative services. She is also the founder of divadirectories.com,a free online resource designed to promote the growth and development of female business owners throughout Oregon, Washington, and the Northwest.
|
