How+to+Write+a+Statement+of+Purpose

When you are applying for a graduate or PhD program, you have to write a Statement of Purpose . There are 3 steps to write an excellent statement of purpose.
 * How to Write a Statement of Purpose **

**1- Create an outline ** **2- Write the statement of purpose ** **3- Review your statement **

= **1. Create an outline ** =

**A - //Know yourself //: **

You must think about and answer these questions:

-What do you want? <span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">-Why do you want it? <span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">-Why can that particular program help you? <span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">-Why should the school select you over someone else?

<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">So, know your strengths and weaknesses. You should also review your intellectual and personal development over your academic years at the university. //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">**B** **-** // **//<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Write the introduction and the thesis statement: //**

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The introduction paragraph should be strong and clear. Answer the following questions for your introduction:

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">-Who are you? <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">-Where are you from? <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">-Why did you choose this particular field? <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">-Why did you choose this specific program? <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Why is this university your choice?

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The thesis statement gives the central idea of your paper; so it should <span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">sum up the basic meaning of the essay, and signal to the reader what to expect. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Be specific and clear. **//<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">C - // //<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The body of the paper: //**

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Each paragraph should have one single central idea. Tell the reader what to expect in the paragraph with a topic sentence.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">-If the central idea has several supporting points, discuss them in different paragraphs. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">-Support whatever you write to convince the reader. Prove that your statements are true and accurate. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">-The structure of the paragraphs should be careful and logical. You may choose to follow a chronological order or another sequence that is easy to read. You should use transition markers and connecting sentences to provide a smooth flow between the sentences and the paragraphs. **//<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">D- // //<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Conclusion: //**

<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Restate your thesis and the main points supporting it. You may add some new ideas or information to challenge the reader to think further about you.

**<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2 - Write the Statement of Purpose **

**//<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">A - // //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is the easy part: //**<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If your outline is a thorough and a thoughtful one, this step will be an easy. **//<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">B - // <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> //Introduction:// **<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The first sentence is very important if you want take the reader's attention. State your reasons about why you are writing this statement along with your goals.

**//<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">C - // //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The body of your paper: //**<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Describe the details of who you are (as a student/ as an academician/ as a human being) and what you have succeeded. In the body of you paper, it is important that you write about the following:

**<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">C-1) ** **<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Explain your background **<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">: Show that you are academically prepared for your chosen program. Answer these questions:

<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">- <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Where and what have you studied? <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">-What are your past research or diploma projects? <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">-How can you apply the skills you learned in earning your degree to the new field? (If you are applying to a program in a different field of study)

**<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">C-2) ****<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Describe your professional goals **<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">: Refer to the following questions:

<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Why do you find your particular field of study interesting? What influenced you to choose that field? <span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Did you have any related experience or research? If yes, explain. <span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">- What are you future plans after you receive your degree? Are you planning to continue your education? Are you planning to work in your field? **<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">C-3) Explain your reasoning **<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">: Describe what and why have chosen to study in this graduate school.

<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">- What are you specific interests in the field? <span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Why is this program needed for your professional development? How great is the need? <span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">- What led you to your choice of university - courses, faculty, research projects, facilities, etc.? **//<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">D - // //<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Write you conclusion: //**<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Make a summary of the main points you mentioned in the body paragraphs. Finish the paragraph by describing what you can contribute as an individual to the program you are applying for. **//<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">E - // //<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">List all the documents you will put in your application portfolio, and briefly describe them. //**

**//<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">F - // // <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Thank the admissions committee for their time. //**

**//<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">G - // //<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Write you contact information: //<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Your telephone number, e-mail, and address. **

**<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3 - Review your Statement ** **//<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">A - // //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Go back and revise. edit and rewrite: //**<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Remember, your statement should be 3 pages maximum. So, be very concise and to the point.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">-After finishing your statement, wait for a few days to revise it. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Ask someone else (The Writing Centre, for example J <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">) to edit it. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Is there anything that is not necessary or fits in well? Just cut it. **//<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">B- // //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Print your SOP, sign it, and put it as the first item in your application portfolio: //**<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If you are going to send it through e-mail, convert your file to a PDF format. **<span style="color: #414141; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Useful Tips ** <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.” <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Mark Twain
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Your first paragraph should be 5 sentences maximum. It should give a summary of the whole SOP, and it should be well-written so that the committee members can think the rest of your application is worth reading.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Don’t boost yourself. Be humble, and let your SOP show them how good you are.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Don’t use technical terms or jargons too much.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If you are flexible, don’t be too specific about your research goals. Don’t seem to be without any goals, either.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The best SOP is well-organised and concise.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Try to use expressions such as “I believe”, “I think” if you are making judgments about how good you are.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Don’t make a summary of your CVs. Instead, focus on your previous and future research experiences.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Committees look for evidence of whether you will make the transition to a more “unstructured” and “self-directed” form of learning in graduate school. They try to see whether you have a “realistic” and “well-informed” sense of what a graduate student would expect to do in a degree.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The presentation of your paper is **very** important. Use Times New Roman font, 12 font size, and be careful with the margins. Be consistent with your style guide (APA, MLA, etc.) throughout your paper.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Don’t send the exact same SOP to all the universities you are applying to. Include specific references to people, labs, groups, etc., within their departments.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Carefully examine the university’s admissions web page before you submit your application.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Some specific and interesting details can make you be distinguished. Try to use short anecdotes to highlight your strengths, but be careful; they should all relate to the broad point you are making in your statement.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Keep it short and clear, but specific and detailed about faculty and areas of potential research.