tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522311.post5982803759395478244..comments2024-03-12T03:23:42.976-04:00Comments on NeuroDojo: Personal statements and “I-don’t-know-what-is-it-but-I-like-it”Zen Faulkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07811309183398223358noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3522311.post-61204927236702366732011-05-05T11:26:53.598-04:002011-05-05T11:26:53.598-04:00I think one of the most common problems with comin...I think one of the most common problems with coming up with guideline for personal statements is right there in the name: they are supposed to be personal. There's a certain degree of authenticity needed in a good personal statement. It's very easy when writing many personal statements to try and write what you think the target audience wants to hear. But going back to music, if everyone wrote what they thought audience wanted to hear, music would all start to sound rather alike (see: late 90's pop). <br /><br />One possible writing exercise would be to have students write a statement of what they think the reader wants to see, and then try reading it aloud. It will probably sound clunky and unnatural, like a song with too much auto-tune. Personal statements are supposed to convey a voice, so reading them out loud can be particularly helpful.Miss MSEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06529587231142371243noreply@blogger.com