It’s no secret that GAMSAT essay writing relies on a few key things.
There! Now that I’ve got your attention – I want you to consider how a sentence like that could be used to engage a GAMSAT marker as I did you.
Follow these tips for a snazzy introduction! [Examples below]
Contents
Tips for a Snazzy Introduction
1. Use an Opening Hook
“The advancements of technology has enabled greater access to information.”
Yawn – you’ve already lost me. Use an engaging opening paragraph that contains a question, quotation, anecdote and have an assertive voice that allows me to understand the urgency of the issue presented.
A better example:
“With the advent of the internet and big data, the question remains – who controls it?”
2. Use Active Verbs
Verbs are the mitochondria that power your sentences and your essay. If you use flat, passive verbs it will produce flat and passive prose.
Boring – ‘Our technology has exceeded our humanity and this is evident through the automation of our jobs and reliance on communication devices’
Active verbs in contrast are assertive and create interesting sentences.
Interesting – ‘It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. We need to be more wary of the insidious prevalence of technology in our lives today’.
Compare the verbs used in the two sentences above: ‘exceeded…evident..’ to ‘appallingly obvious…wary of…’
3. Be human
Remember that the markers looking at your essay are also human and reading pieces they know you have written under time pressure.
Whilst there should be an emphasis on writing formally, don’t be too focused on NOT employing the personal pronoun ‘I’ out of fear. There are no rules to a GAMSAT essay, if it so happens you need to use it, use it! The most important thing is that you cultivate an authoritative yet conversational voice that is full of confidence.
During practice, read them aloud to yourself or a friend. Do they sound like a robot or is there a real person speaking behind the essay?
This is even more important for GAMSAT Section 2 Part B as the topics are generally more personal, e.g. Happiness, ambition, love.
A good sample introduction was written in my last blogpost – click through here!
Practice Writing an Introduction
You have a go now by trying to write an introduction to:“‘It is no longer enough to automate information flows about us; the goal now is to automate us.’ – Shoshana Zuboff”
- Roadmapping 3 ideas: …The devastating consequences can be seen in…However……Nonetheless the value of….
With the rise of the internet and big data, the question remains – who controls it? Our government controls information to some extent, filtering out inappropriate contents which is beneficial in creating a safe and civilised society (1st idea). However, the government’s control of information from the government can be problematic as it can alter an individual’s perspective (2nd idea). Thus, it is now more important than ever for individuals to learn and apply critical thinking skills to information that is encountered on a daily basis (3rd idea + conclusion).
2. Outline your argument through a rhetorical question – With the advent of technology, there has been great concern about privacy and the use of……However, it begs the question – has it been to the benefit of individual?
In writing using this technique, consider:
- What is the issue? Control of information, potential to be used to control us…
- Why is it urgent? Potential to be manipulated by ‘media’ that can take the form of propaganda…
- Why should I listen to you? Because I have something interesting to say!
The widespread collection of information in our world today is a double-edged sword. Whilst the control of information (relate to quote) has had some benefits in filtering out misinformation(1st idea), it can also be used as a source of manipulation (2nd idea). When our data is collected, our privacy (3rd idea) is at stake. The question thus remains – has information-driven technology been of real benefit?