I know most don't take the writing section seriously, BUT... Forum

BrownieD · Post by **BrownieD** » Thu Aug 20, 2015 8:13 pm

I would like to.

So, please let me know--how does the test booklet look like? How many pages do you get? I don't want to run out of space. Is there sufficient space for pre-writing??

Clemenceau · Post by **Clemenceau** » Thu Aug 20, 2015 8:17 pm

Please don't take it seriously.

Edit: just to indulge you: theres a few short paragraphs in the prompt then like 1.5 pages of lines to write a poorly constructed essay. I think. Plenty of space.

TheodoreKGB · Post by **TheodoreKGB** » Thu Aug 20, 2015 8:17 pm

chuckbass · Post by **chuckbass** » Thu Aug 20, 2015 8:27 pm

No offer

basedvulpes · Post by **basedvulpes** » Thu Aug 20, 2015 8:29 pm

Post removed.

kaiser · Post by **kaiser** » Thu Aug 20, 2015 8:31 pm

BrownieD wrote:I would like to.

So, please let me know--how does the test booklet look like? How many pages do you get? I don't want to run out of space. Is there sufficient space for pre-writing??

You literally don't need to know any of this in advance. When you see how much space you have and what it looks like, you just write and give it your best shot. Has zero effect so long as you can string together a few coherent sentences.

Broncos15 · Post by **Broncos15** » Thu Aug 20, 2015 11:28 pm

Only in very few cases does it matter...likely only for international applicants otherwise no need to worry

Judgeasaurus_Rex · Post by **Judgeasaurus_Rex** » Fri Aug 21, 2015 7:46 am

I've heard that some schools will either use it as grounds to reject an applicant if it is very poorly written, or compare it to your letters of recommendation, in order to make sure that you didn't write them yourself and then have a professor sign...

In any case, if you have made it through 3+ years of undergraduate exams then you are already adequately prepared for the writing sample.

Indifference · Post by **Indifference** » Fri Aug 21, 2015 7:51 am

Judgeasaurus_Rex wrote:In any case, if you have made it through 3+ years of undergraduate exams then you are already adequately prepared for the writing sample.

+1. But seriously don't take it seriously (beyond answering the question).

TheSpanishMain · Post by **TheSpanishMain** » Fri Aug 21, 2015 8:12 am

I highly doubt the writing sample can help you, even if it's beautifully written.

I imagine the only way it can hurt you is if A) it shows a clear inability to communicate in English or B) you draw a giant dick on the page and hand that in.

Seriously, don't worry about it. Even if you put in a ton of effort and craft an essay for the ages, no one is going to care. Focus your energy on the parts of the test that matter.

benwyatt · Post by **benwyatt** » Fri Aug 21, 2015 8:24 am

Post removed.

GospelLeague · Post by **GospelLeague** » Fri Aug 21, 2015 10:06 am

There are much better ways to spend your spare time if you've totally mastered the rest of LSAT sections.

Judgeasaurus_Rex · Post by **Judgeasaurus_Rex** » Fri Aug 21, 2015 4:53 pm

I'm curious what people have heard about the writing sample? What is it actually used for? I've only really heard speculation from prep companies and other TLS users. There must be a reason that they throw it in there.

BrownieD · Post by **BrownieD** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 6:29 pm

Just doing my due diligence in case having a wonderful essay helps, even if by 0.1%. It must be there for some reason.

(I have no life. I am dedicating all my free time to the LSAT. I'd like to have no regrets for this thing.)

BrownieD · Post by **BrownieD** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 6:30 pm

Clemenceau wrote:Please don't take it seriously.

Edit: just to indulge you: theres a few short paragraphs in the prompt then like 1.5 pages of lines to write a poorly constructed essay. I think. Plenty of space.

1.5 pages? Thanks for letting me know. Just wanted to know the difference between practice exam book space and the real test.

A. Nony Mouse · Post by **A. Nony Mouse** » Sun Aug 23, 2015 4:24 am

Judgeasaurus_Rex wrote:I'm curious what people have heard about the writing sample? What is it actually used for? I've only really heard speculation from prep companies and other TLS users. There must be a reason that they throw it in there.

This is speculation, but possibly 1) to confirm you wrote the rest of your application? if your PS/DS etc are glittering polished prose, and your writing sample is scarcely readable, you probably got a LOT of "help" with your application and a law school might think twice about your ability to do the work; and 2) to pretend that the application process is actually holistic.

benwyatt · Post by **benwyatt** » Wed Aug 26, 2015 2:15 pm

Post removed.

KMart · Post by **KMart** » Wed Aug 26, 2015 2:25 pm

Please just write in what you see. It's not a huge philosophical question. You can generally answer in ~5 paragraphs. The estimate with 1.5 pages is pretty much right. They give you a problem and two possible solutions, then you pick your side and write. I think it's really only used to make sure you didn't write the LOR and it's similar in diction to your DS/PS.

There is literally no reason to fret about it.