在2月20日的微信推送中，学小美已经给大家带来了2017-2018年CA系统及CAAS系统文书题目变更的最新消息。在得到消息后，学美文书专家第一时间就投入到了新题目的研究解析中，今天小编就为2018美本申请的小伙伴们带来COMMON APP 2017-2018最新文书题目的独家初步解析，让大家先睹为快。

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. 

该题自2015-2016年被小幅修改后，今年没有变化。作为一直以来被选择最多的题目，这道题目普适性较大，使学生能够讲述较宽范围内的独特的故事。在学美看来这确实是适合广大学生去选择的一个题目。

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? 

原题：The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

该题经历了3年2改，每一次的改动都增强了题干的阐述，让学生能够更好地了解出题人的意图。同时也强调了招生官的目标——更想了解的是过去的失败经历是如何影响到学生，而从中所得又是如何影响学生成为一个“更好”的个体。

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? 

原题：Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea.  What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again.

关于挑战某个观点或信仰，是相当具有讨论价值和话题性的题目。此题的变化更强调了学生想法的成长和改变。从历年数据来看，这道题是选择人数比较少的题目，根据学美过去的文书指导经验，只要经过适当的素材挑选和引导，学生根据这个提示往往能写出很引人入胜的文章。

Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. 

此题无变化。该题能够让学生更多地去挖掘自己个人能力方面的话题以及他们课内外所解决的问题。涵盖了学术、生活、思想各方面的内容，可以由表及里、由浅入深，由宏观至细节地展现申请者在过去成长经历中的各种重要事件或时刻。

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. 

原题：Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family. 

从过往学美文书指导情况来看，选择写这个话题的学生较少能准确地在文化，社区和家庭这三个层面展开写作。今年的题干变化则引导学生更多地思考自身、他人甚至世界，提升认知和理解。此题如果能够细致对待，应该能够写出令人瞩目的优秀申请文。因此我们还需要多花些心思来帮助学生认识到这个话题和他们自身的关联性，以及他们现在已经是成年人的事实。

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? 

新题。这道题目是之前CA文书题目中未曾涉及到的内容——集中反映学生兴趣爱好的主题。兴趣是最好的老师，有兴趣爱好的人也有更多的成长和发展的空间。这使得许多有特长的申请者能够在650字的篇幅中尽情抒发自己的喜好，展现自身优秀，也将自己在相关领域的成长与喜悦分享给读文章的人。

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. 

这道题目是一道“回归”题。在2015-2016年前，这道自主命题可谓是深受青睐。在它离开的3年后，今年又再次出现了。因此可以料想今年的美本申请文书内容将会更多元化，让我们拭目以待。