VISTA VERDE International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program

APPLICATION PARAGRAPHS

Directions: You are applying to a middle school academic program that requires, in addition to your application, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, report cards, and two student-written paragraphs that introduce you to us on a more personal level. For that reason, your paragraphs need to demonstrate good writing. Every applicant will answer question #1. There is a choice of prompts for question #2. Choose one. We only want a single paragraph of your best writing for each question.

1. Identify and explain three (3) qualities of a “good” student. Identify which of these three qualities is your personal strength and give an example.

2. Choose one (1).

• “Life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it.” (Charles Swindoll, American pastor and author, born 1934)

• “Winners are losers who got up and gave it one more try.” (Dennis DeYoung, American songwriter, member of the rock band Styx, born 1947)

• “There is a big difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.” (Potter Stewart, American Supreme Court Justice, 1915-1985)

Editing Checklist (Keep in mind the traits of good writing.)

• My composition makes sense.
• My composition is written in a logical way.
• My composition sounds as if I wrote it.
• I chose colorful, specific, and powerful words.
• I have checked my composition for good grammar, spelling, punctuation and capitalization.