How To Write an Essay About Yourself (and Cement Your Writing Style)The “about me” essay is a classic assignment. Part of that comes from its practicality; it’s a good way to introduce yourself to new people. The “about me” essay also helps your teacher get an idea of your writing voice and style, and it involves a lot of elements that you’ll find in other writing, from research papers to fiction. Looking at some creative “about me” essay examples can help you figure out where to get started. Show
Brainstorming an Essay About YourselfBefore you even open your document, you should take some time to brainstorm ideas for your essay. Aside from your teacher’s instructions, the sky's the limit here. A lot of “about me” essays discuss:
Getting started is the hardest part of anything, and essays are no different. The "about me" introduction is ostensibly the most important part of an essay. The intro is the first thing the reader sees, and it gives a reason for the reader to keep reading. Start With a HookThe hook is the opening sentence of the introduction. It’s the actual first thing that the reader sees, so it should be engaging and immediately hook the reader in while setting the tone for the rest of the essay. That can be hard to accomplish, but there are a few different strategies to go with:
Starting with something surprising or unexpected is the best way to go, but try not to overthink it. Even going with a basic statement (My name is Edna, and I love apples.) is enough to entice a reader (Why does she love apples? Why is she writing a whole essay about her love of apples?). Introduce DetailsOnce you’ve got your hook down, get into what you actually want to talk about in your personal essay. Most “about me” essays highlight a special event or episode from your life that illustrates some larger insight about you. Use sensory details and try to keep things concrete. The hard part is introducing the event without going too deep into the details (that’s what the rest of the essay is for). Conclude Your IntroIf this was a research paper or traditional five-paragraph essay, the conclusion of your intro would technically be your thesis sentence. This sentence outlines the whole point of the essay. What are the contents of this essay saying about you? What insights are you revealing about your personality through the whole essay? It’s okay to work your way backwards here. Start with a pretty basic thesis, write out the body of the essay, and then go back and modify the thesis as you see fit. What To Include in an Essay About YourselfApproach a creative essay about yourself the way you’d approach telling your best friend a story. You want to put in enough details that the story makes sense without ending up on weird tangents, all while incorporating a bit of your personality. Easy, right? Use ParagraphsSeems obvious, but make use of paragraphs to break up your story. Exact length will vary based on what your teacher says, but shorter essays should have one to two body paragraphs, while longer essays should have at least three paragraphs. Unless your teacher says otherwise, stick with at least five sentences per paragraph. Regardless, make sure that each paragraph presents a full thought and leads into the next. Show, Don’t TellThis is the type of advice that writers will repeat forever, but it’s even more annoying because it’s true. Essentially, try to stick with illustrative details that draw from the senses. How did things smell, taste, or physically feel? Specificity and groundedness are more engaging than abstractions. For example:
That’s not super interesting, descriptive, or engaging, and it mostly just sounds like you’re bragging. Compare that to:
That has images and emotion. It feels concrete while still staying personal, and it urges the reader to want to learn more. Include Metaphors, Similes, and All That Good StuffUse metaphors, similes, and all the other figures of speech available to you to add some creativity to your essay. How To End an Essay About YourselfOkay, you’ve got a solid intro, and you’ve finished the body paragraphs. It’s time for your conclusion. The easy part of your conclusion: reiterating your thesis and briefly reviewing your story. The hard part: thinking beyond the essay. A conclusion addresses the “so what?” of an essay and understands that there is a world outside of the few paragraphs that you just wrote. How do the events of the essay affect who you are now? What did you learn, and how do you plan to apply that to your future endeavors? Give it some thought, and don’t be afraid to be a little cheesy. As long as you keep it sincere and genuine, a little cheesiness can be effective. Short "Describe Yourself" Essay SampleFor shorter essays, you generally want to keep things fairly tight and focused, while adding in some creative details and imagery to make it fun to read.
Longer Essay About Yourself ExampleA longer essay gives you a bit more room to breathe with your details and provides more space for creativity. If you’re not sure how to start, write a shorter essay, then go back and add embellishments where you feel it fits. Start with a strong introduction, such as an anecdote or specific example of your personality. Follow this with details that help the reader really understand who you are. In a longer essay, you have time to show your skills at descriptive writing.
Beyond the “About Me” Essay AssignmentA lot of the things that you learn and use in an “about me” essay are applicable even beyond your class. Your personal statement when applying to college is essentially an extension of the “about me” essay, and “about me” pages on professional websites and social media use elements of the “about me” essay. Even if you don’t foresee writing in your future, it never hurts to think more critically about yourself and your life experiences. Writing an essay about yourself can be intimidating, but hey, no one’s better equipped to write about you than you! How do you introduce yourself in creative writing?Introduce Yourself. Start with a quotation.. Open with a relevant stat or fun fact.. Start with a fascinating story.. Ask your readers an intriguing question.. Set the scene.. How can I introduce myself example?Introducing yourself examples. Example: 'Hello, everyone. My name's Brandon, and I've been working at Sunny Incorporated for five years now. ... . Example: 'Hello, Tilda. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. ... . Example: Hello Brittany. I'd like to welcome you to the company and let you know we're glad to have you on board.. How do you give yourself a unique selfJust sit back and note down the following pointers on how to ace self-introduction.. Dress Appropriately. ... . Prepare what to say. ... . Begin by Greeting the Interviewer. ... . Include your Educational Qualifications. ... . Elaborate on Professional Experience (if any) ... . Mention your Hobbies and Interests. ... . Be Prepared for Follow Up Questions.. |