Essay clarification help please!

<p>For the University of Maryland essay #5 (where you write your own question and respond to it)...it says to talk about why you think this essay represents you well</p>

<p>Should this description be included in the essay or in a separate paragraph?</p>

<p>If it is supposed to be in a separate paragraph, is it included in the word count??</p>

<p>-thanks!</p>