not your thesis or claim. Example: My essay will discuss handgun legislation. Better: Banning handguns is the first step toward controlling crime in America. 3. Don't make a factual statement. Your ...

Offer Personal Conviction as the Basis for the Argument Example: Clearly, Kincaid is being one-sided. Possible Solution: Maintain some distance from your subject. Do not merely assume your idea is an ...

For the essays you write for college classes, you might support your thesis with textual evidence. In a personal statement, your evidence should come from your own life. For example, you might ...