Here is a suggested template for the Writing Sample. You should aim for a total length of 220 to 250 words, depending on the size of your handwriting. You can get a good sense of how long the essay should be by photocopying a sample writing page from any of the tests from previous years, and always writing your practice essays within the space provided.
1. The essay should begin a clear statement of the alternative that we are going to defend.
2. We then write a paragraph that provides some reasons in support of our choice.
3. The next paragraph anticipates some counter-arguments to the chosen alternative and argues against them.
4. The last paragraph demonstrates how our choice partially fulfills the competing guideline, and ends with a re-cap of the conclusion.
Let’s look at how we would write an essay using this template. Suppose that we defended the eagle as our choice for the town’s emblem.
In first paragraph, the position we have chosen is presented as the introductory statement:
The Western eagle is the preferred choice as emblem for the town of Uxbridge for three reasons.
Not only do we make the position we are going to defend clear in the first sentence, but also introduce our preference in the first three words.
The second paragraph outlines three reasons for our choice:
First, the Western eagle is a proud bird that projects a clear sense of nobility. Second, eagles have a historical connection with the town that dates back to the town’s first coal mine. The Eagle Bluff mine provided the town with fuel and prosperity for over eighty years. Third, the eagle is a magnificent bird that would make a fitting subject for an imposing statue for the Town Square.
The third paragraph anticipates one or two counter-arguments to our position and provides a rebuttal for each. It may read like this:
Some may say that the Western eagle has not been seen around the town since the turn of the century, and is therefore not a contemporary symbol of local familiarity. However, as the national emblem of the United States, the eagle is very familiar to the general public. Moreover, the use of the eagle as emblem may revive the old legend about the discovery of the Eagle Bluff mine. The site of the mine could be then reopened as a tourist attraction.
The last paragraph shows how our choice partially fulfills the competing guideline, and ends the essay with a re-cap of the conclusion.
Admittedly, the eagle is a historical and not a contemporary symbol. However, it does embody the qualities of courage and determination. These qualities are as relevant in contemporary times as in the past.
Therefore, since the eagle is a noble bird, has historical significance for the town, and would make an excellent statue for the Town Square, it should be chosen.
Please notice that the re-cap of the conclusion summarizes some of the reasons previously outlined for our choice.
Here is a version of the complete writing sample. You might be amazed at how simple the actual writing task can be. But this is all that is expected from you on the LSAT. You need to defend a position effectively within a very short time frame.
The Western eagle is the preferred choice as emblem for the town of Uxbridge for three reasons. First, the Western eagle is a proud bird that projects a clear sense of nobility. Second, eagles have a historical connection with the town that dates back to the town’s first coal mine. The Eagle Bluff mine provided the town with fuel and prosperity for over eighty years. Third, the eagle is a magnificent bird that would make a fitting subject for an imposing statue for the Town Square.
Some may say that the Western eagle has not been seen around the town since the turn of the century, and is therefore not a contemporary symbol of local familiarity. However, as the national emblem of the United States, the eagle is very familiar to the general public. Moreover, the use of the eagle as emblem may revive the old legend about the discovery of the Eagle Bluff mine. The site of the mine could be then reopened as a tourist attraction.
Admittedly, the eagle is a historical and not a contemporary symbol. However, it does embody the qualities of courage and determination. These qualities are as relevant in contemporary times as in the past.
Therefore, since the eagle is a noble bird, has historical significance for the town, and would make an excellent statue for the Town Square, it should be chosen.
Word count: 229
An Alternative Essay Template
Some of you may not like the choice of eagle as emblem. Not to worry. Here is another essay that uses the same template, but argues for the ever-popular muskrat instead.
1. Again, the essay again begins with a clear statement of our chosen alternative.
2. We then state one reason for choosing our alternative. We then anticipate a counter-argument to our choice, and provide a rebuttal to this counter-argument.
3. We then state another reason, another counter-argument and another rebuttal.
4. Finally, as with the other template, we show how our choice partially satisfies the competing guideline and re-cap the conclusion.
Here is a version of the complete writing sample using the alternative template.
The Blacktail Muskrat is the best choice as emblem for the town of Uxbridge for three reasons. First, muskrats are very familiar, as they are often seen in the streams around the town. Second, a slightly unconventional emblem might appeal to the town’s growing younger population more than traditional symbols. Third, the popular tune “Muskrat Boogie” has publicized the town in other parts of the country.
One objection to the choice of the muskrat might be that it is a shy animal, and that it does not project a sense of nobility. But the muskrat is also an industrious animal. There is much value and nobility in hard work. This is certainly a good quality that the town could promote by choosing the muskrat.
The muskrat might also be said to have no direct historical significance. Yet, a muskrat emblem that links the hard-working rodent with the railroad and the mine would remind residents and visitors of the town’s history.
Admittedly, the muskrat, being a rodent, is not likely to make a good subject for an imposing statue. But the statue does not have to be realistic in order to attract people’s attention. In the hands of the right artist, it can be given a friendly, modern appearance. Witness the popularity of another famous rodent, Mickey Mouse.
Since the muskrat is a contemporary symbol that is already connected in people’s minds to the town, it is the natural choice for the emblem.
Word count: 242
Time Management
Next, let’s look at the question of time management for the Writing Sample:
The first 5 to 7 minutes of the section should be spent going over the assignment and planning your essay.
You begin by reading the Writing Sample statement carefully and selecting which of the two alternatives you will defend.
Your next step is to make a quick outline of the essay on the scratch paper provided.
Tips for Creating an Outline
Constructing an outline for the essay is important because it gives you an opportunity to organize your ideas. The outline should not be long. You may use two or three word descriptions, just to help you remember the ideas when you write the essay itself.
To begin the outline, write in the each step of the essay template on the scratch paper provided.
1. State your choice:
Conclusion – choose the eagle.
You then write three reasons for your choice. In this case, you’d write:
Reasons:
It is noble
It has historical importance – Eagle Bluff mine
It is a magnificent bird – would make good statue
2. You then think of possible counter-arguments and rebuttals to them.
Counter arguments:
The eagle is not a familiar local bird
The eagle is not contemporary
Rebuttals:
The eagle is the American national emblem, so it is familiar nationally
The mine could be re-opened as tourist attraction
3. Finally, you need to think of how your choice could partially satisfy the competing guideline.
Competing Guideline:
Eagle embodies contemporary qualities: courage and determination
This whole process should take around 5 to 7 minutes.
You then spend 18 to 20 minutes writing the essay. If you find yourself running out of time, it is more important to finish the essay than to state all of your counter-arguments, or to address the competing guidelines. Never leave the last part of the essay hanging without a conclusion. An unfinished essay is more likely to be noticed than one that is missing a single possible counter-argument.
We recommend that you spend about 3 minutes at the end proofreading. This is necessary because the markers only look at each essay for a very short time. You should try to eliminate all of the obvious errors in spelling, composition and grammar. Since you don’t have room to double-space, it is always better to print legibly. The aim is to make your essay as easy as possible for your marker to read.
Grammar and Style
With practice, the task of producing the Writing Sample becomes quite formulaic. You should try to write two or three Writing Sample practice essays, giving yourself exactly 30 minutes for each.
When you write the essay, pay close attention to grammar and style. The grammar of the essay should be conservative and uncomplicated. If a sentence does not sound right, simplify it immediately.
The essay should be written in a formal style. This means that you should not be using the first person. Expressions like “I think that” “It seems to me…” or “I believe” should be avoided.
The Writing Sample is not the place to show off your prose style. Since there is a much greater chance of making errors in grammar and syntax with long sentences, stick to short declarative sentences. In keeping with the formal tone, your vocabulary should also be direct and plain.
Let’s look at two sentences that might be used in an essay about the choice of the town emblem.
The first sentence is:
What’s wrong with the muskrat? A lot – no nobility, an unpleasant appearance, the image of a scavenger.
The second example is:
What objection can we make to the muskrat’s image? First, it is not a ‘noble’ animal, as we usually understand the term. Second, the muskrat looks unpleasant. Third, it is a scavenger.
The first example is grammatically incorrect. The sentence “A lot – no nobility, an unpleasant appearance, the image of a scavenger” does not have a verb. The loose style of writing in the first sentence may be all right for a lively magazine article, but it is not suited to the formal style of the Writing Sample.
The second example, though it may seem a little stiff, describes the objections to the muskrat in a way that is perfectly grammatical.
It is important that you use parallel structure in constructing your sentences. Also, the connecting words First, Second, and Third clearly indicate parallel structure within a paragraph.
A compound sentence should use the same grammatical structures in each of its elements.
For example, consider the sentence: The muskrat travels short distances either to find food or when avoiding predators.
This should be revised as: The muskrat travels short distances either to find food or to avoid predators.
Since the Writing Sample is a formal essay, you should always avoid colloquial language. Slang expressions, abbreviations, idioms, and clichés should be avoided as well. For example, do not write, “The bottom line is that the eagle is way better”.
On the other hand, your writing style should not be elaborate or pretentious. Use a plain, direct, formal style that will convey as much of your meaning as possible in the short space provided. Avoid using unfamiliar words. It is not a good idea to stretch the limits of your vocabulary in the Writing Sample.
Your use of punctuation should also be conservative. It is certainly possible to write a solid essay using only periods and commas. This is what you should do unless you are absolutely clear on the correct use of the dash, colon and semi-colon.
You should proofread for spelling, as mentioned before, and use American or British spellings consistently. If you write color with a ‘u’ in one place, write neighbor with a ‘u’ if it is used elsewhere in the essay.
As you can see, the Writing Sample activity is quite repetitive and straightforward. The tasks listed in our templates can be applied to any topic. So now, all you need to do is to decide on the template that you are going to use, settle on some connecting words, and write about 3 essays using your chosen template. For most people, this should provide adequate preparation for the LSAT Writing Sample.