What does the "A" in CRAAP stand for?


3. Quirks & Stories. Write down a list of 10 quirks about yourself. Then, are there stories that explain these quirks? What makes you such a fabulous baker? What was the dumbest thing you've been competitive about? Choose one and write about how the quirk manifests in your everyday life, the earliest memory of that facet of your personality, and why you think you're so weird. —Adapted from Margot Leitman's Long Story Short.


10. Pressure. Write about a time you were persuaded to do something dangerous or didn't want to do. Or someone you know tried to pressure you into something, and you resisted. What was at stake? What did you win or lose by succumbing (or fighting) to that pressure? —Adapted from Monica Wood's The Pocket Muse: Endless Inspiration

I believe that to achieve efficiency and productivity in the working environment between employees and the manager, it requires not only the firmness and attention of a boss, but also the empathy and vision of a leader. These were the very qualities I developed as my dad’s assistant.

What does the "A" in CRAAP stand for?

In paragraph 5, he clarifies what values, skills, and qualities he’ll bring to the UC. He even highlights a few in the final sentence: adaptability, perseverance, dedication, and strategy. He also connects these to his future career. You don’t have to do this, but here, it helps us imagine his trajectory.

8. Privacy. What have you kept to yourself — for a few days, a couple of months, your whole life? What makes you lock the door or clear your browser history? Draw the blinds and write. —The Sun

7. Thesaurus Essay. Make a list of words about a particular subject. Words for mountain bikes or international treaties, words for welding or Lauren Bacall– it doesn't matter so long as you're drawn to the topic. Read around, searching out specific verbs, nouns, and adjectives. Or explore the networks between words. Create a word-hoard or group of words that conjure your subject matter in your medium. Muse these words to write your piece. The words will work on you. —Judith Kitchen: Rose Metal Press Book of Flash Nonfiction.

Is there one conflict of values running through all? Money, appearances, and impressing others are important to your family. But you find they aren't your values. Choose a pair of opposing values to work with. Write down the first time you became aware of the conflict. Write down other times the conflict surfaced. Choose one, and write an essay on the scene and insights you have now. — Adapted from Tristine Rainer's Your Life As Story.


What does the "C" in CRAAP stand for?

Think about (and write down) how different actions connect to and taught you about different values and insights regarding leadership. These can become your body paragraphs.

What does the "R" in CRAAP stand for?

2. Rewriting a Disagreement. Reflect upon your most recent intense altercation or disagreement with someone in real life. It should be an occasion where you were sure of the rightness of your position. After you ruminate on this experience of discord for a few minutes, write the scene from the other person's point of view.…Often this exercise takes two or three revisions before one understands that they need to let go of their personal sense of right and wrong. Any judgment we bring to the page will dampen the freedom of the prose. And it is this freedom that the writer is after; the freedom to write about what it means to be human. — personal essay POV exercise adapted from Elizabeth Straut.

What does the "A" in CRAAP stand for?

1. ABC Segments. Write the alphabet on a sheet of paper. Pick one letter. Make a list of all the things you can think of that start with that letter – ideas, concepts, emotions, objects. Choose one word from that list and write a paragraph. Repeat. Three times works well. You can also use the same approach with colors, cities, seasons, and numbers. – Anne Panning, Rose Metal Press Book to Flash Nonfiction

What does the "A" in CRAAP stand for?

¹Results based on students who followed Command Education’s method and advice; excludes students who did not follow our advice. All results will vary by individual and be affected by factors outside the control of Command Education LLC. Command Education LLC and this website make no representation, promise, or guarantee that any particular result or outcome can or will be obtained. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

What does the "P" in CRAAP stand for?

While it doesn’t matter which Common App essay prompt you choose, what matters is how well you write your essay and how effectively you communicate your story. The content, clarity, and authenticity of your essay are what will stand out to admissions officers, regardless of the prompt you select. Focus on writing a meaningful and personal essay that gives insight into who you are.