Your first draft is just the raw material. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to polish your motivation letter so that every sentence carries weight and nothing distracts the reader from your story.
1. Tighten Sentences
- Aim for Brevity: Replace wordy phrases with concise alternatives.
- Before: “I am of the opinion that studying at your university would be extremely beneficial to my career.”
- After: “Studying at your university will advance my career.”
- Before: “I am of the opinion that studying at your university would be extremely beneficial to my career.”
- Active Voice: Favor “I led the workshop” over “The workshop was led by me.” Active constructions feel more confident and direct.
- One Idea per Sentence: If you spot an “and” joining two distinct ideas, consider splitting it into separate sentences.
2. Eliminate Repetition and Vague Language
- Repetition: Watch for repeating the same word or concept (e.g., “passion”). Use synonyms or restructure.
- Vague Terms: Replace generic adjectives with specifics.
- Vague: “I have good leadership skills.”
- Specific: “As president of my student council, I coordinated a team of 15 to host three campus-wide events.”
- Vague: “I have good leadership skills.”
3. Keep Within One Page
- Word Count Target: Aim for 400–600 words, unless the program specifies otherwise.
- Formatting Tricks: Use standard 1” margins, single or 1.15 line spacing, and a professional 11–12 pt font (Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman). These choices maximize space without sacrificing readability.
4. Recommended Tools
- Grammarly: For grammar, punctuation, and style suggestions—especially useful for non-native speakers.
- Hemingway App: Highlights long, complex sentences and passive voice so you can simplify and strengthen your prose.
Activity:
Answer each question correctly to help Froggy reach the shore. Only correct answers will move Froggy forward.
Exercise:
- Paste your draft into both tools. Note every suggestion and decide whether to accept or override based on your voice. Then read your letter aloud—listening for awkward phrasing or rhythm issues.
