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PCAT writing
Started by nehe87
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I used 5 paragraphs, planned out the 3 body paragraphs by scribbling down ideas for 5 minutes like Kaplan suggests, and picking the best 3 ideas for solving the Pcat's "problem" like global warming or racial intolerance or whatever they throw at you.
1st paragraph: 2 sentences. Sentence 1 restates the problem. Sentence 2 gives a preview of 3 workable solutions.
Each body paragraph suggests a solution. In at least ONE of them, bring up a commonly-stated alternative idea & explain how it's a bad idea, how your idea is better. Say it as if it is just obvious.
Last paragraph restates the problem but says that it can be overcome using a combination of idea1, idea2 and idea3.
Try to do like a newspaper reporter & not use the same word too many times. Use synonyms. Use a person's full name one time and just Dr. Jones or Mr. Brown in other places, stuff like that.
Bring a big eraser with you so you can remove entire sentences in 3 seconds. Anything that is repetitive should get erased.
Look at how much paper they give you to write on. Then look again after you've finished 2 paragraphs. I used about 3/4 of the paper they give you. If it looks like it will be a squeeze, start writing smaller.
I got 4.0/4.0. No idea how to get a 5 unless I can research a subject, cite sources, spend 3 days working on it...
If you get the feeling you are pulling statements out of your butt, that is normal, continue writing. You only have 30 minutes & a pencil.
1st paragraph: 2 sentences. Sentence 1 restates the problem. Sentence 2 gives a preview of 3 workable solutions.
Each body paragraph suggests a solution. In at least ONE of them, bring up a commonly-stated alternative idea & explain how it's a bad idea, how your idea is better. Say it as if it is just obvious.
Last paragraph restates the problem but says that it can be overcome using a combination of idea1, idea2 and idea3.
Try to do like a newspaper reporter & not use the same word too many times. Use synonyms. Use a person's full name one time and just Dr. Jones or Mr. Brown in other places, stuff like that.
Bring a big eraser with you so you can remove entire sentences in 3 seconds. Anything that is repetitive should get erased.
Look at how much paper they give you to write on. Then look again after you've finished 2 paragraphs. I used about 3/4 of the paper they give you. If it looks like it will be a squeeze, start writing smaller.
I got 4.0/4.0. No idea how to get a 5 unless I can research a subject, cite sources, spend 3 days working on it...
If you get the feeling you are pulling statements out of your butt, that is normal, continue writing. You only have 30 minutes & a pencil.
great stuff eric...and I also have NO IDEA how to get a 5. I have a degree in English and I KNOW that my grammar etc should have been a 5 instead of a 4. They're just crunched for time and just throwing out 2, 3, or 4 as they "feel" an essay out. My grammar was perfect. I know I earned my 4 for content, but if I didn't get a 5 for grammar, then no one got a 5.
i haven't looked at that at all... is anyone doing the "thesis, antithesis, synthesis" method from MCAT? or is the prompt totally different?
this belongs in the PCAT subforum.
EDIT: oh i'm ******ed, i AM in the pcat subforum, hahaha. i was wondering why all the topics were pcat related when i clicked out. hahah
this belongs in the PCAT subforum.
EDIT: oh i'm ******ed, i AM in the pcat subforum, hahaha. i was wondering why all the topics were pcat related when i clicked out. hahah
Thanks, that's a really big help! I did a practice essay using your method, and it really helps organize my thoughts.
One more question--is it always necessary to have three solutions/points or is two okay? Because sometimes when I do practice essays, I can only come up with two really good ones, and I either end up with one really crappy idea in my essay or I spend too much time thinking of a third one and am not able to finish in time.
One more question--is it always necessary to have three solutions/points or is two okay? Because sometimes when I do practice essays, I can only come up with two really good ones, and I either end up with one really crappy idea in my essay or I spend too much time thinking of a third one and am not able to finish in time.
I used a modified version of that method. Though there is a similar purpose for both the MCAT and PCAT prompts, the PCAT will ask their prompt in a slightly different format where the PCAT doesn't ask for a clear antithesis and synthesis. The PCAT asks more for a position and defense than mandatory balance like the MCAT. The strategy works, just be sure to address the entire PCAT prompt.
