Nomination Essays

Commander_Tyler

5-Year Member
Joined
May 30, 2014
Messages
35
So I'm currently filling out the forms for nominations and I have to type a couple essays. Should I have an intro body and conclusion for these essays or just a body? Thanks everyone!


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What's the word limit?

My two cents, you should always have an introduction, body, and conclusion in an easy. Introduction and conclusion should be 10% each of the word limit. The problems I see with many nomination essays are too much space is devoted to the introduction and not answering the question.

Example

Question: Gives reasons why you want to attend a service academy in 250 words or less.

Intro #1: I want to attend a service academy to [reason #1] and [reason #2] 13 words. 237 words remaining

Intro #2: President John F. Kennedy once said "Ask what you can do your country, not what your country can do for you." I can serve our country in many different ways, but I believe I can best serve the country by attending a service academy. 44 words. 206 words remaining.

With intro #2, I am wondering how the writer is going to serve our country by attending a service academy.
 
When I did it I saw it as short answer not essays. If you're only given 300 words to answer a question, they don't want an essay they want a detailed answer. So an intro/conclusion could be unnecessary.

Ultimately, it depends on your writing style/skill level. As long as you answer the question in a way that accurately reflects what you think, you should be fine.

What's the word limit?

My two cents, you should always have an introduction, body, and conclusion in an easy. Introduction and conclusion should be 10% each of the word limit. The problems I see with many nomination essays are too much space is devoted to the introduction and not answering the question.

Example

Question: Gives reasons why you want to attend a service academy in 250 words or less.

Intro #1: I want to attend a service academy to [reason #1] and [reason #2] 13 words. 237 words remaining

Intro #2: President John F. Kennedy once said "Ask what you can do your country, not what your country can do for you." I can serve our country in many different ways, but I believe I can best serve the country by attending a service academy. 44 words. 206 words remaining.

With intro #2, I am wondering how the writer is going to serve our country by attending a service academy.

Some would argue that it's a better intro because that intrigue has drawn you to read the essay further.
 
Some would argue that it's a better intro because that intrigue has drawn you to read the essay further.

Don't disagree but consider your comment

If you're only given 300 words to answer a question, they don't want an essay they want a detailed answer.

Hence my recommendation about limting intro and conclusion to 10% each of overall word count. So if you spend 20% or 30% of your word count to make the essay intriguing, you don't have much maneuver space to finish your essay.

I am also duty bounded to read the essay regardless if I find it intriguing or not
 
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