对Common Application的同学都知道，Common Application的论文题目共有6个，申请者只须挑其中一个题目写一篇250-500字的论文就可以像所有接受Common Application申请的学校递送。下面，楷维留学指南小编就为大家介绍一下在撰写Common Application论文Topic 3的过程中的一些写作技巧。

　　美国大学申请Common Application论文Topic 3：Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.

　　说明一个曾经对你有重要影响的人，并描述他/她对你产生了怎样的影响。

　　I'm not a fan of this prompt because of the wording: "describe that influence." A good essay on this topic does more than "describe." Dig deep and "analyze." And handle a "hero" essay with care. Your readers have probably seen a lot of essays talking about what a great role model Mom or Dad or Sis is. Also realize that the "influence" of this person doesn't need to be positive.

　　美国大学申请Common Application论文Topic 3写作技巧一：Push the Language in This Option(选择合适的表达方式)

　　I've never been a fan of the wording of essay option #3, for if you followed the guidelines too literally, you would end up with a bland essay. The words "indicate" and "describe" suggest that your essay does not need to demonstrate any critical thought. However, a good response to #3 does far more than "describe" a person's influence on you. You should examine why the person was influential to you, and you should analyze the ways in which you have changed because of your relationship with the person.

　　美国大学申请Common Application论文Topic 3写作技巧二：Think Twice About Essays on Mom or Dad(如果决定写父母，请三思)

　　There is nothing wrong with writing about one of your parents for this essay, but make sure your relationship with your parent is unusual and compelling in some way. The admissions folks get a lot of essays that focus on a parent, and your writing won't stand out if you simply make generic points about parenting. If you find yourself making points like "my Dad was a great role model" or "my mother always pushed me to do my best," rethink your approach to the question. Consider the millions of students who could write the exact same essay.

　　美国大学申请Common Application论文Topic 3写作技巧三：Don't Be Star Struck (不要把自己描写成一个追星族)

　　In most cases, you should avoid writing an essay about the lead singer in your favorite band or the movie star who you idolize. Such essays can be okay if handled well, but often the writer ends up sounding like a pop culture junkie rather than a thoughtful independent thinker.

　　美国大学申请Common Application论文Topic 3写作技巧四：Obscure Subject Matter is Fine(写一些鲜为人知的题材是比较好的)

　　Be sure to read Max's essay on option #3. Max writes about a rather unremarkable junior high kid he encountered while teaching summer camp. The essay succeeds in part because the choice of subject matter is unusual and obscure. Among a million application essays, Max's will be the only one to focus on this young boy. Also, the boy isn't even a role model. Instead, he's an ordinary kid who inadvertently makes Max challenge his preconceptions.

　　美国大学申请Common Application论文Topic 3写作技巧五：The "Significant Influence" Need Not Be Positive(此人对你产生的影响必须是积极的)

　　The majority of essays written for option #3 are about role models: "my Mom/Dad/brother/friend/teacher/neighbor/coach taught me to be a better person through his or her great example..." Such essays are often excellent, but they are also a bit predictable. This essay, however, is about a "significant" influence, not necessarily a "positive" influence. Max's essay focuses on a kid who is explicitly not a role model. You could even write about someone who is abusive or hateful. Evil can have as much "influence" on us as good.

　　美国大学申请Common Application论文Topic 3写作技巧六：You Are Also Writing About Yourself(切记在写对你产生重要影响的人的同时也是在写自己)

　　When the prompt asks you to "describe that influence," it is asking you to be reflective and introspective. While an essay for option #3 is partly about the influential person, it is equally about you. To understand someone's influence on you, you need to understand yourself -- your strengths, your short-comings, the areas where you still need to grow. As with all the essay options, you need to make sure a response to #3 reveals your own interests, passions, personality and character. The details of this essay need to reveal that you are the type of person who will contribute to the campus community in a positive way.

　　以上几点写作技巧希望申请美国大学的同学们在写Common Application论文Topic 3的时候能好好运用。