Essay Writing Flashcards
7 cards from real LNAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Essay Writing flashcards as text
Which of the following best describes the purpose of a 'signpost' sentence in an LNAT essay?
Answer: To tell the reader what point is being made and how it relates to the overall thesis
Signpost sentences orient the reader by making the function of each paragraph clear in relation to the central argument.
When an LNAT essay prompt presents an extreme position (e.g., 'The law should never interfere with personal choices'), the most sophisticated response is to:
Answer: Examine whether a more nuanced position (e.g., law may intervene only to prevent harm to others) better withstands scrutiny
Extreme prompts are designed to invite nuanced engagement; wholesale agreement or rejection usually misses the complexity.
In terms of argument quality, which essay is stronger?
Answer: One that develops three or four well-reasoned points with evidence and logical links
Depth and development of fewer points demonstrates stronger analytical ability than a superficial survey of many ideas.
An essay on 'whether the minimum wage should be abolished' must address which of the following to avoid a one-sided argument?
Answer: The potential efficiency gains from abolition and the distributional harms it may cause, with a reasoned weighing of both
A balanced treatment that honestly weighs trade-offs and arrives at a justified conclusion is stronger than ignoring counterevidence.
Which of the following most accurately describes the tone expected in an LNAT essay?
Answer: Objective, analytical, and measured, with personal views expressed through reasoned argument rather than assertion
LNAT essays reward analytical detachment combined with a clear, argued position — not emotional appeals or unjustified assertions.
If time is running short during the LNAT essay, the best strategy is to:
Answer: Finish the current point, write a brief conclusion summarizing the argument, and stop
A complete essay with a brief conclusion is always preferable to an essay that ends abruptly mid-argument.
The phrase 'it goes without saying' in an LNAT essay is problematic because:
Answer: It signals the writer is about to skip justifying a claim that may actually need support
Phrases like 'it goes without saying' often precede exactly the kinds of claims that require the most careful justification.