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How to Write a Statement of Purpose
Presentation · May 2008
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How to Write
a Statement of Purpose
for the KAUST Discovery Scholarship
Prof. Reima Al-Jarf
KAUST Scholarship Candidates’ Workshop.
King Saud University. Malaz Campus. May 11, 2008
Aims of Workshop
At the end of the workshop, attendees will be to:
identify what KAUST is looking for in a
statement of purpose.
make an outline of topics and subtopic to be
included in a statement of purpose
write an introduction
write body paragraphs
write a conclusion
revise the essay
write the final draft
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What Is a Statement of Purpose?
A statement of Purpose is the single most important part of
your application
It tells the admissions committee:
▪ who you are
▪ what has influenced your career path so far
▪ your professional interests
where you plan to go from here
A mix of interesting, confident and enthusiastic people who
will make the class a stimulating place.
Academic achievements and good test scores.
Don’t try to be something you are not.
Be honest, look inside yourself and do your best.
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Stages of Writing Your Statement of Purpose
• Questions
Before
Writing the essay • Brainstorming
• Making an outline
• Writing an introduction
Writing the essay • Writing body paragraphs
• Writing a conclusion
After • Revising the essay
Writing the essay • Writing the final draft
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Requirements in a Statement of Purpose
Please write an essay that describes and provides examples of
the following:
your grades, courses taken, academic honors.
your research experience through your schoolwork,
papers, projects, internship or work experience.
your personal motivation to attend the university your
applying for and personal goals.
your extracurricular activities in your community and/or
school.
international experience.
Essays must be submitted in English. Please limit your response
to fifty lines of text and leave a 1 1/2 inch (4 cm) top margin on
every page of your uploaded essays.
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Making an Outline
Part 1: Part II:
Academic achievement Research Experience
grades papers
courses taken Projects
honors internship
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Making an Outline
Part III: Part IV:
work experience: Personal
1. Goals/motivation to
2. attend KAUST:
3. 1.
4. 2.
5. 3.
4.
5.
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Making an Outline
Part V: Part VI:
extracurricular activities: international experience:
1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.
Making an Outline
Part VII: Part VIII:
Personal Traits Language, Computer
1. skills & research skills
2. 1.
3. 2.
4. 3.
5. 4.
5.
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Writing the Essay
Introduction
Body
For each question, write a paragraph that combines all points.
Conclusion
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Tips for Writing a Successful Essay
➔ Yourintroduction:
Must be interesting.
Ask yourself: “why a reader would want to read
my entire essay after reading my introduction?”
Don’t summarize in your Introduction. If you
summarize, the scholarship officer need not read
the rest of your essay.
Create intrigue in your Introduction.
➔ Answer the Questions
➔ Be Original
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Tips for Writing a Successful Essay
➔ Be Yourself
Write about something meaningful.
Describe your feelings, not necessarily your actions.
➔ Big words do not make good essays.
➔ Use imagery and clear, vivid prose.
➔ Body paragraphs must relate to introduction.
➔ Use transitions within paragraphs and between
paragraphs to preserve the logical flow of your essay.
➔ The conclusion is your last chance to persuade the
reader or impress upon them your qualifications.
➔ Don’t summarize.
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After Writing Your Essay
language
Editing
tone & Flow
Reviewing
structure
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After Writing Your Essay
Spend a week or so away from your draft to decide if you
still consider your topic and approach worthwhile.
Give your draft to others & ask them to read with these
questions in mind:
Is your sentence structure varied or do you use all
long or all short sentences?
Do you detect any clichés?
Do you use transitions appropriately?
Do you use imagery often and does this make your
essay clearer?
What's the best part of your essay?
What's the worst part of your essay?
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After Writing Your Essay
Which parts of your essay are unclear?
Which parts of your essay do not support your main
argument?
Is every sentence crucial to the essay?
What does the essay reveal about your personality?
What is my strongest personality trait?
Do you have a philosophy?
How would your friends characterize you?
What have you done outside of the classroom that
demonstrates qualities sought after by universities?
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After Writing Your Essay
What are your most important extracurricular or
community activities?
What made you join those activities?
What made you continue to contribute to them?
What are your dreams in the future?
How does this particular scholarship fit into your
plans for the future?
Will a scholarship officer remember your topic after
a day of reading hundreds of essays?
What will the officer remember about you?
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