<p>My Chicago app is due today, and although I have the body of my essay pretty much written, I'm having trouble coming up with an intro, conclusion, or question. I'm not really interested in people reading my essay (nothing against anybody personally), but if any general tips about these areas would be great. My problem is that the essay topic is kind of...different (it's a choose your own topic one, plus it's for Chicago), so there isn't a lesson learned or the effect something had on me that I an sum up at the end. And I'm having trouble coming up with a question/prompt to match the essay. I know I'm being vague, but does anyone have any general tips that might apply? Thanks.</p>
<p>here are some questions you can ask yourself that may help you figure out what you want the question to be:</p>
<p>1)Why are you writing? (ie to inform, persuade etc)
2)What are you trying to prove?</p>
<p>the second question should really tell you what you want to make the prompt. if you don't know what you are trying to prove, then your essay is probably not that good (i don't think writing is any good unless you want someone to see your point). although if you want like a creative prompt (which i assume you do) then you have more work to do, and i dont really know how to help you with that. i also dont think the prompt matters that much as long as you have a kick ass essay.</p>
<p>for the introduction, just focus on coming up with one really good interesting sentence. then let the rest of the introduction flow from that. </p>
<p>I am really bad at conclusions, so I don't really know what to say for that, but DON'T BE TRITE, its really easy to. </p>
<p>I know you said that you didn't want to share your essay, and i completley understand why, but i'm not applying to UChicago, and my apps are in, so if you want to send it to me, i'd be happy to read it. </p>
<p>If you dont, maybe you want to share the topic? we could help you more then as well.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>for the conclusion: I always try to connect the conclusion back to the intro so the essay has a cohesive feel to it!</p>
<p>... and what's the UChicago prompt??</p>
<p>I chose the option to create my own prompt, but Chicago prompts are normally creative and unique... The essay is about three specific words I like and why I like them/what they mean to me. It's different, but I think it'll work. I think I might try something like:</p>
<p>Throughout geography and history, language has changed and words have had different meanings. Dictionaries are filled with words, and linguists spend their careers studying them. Though they may be small and simple on their own, when put together words have power and are one of the most basic forms of communication. Choose a few words that have significance to you and discuss them.</p>
<p>How is it?</p>
<p>i think thats good. but "throughout geography?" that doesn't really make sense to me. but i can be dense at times.</p>
<p>Thanks, and yeah, I think I might cut out the geography part. I was trying to allude to different languages, but now that I read over it, I think it'd be too confusing unless I gave more information.</p>