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An issue-based essay can be
an effective way to show the reader how you think. Your
focus will be on an external issue rather than a
personal quality or experience. Nevertheless, your goal
should still be to reveal insight into your character,
and the more you can tie the issue to personal
experience, the better.
In the second lesson in this
series, we discussed focusing on specific legal areas.
Your purpose here is similar, except the issue need not
be fundamentally related to law. Also, in an issue-based
essay, you may spend more time engaging with the issue
apart from your personal experience, thereby showing
your reasoning skills at work.
This applicant focuses
on her interests and goals in Third World development.
To provide evidence of her personal engagement with this
issue, she discusses her academic studies of Latin
America, as well as her travel and exploration. With
statements like the following, she shows the level of
thought she has invested in the issue:
"While working at the United
Nations, I came to appreciate the importance of mutual
respect within the context of multinational interaction;
a country's dignity must not be overlooked. Keeping this
in mind, I believe we must approach Latin American
issues with a better understanding of Latin American
perspectives."
Finally, the discussion
culminates in a statement of how her legal education
will provide her with the tools she needs to continue
her engagement:
"I hope to use my legal
education in conjunction with my interest in third world
development to enhance Latin America's position in the
world economic structure. Whether my future includes
negotiating international trade agreements, challenging
immigration legislation, or providing legal assistance
to the Hispanic community, I look forward to being an
advocate for 'el pueblo'-the people."
This applicant tackles
the issue of discrimination, but again with a personal
perspective. He describes stereotypes he has personally
faced as an Asian-American. He then extrapolates to the
bigger picture with the following:
"During the course of my
studies, I became fascinated by the two perspectives on
overcoming discrimination against African-Americans that
emerged in the early twentieth century. One proponent,
W.E.B. Du Bois, advocated civil rights with a strong
political voice; another, Booker T. Washington,
advocated earning respect through hard work and results.
I firmly believe that Du Bois and Washington's ideas
provide a good foundation for Asian-Americans in
realizing our desire to overcome discrimination."
He goes on to discuss both
his ideas in further detail and examples of work he has
already done. The connection to law is natural and
forceful:
"As a student at the
University of Virginia Law School, I will continue to
refine the knowledge and skills I need to work
effectively on advancing social and political welfare
issues on behalf of Asian-Americans and society at
large."
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