《實用任務型學術寫作》課件Unit 1 Personal Statement

UnitOne

PersonalStatementInthisunityouwilllearnhowtowriteapersonalstatement.個人陳述通常簡寫為PS，是美國、英國、加拿大等國外高校錄取時由申請人撰寫的關于自己的介紹性文章，主要用于提供個人背景、學術成就、擬申請的專業(yè)及研究計劃、未來職業(yè)規(guī)劃目標等信息，同時展示申請人的文字表述能力。個人陳述是極具個性化的留學申請材料。個人陳述的基本要素包括：1.個人情況——與學業(yè)相關的個人性格特質(zhì)和興趣愛好、個人信息、家庭情況等。2.學術背景——已奠定的學術基礎或具備的學術潛力，先修課程、成績情況，實習經(jīng)歷。3.研修計劃——擬申請的專業(yè)、學位，對所申請院校、學位及專業(yè)的了解。4.未來規(guī)劃——完成學業(yè)之后的學術或職業(yè)發(fā)展規(guī)劃。TaskObjective個人陳述的具體內(nèi)容和邏輯結構因人而異，沒有明確統(tǒng)一的模式。重點介紹申請人的學習動機和專業(yè)背景，既體現(xiàn)申請人對未來學習計劃、職業(yè)規(guī)劃所進行的科學、合理的分析和思考，也要反映申請人對自己的專業(yè)經(jīng)驗、個人素質(zhì)的合理評價。個人陳述的長度通常視院校要求而定。一般而言，學校會給出300~500詞、500詞以內(nèi)、1000詞以內(nèi)、1~2頁A4紙長度以內(nèi)等篇幅限制。如申請院校對個人陳述不做具體字數(shù)要求，實際寫作以800~900詞長度為宜。ReadSample1

andanswerthequestionsasbrieflyaspossible.TaskPreparation1MajorappliedforCollegecoursestakenInternshipexperienceStudyplanFuturecareerplanKeyMajorappliedforCollegecoursestakenInternshipexperienceStudyplanFuturecareerplanmechanicalengineering“TheoreticalMechanics,”“BasisofMechanicalDesigning,”and“MechanicsofMaterials”internedatShenyangMachineTool(Group)Co.,Ltd.duringeverywinterandsummervacations;atwo-weekpracticaltrainingatZhongHangLiMingChemicalMachineryFactoryinHuludao.amaster’sdegreeinMechanicalEngineeringintheU.S.apositioninthemechanicsindustrypreferringautomobilecompaniessuchasGeneralMotors,FordMotorandToyotaMotor;workasanEngineerorSeniorEngineer.ReadSample2andanswerthequestions.TaskPreparation2Whatistheapplicant’sprofessionalinterest?2.Whatistheapplicant’sacademicbackground?3.Whatistheapplicant’sresearchplanforhis/herdoctor’sdegree?4.Whatistheapplicant’scareerplan?1.Whatistheapplicant’sprofessionalinterest?2.Whatistheapplicant’sacademicbackground?KeyTheapplicantisespeciallyinterestedinnineteenth-centuryliterature,women’sliterature,Anglo-Saxonpoetry,andfolkloreandfolkliterature.Theapplicantmajoredinliterarystudies(worldliterature)asanundergraduate.Therelationshipbetween“high”andfolkliteraturebecamethesubjectforhis/hergraduatethesis,whichexaminedToniMorrison’suseofclassical,biblical,African,andAfro-Americanfolktraditioninhernovel.He/Shehasjustbegunsubmittingtothesmallerjournalswithsomesuccessandisgraduallybuildingaworkingmanuscriptforacollection.3.Whatistheapplicant’sresearchplanforhis/herdoctor’sdegree?4.Whatistheapplicant’scareerplan?Inhis/herstudiestowardadoctoraldegree,he/shehopestoexaminemorecloselytherelationshipbetweenhighandfolkliterature.Shouldhe/sheattendtheuniversity,he/shewouldliketoresumethestudiesofAnglo-Saxonpoetry,withspecialattentiontoitsfolkelements.Intermsofacareer,he/sheseeshimself/herselfteachingliterature,writingcriticism,andgoingintoeditingorpublishingpoetry.ReadSample3andjudgewhetherthestatementsaretrueorfalse.TaskPreparation31.Theapplicantisapplyingforadoctoralprograminnanoscienceandnanotechnology.()2.Theapplicantstudiedinthedepartmentofphysicsasanundergraduate.()3.AtAlFarabiKazakhNationalUniversity,theapplicantreceivedagoodfundamentaleducationonlyinscienceandtechnology.()4.Thechoiceofnanoscienceandnanotechnologyashisspecialtywasinspiredbybothhispersonalinterestandtheexcellentprospectsofjobmarket.()5.Theapplicantisinterestedinscience,music,dancinganddrawing.()FTTTFDataBankPracticethesepatternsandexpressionsoftenusedinwritingapersonalstatement.1.1個人情況:1)Throughoutmyundergraduateeducation,IhavegraduallydevelopedastronginterestinITconsultingbyendeavouringtohoneprofessionaltechniquesandbusinessleadership.I’mnoweagertofurtherdevelopthisinterestthroughpursuingtheMSISinGSASatNYU.2)Myparentsarebothuniversityprofessors,andtheirwide-rangedknowledgemademeawareveryearlyinmylifeoftheimportanceofcomprehensivepersonaldevelopment.3)Ihaveagreatinterestinworkingwithpeopleandapplyingscience,soIfeeltheprofessionofbeingapharmacistwillallowmetodothisandhelptocareforothersbydoingcommunitypharmacy.4)Iamespeciallyinterestedinnineteenth-centuryliterature,women’sliterature,Anglo-Saxonpoetry,andfolkloreandfolkliterature.5)Asthesonofparentswhooperateachainstorebakery,Ihavelongwitnessedtheimportantrolethatelectricalequipmentandcomputertechnologyplayinitsgrowthandsuccess.Seeingthefeatswithmyowneyes,Imadeupmymindtobecomeanelectricalandcomputerengineer.6)AwareofthewidegapbetweenAmericaandChinainthedisciplineofchemicalmaterials,IcameupwiththeplanofpursuingmydoctoralstudiesintheUnitedStates.7)

MyinterestineducationarisesfromextendedinvolvementintheChineseeducationalsystem,asbothstudentandteacher.8)Consideringmyhardworkingspirit,solidfundamentalknowledge,andpracticalresearchskills,IamsurethatIcanacquireabroaderperspectiveandmoreprofoundinsightintotheUniversityofPennsylvaniaunderthesupervisionofProf.Huck.1.2學術背景:1)AtuniversityIstudiedintensivelyintheareasofdatastructure,databasemanagement,technicallanguageandmanagement.2)WhenIbeganmyundergraduatecareer,Ihadtheopportunitytobeexposedtothefullrangeofengineeringcourses,allofwhichtendedtoreinforceandsolidifymyintenseinterestinengineering.3)Duetomychallengingcharacter,IsignedupforaveryselectivesoftwareengineeringpracticeclasswhereIhaveeffectivelystrengthenedmyprofessionalskillsinprogrammingandalgorithmoptimizationthroughpractice-ledcourses.4)InthefouryearsstudyingatBeijingUniversity,Istudiedstrenuouslyandwasrewarded…Prize,whichonlystudentsinthetop3percentcouldobtain.5)

Itwasin…TechnologyandBusinessSchoolthatIcompletedmyundergraduateeducation,majoringinmarketing.6)Itookavarietyofcoursescoveredbymymajor,anddistinguishedmyselfbymyacademicrecord:anoverallGPAof3.71/4.0,andranked4thoutof256studentsinthedepartmentincomprehensiveperformance.7)However,itwasnotuntillastsummerwhenIfoundanopportunityforinternshipinBeijingDingtianDecorationCompanythatItrulybeganmyrealpractice.8)IinternedintheembeddeddevelopmentdepartmentofNeusoftGroup,duringwhichIwasinvolvedintheprogrammingworkoftheJAVAmusicplayer.1.3研修計劃:1)Yourdepartmentoccupiesaforefrontpositionintheinformationtechnologyfield,especiallyintheareaofnetworksanddistributedsystems.Iwishtopursueadoctoraldegreeatyouresteemeddepartment.2)Therefore,Iwouldliketopursuefirstamaster’sdegreeandthenaPh.D.degreeininstructionaltechnologyandmediaatyouruniversity,whichiswell-knownintheacademicarea.3)TheMSWprogramatyouruniversityseemstobetailoredtomyneeds.Theprogramgathersexcellentacademicandpracticalresourcestoprovideatoprankedmastereducationofsocialwork.4)IgreatlyhankerforpursuingMSISinComputerScienceatNYUforadoctor’sdegree,enablingmetolearnmoreadvancedinformationtechnologiestohaveapositiveimpactontheglobalbusinesscommunity.5)YourIE

doctoralprogramprovidesalivelyintellectualatmosphere,activeandfruitfulresearch,andcloseinteractionbetweenitsstudentsanddistinguishedfaculty.6)NYUputsgreatemphasisoncultivatingstudents’meta-skillsincludingcross-culturalcommunication,managerialleadershipandteamworkbyprovidinganopportunityforstudentstocompleteITProject.7)Yourhighlyrespectedprogramprovidesstudentswithopportunitiestoexplorethemostcutting-edgetheoriesandtoapplythemtoreality.8)…Universityenjoysadistinguishedacademicreputationintheareaoflawstudiesanditsdepartmentoflawsranksthetop15inCanada.1.4未來規(guī)劃:1)IintendtoplungeintothepioneeringworkofdiscriminatingmethodologiesbeneficialtoChinesecompanies’development.2)AfterIearnmymaster’sdegree,IintendtostartworkonmyPh.D.inelectricalengineering.3)Afterreceivingmymaster’sdegreeinpublicadministration,Iwouldliketoworkforaprivatedevelopmentagency,amulti-lateraldevelopmentbank,oragovernmentagency.4)Uponmyreturn,Iwouldliketocontributetothedevelopmentofcommunicationsstudiesinmycountry,eitherasanacademicoranindustryprofessional.5)UponcompletingthegraduatestudiesIshallreturntomycountryandcontributewhatI’velearnttoitseconomicdevelopment.6)Intermsofacareer,Iseemyselfteachingliterature,writingcriticism,andgoingintoeditingorpublishingpoetry.7)IplannedtoreturntoChinaafterthecompletionofmygraduatestudieseithertoteachatoneofthelargerChineseuniversitiesortoleadaChineseadvertisingcompany.8)AfterIcompletetheprogram,Iintendtodevotemyselftoateachingcareer.2.

Readthefollowingsuggestionsforwritingapersonalstatement.

Questionstoaskyourselfbeforeyouwrite:What’sspecial,unique,distinctive,and/orimpressiveaboutyouoryourlifestory?Whatdetailsofyourlife(personalorfamilyproblems,history,peopleoreventsthathaveshapedyouorinfluencedyourgoals)mighthelpthecommitteebetterunderstandyouorhelpsetyouapartfromotherapplicants?Whendidyoubecomeinterestedinthisfieldandwhathaveyoulearnedaboutit(andaboutyourself)thathasfurtherstimulatedyourinterestandreinforcedyourconvictionthatyouarewellsuitedtothisfield?Whatinsightshaveyougained?Howhaveyoulearnedaboutthisfield—throughclasses,readings,seminars,workorotherexperiences,orconversationswithpeoplealreadyinthefield?Ifyouhaveworkedalotduringyourcollegeyears,whathaveyoulearned(leadershipormanagerialskills,forexample),andhowhasthatworkcontributedtoyourgrowth?Whatareyourcareergoals?Arethereanygapsordiscrepanciesinyouracademicrecordthatyoushouldexplain(greatgradesbutmediocreLSATorGREscores,forexample,oradistinctupwardpatterntoyourGPAifitwasonlyaverageinthebeginning)?Haveyouhadtoovercomeanyunusualobstaclesorhardships(forexample,economic,familial,orphysical)inyourlife?Whatpersonalcharacteristics(forexample,integrity,compassion,and/orpersistence)doyoupossessthatwouldimproveyourprospectsforsuccessinthefieldorprofession?Isthereawaytodemonstrateordocumentthatyouhavethesecharacteristics?Whatskills(forexample,leadership,communicative,analytical)doyoupossess?Whymightyoubeastrongercandidateforgraduateschool—andmoresuccessfulandeffectiveintheprofessionorfieldthanotherapplicants?Whatarethemostcompellingreasonsyoucangivefortheadmissionscommitteetobeinterestedinyou?Generaladvice:Answerthequestionsthatareasked.Ifyouareapplyingtoseveralschools,don’tbetemptedtousethesamestatementforallapplications.Itisimportanttoanswereachquestionbeingasked,andifslightlydifferentanswersareneeded,youshouldwriteseparatestatements.Ineverycase,besureyouranswerfitsthequestionbeingasked.Tellastory.Thinkintermsofshowingordemonstratingthroughconcreteexperience.Oneoftheworstthingsyoucandoistoboretheadmissionscommittee.Ifyourstatementisfresh,lively,anddifferent,you’llbeputtingyourselfaheadofthepack.Ifyoudistinguishyourselfthroughyourstory,youwillmakeyourselfmemorable.Bespecific.Don’t,forexample,statethatyouwouldmakeanexcellentdoctorunlessyoucanbackitupwithspecificreasons.Yourdesiretobecomealawyer,engineer,orwhatevershouldbelogical,theresultofspecificexperiencethatisdescribedinyourstatement.Yourapplicationshouldemergeasthelogicalconclusiontoyourstory.Findanangle.Ifyou’relikemostpeople,yourlifestorylacksdrama,sofiguringoutawaytomakeitinterestingbecomesthebigchallenge.Findinganangleora“hook”isvital.Concentrateonyouropeningparagraph.Theleadoropeningparagraphisgenerallythemostimportant.Itisherethatyougrabthereader’sattentionorloseit.Thisparagraphbecomestheframeworkfortherestofthestatement.Tellwhatyouknow.Themiddlesectionofyouressaymightdetailyourinterestandexperienceinyourparticularfield,aswellassomeofyourknowledgeofthefield.Toomanypeoplegraduatewithlittleornoknowledgeofthenutsandboltsoftheprofessionorfieldtheyhopetoenter.Beasspecificasyoucaninrelatingwhatyouknowaboutthefieldandusethelanguageprofessionalsuseinconveyingthisinformation.Refertoexperiences(work,research,etc.),classes,conversationswithpeopleinthefield,booksyou’veread,seminarsyou’veattended,oranyothersourceofspecificinformationaboutthecareeryouwantandwhyyou’resuitedtoit.Sinceyouwillhavetoselectwhatyouincludeinyourstatement,thechoicesyoumakeareoftenanindicationofyourjudgment.Don’tincludesomesubjects.Therearecertainthingsbestleftoutofpersonalstatements.Forexample,referencestoexperiencesoraccomplishmentsinhighschoolorearlieraregenerallynotagoodidea.Don’tmentionpotentiallycontroversialsubjects(forexample,controversialreligiousorpoliticalissues).Dosomeresearch,ifneeded.Ifaschoolwantstoknowwhyyou’reapplyingtoitratherthananotherschool,dosomeresearchtofindoutwhatsetsyourchoiceapartfromotheruniversitiesorprograms.Iftheschoolsettingwouldprovideanimportantgeographicalorculturalchangeforyou,thismightbeafactortomention.Writewellandcorrectly.Bemeticulous.Typeandproofreadyouressayverycarefully.Manyadmissionsofficerssaythatgoodwrittenskillsandcommandofcorrectuseoflanguageareimportanttothemastheyreadthesestatements.Expressyourselfclearlyandconcisely.Adheretostatedwordlimits.Avoidclichés.Amedicalschoolapplicantwhowritesthatheisgoodatscienceandwantstohelpotherpeopleisnotexactlyexpressinganoriginalthought.Stayawayfromoftenrepeatedortiredstatements.1.Readthefollowingpersonalstatementcarefullytofulfilthetasks.TaskRealizationPersonalStatement1

Motivatedbyaboy’snature,IhadintenseinterestinengineeringsinceIwasachild.IstillrememberedthefirsttimeIvisitedShanghaiJinMaoBuilding,afamousskyscraperinChina,IwasveryexcitedasifIsawthemostspectacularandgreatscene.Meanwhile,theZhaozhouBridge,NanjingYangtzeRiverBridgelearnedfromChinesebooksbroughtmeapreliminaryaccesstobridgesandinspiredmetofindouthowtheseconstructionswerecreated.2

LaterIknewthatallofmyinterestbelongstothefieldofCivilEngineering.Withstrongpassionforarchitectureandthedreamtoconstructabuildingbymyself,IchosetotakethemajorEngineeringMechanicsinDalianUniversityofTechnology,aleadinginstituteinengineeringsubjectsinChina.Throughprofessionallearning,myunderstandingofCivilEngineeringwasupgradedfromthechildishpreferenceintoaprofessionallevel.AsfarasIamconcerned,CivilEngineeringisagrossfieldconcerningdesign,implementationandrepairofconstructionthatwascloselyrelatedtoirrigation,soilandculture.Itsapplicationcouldbeviewedeverywhere,andthesecurityandstabilityofcivilconstructionprovidedabasisforpeople’ssafety.3

Besides,myundergraduatestudyalsolaidasolidfoundationforthisapplication.Ontheonehand,competenceinEngineeringMechanicsisthegroundformanyEngineeringsubjectsanditmeansevenmoretoCivilEngineering.ThecoursesIhavetaken,like“TheoreticalMechanics,”“MechanicsofMaterials”couldbeappliedtostressstrainanalysisofmoststructures,thusisofinstructivevaluetocurrenttheoreticalresearches.Ontheotherhand,myspecificresearchorientationisEngineeringMechanicsinCivilEngineeringperspective,whichbroughtmedeeperintoCivilEngineeringthroughcourseslike“BuildingEngineeringConstruction,”“DesignofAseismicStructures,”“SoilMechanics”etc.4

Mystudiouseffortsandexcellentperformanceinmajorstudywonmecertainacademicachievements,whichmyGPAof86andthethirdprizeinTheoreticalMechanicsContestcouldpartlysupport.Myprogresswasalsoindispensablefromthehelpofmyprofessors.My“FractureandDamageMechanics”professorwasaSouthKoreanacademician,whoseacademicaccomplishmentinspiredmeinprofessionalstudyandmotivatedmetopursuefurthereducationundernewteachingconceptandresearchmethodsinothercountries.5

LikemanyotherEngineeringsubjects,EngineeringMechanicsrequiresactualpracticetoconsolidateknowledgeandIhavesoughtopportunitiestostrengthenmyprofessionalability.Inadditiontoacademicstudy,IalwayshavethedesiretoputwhatIhavelearnedintoapplication.Inmyjunioryear,Itookaninternshipundertheguidanceofmyadvisorbyvisitingsomespectaculararchitecturelikehousestructure,bridgeconstruction,towerstructureaswellastunnelstructure.Whilebeingshockedbythecharmofarchitecture,Iacquiredalotofknowledgebeyondbooksandgraspedtheskillsinapplyingtheories.Theprocessalsofosteredmyabilitiesinindependentthinking,logicalanalysis,literaturereviewaswellaseffectivecommunication,allofwhichstrengthenedmydeterminationinbecomingaprofessionalinCivilEngineering.6

Inaddition,Ideemmyselfacompetentcandidatebecausemyfinecharactersandspecialtieswilladddiversitytoyourprogram.Myenterprisingattitudeandself-learningabilitywillmakemefullyabsorbedinprofessionalstudyandresearches.Withthehighsenseofresponsibility,Icouldcompleteacademicassignmentswithhighefficiencyandeffectiveness.IamalsothedeputyministerinCulturalDepartmentintheStudents’Unionandpossessedstrongorganizingability.Ihopetopromotethestimulatingatmosphereinmyfuturestudycommunitywithmyoutgoingpersonality.Withregardtomyhobbies,Ilikedoingsportsandtraveling,whichinmymindaregoodwaystorelaxmyselfandreserveenergyforabetterstateoflearning.7

IamastudentwhocanreasonablyarrangemytimeandIhavehadacleargoalforthefuture.IhopetocontinuemyacademicjourneybypursuingaPhD’sdegree.Withcertainknowledgeandexperience,Iwouldstriveforapositioninhigherinstitution,nourishingmystudentswithadvancedteachingandcontributingtoresearchesinCivilEngineering.Backtonow,Iwillworkhardtogetthechancetostudyinyourdistinguisheduniversityandtakethemaster’sstudyasanaccessboardformydream.Ibelieveyouruniversity,withadvancedteachingconcept,competentfacultyaswellasresearchcapability,woulddefinitelyhelpmeimprovetothelargestextent.8

Ingeneral,mysolideducationalbackground,professionalinternshipsandlifeofstudywouldcontributetothediversityofyourprogram.Therefore,Ifeelconfidentthatthecombinationofmydream,solideducationalbackgroundandpracticalabilitywouldenablemetoadapttoyourcampuslifeveryquicklyandsucceedinthechallengesthatyouruniversitypresents.Itismysincerehopethatyouwillgrantmetheopportunitytoattendyourschool.Iamlookingforwardtoyourkindconsiderationandacceptancetomyapplication.Thankyouverymuch!KeyBackgroundBackgroundPurposeParagraph1Paragraph2Paragraph3Paragraph4Paragraph5Paragraph6Paragraph7Paragraph8PersonalinformationconcerningtheprofessionPersonalinformationconcerningtheprofessionAcademicbackgroundAcademicbackgroundAcademicbackground(internship)PersonalinformationconcerningtheprofessionResearchplan/FuturecareerplanResearchplan2.Choosethecorrectanswerbasedontheinformationgiveninthepersonalstatement.1)()Theapplicant’sinterestinengineeringdidn’tcomefrom.[A]hisnatureasaboy[B]visitingChinesebuildings[C]learningconstructionsinbooks[D]hisfather’sinfluence2)()Theapplicantmajoredinforhisbachelor’sdegree.[A]EngineeringMechanics[B]CivilEngineering[C]AppliedMechanics[D]ArchitecturalEngineering3)()Aprogramisappliedforinthispersonalstatement.[A]Bachelor[B]Doctoral[C]Master[D]DoubleDegreeDAC3.Matchthefollowingsentenceswiththetypeofinformationtheyprovideinthepersonalstatement.statement.1)Withcertainknowledgeandexperience,Iwouldstriveforapositioninhigherinstitution,nourishingmystudentswithadvancedteachingandcontributingtoresearchesinCivilEngineering.2)Theprocessalsofosteredmyabilitiesinindependentthinking,logicalanalysis,literaturereviewaswellaseffectivecommunication,allofwhichstrengthenedmydeterminationinbecomingaprofessionalinCivilEngineering.3)Therefore,Ifeelconfidentthatthecombinationofmydream,solideducationalbackgroundandpracticalabilitywouldenablemetoadapttoyourcampuslifeveryquicklyandsucceedinthechallengesthatyouruniversitypresents.4)ThecoursesIhavetaken,like“TheoreticalMechanics,”“MechanicsofMaterials”couldbeappliedtostressstrainanalysisofmoststructures,thusisofinstructivevaluetocurrenttheoreticalresearches.5)Inmyjunioryear,Itookaninternshipundertheguidanceofmyadvisorbyvisitingsomespectaculararchitecturelikehousestructure,bridgeconstruction,towerstructureaswellastunnelstructurea.Skillsetsb.Academicback-groundc.Relevantinternshipexperienced.Career