The Personal EssayThe Personal Essay

Writing the College ApplicationWriting the College Application

A Personal EssayA Personal Essay

Focuses on a belief or insight Focuses on a belief or insight about life that is significant to the about life that is significant to the

writerwriter

Personal NarrativePersonal Narrative

Focuses on a significant eventFocuses on a significant event

Personal MemoirPersonal Memoir

Focuses on a specific relationship Focuses on a specific relationship between the writer and a person, between the writer and a person,

place, or objectplace, or object

A personal essay often combines A personal essay often combines elements of both the narrative and the elements of both the narrative and the memoir since an insight about life or a memoir since an insight about life or a personal belief is usually based on both personal belief is usually based on both experiences and relationshipsexperiences and relationships

Both elements form the basis of the Both elements form the basis of the writer’s value systemwriter’s value system

Personal EssayPersonal Essay

Communicates the significance of a central idea or Communicates the significance of a central idea or insight that has deep personal meaninginsight that has deep personal meaning

Purpose is more reflectivePurpose is more reflective Development is based on the writer’s personal Development is based on the writer’s personal

experiences or anecdotesexperiences or anecdotes Written in first person; more conversational or Written in first person; more conversational or

entertaining in styleentertaining in style Rarely requires documentationRarely requires documentation More subjective and informal in tone, language, and More subjective and informal in tone, language, and

subject mattersubject matter

Transactive WritingTransactive Writing

Conveys information to a reader who knows less than Conveys information to a reader who knows less than the writer; may attempt to persuade a reader to take a the writer; may attempt to persuade a reader to take a particular action or believe a certain wayparticular action or believe a certain way

Purpose is more persuasive, an attempt to convince Purpose is more persuasive, an attempt to convince others to agree with the writer’s positionothers to agree with the writer’s position

Development is based on research from credible Development is based on research from credible sourcessources

Often requires documentationOften requires documentation Written in third person; more issue driven and formal or Written in third person; more issue driven and formal or

academic in styleacademic in style