Writing Resources and Samples

Here are some writing resources and writing samples we find helpful to get started, but they are not the only resources out there. Our Guide to Preparing Your Application also includes some helpful tips.

Resources for general writing strategies:

 

Resources to improve specific aspects of writing:

 

The Writing Process

  • Prewriting
    • What do I want to say?
    • How do I want to say it?
    • Who will read my writing?
    • What else do I need to know to begin?
    • Who can I talk to about my ideas?
  • Drafting
    • Are my thoughts organized?
    • Which ideas do I want to develop?
    • In what order do I want to share them?
    • Who can read this and offer suggestions?
  • Revising
    • Have I read what I have written?
    • Are my details clear?
    • Should I add or take out parts?
    • Have I used the best ideas and words?
    • Is my writing in a sensible order?
    • What suggestions have others made?
  • Editing 
    • Have I used complete sentences?
    • Are my spelling, capitalization and punctuation correct?
    • Have I marked corrections that I need?
    • Has someone checked my work?

  

Essay Structure


​Essay Paragraph Structure

  • Topic statement
    • Introduce your argument with a strong topic sentence, stating your idea. 
    • Refer to your topic each time to ensure continuity.
  • Explanation
    • Explain your topic sentence and define any ideas in more detail so they are easily understood.
  • Evidence
    • Give examples or quotes that make your argument more credible.
    • Explain and analyze each item and show how it relates to the point you are making.
  • Link back to topic
    • End with a link back to your topic, consolidating your argument, adding a personal response and finishing with strength

  

Grammar

  

Sentence Structure


Writing Samples

NCWIT Recommends essays of 100-250 words. The essays below are for illustration only - please make your essays your own.


99 words:

I’ve always been drawn to computing and technology, even when I didn't realize it. It started with playing games at home and then saving up to buy a LEGO set that I could program. I wasn't thinking about it as programming, just as something fun to do. I realized when I took my first "real" programming class at school that what I like about computing and technology is that it is a way to solve problems. It's like a puzzle and when you figure it out you get to make something new that no one else ever made before. 

 

192 words:

I’ve always been drawn to computing and technology, even when I didn't realize it. It started with playing games at home and then saving up to buy a LEGO set that I could program. I wasn't thinking about it as programming, just as something fun to do. Then I built my first website using Wix, but I wanted to know more about how to make the site work so I learned some HTML. I realized when I took my first "real" programming class at school that computing and technology is a way to solve problems. I really like solving problems and programming is like a puzzle that when you figure it out, something new is created that no one else has ever made before. Since then I've taken AP Computer Science and learned app development. My first app was a simple game I like to play with my sister, and it was amazing to see it come to life. Since I first started playing with technology to now, my love for solving the problem and making things that can come to life have not gone away, in fact they have only grown.

 

243 words:

I’ve always been drawn to computing and technology, even when I didn't realize it. It started with playing games at home and then saving up to buy a LEGO set that I could program. I wasn't thinking about it as programming, just as something fun to do. Then I built my first website using Wix. I wanted to know more about how to make the site work so I learned some HTML. I realized when I took my first "real" programming class at school that what I like about computing and technology is that it is a way to solve problems. It's like a puzzle and when you figure it out you get to make something new that no one else ever made before. The first app I made was a simple game I like to play with my sister called "Chopsticks". It was fun to see the code came to life and it was an amazing day when it was published in the App store. Since then I've taken AP Computer Science and learned more about the field of computer science, which makes me want to be a computer scientist. I have been inspired by some of the famous women in computing like Grace Hopper and Katherine Johnson and Megan Smith. Since I first started playing with technology to now, my love for solving the problem and making things that can come to life have not gone away, in fact they have only grown. 

 

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