How to Write an Essay for LSAT
LSAT Writing Section Details and Tips
Why Does LSAT Test Writing Skills
One question that nags a test taker's mind is why the test has a Writing section when it is unscored and is also meant to be optional. The test has five sections in all, plus a Writing exam. Out of these, only four of the sections are scored. Apart from this, the exam contains of another unscored section, which is a multiple choice section and then there is the optional Writing section which is also unscored. The Writing section, like all other sections, lasts for 35 minutes.
The reason why LSAT includes the Writing section is to be able to evaluate the student over and above the score chart. This exercise is not binding upon the student or the law school. There is a big chance that your essay may go unread; however, there is also the big chance that it may be read. Usually, the essay writing aspect is like showing off what you know and how well you know it. Writing reflects your thought process and this is exactly what the law schools would like to understand.
What Does the Writing Sample Section Consist Of?
You will be given one or two prompts on a particular topic. You will have 35 minutes to write the entire paper. Depending on the prompts that you choose, you will be required to take a stand in the argument that you will identify in the prompt. It is important for you to first understand the argument that is presented in the sample before beginning to write. A lot of times confusing samples are given but the trick is not to give in to the confusion and the key is practice.
How to Improve Your Writing Skills
The one thing which is most important for improving one's writing skills is TO WRITE. You need to continuously write in order to make yourself perfect. If you keep practicing you will definitely find a way around improving your vocabulary and sentence structure. Apart from improving your sentence structure, it is necessary to work on your presentation skills. You need to read about paragraph distributions and how to begin and end an argument. It is important not to be too assertive and yet subtly prove what you have to say with adequate substantiation. Your write-up is sent to the law schools directly by LSAC and so you need to make sure that your handwriting is legible, since no one likes to have an illegible handwriting to decipher before them.
Law schools also prefer to read a lot of matter in papers. The more you write, the more impressed they are likely to be. This of course doesn't mean that you fill in the paper with material that is not coherent. It is important to understand the pulse of the matter and then try to wind your thoughts around it. It is also important to read as much as it is to write, in order to improve one's writing skills. Reading editorials of newspapers is a rich source of understanding how to take sides in a given viewpoint. Reading editorials regularly will certainly prepare you well for this section. However, it will take you time to understand and analyze arguments so be consistent in your efforts.
The important aspect that one shouldn't forget is that just because it is optional and unscored you should not to take it easily. Attempting this section can be beneficial towards your scores in the long run provided you have practiced well for writing it.