2018-19通用申请的选项#1的文章提示让学生们有了很多广度：“一些学生的背景、身份、兴趣或才能非常有意义，他们认为如果没有这些，他们的申请将是不完整的。如果这听起来像你，那么请分享你的故事。”

提示允许学生写下他们认为在生活中极其重要的任何事情。查理选择了这个选项，因为他非典型的家庭状况是他身份的一部分。以下是他的文章：

查理的共同申请论文

My Dads I have two dads. They met in the early 80s, became partners soon after, and adopted me in 2000. I think I’ve always know that we were a little different from most families, but that’s never really bothered me. My story, that which defines me, is not that I have two dads. I’m not automatically a better person, or smarter, or more talented, or better looking because I am the child of a same-sex couple. I’m not defined by the number of fathers I have (or the lack of mothers). Having two dads is inherent to my person not because of the novelty; it’s inherent because it has afforded me a completely unique life perspective. I’m very fortunate to have grown up in a loving and safe environment—with caring friends, family, and neighbors. I know for my dads, that was not always the case. Living on a farm in Kansas, my dad Jeff struggled internally with his identity for years. My dad Charley was luckier; born and raised in New York City, he was always supported by his parents and the community there. He only has a few stories of being harassed on the street or the subway. Dad Jeff, though, has a web of scarring on his right arm, from the time he was jumped leaving a bar; one of the men pulled a knife on him. When I was little, he used to make up stories about these scars; it wasn’t until I was fifteen that he told me the truth. I know how to be afraid. My dads know how to be afraid—for me, for themselves, for the life they’ve created. When I was six, a man threw a brick through our front window. I don’t remember much about that night save for a few images: the police arriving, my aunt Joyce helping to clean up the glass, my dads hugging, how they let me sleep in their bed that night. This night wasn’t a turning point for me, a realization that the world is an ugly, nasty place. We carried on as usual, and nothing like that ever happened again. I guess, in retrospect, my dads were just used to living slightly afraid. But it never stopped them from going out in public, being seen together, being seen with me. Through their bravery, their unwillingness to give in, they taught me the virtue of courage more concretely and lasting than a thousand parables or Bible verses ever could. I also know how to respect people. Growing up in a “different” family dynamic has led me to appreciate and understand others who are labeled as “different.” I know how they feel. I know where they’re coming from. My dads know what it is like to be spat on, looked down on, yelled at, and belittled. Not only do they want to keep me from being bullied; they want to keep me from bullying. They have taught me, through their actions, beliefs, and habits, always to strive to be the best person I can. And I know countless other people have learned the same things from their own parents. But my story is different. I wish having same-sex parents wasn’t the novelty it is. I’m not a charity case, or a miracle, or a role model because I have two dads. But I am who I am because of them. Because of all they’ve lived through, dealt with, suffered, and tolerated. And from that, they’ve taught me how to help others, how to care about the world, how to make a difference—in a thousand small ways. I am not just the “boy with two dads;” I’m the boy with two dads who taught him how to be a decent, caring, courageous, and loving human being.

评查理的公共应用论文

总的来说，查理写了一篇很有说服力的文章。这篇评论着眼于这篇文章的特点，这些特点使它焕然一新，还有一些地方需要改进。

论文题目

《查理》的标题简短明了，但也很有效。大多数大学申请者都有一个单身爸爸，所以提到复数“爸爸”可能会激起读者的兴趣。好的片名不需要有趣、弱小或聪明，而查理显然采取了直截了当但有效的方法。当然，写一篇好文章的标题有很多策略，但是查理在这方面做得很好。

文章长度

2018-19学年，普通申请论文的字数限制为650字，最小长度为250字。查理的文章有630字，篇幅偏长。你会看到许多大学辅导员的建议，他们说你最好把文章写得简短一些，但这个建议是有争议的。当然，你不想在你的文章中有罗嗦、蓬松、离题、模糊的语言或冗余（查理没有任何这些罪行）。但是一篇精心制作、紧凑、650字的文章可以为招生人员提供比300字文章更详细的你的肖像。

事实上，学院要求一篇论文意味着它有整体招生，招生人员希望了解你作为一个个体。利用给你的空间这样做。同样，关于理想的论文长度有很多理论，但是你显然可以通过一篇利用你所获得的空间的论文来更彻底地向学院介绍你自己。

论文题目

查理避开了一些明显不好的文章主题，他肯定把重点放在了招生人员不会经常看到的主题上。他的主题是一个很好的通用应用选项选择#1因为他的国内情况显然对他是谁起了决定性作用。当然，也有一些有宗教信仰的保守派大学不看好这篇文章，但这不是问题，因为这些学校不适合查理。

论文主题也是一个不错的选择，因为它说明了查理将如何为大学校园的多样性做出贡献。大学想要注册一个多样化的大学课程，因为我们都从与不同于我们的人的互动中学习。查理对多样性的贡献不是通过种族、种族或性取向，而是通过与绝大多数人不同的教养方式。

这篇文章的缺点

查理在很大程度上写了一篇优秀的文章。这篇文章的散文清晰流畅，除了标点符号不正确和代词引用含糊不清之外，写作没有错误。

尽管查理的文章不太可能引起读者的任何重大关注，但结论的基调可能需要稍加修改。最后一句话，他称自己为“一个体面的、有爱心的、勇敢的、有爱心的人”，给人一种强烈的自我赞扬。事实上，如果查理简单地删去最后一句话，最后一段会更有力。他已经在那句话中表达了观点，没有我们在最后遇到的语气问题。这是一个典型的“秀，不说”的例子。查理已经证明他是一个正派的人，所以他不需要向他的读者灌输这些信息。

总体印象

查理的文章有很多是优秀的，招生人员可能会积极回应其中大部分是多么的低调。例如，当查理讲述砖块从窗户飞出的场景时，他说，“今晚对我来说不是转折点。”这不是一篇关于突然改变生活的顿悟的文章；相反，它是关于勇敢、毅力和爱的终生课程，这些都使查理成为了现在的他。

在评估一篇文章时，你可以问几个简单的问题：1）这篇文章是否有助于我们更好地了解申请人？2） 申请人看起来像是以积极的方式为校园社区做出贡献的人吗？根据查理的文章，两个问题的答案都是肯定的。

要查看更多示例文章并了解每个文章选项的策略，请务必阅读2018-19通用应用文章提示。