I'm applying to be a Youth Ambassador [anyone an English major?] - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Kay Scarpetta · 03-06-2007, 12:44 PM

Greetings and Salutations, SO'ers. I have the wonderful opportunity to apply to become a U.S. Youth Ambassador and travel to Africa this summer to help build schools, houses, and due to the rising number of people infected with HIV/Aids, get medical facilities into place and just try and better the community in general.

Here's my problem- you have to answer an essay question which is fairly simple- "If given the chance to help the lives of children in Africa, what would you do?" in 300 words or less. My problem is that it's not NEARLY enough to say everything that I'd do. I'm looking for someone with good knowledge in writing and English, because after two AP English courses, I still cannot write to save my life. I need help in focusing on main ideas without overloading it with details (I need to fit everything in), getting my point across, and just general editing.

If anyone would voluntneer to help me, I'd be in your everlasting debt. Post here or PM me. I need to have it post-marked by March 30th. If you can't help, wish me good luck anyway

JO jr · 03-06-2007, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kay Scarpetta

Greetings and Salutations, SO'ers. I have the wonderful opportunity to apply to become a U.S. Youth Ambassador and travel to Africa this summer to help build schools, houses, and due to the rising number of people infected with HIV/Aids, get medical facilities into place and just try and better the community in general.

Here's my problem- you have to answer an essay question which is fairly simple- "If given the chance to help the lives of children in Africa, what would you do?" in 300 words or less. My problem is that it's not NEARLY enough to say everything that I'd do. I'm looking for someone with good knowledge in writing and English, because after two AP English courses, I still cannot write to save my life. I need help in focusing on main ideas without overloading it with details (I need to fit everything in), getting my point across, and just general editing.

If anyone would voluntneer to help me, I'd be in your everlasting debt. Post here or PM me. I need to have it post-marked by March 30th. If you can't help, wish me good luck anyway

I CANNOT WRITE IN 300 WORDS OR LESS ON A POST, LET ALONE FOR AN ESSAY

BUT I WANTED TO BE SURE TO TELL YOU THAT WHAT I THINK YOU ARE DOING IS EXCEPTIONAL AND OH SO WONDERFUL!

IF YOU DO GET TO GO:

I'M SURE YOU'LL BE REWARDED BEYOND YOUR WILDEST DREAMS, KAY SCARPETTA! TAKE EVERY DAY IN, AND ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE AND THE GOODNESS AFRICA HAS TO OFFER

I PERSONALLY WANT TO WISH YOU A SAFE JOURNEY AND AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME! CAN YOU PLEASE DO ME A FAVOR, AND WHEN YOU RETURN HOME, COULD YOU PM ME TO TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WONDERS? IF YOU CAN, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. IF NOT, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND

AllIWantIsYourClutch · 03-06-2007, 03:17 PM

You could always be cute and clever and write 300 words on how 300 words isnt enough. If that makes sense.

Penny Lane · 03-06-2007, 04:30 PM

Sorry but essays are not my specialty. Good luck Karly! Sounds really exciting!

Chelsea · 03-06-2007, 05:06 PM

The following (everything in the quote box) is my advice, in exactly 300 words. This should give you an idea of how much you can really write. In 12 point Times New Roman double-spaced, I got 1 full page. This in general is my opinion on the best way to go about things.

Quote:

I’m attempting to write a 300 word mini essay to show how effectively this word count can be used. I know 300 words doesn’t sound like much, but when used properly, they can be effective at conveying the type of message you want to get across to your reader, while at the same time being brief enough that you’re not really wasting their time.

Perhaps rather than focus on hitting a broad spectrum of points, you should instead focus upon 1-2 key elements that you would do, and develop these concepts to their full conclusions, offering supporting evidence and expanding upon your concepts in great details. This shows that you’re obeying the artificial word limits, while at the same time showing that you’ve given this a great deal of thought.

One of the key things they’re looking for here is conciseness, which is why you’re limited to only 300 words. I know it seems too short to say what you want to get across, but remember, these people have to read a lot of these, and if they get a massive 10-page entry from every applicant, they’d have to set the deadline months earlier. By limiting your word count, they save themselves time, but also gauge how articulate you can be given a constraint on how long you can discuss something.

As I said before, discuss a couple of key ideas and expand on them. Write everything you can think of regarding those two points. Then, add or delete content to get you as close to the word limit as possible without going over.

I am proud that this is something that you want to do, and I sincerely hope you get to do it. You deserve good things in life, and I wish you the best of luck.

Seth

I ran a word count in Word to make sure, everything in the quote totals to exactly 300 words.

Does that help any Karly?

Chelsea · 03-06-2007, 05:10 PM

FWIW, realizing that the above might not be the most helpful thing - if you need any help in working on your essay, editing, etc., just let me know. It's not a problem and apparently I'm not that bad at it.

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 03-06-2007, 05:23 PM

Well, I do PLAN on becoming an English major, and writing has always been my thing. If you need any help you can ask.

But just be warned, I may be good at writing...but I'm NOT good at giving advice so one just might cancel the other out

Btw, that's an amazing thing you're doing. Good luck

dawsongirl · 03-06-2007, 09:49 PM

I have an English degree, but writing short has never been my speciality. I once got docked points for writing a paper too long. lol But I wish you the best of luck and hope you get this opportunity!

Chelsea · 03-06-2007, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

I once got docked points for writing a paper too long.

Most professors actually seem amazed that I can usually say in 3 sentences what it takes others a half page to write.

Kay Scarpetta · 03-07-2007, 01:07 PM

Thanks guys! Seth, that advice made perfect sense. Totally awesome

I'll let you know how it goes... they're only picking 20 out of like, trillions. Chances are I won't get it, but it's nice to dream!

snl 70s show fan · 03-07-2007, 04:06 PM

good luck karly i hope you get to go i think that it would be so rewarding doing something like that

03-06-2007, 12:44 PM	#1
Kay Scarpetta Defy Gravity 8.26.05 Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 04, 2001 Location: La Vie Boheme Posts: 28,013	I'm applying to be a Youth Ambassador [anyone an English major?] Greetings and Salutations, SO'ers. I have the wonderful opportunity to apply to become a U.S. Youth Ambassador and travel to Africa this summer to help build schools, houses, and due to the rising number of people infected with HIV/Aids, get medical facilities into place and just try and better the community in general. Here's my problem- you have to answer an essay question which is fairly simple- "If given the chance to help the lives of children in Africa, what would you do?" in 300 words or less. My problem is that it's not NEARLY enough to say everything that I'd do. I'm looking for someone with good knowledge in writing and English, because after two AP English courses, I still cannot write to save my life. I need help in focusing on main ideas without overloading it with details (I need to fit everything in), getting my point across, and just general editing. If anyone would voluntneer to help me, I'd be in your everlasting debt. Post here or PM me. I need to have it post-marked by March 30th. If you can't help, wish me good luck anyway
	__________________ The people who think they know everything about Broadway make me laugh. They've never seen a Broadway play in their life. "oh mi godddd RENT's a mooovie! lyke 525600 minuuuuuuutes!" No. To be a Broadway Freak, you must live, eat, sleep, study, devout, think, obsess, dream, believe Broadway. You must know original & revival casts, soundtracks, performance runs, dates, theatres, numbers, how many Tony Awards A Chorus Line won. You must be Broadway. That's right bitches. I AM Broadway.

03-06-2007, 04:30 PM	#4
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,261	Sorry but essays are not my specialty. Good luck Karly! Sounds really exciting!
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

03-06-2007, 05:23 PM	#7
Pleasant Tomorrow Member Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 19, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 69,525	Well, I do PLAN on becoming an English major, and writing has always been my thing. If you need any help you can ask. But just be warned, I may be good at writing...but I'm NOT good at giving advice so one just might cancel the other out Btw, that's an amazing thing you're doing. Good luck
	__________________ my name is ashlee Welcome! Everything is fine.

03-06-2007, 03:17 PM	#3
AllIWantIsYourClutch peaceout. Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 02, 2001 Location: Illinois. Posts: 53,424	You could always be cute and clever and write 300 words on how 300 words isnt enough. If that makes sense.

03-06-2007, 05:10 PM	#6
Chelsea Semi-retired Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Washington Posts: 5,727	FWIW, realizing that the above might not be the most helpful thing - if you need any help in working on your essay, editing, etc., just let me know. It's not a problem and apparently I'm not that bad at it.

03-06-2007, 09:49 PM	#8
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	I have an English degree, but writing short has never been my speciality. I once got docked points for writing a paper too long. lol But I wish you the best of luck and hope you get this opportunity!

03-07-2007, 01:07 PM	#10
Kay Scarpetta Defy Gravity 8.26.05 Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 04, 2001 Location: La Vie Boheme Posts: 28,013	Thanks guys! Seth, that advice made perfect sense. Totally awesome I'll let you know how it goes... they're only picking 20 out of like, trillions. Chances are I won't get it, but it's nice to dream!

03-07-2007, 04:06 PM	#11
snl 70s show fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 14, 2005 Location: in the forman basment Posts: 2,454	good luck karly i hope you get to go i think that it would be so rewarding doing something like that