美国大学申请系统Common Application的论文话题有6个，申请者不论选择哪个话题都需要些一篇250-500字的论文。下面，楷维留学指南小编就为大家介绍一下Common Application论文话题4的几点写作技巧：

　　美国大学申请Common Application Essay Topic 4：

　　Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.

　　描述一个曾经对你产生过重要影响的小说人物、历史人物、或者艺术、音乐、科学等创作性作品。同时描述他/她对你产生了怎样的影响。

　　Here as in #3, be careful of that word "describe." You should really be "analyzing" this character or creative work. What makes it so powerful and influential?

　　美国大学申请Common Application Essay Topic 4 写作技巧一：Don't Do Too Much "Describing"(不要做过多的描述)

　　Although option #4 begins with the word "describe," description in its own right isn't very interesting. If you spend most of the essay describing the accomplishments of George Washington or the movements of a Beethoven Symphony, you will have created an essay that fails to demonstrate higher-level thinking skills. So, be sure to keep the mere description to a minimum, and keep the focus on analyzing the character, historical figure or creative work and its relationship to you.

　　美国大学申请Common Application Essay Topic 4 写作技巧二：Keep the Focus on the Word "Explain"(将重心放在“解释”上)

　　This is related to the above point -- while you'll want to keep the "description" to a minimum, you should really do a lot with the final part of the prompt ("explain that influence"). The explanation is where you will present a thoughtful discussion of yourself and the things that influence you. The explanation is what reveals your passions, interests and personality. It's this part of the essay that has the most value for the college admissions folks.

　　美国大学申请Common Application Essay Topic 4 写作技巧三：Watch Out for Predictable Choices(请避开一些可预见性地普遍选择)

　　When option #4 is handled correctly, your essay won't sound like a dozen other essays. Thus, it's often wise to shy away from predictable figures like Martin Luther King, Jr., and Albert Einstein. Try to identify a character, historical figure or creative work that is a bit less predictable and that connects clearly with your passions and interests.

　　美国大学申请Common Application Essay Topic 4 写作技巧四：Be Careful with Fictional Characters(如果选择一个虚构的任务，请谨慎)

　　You should be wary of choosing a trivial, humorous or cartoon character for this option. If you do, you run the danger of looking like you don't take the essay requirement seriously. The college admissions folks want to get to know you through your writing, so make sure your writing isn't shallow, facetious or dismissive. While it might be fun to write about a South Park character, does such an essay really create the best portrait of you for the admissions officers? At the same time, a skillful writer can make almost any subject matter work. Check out Felicity's essay on Lisa Simpson for an example.

　　美国大学申请Common Application Essay Topic 4 写作技巧五：Don‘t Write About Your Favorite Contemporary Song(请不要写你最喜欢的一首当代歌曲)

　　Music can certainly be a good focus for this essay, but the admissions officers get tired of reading hundreds of essays about songs by students' favorite bands. For one, the lyrics of most popular music really aren't that profound, and you also run the danger of having a reader who doesn't share your musical tastes.

　　美国大学申请Common Application Essay Topic 4 写作技巧六：Approach the Word "Creative" in Broad Terms(请不要将“创意”理解得太狭隘)

　　The phrase "creative work" in the prompt often makes us think of things like poetry or painting. However, every field -- engineering, science, psychology, mathematics, religion, medicine -- depends upon creativity for its advancement. The best scientists are great creative thinkers. Some of the best essays for option #4 focus on creative works outside of the arts. For example, a novel technique for attacking the AIDS virus is a "creative work."

　　美国大学申请Common Application Essay Topic 4 写作技巧七：Keep Much of the Focus on You(多讲讲你自己)

　　Spend a bit of your essay explaining the "influence on you." The admissions folks don't want to learn about the influential work or character as much as they want to learn about you. The essay is a tool for helping a college figure out if you'll be a good match for the campus community. If your essay doesn't reveal your interests and personality, you haven't succeeded in responding to the essay question.

　　在写美国大学Common Application申请Essay话题4的时候，以上七点非常实用，希望同学们能好好利用，争取写出能让所有东西招生官都喜欢的Essay。