Tips on Writing a 250 Word Essay

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How to Format a 250-Word Essay

A well-written essay, regardless of word count, follows the same format: an introduction with a thesis, a body paragraph(s) that support the thesis, and a concluding paragraph that summarizes the overall essay.

Because a 250 words essay has limited space, (3-4 paragraphs), you need to have 3-5 clearly written, detailed sentences per paragraph.

Step 1 – Write Your Thesis

Your thesis is the first thing you need to address when writing your essay. Because it’s the main idea of your essay that will be the roadmap to everything else you write.

One way to approach it is to turn the prompt into a question.

Let's look at the supplemental essay prompt from UT Austin:

Required Short Answer 2: Describe how your experiences, perspectives, talents, and/or your involvement in leadership activities (at your school, job, community, or within your family) will help you to make an impact both in and out of the classroom while enrolled at UT. (maximum 40 lines, or approximately 250-300 words)

A lot is written here that can make the prompt seem confusing or intimidating to some, but let's turn it into a question.

Part 1 of the question asks you to describe any experience, talent, or leadership activity you were involved in.

Part 2 of the question asks how will it help you make an impact at UT Austin.

In other words: What do you bring to the table? Why should I give you admission?

Now let's put it together.

Question- "How will your experiences, talent, or involvement in leadership activities help you make an impact at UT Austin?"

First, brainstorm any experience or activity that you either learned from or are particularly proud of or even challenged to think differently. For example:

• MUN Officer - I knew how important it was to be involved in world events

• Student Council Member- I am able to interact with different personalities, exhibit leadership skills, and manage events

• Volunteered in a pediatric clinic - I give my time back to the community, developing empathy for those in need, and realizing the importance of proper healthcare.

Possible Thesis:

I never really paid attention to the news or world events, however, after being a part of Model United Nations, I realized the importance of being an active participant in world issues and promoting peace.

Step 2 – Intro and Hook

There are a few things to keep in mind when writing an introduction:

• Start off with a broad statement and narrow it down to your thesis.

• Try to use a hook to grab the attention of the admission officers. They have so many essays to read, if you don't grab their attention in the first 10 seconds, it's possible to lose their interest in the rest of your essay. A hook makes an essay memorable.

Types of hooks:

1. Open with an anecdote, a personal story that draws the reader in

2. Use a strong statement or statistic

3. Describe a scene using dialogue

ALWAYS show not tell! Be descriptive, and use elevated language.

A possible intro:

A recent poll conducted by Common Sense Media showed that a majority of teens get their news information from social media, scrolling mindlessly through platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. However, the information they receive is either superficial or one-sided. Model United Nations clubs across the US are working hard to change this by providing opportunities for teens to dive deeper into current events and research historical events that impact us today. Before joining this club, I never really paid attention to the news or world events, however, after being a part of Model United Nations, I realized the importance of being an active participant in world issues and promoting peace.

Want to learn more? Stay tuned for our next segment: How to write a body paragraph for a 250 word essay...

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