sample law school personal statements

Writing your personal statement is an important part of the admission and selection process, especially in law schools. It provides a glimpse of who you are and adds vital information to your grades and scholastic background. However, simply stringing words together to write a description about yourself will not be sufficient for an admission essay.

Staring into a blank paper to write about one?s self may be one of the most difficult parts in writing a personal statement. Knowing how to get started may help give you a shove into making an exceptional piece.

Your introduction as a tool to hook your readers

The introduction is an important part of your essay. It often determines if the reader will continue reading it or not since it is your first chance to spark interest in the reader. The introduction primarily attracts the reader to your essay as it provides them with a glimpse of what to expect in the succeeding paragraphs. It explains the purpose of the essay as well as provides a guide for the reader. Simply put, having an excellent introduction will prove beneficial to your chances of getting admitted in the school.

No-no’s when writing your introduction

Writing down that first few words is often the biggest hurdle in making a personal statement. Knowing what to avoid will guide you in writing an engaging introduction. Unorganized introduction often means a poorly written essay. So make sure you strategize before writing. Using quotations or statements that are considered clich?s is also not an effective strategy.

Likewise, gimmicky introductions often make your personal statement seem and may even be seen as tacky. Introductions often follow a simple structure: getting attention, providing a background, and sharing the central idea of the paper. Do not discuss everything in the introduction. It is there to give others just a glimpse and is usually used as a teaser that would invite others to go through the rest of your statement.

The introduction is a powerful tool if used properly however, if done poorly, the readers may not even try to finish your introduction.

Other tips in getting your introduction right

To get the attention of the readers, you can employ many strategies. A rhetorical statement may be used to stress a point or even challenge certain ideas. You may also put a relevant anecdote, share a commonly held belief, give startling facts and figures, present an observation or pose a question. Providing background information on the other hand serves as a channel to the central idea of your essay. It establishes facts that are relevant to the discussion. Likewise, the central idea or the thesis of the essay must be clearly defined in the introduction. This will serve as a guidepost for the reader for him or her to understand what you have written easily.

Getting readers engaged in your essay is important, but having them get started is entirely different. They way you want to spark interest are varied. Employing the right methods and strategies will help you reach out to your reader.

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Original personal statements – Tips on how to write your law school personal statement