When applying for more academic and research-oriented majors, you often hear SOP (Statement of Purpose). Different from PS (Personal Statement), SOP is generally translated as academic plan, which emphasizes purpose .
Generally speaking, an SOP mainly includes four parts, interests and motivations, academic background and professional experience, reasons for choosing the target institution, and academic plans and goals .
The contents of different parts are also different. Below, I will explain how to write each part based on the four parts.
interests and motivations
At the beginning of your SOP, you should first explain what your motivation is and what inspired you to apply. Note that this part is not a self-introduction and does not require introductions such as name and age.
When introducing the sources of motivation, the content we most often see is the following.
I am honored to apply for the Master of Library Science program at the University of Sheffield because as long as I can remember I have had a love affair with books. Since I was eleven I have known I wanted to be a librarian.
(I was honored to apply for the Master of Library Science program at the University of Sheffield because I have been in love with books for as long as I can remember. At the age of 11, I knew I wanted to be a librarian.)
There is nothing wrong with this method of expression, but an overly formal tone feels like a template and has no originality. You must know that the tone of the SOP is between cordial and formal . We can use more innovative expressions to impress the instructor. The more common one is to start with a story .
比如上面的一段话，用故事的方法来表述，刻板正式的口吻就少了很多。
When I was eleven, my great-aunt Gretchen passed away and left me something that changed my life: a library of about five thousand books. Some of my best days were spent arranging and reading her books. Since then, I have wanted to be a librarian.
（当我十一岁的时候，我的姑姑格蕾琴去世了，给我留下了改变我一生的东西：一个藏书大约五千本书的图书馆，整理和阅读这些书籍是我最美好的时光。从那时起，我一直想成为一名图书管理员。）
不过，讲故事的方法讲述需要有一个大前提，你的故事必须是真实的，不要编造故事。
而且，这部分的故事描述要简短，尽量在三到四句话内结束，它只是一个引子。SOP应该更多的关注未来——你选择这一专业的Purpose，而不是着眼于过去。
介绍过动机和兴趣之后，你要展示与这门专业相关的学术背景和专业经验，包括且不限于你的本科论文、研究项目、实习经历或其他主要研究工作。
在介绍的我们过往的学术背景或是专业经验时，需要注意不要笼统的介绍，最好结合具体实例。比如下面这个例子：
I gained significant experience as an intern in a chemical engineering lab that I will apply to my graduate study.
（在化学工程实验室担任实习生的过程中，我收获了丰富的经验，接下来，我会将它应用在研究生学习中。）
同样是介绍实习经历，下面这个不知道高到哪里去了，既有具体地点名称，也有实地进行佐证，说服力更强。
While interning at the UC Berkeley Chemical Engineering Lab, I discovered a new method for crystallizing citric acid. In my article published in the New England Journal of Chemistry, I explained how this can potentially transform the industrial production of this compound. I intend to pursue research on these applications during my graduate study.
（在UC伯克利化学工程实验室实习时，我发现了一种使柠檬酸结晶的新方法。在《新英格兰化学杂志》上发表的文章中，我解释了这可能如何改变该化合物的工业生产，我打算在我的研究生学习期间继续研究这些应用程序。）
除了结合具体实例，我们还可以运用数字来量化进度，比如你要叙述一段在NGO（非政府组织）支教的经历，有无数字完全是两种不同的感觉。
During my engineering days, I helped a local NGO by joining as a math tutor, where I taught basic math concepts to school children.
如果我们在其中适当加入一些数字量化自己的工作，不仅让叙述更具体，而且数字能更直观体现出你的工作成果。
During my second year of engineering, I joined ‘Teach Math’, a local NGO, where I was a part of the Math tutoring team. For a period of 10 months, I taught basic math like algebra, geometry and arithmetic to more than thirty 5th and 6th grade students. And every single student I taught to, secured an A in math that year.
通常来说，在这部分我们都会围绕目标院校的特定教授，或特定领域来阐述。比如该校针对某些领域的研究计划对你很有吸引力，或是有哪些独特的优势。
在提及该校的教授时，注意不要只提名字，这样太过空泛。可以了解一下几位教授研究的实际内容，详细描述其中一个的方向，也可以引用他的具体研究，表示很很喜爱。比如下面这样：
I am drawn to xxx University School of Kinesiology and Health Studies specifically due to Dr. Spencer Moore’s background in medical anthropology and current work with social network analytic techniques.
（xx大学运动与健康学院吸引我的原因是，我特别喜欢Spencer Moore博士在医学人类学方面的背景，以及当前在社交网络分析技术方向开展的研究。）
这里不一定非选择该校该领域最著名的教授，因为其他学生一般也都会这样选。
这一部分不仅要叙述目标学校相关的东西，也要从自身出发，比如你能够与教授和研究生相处融洽、在这样的环境下能够及时完成学业等等。总之，从两方面叙述，表明你与学校是互相选择的。
这一部分可以说是整篇SOP中最重要的部分，你需要阐述自己的学业目标，可以分为长期和短期目标。
短期就是你如何在目标院校中进行学业，诸如您想加入哪门课程以及在该课程中选择哪些方向，在这段学习中你会获得哪些专业知识、技能等等。
长期目标就是在经过这段学习经历后，你打算怎样继续学习，具体方向和领域。
同样地，这个部分也不要使用下面这种空泛的语句。
I am impressed by the importance your university gives to research.
尽量结合具体人物和实际名称来叙述，更有说服力。
I would fully utilize the resources that the Wallenberg Hall provides, as I am particularly interested in the field of molecular chemistry. The special 24/7 laboratories provided for student research on molecular processing is exactly the kind of opportunity I am looking for, as I could totally see myself working in the labs day and night.
相比上面的描述，这个描述明显体现出你的准备是多么充分。另外在这一部分你可以大胆的使用专业术语，因为你的读者都是目标领域的资深学者，理解上不会有问题，而术语的使用也会增添说服力。
为了顺利完成这一部分，花费时间收集目标院校的教授信息是必要的，大家要提前准备。
看完这些，大家对于SOP写作有没有更清楚了呢？如果还有问题，欢迎在下方留言哦！
最后，这里还有一份小提示，大家结合上面的内容一起使用。
关于SOP写作的Tips
1.使用热情的语气：在叙述过程中，语气适当的热情一点，表现出对该学校的兴趣，能让导师感受到你对学校的渴望，这也是一个加分项。
2.字数限制：一篇SOP的单词数量在500-1000之内，即一到两页，尽量保持在这个范围。
3. Personal information related: Usually the SOP does not require introduction of names, but specific schools will have different requirements, which shall prevail.
4. Avoid defects: If there are no requirements, avoid low-scoring items in your academic experience, such as semesters with low grade points during your undergraduate period.
