Scull
Award for Composition A book award is given each year at commencement
for the writing of a composition in English. The competition
is open to members of the eighth and ninth grades. The
runner-up also receives a book. The award was donated
by Mrs. Eliot Wadsworth, the mother of Guy Scull '28
and David Scull '30.
How to Write a
Great Scull Essay
This Fay School tradition is a personal essay of about
three to five pages double spaced, the purpose of which
is to put your thoughts, life experiences, and perspectives
into words and to share them with others. Writing a
personal essay gives you the chance to express yourself
in your own unique voice about something that is important
or meaningful to you. Write about a significant personal
experience and meaningfully reflect on its importance
in your life.
Central Metaphor The best essays often have a central metaphor
that ties together the major points you are trying to
make, but this is not required. A central metaphor compares
your main subject or story with a secondary subject.
Shakespeare's extended metaphor in his play As You Like
It is a good example ("All the world's a stage
/ and all the men and women merely players: / They have
their exits and their entrances; / And one man in his
time plays many parts, / His acts being seven ages."
). First, the world is compared to a stage, then men
and women are introduced as actors that further elaborate
the theater metaphor. Compare your story with something
and as you are telling the story, come back to your
central metaphor from time to time and show how it is
still relevant to. Think of Forrest Gump and his central
metaphor he uses throughout his story. “Life is
like a box of chocolates.”
Possible Forms Experiment with essay formats other than the
5-paragraph essay. Here are a few ideas: Flashback;
start in the middle of the action and then come back
to the beginning once you’ve hooked the reader
(think of The Odyssey and To Kill A Mockingbird); journal
entry(ies); fictional story set in the future; personal
memories with analysis of their significance; a fictional
interview; obituary; or your eulogy given by a loved
one; a toast…
Voice This is a first person essay, so you need to
create your own unique voice. What do you want your
voice to sound like, and how will you achieve this voice?
Language Every sentence should be filled with vivid, poetic
language. Use small metaphors and similes in your writing.
Make smooth transitions from one subject to the next.
Have good topic sentences for each paragraph and illustrating
examples within the paragraphs. Show us what you mean,
don’t just tell us. Use a sophisticated but appropriate
vocabulary.
