What does the "A" in CRAAP stand for?
DON’T: Try not to write in a combative tone, because you never know what views your reader will hold. Certain topics, like civil rights or gender equality, are pretty cliche; unless those hot topics have personally affected you in a significant and unique way, steer clear of them. Don’t feel like you have to get political or philosophical either. You can write about a time you convinced all of your friends that Neapolitan is the best ice cream flavor by conducting a blind taste test at lunch every day for a week!
Acclaimed Austrian-British philosopher, Ludwig Wittgenstein, stated, "The limits of my language mean the limits of my world." Echoing this sentiment, by developing effective techniques to read and understand prompts, you are not merely improving your essay writing skills but also extending the boundaries of your comprehension.
As you share your story, remember that the essay’s focus is to demonstrate your open-mindedness, your commitment to seeking the truth, and your willingness to engage deeply with complex issues. It also shows your ability to respect differing viewpoints while developing your own reasoned stance. As such, you should take the admissions committee through your process of growth and change step-by-step, clearly articulating how the experience impacted you and how your changed perspective will enhance their campus community should you enroll.
What does the "A" in CRAAP stand for?
By adopting a step-by-step approach to analysing the prompt, you can craft an engaging and highly effective essay. This method maximises understanding of the prompt and ensures a well-structured, cohesive response, effectively communicating your insight and perspective.
Remember, it's not just about answering the question, but engaging with it in a way that reflects your comprehension and critical thinking. By aligning your response with the prompt purpose, you can produce an essay that is captivating and persuasive, insisting readers to contemplate your view.
For instance, a prompt might ask, "Explain how the author uses metaphor to convey the fragility of dreams in the poem". In this case, the command verb 'Explain' implicates a requirement for a detailed analysis. The subject is the use of metaphor in the poem, and the context speaks to the portrayal of dreams' fragility. By identifying these elements, you can structure an organised and coherent essay.
DO: Top colleges seek to admit students who are willing to engage in critical thinking and who possess the intellectual courage to question norms or ideas. Take this essay as an opportunity to share something about your ideology as well as demonstrate maturity, independence, and critical thinking skills. Include a healthy amount of conflict leading up to the resolution, so that this reads more like a story and less like an essay.
What does the "C" in CRAAP stand for?
Unlocking the purpose of a prompt in essay writing is truly an art, requiring practiced skills and a strategic mindset. By comprehending precisely what is asked, you can tailor your response to meet the prompt's criteria and effectively communicate your thoughts and perspectives.
What does the "R" in CRAAP stand for?
DON’T: Students often fall into one of two common mistakes when tackling this question: first, many students rely on cliches and overused tropes. Keep in mind that admissions officers will likely read hundreds of essays recounting stories of students missing the game-winning goal or flunking a test in sophomore English. Try to select a story that only you can tell, and if you choose a topic you worry might be popular among other students, consider how you might recount it in a unique and unexpected way.
What does the "A" in CRAAP stand for?
On the other hand, some students fall into the opposite problem, sharing about a particularly personal, traumatic, or triggering experience that impacted them. Though it should convey personal insights, the personal statement is still a professional document, and you should not make your reader uncomfortable or unsettled by the information you share. You can avoid this mistake by steering clear of issues that you haven’t fully processed and still view with bitterness or hopelessness. Remember, you are trying to demonstrate growth, not wallow or complain. Lastly, if you choose to write about a setback or failure, don’t deny the part you played. Self-awareness is a trait admissions officers love to see, and you can demonstrate that by being as unbiased and reflective as possible.
What does the "A" in CRAAP stand for?
Approaching an essay with the right strategies can bolster your understanding of the prompt purpose, resulting in an engaging and persuasive write-up. These strategies involve careful reading, identification of key elements, decoding of underlying meanings and application of critical thinking.
What does the "P" in CRAAP stand for?
DO: You might shy away from this topic because you think your life has been easy, or you haven’t overcome an enormous challenge–don’t! If this prompt jumps out at you, focus on a challenge that may seem small but made a huge difference in your character development. Sometimes the most insignificant instances make for the best stories. When tackling this prompt, focus on recent history rather than on an obstacle you overcame when you were young and may not remember with as much clarity. Once you choose the obstacle or setback you want to discuss, talk about your feelings in a mature and emotionally intelligent way, selecting an experience that demonstrates your potential to thrive in and learn from difficult situations. As with any other prompt, try to show, rather than tell, this growth. You could potentially juxtapose two situations: one in which you failed, and a later one in which you implemented what you learned the first time around in order to succeed.