Lesson Ten: Writing Samples (WS)

Question 1

What is the Digital Writing Sample?

Answer 1

• Completely Separate from the actual LSAT.
• 35 minutes
• Essay, where you are given two largely equal choices, and based on a set of criterion, you have to choose exactly one of the choices, and in 2-3 paragraphs, explain why one choice is better than the other.

Question 2

Why is the Digital Writing Sample Important?

Answer 2

• While it’s not used as apart of your LSAT score out of 180, LSAC will submit your writing sample to any law schools you apply for; it’s important for admissions.
• That’s why you want to take this seriously.

Question 3

If you do not do the Writing Sample portion, the LSAC reserves the right to _____ score your test.

Answer 3

NOT

Question 4

Keep in mind, you can take the writing portion ______, _________, __________, and even up to a ________ following your exam.

Answer 4

days, weeks, months; year

Question 5

The format of the writing sample is called a __________ __________. This indicates that you have a ____________ to make; you’re presented with a scenario where someone has a ____________ to make. There are correspondingly 2 _____________that you have to keep in mind when making this choice ; these ______________ will often conflict with each other. During this exercise, there is a no __________ answer: your job is to choose and side with the answer that you can ________the best.

Answer 5

decision prompt; decision; choice; criterion; criterion; right; defend

Question 6

Pro-Con Format

Answer 6

• This is the technique used to actually defend the answer/choice that you believe can be best defended.
• Involves, “playing up” the pros of your position, and “downplaying” the cons.
• The idea is that you emphasize everything that’s good about your position, and allude to the drawbacks of the decision without over-emphasizing as to why their really bad (BY NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE CONS, YOU LEAVE YOUR ARGUMENT OPEN TO ATTACK). You want to play up more why the pros outweigh the drawbacks.

Question 7

Ultimately, in your essay, show that the __________ your chosen choice/position are _________ than the _______ of the other decision. Show why the ________ of your chosen position aren’t as problematic as the ________ of the other position.

Answer 7

pros; better; pros; cons; cons

Question 8

Remember, you can ONLY CHOOSE ONE ______________. The two choices you’ll decide between are largely equal: one is not drastically better or worse than the other. With this in mind, you NEED to avoid ___________ language (ex. “Option X is indubitably superior than Option Y.”, “Option X far surpasses Option Y.”, “Option X is clearly better than Option Y.”). You want to remain as ____________ and ______________ as possible (really, one of the positions just has SLIGHT advantage over the other).

Answer 8

position; bias; moderate; impartial

Question 9

You will be given scratch paper during the Writing Sample. You need to use this paper to create a _________ for each of the two options, listing, respectively, their ____________ and ________.

Answer 9

grid; pros; cons

Option X:
Pros | Cons
_______________
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Option Y:
Pros | Cons
_______________
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Question 10

Remember: Common Sense assumption are okay to make.
Ex. If you have a decision prompt that regard macroeconomics as a part of the excerpt they give you and the two choices you have to choose between, then making common sense assumptions relating to ___________&____________ is warranted.

Answer 10

supply; demand

Question 11

Steps Writing Sample Portion:

Answer 11

1) Reading
2) Analyzing
- the pros and cons list
- common sense assumptions
3) Writing
4) Re-Reading What you’ve Written
- polishing your writing & fixing anything that needs fixing in your writing

Question 12

Timing Writing Sample Portion:

How long should each of the aforementioned sections take?

Answer 12

• Reading and Analyzing should be all of 5-7 minutes.
• Writing should be 22 - 23 minutes.
• Re-reading should be another 5 minutes.

Question 13

Best Option for formatting your writing sample:

Answer 13

You only need 2-3 paragraphs.

Paragraph 1: Explain why the pros of your choice are better than the pros of the other choice.

Paragraph 2: Explain why the cons of your choice are not as problematic / severe / are better than the cons of the other choice.

Question 14

If you want to practice different writing sample topics, LSAC has banks of differing writing samples from past Exams.

Question 15

Digital Writing Sample - Digital Interface:

You need…
- Access to a computer that runs Windows / McIntosh operating system.
- Webcam
- Microphone
- Only one connected monitor
- Internet Connection

Question 16

Digital Writing Sample - Proctor - Related Info

In the live video check in process, you need…
- Govt. issued ID
- show your workspace
- both sides of scratch paper must be shown to the camera.
- room will be scanned by the device on which you take writing sample.