<p>Hello. Can someone please help me with this prompt: </p>
<p>Analytical Essay/Academic Paper: We are interested in your ability to ask complex questions, think critically, synthesize information, and formulate your own conclusions through original analysis. Submit an academic paper of any length, written in the English language, you have produced for a class in the past year. We do not accept in-class essays, creative writing samples, journal entries, or lab reports. If you do not have an example that best represents your ability to write analytically, feel free to create and submit an essay on a complex question of your own design.</p>
<p>I am an international student and I have not written anything of this sort before. Should I write a critical analysis of a book or a movie? Has anyone written anything like this before, how did you approach it? I have been trying to find an example of an essay like this on the internet, but to no avail.</p>
<p>Since you haven’t written anything like this in class, it tells you to
. Don’t write about a book or movie – come up with your own question. Think of something you have wondered about or found intriguing or confusing – use something you know – maybe you can pose the question: will the trend in international students applying to US colleges continue and what are the long term implications for the US society? Kind of lame – I’m sure you can do better. I think that’s what they’re talking about.</p>
<p>^ Thanks, I like your idea. But why do you think I should write about a question of mine rather than a book/ movie (college says it is fine to write about them)</p>
<p>^^ I just double checked and I have to write a critical analysis of a book for another college so it is better to write one essay for both schools.</p>
<p>The only reason I said “don’t write about a book or movie” is because it wasn’t mentioned in the instructions you posted – I read it as “submit something you’ve already done in class” or “create your own question and answer it”. But if the school said a book/movie essay is fine, go for it. </p>
<p>It seems as if writing about a book would be fine, but don’t do a book report, and simply tell the story of the book. I would suggest thinking of an analytic question to answer, similar to the questions teachers put on exams or assign for papers.</p>
<p>For instance, how did the main character grow or change during the course of the book?</p>
<p>There are infinite possibilities, but I just want to make the point that simply retelling the plot usually doesn’t really satisfy the requirements of the prompt.</p>
<p>I would call the college admissions offices to talk about it with them. Sometimes they want a few pages, other times they would be okay with a short sample of your writing. Clear your topic with them and you will feel reassured.</p>