Choose a Topic and Brainstorm Details

In this video, you will choose a topic for your application essay.

Then, you will brainstorm details and main ideas about your topic and add them to your essay planning document.

If you would rather organize your ideas visually, you can use a mind map or other graphic organizer.

When you are asked to write an application essay, you will usually be given a list of prompts to choose from.

These topics can include prompts like: What is it about this school or organization that makes you want to apply here?

What is a challenge you overcame?

How did you do it?

What is an accomplishment you are particularly proud of?

How did you accomplish it?

Or, Describe a person you admire.

What makes you admire them?

To begin, click the link on this page to open a list of essay prompts.

Choose one of the prompts to write about.

You may also use one that you’re already working on or one your teacher has assigned to you.

Or, you can create your own prompt.

When you have chosen a topic prompt, add it to your document.

Next, brainstorm details about your topic prompt.

Brainstorming gets your ideas flowing and acts as a “warmup” before you write the actual essay.

Type any ideas you have about your topic.

These can include details like names, places, dates, phrases, or anything that comes to mind.

Don’t worry so much about spelling, grammar, or complete sentences at this point.

The goal of brainstorming is to get your ideas recorded.

Now, look through your brainstorm notes.

Consider which ideas are the most important...

What do you want your readers to know?

Write at least three main ideas.

These will form the topics for each of your body paragraphs.

Then, bold the section headings to make them stand out from the other text.

Finally, organize your topic details by adding bullet points.

Adding bullets to each detail keeps them organized and easier to read.

Now, it’s your turn: Select an essay topic and add it to your document, Brainstorm topic details, Write at least three main ideas about your topic, Bold the section headings, And add a bulleted list to your details.