6 GAMSAT Essay Structures PROS & CONS | Section 2

Summary

In this educational video, tutor Jesse from Melbourne discusses strategies for Section 2 of the GAMSAT exam, focusing on essay writing. He outlines six essay types: persuasive, argumentative, philosophical, analytical, discursive, reflective, and creative, detailing their structures, advantages, and pitfalls. Jesse emphasizes the importance of practice, unique ideas, and quality over quantity in writing, offering a comprehensive guide to better prepare for the GAMSAT.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker, Jesse, is a tutor in Melbourne with 11 years of experience and has recently taken the GAMSAT himself, scoring well and offering insights based on his experience.
• 🆓 Jesse aims to provide free resources for GAMSAT preparation, criticizing the high costs of some prep companies and emphasizing the availability of free materials.
• ✍️ The purpose of a GAMSAT essay is distinct from other academic essays, requiring two essays on different topics within one hour, with a focus on quality of ideas and expression rather than length.
• 🔍 The GAMSAT assesses the quality of ideas, their development, and expression quality, without in-depth scrutiny of grammar and punctuation unless it affects fluency or expression.
• 🚫 The GAMSAT seeks unique and reflective ideas, discouraging clichéd arguments and encouraging original thought and reflection on the prompts.
• 📝 Six key forms of essays can be used for section two of the GAMSAT: persuasive, argumentative, philosophical, analytical, discursive, reflective, anecdotal, and creative.
• 💡 Each essay form has its own structure, advantages, and disadvantages, which Jesse discusses to help candidates choose the best approach for their strengths and preferences.
• 🔑 The argumentative essay is popular and simple, allowing for creativity and flexibility in addressing the prompts, but it can be competitive and requires evidence to support claims.
• 🤔 The analytical essay requires a deeper understanding and planning, allowing for creative writing and individuality but demanding abstract thought and cohesive argument building.
• 💭 The philosophical essay allows for sophisticated writing and individual expression but can be risky if not executed well and requires practice to achieve in a limited time frame.
• 📖 The discursive essay is less structured, allowing for exploration of ideas and freedom to change direction, suitable for developing writers who need to see their ideas evolve on paper.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the GAMSAT essay in Section 2?

The purpose of the GAMSAT essay in Section 2 is to write two essays on two different topics within one hour, focusing on the quality of the idea, its development, and the quality of expression, without being judged on grammar and punctuation unless it affects fluency or expression.

What are the key forms of essays that can be used for Section 2 of the GAMSAT?

The key forms of essays that can be used for Section 2 of the GAMSAT are persuasive, argumentative, philosophical, analytical, discursive, reflective, anecdotal, and creative.

What is the basic pacing strategy for writing GAMSAT essays?

The basic pacing strategy for writing GAMSAT essays is 30 minutes per essay, aiming for quality of thought and ideas rather than length.

What are some characteristics of an argumentative essay structure?

An argumentative essay structure is straightforward, stating a clear view or thesis and providing reasons to support it. It allows for creativity and can adapt to any topic, but it requires evidence to back up claims.

How does an analytical essay differ from an argumentative one?

An analytical essay differs from an argumentative one by focusing on breaking down and analyzing the pieces of an observation or statement to better explain it, rather than presenting a clear view or thesis and supporting it with evidence.

What are some advantages of using a philosophical essay structure?

Advantages of using a philosophical essay structure include allowing for unique writing, a higher level of writing form, and the ability to think abstractly and develop sophisticated ideas.

What is the main challenge of writing a discursive essay?

The main challenge of writing a discursive essay is maintaining clarity and organization while exploring and expanding on various ideas or arguments without a linear path to a solution.

How does a reflective or anecdotal essay approach the GAMSAT prompt?

A reflective or anecdotal essay approaches the GAMSAT prompt by relating the theme to personal experiences, using storytelling to convey a message about human behavior or experience.

What is the potential risk of using a creative essay structure for the GAMSAT?

The potential risk of using a creative essay structure for the GAMSAT is that the message or idea might not be clear to the reader or examiner, and it may be more prone to critical evaluation.

What advice does Jesse give for preparing for the GAMSAT essay writing?

Jesse advises to try all the different essay structures to see what works best, practice writing frequently, and focus on developing a unique and quality writing style that plays to personal strengths.