Structuring a Coherent Essay 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 Structuring a Coherent Essay flashcards as text
Which of the following is the best strategy for managing time when structuring an LNAT essay in 40 minutes?
Answer: Spend 5-8 minutes outlining key arguments before writing to ensure structural clarity
A brief planning phase prevents structural drift and ensures each paragraph has a clear purpose before writing begins.
An essay arguing 'social media companies should be held legally liable for harmful content' would be weakened most by which structural choice?
Answer: Dedicating the final paragraph to a counter-argument without providing a rebuttal
Ending on an unrefuted counter-argument leaves the reader with doubt about the thesis rather than confidence in the argument.
The phrase 'This point is related to the broader issue of…' at the end of a body paragraph serves what structural function?
Answer: It acts as a linking sentence that connects the paragraph to the essay's wider argument
Linking sentences at the end of paragraphs show how each point connects to the essay's overall argument, enhancing coherence.
An LNAT essay on 'whether the voting age should be lowered to 16' contains paragraphs in this order: counter-argument, evidence for lowering the age, thesis statement, conclusion. What is wrong?
Answer: The thesis statement belongs in the introduction, not as a body paragraph
The thesis must appear in the introduction to frame the argument; placing it mid-essay leaves the opening without direction.
What does 'logical progression' mean in the context of LNAT essay structure?
Answer: Arranging arguments so each one builds on or develops from the previous one
Logical progression means each paragraph advances the argument in a way that depends on or extends what came before, creating cumulative persuasive force.
A student writes an essay with a strong introduction and conclusion but body paragraphs that jump between unrelated points. The examiner would most likely assess this as:
Answer: An essay with good framing but lacking internal coherence
Coherence requires the body to sustain the logical structure set up by the introduction; disjointed body paragraphs undermine the entire essay despite strong bookends.
When the LNAT essay prompt presents a binary ('Should X be banned: yes or no?'), which structural approach is most effective?
Answer: Take a clear position, support it with reasoned arguments, and acknowledge the strongest counter-argument before rebutting it
Examiners reward decisive, well-reasoned positions; acknowledging and rebutting counter-arguments demonstrates intellectual rigor without sacrificing clarity.