美国大学申请（2）: 优秀主文书的共性
对于高中生们来说，个人陈述，很可能是准备各种大学申请材料中最难的部分，因为它虽有一定的格式框架，内容却完全开放。哪怕是某些名校每年给出命题，对命题的理解也还是开放的，于是申请文书是典型的千人千面。不过，凡是写得好东西，不论什么体裁，为了什么目的，总有一些共性，必然体现出清晰的文理思维逻辑，这个逻辑可以是生活的、哲学的或者情感的，但全文必须遵从这个逻辑，一以贯之。
从细微的、具体的焦点中脱颖而出。作者首先非常详细地讲述一个事件，一个故事或对某个人某个地方的描述。当建立起形象的画面感之后，再进行扩展，将这一非常难忘的经历与自己的现状、精神状态、新发现的理解或成熟程度联系起来。
生动地讲好一个故事。有些人的经验是独一无二的，不可重复，也无法模仿。大多数人处理的都是日常生活中的事情。让生活中普通的、寻常的事情成为文书中独一无二的素材，取决于作者对待这个话题的方式: 分析它的戏剧性，发掘它的幽默内涵，强调它的感人特品质，展示它对作者世界观的影响，或者，以及它如何与作者的情感生活发生联系。
努力做到先声夺人。你一篇文章写出来，必须要能吸引读者读下去。在申请文书这一类受到篇幅限制的文章里，开头就显得格外重要。最好的第一句话是辛辣的，直接的，有悬念的，一开头就设置了一个不寻常的场景或一个结论不清楚的状况，目的是让读者想知道更多。看看下面这些写得十分精彩的开头：
Unlike many mathematicians, I live in an irrational world; I feel that my life is defined by a certain amount of irrationalities that bloom too frequently, such as my brief foray in front of 400 people without my pants.
I almost didn't live through September 11th, 2001.
When I was 8 years old, I shocked my family and a local archaeologist by discovering artifacts dating back almost 3,500 years.
When I was in eighth grade I couldn't read.
While Traveling through the daily path of life, have you ever stumbled upon a hidden pocket of the universe?
The Spaghetti burbled and slushed around the pan, and as I stirred it, the noisesit gave off began to sound increasingly like bodily functions.
I Had never seen anyone get so excited about mitochondria.
Cancer Tried to defeat me, and it failed.
Istand on the riverbank surveying this rippled range like some riparian cowboy—instead of chaps, I wear vinyl, thigh-high waders and a lasso o'measuring tape and twine is slung over my arm.
I Have old hands.
Flying Over enemy territory, I took in Beirut's beautiful skyline and wondered if under different circumstances I would have hopped on a bus and come here for my vacation. Instead, I saw the city from the window of a helicopter, in military uniform, my face camouflaged, on my way to a special operation deep behind enemy lines.
My Younger sister, Jessica, arrived home one day reeling about the shirt that her friend had worn to school. It had simply read, “Genocide, Homicide, Suicide,Riverside.”
I'll Never forget the day when my childhood nightmares about fighting gigantic trolls in the Lord of the Rings series became a reality. Sword in hand and cladin medieval samurai armor, I dragged myself into the battleground as I faced my opponent, a warmongering giant.
GoodGrief! You never would have guessed that an unassuming meek lovable loser like Charlie Brown would have an influence on anyone; but indeed he has.
Some Fathers might disapprove of their children handling noxious chemicals in the garage.
I Was paralyzed from the waist down. I would try to move my leg or even shift an ankle but I never got a response. This was the first time thoughts of death ever crossed my mind.
Asan Indian-American, I am forever bound to the hyphen.
I Have been surfing Lake Michigan since I was 3 years old.
Ona hot Hollywood evening, I sat on a bike, sweltering in a winter coat and furry boots.
I Change my name each time I place an order at Starbucks.
一篇个人陈述，是为读者准备的，一个活泼的、个人的声音。在申请大学的情况下，你的读者是负责招生的人们。在看到你的文书之前，他们已经读过了几千篇；在看完你的之后，他们还要再看上千篇。你的目标十分明确：在几千篇之间，你的文字不会让他们厌烦，还要让他们能够记住你，使用生动的描述，用有趣的切入点，远离陈词滥调，不要担心你自己的观点离经叛道——任何东西, 使这篇文章看起来像你, 而不像任何一个其他人。
最后，技术正确性。这一点我已经讲过多次，实在太重要，必须一再重复。没有拼写错误, 没有语法怪癖, 没有语法问题, 没有标点符号的障碍——格式和校对必须完美。或许——你不善于发现错误，这种准确不是你的强项， 那么就请家长、老师、导师和其他能发现这些错误的人审阅你的文字。你的文书当然是你自己的作品，但如果你不仔细润色，不竭尽全力去消灭这些错误，这些错误就会来消灭你。
