Define the audience for the statement, and learn as much about it as you can. Research the organization and scholarship to see if your essay will be reviewed by a board or an individual. Make a list of the organization's values. For instance, if you were applying for a scholarship from a technology company, technological education may be one of the organization's shaping values. If there is a committee chair or individual making the decision, learn as much as you can about this person. Some organizations post tips for applicants, sample scholarship statements and lists of what they are looking for on their websites. Thoroughly examine each of these, and add to your list what they tell you about the organization.
Write a one-sentence description of the statement's purpose. You might simply write, "The purpose of this scholarship statement is to ..." and fill in the blank. Carefully read the "prompts" for each statement, and pay attention to verbs that tell you how to write. For example, being asked to "describe" a situation is very different from being asked to "justify" your actions. The first type of writing calls for attention to detail, while the second denotes an argument. Once you have outlined the purpose of your statement, you can make choices that will help you achieve it.
Take note of any writing or submission guidelines. Some scholarships will require that you write statements under or over a certain word limit. Others may even give you information on the type of writing style you should use. For instance, some will ask that you use personal pronouns or write a narrative. Write these guidelines on a separate sheet of paper that you can keep with you as you compose.
Brainstorm and free write using the information gathered in the three steps above. Make a list of one to three main points you want to emphasize in the essay, or make a short list of what you want the granting organization to know about you at the end of the essay. If you aren't sure about either, set a timer for five minutes, and just start writing anything that comes to your mind about the statement and the organization.
Outline and write or write and outline. Re-read what you have written in step four, and either devise an outline to organize your statement or write a rough draft of your statement, followed by an outline that will help you revise it. Structure your outline with your audience in mind. Your audience likely has hundreds of applications to read through, so be concise, clear and direct, but use anecdotes, examples or other writing techniques that will make your writing stand out.