Crafting Your Essay for the Margaret W. Graves Scholarship

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

To create a compelling narrative, gather material across four key areas:

• Background: Consider your upbringing, education, and experiences that have shaped your desire to pursue social work. Reflect on specific moments or influences that inspired you.
• Achievements: Identify significant accomplishments in your academic and professional life. Use metrics or specific outcomes to illustrate your impact, such as volunteer hours, leadership roles, or projects that made a difference.
• The Gap: Acknowledge areas where you seek growth. Explain why further study in social work is essential for your development and how it will enable you to contribute meaningfully to the field.
• Personality: Infuse your essay with personal details that reveal your values and character. Share anecdotes that highlight your resilience, empathy, or commitment to social justice.

Outlining Your Essay

Organize your thoughts into a clear outline. A suggested structure might include:

1. Introduction: Start with a specific moment or experience that encapsulates your journey into social work.
2. Background: Discuss your formative experiences and motivations.
3. Achievements: Highlight key accomplishments and their relevance to social work.
4. The Gap: Address what you hope to gain from the scholarship and your studies.
5. Conclusion: Reflect on your commitment to making an impact in social work and how the scholarship will help you achieve your goals.

Drafting Voice and Style

Write in an active voice, focusing on specific actions and outcomes. Avoid abstract language and clichés. Each paragraph should convey one main idea, with transitions that guide the reader through your narrative. Emphasize reflection by answering the “So what?” question in each section to illustrate why your experiences matter.

Revision & “So What?”

After drafting, take a break before revising. Look for clarity, coherence, and emotional resonance. Ensure that each section contributes to your overarching narrative. Seek feedback from peers or mentors who can provide insight into how effectively you communicate your journey and aspirations.

Pitfalls to Avoid

Be mindful of common mistakes:

• Avoid generic statements and clichés that do not add value to your narrative.
• Do not fabricate experiences or achievements; authenticity is crucial.
• Steer clear of passive voice and bureaucratic language that can obscure your message.