Guide/02 The Essay Course
Brainstorming the Personal Statement
Four exercises — 21 Details, the Values Map, the Object Inventory, and the Pattern Hunt — to find a personal statement topic that only you could write.
Chapter 7 of 388 min readUpdated September 25, 2026 Preview
Most students start the personal statement by asking, "What should I write about?" and then picking the biggest thing that ever happened to them. That's usually the wrong question — and often the wrong topic.
The better question is: "What do I want a reader to know about me?" This chapter gives you four exercises that answer it, starting with the 21 Details exercise...
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What’s in this chapter
- 1Before you start
- 2Exercise 1: 21 Details
- 3Exercise 2: The Values Map
- 4Exercise 3: The Object Inventory
- 5Exercise 4: The Pattern Hunt
- 6Testing your ideas
- 7A final check: say it out loud