<p> Guidelines for Writing Tutors Working with Scholarship Applicants</p><p>While a scholarship application essay resembles other types of analytical essays that students are asked to write for college courses, a scholarship/grant funding application essay has several unique qualities. Scholarship essays expect the author to reflect on personal experiences, using the first-person “I” pronoun. This is very different from scholarly research writing. Scholarship essays must present clear, logically developed, well-illustrated sets of points, which incorporate personal stories that reflect the character, personal values, and experiences of the writer. Particularly strong essays are both critically astute and deeply personal. </p><p>When reviewing the scholarship essay draft, ask the following questions: </p><p>1. Does the essay directly address the topic question at hand? Does it provide sufficient details about the research project/personal profile of the author? </p><p>2. Is there a connecting thread that unifies different parts of the essay (an idea or theme)?</p><p>3. Does the essay build momentum up to its most interesting and important point?</p><p>4. Does the author give specific, detailed examples to illustrate the points made in the essay?</p><p>5. Does the author show him/herself in action, rather than simply listing skills and credentials?</p><p>6. Are the topic sentences (first sentence of each paragraph) fully developed in the following paragraphs?</p><p>7. Does the opening sentence catch the reader’s attention? Does the closing sentence pull ideas together in a visionary way, rather than as a flat summary? </p><p>8. Are any points vague or incompletely illustrated?</p><p>9. Does the essay use unnecessary adjectives? Cutting out adjectives and adverbs may result in a more powerful sentence. </p><p>10. Pinpoint sentences in the essay that best identify the author’s passion in life. Could the essay begin with, or more fully highlight, these sentences? </p><p>11. Does the essay adhere to character or word limits? </p><p>12. Is the essay thoroughly edited? </p><p>This information was gathered from Guidelines for Writing Center Tutors Working with Scholarship Applicants, DePauw University, 11/04/20009. Guidelines for Scholarship Applicants</p><p>The following essay components specifically apply to Fulbright and Stanley Award applicants. When reviewing your project narrative/statement of proposed study, make sure that you’ve covered the following questions:</p><p>1. What do you propose to do? What is exciting or unique about your particular project? How will your project promote cross-cultural interaction and mutual understanding?</p><p>2. With whom do you propose to work?</p><p>3. When will you carry out your research? Include a timeline.</p><p>4. Where do you propose to conduct your research? Why is it important to go abroad to complete your project?</p><p>5. How will you carry out your project? Discuss methodology and goals for the project.</p><p>6. How will this project help to further your academic, professional, and personal development?</p><p>When reviewing your personal statement, ask yourself the following questions: </p><p>1. Is your personal statement tied to your project narrative?</p><p>2. Does your personal statement explain who you are and how you came to be that person? </p><p>3. Does your personal statement discuss your personal growth and development as it relates to your interests?</p><p>4. Does your personal statement include your personal history, insights, stories, etc.?</p><p>5. Does your personal statement connect your academic life/interests to your personal life and history? </p><p>6. Does your personal statement explain how the research project or study will enhance your future plans? </p>