<p>I’m pretty stuck when it comes to deciding potential essay topics, and only one real idea has come to mind: I pride myself on being a non-drinker/smoker in high school. I’m not an anti-social nerd or anything like that, but I’m strongly opposed and outspoken when it comes to teen drinking/drugs use.</p>
<p>Would writing on this topic make for a good essay? Problem is, I don’t really have any motives behind this resentment; nobody in my family has problems with alcoholism; only had one problem with a friend; never participated in any youth groups or anything of that nature… I’m just against it! Would this make for a weak and empty essay, or is it a salvageable idea?</p>
<p>Sounds like “telling” who you are and not “showing.” The best essays have an element of character development, from a beginning “scene” to the final scene showing a stronger you. That’s why so many prompts ask for how you’ve overcome obstacles or challenges.</p>
<p>What most students don’t know is that these challenges don’t need to be big-life events. How about a situation where you felt uncomfortable (DESCRIBE the situation), then, through a few other vignettes, transition into someone who can handle those situations.</p>
<p>Here’s an example - a guy who felt like a freak arriving at a new school…</p>
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<p>Notice the structure: First, it is descriptive, letting the reader discover qualities of this guy without the writer TELLING the reader what to look for. Second, notice that the action is described in scenes, like a movie… each scene is a step on the writer’s journey, overcoming his OWN issues (not those of others) to become a much stronger, more comfortable person. This TRANSITION (or character development, or “story arc”) is what makes this essay very good. It’s also concise (doesn’t stray from the topic) and makes some fairly mundane activities (studying with another student, joining the service club) interesting because of the story.</p>
<p>So first step: think back to your own memories and figure out which are the ones that have stayed in your mind over the years. Make a list of them. Then look at that list and see if any of those changed you. If one has, then run with that as the scene you’ll describe in your first paragraph.</p>
<p>Totally agree with digmedia. It sounds like a stretch if you do not have personal experience with the issue. You want to write about something that is deeply meaningful to you, and that you have personal experience with, because you’re going to need vivid personal experiences to to use as evidence/support of your essay’s thesis.
And since you say, “I don’t really have any motives behind this resentment,” that tells me you likely should choose another topic.
Have you done any topic selection brainstorming exercises? Digmedia’s idea is a great one – make a list of the experiences and memories in your life that have stayed with you and choose one that reveals something unique and special about you. And then demonstrate – don’t explain – how this experience has changed your life or your perspective in some way.
If you stick with your original topic idea, you’re not likely to write as strong an essay as you would if you choose something you have personal experience with, especially if that thing changed you in some way. And it doesn’t have to be big and dramatic or exotic, it could be one small moment that changed you in some way.
Good luck!</p>
<p>Scientific evidence now suggests that light to moderate drinking is healthy. Whether you find the evidence convincing is another matter. The thing is, writing a college application essay about sobriety without any clear motivation is unwise, even if colleges may not be too keen on seeing their students vomit their brains out. Your admission officer may actually support light to moderate alcohol consumption and simply be against idiotic binge-drinking. And even if he/she turns out to be a teetotaler, your ill-founded resentment toward alcohol may show in your essay and reflect negatively on your character. In short, you may end up sounding naive, dogmatic or self-righteous–when you are not.</p>
<p>Digmedia’s suggestion is excellent. Also, consider incorporating a troubling dilemma into your essay. You can describe what you did to resolve the dilemma, and how and why you made that decision. Such an essay will allow admissions to see you as a deep thinker and problem solver, and will also allow them to understand (and like) you more as a person.</p>