WHY Structure is of the upmost importance in essay writing.

It not only shows you are organised and logical in your approach, it also allows the reader to follow your argument more closely. Strengthening your structure in my opinion is a big key in being able to solidfy your ideas and your over all argument, which ultimately leads to better marks. HOW 1. Paragraph structure As far as paragraph structure goes, that depends on your style of writing. Usually, an integrated approach is more powerful than a systematic approach. The problem with an integrated approach is that if it's not done well then ideas seem cluttered and unorganised. I'll try to deal with both. 1.1 Systematic structure This is where you deal with your arguments point by point in separate paragraphs, i.e: the first paragraph houses the first argument and so on. The advantage here is that it's easier to write, it's easier to follow and it's more organised. For the GAMSAT, this may be the best approach as the essays are relatively short anyway. If you follow the tips in Part 2, they make the systematic approach in writing essays for more eloquent than they would be otherwise. Basically; -Introduction (a short paragraph introducing the argument and your ideas) -Para 1 through # (one paragraph for each idea/argument proving your case) -Conclusion (a brief summary without repetition and some sort of closure) 1.2 Integrated approach This is a more complex structure. Essentially, you collect your ideas together, and then form your arguments for them. Once this is done, you collect similair/linking arguments in the same paragraph. For example, say you have 3 main ideas (A,B,C); then one case may be that in paragraph 1 you deal with ideas A and B, then in paragraph 2 you continue with idea B in a different argument and also include C, then in paragraph 3 you use C and finish with A. I imagine this would be very difficult to put together in a pressure cooker situation. So for GAMSAT, I don't recommend it personally, however, if you're just that good...

2. Tips on strengthening through structure There are a few ways you can make your essay seem far more thought out and far more powerful. They are; 2.1 The first sentence Don't beat around the bush and don't dive straight in to your ideas. Try posing a question or making a general statement on the topic that you can expand upon and later reach conclusion upon.

2.2 The introduction After the first sentence, introduce the debate at hand. State your side and a counter side, then state briefly in near point form, why you choose this side (your main ideas) 2.3 Topic sentences Begin each paragraph of the main body with the point you're trying to make. This leads the readers brain and allows them to understand your coming arguments as they have already read the idea at hand. 2.4 Linking sentences This really is what makes the systematic approach readable. Have some linking theme from the last sentence of a paragraph to the topic/first sentence of the next. This makes the essay flow and seem logical and natural. 2.5 Analogies/Quotations The best essays use these. You can try quotations or analogies to strengthen your argument, or you may even try using a recurring or thematic analogy that your essay is based around whilst proceding with your argument. 2.6 Conclusion Do not repeat yourself. This makes it look like you think the reader is stupid. Restate your argument by all means but do so as if the reader has come to this conclusion him/herself after reading your arguments as if it is only natural. Try to come to some sort of realisation, rationalisation or compromise. Show you have learnt some thing, and maybe the reader will learn too. 2.7 Title Always title your essay. This steers the reader straight away for your first sentence. It's only an orientation for the reader, so anything related is fine, don't over do it.

My trick or secret or whatever you want to call it to a good essay is its structure. Even if your writing sucks, if your structure is good you will pick up some points! The markers are reading thousands of essays, they don't want to get lost, they dont want to have to jump back two paragraphs and think "what were they getting at?" I used a three point structure for the gamsat, with the last point also being the conclusion. Here's an example: Introduction: State your position, and what you are going to say in the essay. "I.e: The argument that apples are purple are disturbing given the evidence. From its green to red colouration to the general acceptance by people of their colour, this new argument defies belief" and so on. First argument[/b] (Each argument should be about a paragraph if you can manage it) Point 1 ""Ripe apples are red, the evidence is rife".

Evidence - I.e. " In Charles Dickens xxxx, Dickens describes the red faced child as having 'cheeks as rosy as an apple." Link statement (which can be a counter argument, which you will beat down in the next paragraph" - I.e. "Some might argue that given apples have variant colours, why shouldn't they be purple?" Second argument Point 2 "Apples are green when they are unripe".

Evidence - I.e. " Margaret Fulton in her world famous cookbook asks that you use unripe green apples in a pie. A consistent colouration at this particular growth stage of the apple would suggest that apple colours are not random." Link statement apples..." I.e. "Whilst Van Gogh may have painted purple

Third argument & Conclusion Point 3 I.e. "the prevalence of red and green apples in our supermarkets, our fiction, and our history point to the purple apple being an imaginary construct". Evidence - I.e "Van Gogh was described by xxxx in xxxx book as being mentally ill, and often painted himself in various shades of green and

yellow, which are also not representative of reality". Conclusion This is where you sum up your points, i.e. "From the piles of red apples in the supermarket, Charles Dickens red faced child, to Margaret Fultons pie apples, the visual prevalence of only two coloured apples completely disproves the theory that apples are purple. Hehe I can't believe I just wrote so much about apples I hope that's of some use, if you have a clearly defined structure then I find that the essay just writes itself. Many people don't and wont use a plan, I can't live without one. On the gamsat I just wrote my three points on the other side of the page, I took a good five minutes thinking of them and writing them down. Then when I got lost writing, I would look over the page at my points so I could reel it back in. Google 'essay plans' and you'll find tons come up with one that works best for you. I cannot emphasise structure enough but bear in mind that everyone does it differently and you'll get a lot of different and often conflicting advice. In the end you have to try everything and go for what works best for you.