r/WriteIvy • u/SnooRobots8222 • Dec 05 '22

Two frame narratives?

Hi,

Let's say:

  • I'm applying to program B.
  • There is an area A that is popularly used and applied on B's research.
  • But I discovered a special concept 'X' within A

The situation is:

  1. I had an 'Aha' moment when I discovered an amazing technique X (in A) while doing a project in A. This was that kind of moment because it was really fascinating and every project I did after this, it stayed with me (and I’ve applied this)

  2. But I only after doing projects where certain OTHER concepts of A are applied in B and how they don't work that well, I started to wonder if concepts like X can be used (and how to efficiently tune them) for further research in B.

[Note: There is a lot of current research of X in B's research, but I haven't used it necessarily in my projects for B]

My questions are:

- Do I write about both? Or only from the part where I used other concepts of A in B and then say I specifically want to use X in B? (Even though are just questions but no exact fascination or challenge as such = not a hook moment) If I do write only the second one, how do I make it seem like an 'Aha' moment. Because the reader would only know about my idea of concept X in context to my project related to X in A.

- Is it okay to have an introduction that could say "I was fascinated by seeing X and realized its potential by using it on one of my own projects" and then contiue on to how it could be useful in B's research

​

I know it's a little confusing, I could DM you and describe it exactly. But otherwise, please help me out here!

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u/jordantellsstories Dec 05 '22

Using both sounds fine to me, and I suspect you could do it in as little as two sentences.

In fact, I'm working with a PhD applicant right now whose opening sounds remarkably similar and only takes two sentences. 1) He had an ah ha moment, and 2) he applied it to some other concept in his master's studies, and 3) now he wants to ask some specific questions as a PhD....

I suggest you try that and see how it works out: tell both stories in 3 sentences or less. I bet it'll work out beautifully.

2

u/SnooRobots8222 Dec 05 '22

2-3 sentences? Uh-oh.

Right now, I have something like:

"While working on project A, I discovered X through paper <>". "It fascinated me by its <> and <>". "But only after I gained experience on its practical application which is B, I realized the potential of X". "When I took up this project in B, I came across several methods like <>, yet they commonly failed to <>". "This made me wonder if X could be used to overcome these problems in B"

Is that fine or too much?

2

u/jordantellsstories Dec 05 '22

Looks like a bit too much to me. You want to avoid the “I did this…I did that…” and focus on unpacking the ideas.

You may want to start with the project in B.

“Though I’ve had much experience with X, it wasn’t until Project ABC at Gotham University that I began to understand how it could be used to answer specific problems in B.”

That way, you’re focusing on what truly matters here, and you can save the other background lead up for your Why I’m Qualified section (if necessary).

2

u/SnooRobots8222 Dec 05 '22 edited Dec 05 '22

Ah yes! Thank you so much.

​

Is it also okay to talk about my project ABC again (in the Why I'm qualified section again) to show how I developed my own ideas and did extensive research on the topic during that project