6.1 - Writing Sample Overview
Raise Hand ✋The prompts typically ask you to help fictional people or organizations make some sort of decision. For instance, you might be asked how aggressively Acme Co. should bid on a bridge project, or which contractor the town council should hire to build such a bridge.
Currently, you'll have as much time to complete the writing sample as you would any other test section, though the format is changing in the near future.
In this lesson we're covering:
- If the writing sample matters
- What the prompts look like
- Tips for crafting a solid sample
Let's get started.
Does LSAT Writing Matter?
Aside from the the fact that LSAC will hold your score until you've written a sample, your writing sample ends up in the hands of the admissions officers reading your law school applications. But your transcripts, LSAT score, and other essays will give admissions officers a much clearer picture of your writing capacity that a single timed sample.
That's all to say, the writing sample matters, but only a bit. Your goal should be to write a solid sample that makes a clear argument based on the information provided.
Writing Sample Prompts
Like we discussed before, the writing sample typically asks us to help some person or organization make a big decision. You'll be presented with some facts, the person / organizations values and preferences, and then you'll be asked to make a recommendation and argue in its favor.
Here's an actual prompt from PrepTest 79 for you to practice:
Brighter Construction is deciding which of two upcoming construction projects to bid on—resurfacing Hilltop Road or expanding Carlene Boulevard. Since Brighter cannot fulfill both contracts at the same time and bids constitute binding commitments, Brighter can only bid on one of the projects. Using the facts below, write an essay arguing for one project over the other based on the following two criteria:
- Brighter wants to enhance its reputation among potential clients.
- Brighter wants to increase its capacity to take on bigger projects.
The Hilltop Road resurfacing is a small project. The potential profit is relatively low. With Brighter's experience and resources, it is almost certain to win the contract, and it is highly likely to finish on time and within budget. Brighter has an established reputation for finishing projects on time and within budget. Brighter has specialized in small projects. Construction firms specializing in small projects find it increasingly difficult over time to win contracts for bigger projects. If the project is completed under budget, Brighter will keep the extra money. If it is over budget, Brighter must cover the additional costs. Brighter will use any extra money to purchase additional heavy equipment.
The Carlene Boulevard expansion is a large project. The potential profit is much higher. It involves a kind of work that Brighter has never done before and that would require it to expand its operation. Because of the overall nature of this project, Brighter believes it has a good chance of winning the contract. It is uncertain whether Brighter can finish the project on time and within budget. Even if Brighter exceeds time and budget constraints, it will gain valuable experience. If the project goes over budget, Brighter will lose money.
Crafting a Good Writing Sample
Writing a good sample comes down to a few basics:
- Write grammatically.
- Use only the information provided in the prompt to craft your argument.
- Spot all the issues, not just the ones that support your argument.
- When you spot evidence against your argument, concede it and rebut it.
- Don't overthink it. Pick a team and make your case.
That's pretty much it. Even if you can't neatly wrap things up due to time constraints, if you account for all the facts and make a solid argument in favor of your recommendation, you're good to go.
Don't stress the sample too much. If you practice even once before your real thing, you'll have a good handle on what to expect and how to attack it.
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That's it for our intro the writing sample. Next, we're talking some pending changes to the writing sample that will affect test-takers from August 2024 onward. See you there.
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What'd you think of this lesson? What would you change? Leave me some feedback in the comments below.The writing sample is relatively straightforward, so we'll keep this lesson (and chapter) brief. It's a timed, unscored portion of the LSAT, but you'll need a valid one on record to have any LSAT score released to you.
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