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microbabe
Joined: 03 Feb 2010
Posts: 115
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 Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 5:37 pm Post subject: Statement of Purpose |
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Hi,
Are statements of purpose really difficult to write? I have had a look around and it seems one of the hardest things people write.
Any tips would be be appreciated.
Thanks,
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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The purpose of this presentation/paper is to
discuss
present
consider
focus on
highlight
describe
compare
contrast
(other academic verbs that describe the function of the discourse)
+ topic of paper/presentation.
May be followed by limitations/context.
There you go! |
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Phil_K
Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2041
Location: A World of my Own
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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| You're essentially writing about why you'd be an ideal candidate for the particular academic program---what you bring to the program and why you'd be successful in the field of study. Do an Internet search on writing personal statement; you'll find plenty of tips, guides, and samples. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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Actually, now I'm a bit confused: statements of purpose are used in a range of different types of documents/discourse. They're commonly used in all kinds of academic papers and presentations.
DebMer, are you specifically asking about statements of purpose for university admissions or something else? |
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LongShiKong
Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 1082
Location: China
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 1:51 am Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| You're essentially writing about why you'd be an ideal candidate for the particular academic program---what you bring to the program and why you'd be successful in the field of study. Do an Internet search on writing personal statement; you'll find plenty of tips, guides, and samples. |
No worries! You'll find your purpose on someone's website. 
(But seriously, isn't this just an example of what's wrong with education?) |
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microbabe
Joined: 03 Feb 2010
Posts: 115
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 3:21 am Post subject: |
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| It is for university admissions at Sheffield Hallam. |
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DebMer
Joined: 02 Jan 2012
Posts: 232
Location: Southern California
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 4:14 am Post subject: |
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| spiral78 wrote: |
Actually, now I'm a bit confused: statements of purpose are used in a range of different types of documents/discourse. They're commonly used in all kinds of academic papers and presentations.
DebMer, are you specifically asking about statements of purpose for university admissions or something else? |
Twarn't me a-tall. |
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artemisia
Joined: 04 Nov 2008
Posts: 875
Location: the world
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 4:37 am Post subject: |
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I saw your post earlier, but it was unclear as to why you needed a statement of purpose. As mentioned by others, they are usually for presenting academic papers at conferences or to gain acceptance into a postgraduate university program of studies. It�s still not clear if you�re following an independent program where you'd set your own learning outcomes/goals with a supervisor (usually a thesis).
A statement of purpose generally involves setting out your goals for the course and what you hope to have achieved by the end. This might involve highlighting certain strengths already developed that you could build on and use as a focus (for a dissertation, for example). Even weakness / gaps of knowledge might be appropriate to discuss in relation to how they�ll be addressed during/by the course. Your long-term goals or far reaching �vision�, and how a particular course of study would help you realise this/these, could also be included.
You�d need to know exactly what is on offer in terms of taught papers etc. if you wish to outline some area of specialisation (eg., materials/ curriculum development). Some academic programs will have a list of topic areas that could be used as the focus of a dissertation or thesis. Have you met with or talked to one of the course advisors? |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 7:18 am Post subject: |
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| LongShiKong wrote: |
| nomad soul wrote: |
| You're essentially writing about why you'd be an ideal candidate for the particular academic program---what you bring to the program and why you'd be successful in the field of study. Do an Internet search on writing personal statement; you'll find plenty of tips, guides, and samples. |
No worries! You'll find your purpose on someone's website.
(But seriously, isn't this just an example of what's wrong with education?) |
LongShiKong, in no way am I even suggesting plaigiarizing/copying others' graduate school admissions essays. A personal statement of purpose presents the writer's own unique life experiences; achievements; personal reflection; intellect/ability to study at the graduate level; career interests, potential, and goals; etc. However, there's nothing wrong in looking at the strategies, style, and organization others employed in writing their statements of purpose as a way to get ideas when drafting one's own essay. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 12:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Apologies to Debmer and microbabe! Didn't mean to mix you up here! |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 1:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Are these statements of purpose the same manner of being as a statement of intent? |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Sashadroogie wrote: |
| Are these statements of purpose the same manner of being as a statement of intent? |
They can even be confused with thesis statements in some contexts 
I think there is a distinction between purpose and intent; to me it seems that purposes are more concrete and intents are more at the planning stage.
Maybe a statement of intent should be followed by a statement of purpose   |
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LongShiKong
Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 1082
Location: China
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
LongShiKong, in no way am I even suggesting plaigiarizing/copying others' graduate school admissions essays. |
I understand that and I wasn't implying you were but many students are nevertheless schooled into fulfilling the expectation the easiest way possible. The very fact such things exist online is regrettable as it only adds to the problem of universities and colleges becoming known as cert mills. |
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microbabe
Joined: 03 Feb 2010
Posts: 115
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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| spiral78 wrote: |
| Apologies to Debmer and microbabe! Didn't mean to mix you up here! |
No problem.
Thanks for all the advice. Starting my first draft and will see how long it all takes !! |
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