<p>Hello. I need help with the following prompt please:</p>
<p>"Write about something you find interesting-This may be a written text, a drawing, a graphic or photographic image, a poem, a collage, or whatever you would like"</p>
<p>I have some ideas but they are not too bright!</p>
<p>Any thoughts are appreciated:)</p>
<p>The operative word in the prompt is you. This is a prompt for you so they can get some insight on you - not random others. </p>
<p>My thoughts - start writing out some of your ‘thoughts’ that pop into your head from the prompt. See how it goes. Some of what you end up with might be better than you thought they’d be.</p>
<p>I have already tried that and have come up with ‘not so bright’ ideas. If I had to write about nature that’ll be fine but I find it difficult to think of a stimulating poem or painting as I am not an eager poetry reader or paintings follower.</p>
<p>This prompt is for a college I am very much interested in and have a good shot at getting in so thats why I have invited others to share their thoughts.</p>
<p>Please share your ideas and remember I will have to write about the poem/painting so it’ll still be my work!</p>
<p>“This prompt is for a college I am very much interested in and have a good shot at getting in so thats why I have invited others to share their thoughts.” </p>
<p>If you have a good shot at getting in, why do you need other people to help you write your essay? I doubt all your ideas are “not too bright.” And you don’t have to be an “eager poetry reader or paintings follower” - haven’t you taken an English class? You could use something you’ve read in there.</p>
<p>Set aside some time. Take a pad of paper to a quiet place. At the top of the first piece of paper, write “Book” (which is how I’d interpret “text” but if you have a different idea, go with that). On the next sheet, write “Drawing/Painting.” Label additional sheets for “Graphic Image”, “Photo”, “Poem”, “Collage”. Since it seems like they’re looking for how you respond to art, broadly defined, you can label additional sheets with other forms, like “Dance” or “Music.”</p>
<p>For each sheet, write down a few examples that come quickly to mind. If nothing comes to mind, or if it’s a form you don’t especially like, just toss that sheet. For example, I can’t think of a single example of a collage, so I wouldn’t be writing an essay about that and would quickly get rid of it.</p>
<p>Now begin the process of free association. This is where you allow thoughts, images, feelings to float around your mind, and just record them on the paper. Don’t worry about grammer or complete sentences or even if it makes sense. Write single words or very short phrases. Don’t judge or filter your thoughts at this stage; just write down every single thing that pops into your head. Don’t try to develop your ideas. </p>
<p>Don’t strain your brain; allow it to wander around. The things you like the most will come quickly, and if something doesn’t come quickly, it’s not something you could write a great essay about. When the well seems to run dry, you’re done with that page.</p>
<p>Now set the sheets aside for a while; a few hours at least, a few days if you can. Now that you’ve got your mind working on it, ideas will come to you at random times and you probably will find yourself gravitating toward a particular photo or piece of music or book. Once you’ve decided, go back to your notes about that piece and you’ll know what you find engaging about it. And you’ll write convincingly and well about something you find engaging. :)</p>
<p>Thanks for your reply. I am an international student so yes I have not taken any English classes.</p>
<p>@LasMa your suggestion is quite useful, and I’ll try it. But it might take some time and I have to turn in the essay in a couple of days!</p>
<p>^^ I understand. The brainstorming process doesn’t need to take very long. Pick 2 or 3 categories that grab you, for example, Text, Photo, Painting. Spend about 5 minutes free-associating with each one. So that only takes 15 minutes. </p>
<p>Do set aside your notes for a while, even for just a few hours. It’s amazing how much work your subconscious brain can do after you get it started. </p>
<p>After you go through the brainstorming/set-aside process, I think you’ll have a much clearer idea of what direction to go. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I’d suggest that you keep in mind that the essays are a way of getting to know about you. If nature is really what you respond to, use that. You’ve probably read “Trees” by Joyce Kilmer:</p>
<p>I Think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree</p>
<p>Thanks scoutsmom. I had not read “trees” but now I have and I liked it a lot. </p>
<p>Can you recommend something else as well?</p>
<p>You cam write some Jokes. :D</p>
<p>I would only restate that you need to be yourself. You’re an international, so you could use a poem from your country in your own language as an opportunity to talk about how your culture shapes you. And trust yourself a little more to have good ideas!</p>
<p>Tell people about the unique culture and event happened n your country, the food, interesting places, etc. People who are reading these papers may not be familiar with your culture, your country. Impress them with your style of writing, your culture. Hope this helps. Good luck!</p>
<p>@fireworks4ever Ah, I understand. Yeah, you could use a poem in your own language - but you might need to translate it into English in your essay.</p>
<p>Thanks kxc1961 and howiegrange. I think I am going with Khalil Gibran. He is not from my country but I think his poetry is quite good. Is it a good choice?</p>
<p>Follow your heart and instincts. You know yourself the best.</p>
<p>I guess an inspirational piece of art will be ideal but I cant think of any!</p>
<p>It isn’t what you choose, it’s what you say about what you choose that’s going to be important.</p>
<p>The key phrase here is what “you find interesting,” so I’d approach it in reverse: Think about what’s interesting to you and then select something you can write about.</p>
<p>For example, if you’d like to write about nature, do you have a photograph of a favorite place that you might have taken that you could write about and explain why it’s a favorite?</p>
<p>If Khalil Gibran is an author whose work you find interesting, that is the topic you should choose.</p>
<p>You will find people who think it’s a good choice, and people who think it’s a terrible choice and give you a list of reasons.</p>
<p>Doesn’t matter. It is not what you write ABOUT that will matter. It is what YOU show about yourself as you write. And how you write.</p>
<p>Good luck. You can do this, and since you have only a couple of days, you should be starting now on your first draft. Some excellent tips above from uc___ dad and LasMa (really excellent tips!) on how to go about it.</p>
<p>fireworks, go with Gibran. </p>
<p>Now pretend you’re talking to a friend about it – what would you say? What do you love about it? What are the best parts? How does it challenge you? What do you find to be especially true about it? What do you think about the language he uses, the words, the phrasing? What emotions does it evoke? How does it inspire you?</p>
<p>Jot down the answers to those questions, and any others you think of, on a piece of paper. Again, just words and phrases, no filter, no developing ideas, no structure – just ideas. Do it quickly, the best stuff will come out right away. Once that’s done, I think you’ll have the shape of your essay.</p>