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MCAT

MCAT. University Writing Center 2006. Format. First draft timed writing 2 – 30 minutes essays Expository response to specific topic (3 parts). Prompt Categories. Business Politics History Art Ethics. Sample. Statement—

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MCAT

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  1. MCAT University Writing Center 2006

  2. Format • First draft timed writing • 2 – 30 minutes essays • Expository response to specific topic (3 parts)

  3. Prompt Categories • Business • Politics • History • Art • Ethics

  4. Sample • Statement— In a free society, individuals must be allowed to do as they choose.

  5. Tasks—Part 1 • Address statement • Express opinion • Discuss philosophy • Describe policy **Cannot be answered in a single sentence **Thoroughly explain statement

  6. Part 2 • Explore meaning of statement based on instance when it can be contradicted or is not applicable **Present concrete example, real or hypothetical, opposite to statement

  7. Part 3 • Discuss conflict between initial statement and opposition (Parts 1 and 2) • Reach a conclusion **Apply understanding of statement to general problem of principle, choice, judgment, evaluation raised by conflict

  8. Sample • Write a unified essay in which you perform the following tasks. • Explain what you think the above statement means. • Describe a specific situation in which individuals in a free society should not be allowed to do as they choose • Discuss what you think determines when a free society is justified in restricting an individual’s actions

  9. Plan of attack • Look at question structure for essay structure • Ask yourself • What do you know about topic? • What specific example can you provide?

  10. Plan of attack • Make notes before you start to organize thoughts • Develop central idea for each of the tasks • 1st paragraph—what do you think statement means • This statement suggests that…. A similar thought occurs when • 2nd paragraph—describes situation when statement is justified • However, the terms ____ and ____ are ambiguous. The statement pivots on these words and its applicability is controlled by the meanings attached to them. • 3rd paragraph—describes when situation is not justified • However, if the meanings are changes, the statement is not accurate because…

  11. Plan of attack • Persuade audience through • cogent arguments • specific examples • specific choices caused by conflict • definition of terms (if necessary)

  12. Plan of attack • Include conclusion to resolve the conflicts you explored • Reread document for clarity

  13. Plan of attack • Organize ideas – briefly make notes • 5 minutes • Start writing • 20 minutes • Reread to revise/edit • 5 minutes

  14. Writing tips • Order is not important • Must cover all 3 points • Single organized and unified essay • Quality is more important than quantity or perfect punctuation

  15. Writing tips • Statement of agreement is not necessary, but may be included • Validity of position is not judged • Score based on explanation of meaning of statement and depth of exploration in parts 2 and 3

  16. Grading • 2 independent readers • 6-point scale converted to alphabetic score • Totaled scores are sent to medical schools • Schools may request copy of writing sample

  17. Criteria for Scoring Writing Samples http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Union/5092/tips.html

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