TSI Essay Guide
One challenging component of the TSI test is the essay question. You will be asked to write a persuasive essay on a controversial issue or an issue of current interest. The TSI essay will be evaluated on your organization, focus, development and support, sentence structure, and mechanical conventions. Fortunately, your essay is only required to be 300-600 words in length. A simple 5 paragraph essay will be more than sufficient. Scores on the essay section range from 1 to 8, with 8 being the highest.
An essay that is too short to be evaluated, written on a topic other than the one presented, or written in a language other than English, will be given a score of zero. The biggest differences between the low-scoring and high-scoring essays is LENGTH and CLARITY. Aim to achieve multiple paragraphs with good organization, and this essay should be fairly easy!
TSI Essay Tips and Strategies
- Understand that the TSI Essay will NOT require any outside knowledge. You are not expected to have any specific technical know-how or understanding of specific books or authors. The essay will be based off a provided prompt meant to spark your creativity. Everything you need to answer the question will be part of the prompt!
- Select one side only. Unlike real life where most of our opinions are a mix of gray, the TSI essay requires you to take a strong stand on one side and one side ONLY of the issue. You won’t be able to adequately argue a middle-of-the-road approach, and you risk appearing indecisive and muddling your essay.
- Remember that you will not be scored on your opinion. Don’t worry if you feel you are choosing a less commonly held position on the topic. The reader will NOT give you a lower score based on personal bias.
- Don’t change your position mid-essay. Even if you feel you’re running out of steam and you’re regretting your position on the topic, stay strong and finish the essay anyway. Don’t waffle, and don’t try to take a “middle of the road” approach. You don’t have time to go back and re-write the whole thing.
- No example is “too” specific. As long as you can argue logically that it supports your thesis, no example is “too” specific. Most essays are way too general. Aim to make the reader think, “wow, what extreme detail!” as they read. If you are using an example from personal experience, using some names, dates, places, and other concrete details can go a long way. Replace abstracts with absolutes.
- Incorporate the opposing side. A great way to strengthen your own argument is to acknowledge that there is in fact complexity to the issue. However, if you bring up and describe the opposing side, make sure to criticize it effectively and reiterate that your side is the only one that is valid. This is a great tool to use in your conclusion, although many students include it in an additional body paragraph.
- Keep the introduction and conclusion brief. Don’t take forever to get to the topic. The function of an introductory paragraph is to introduce the reader to the topic in the prompt, and then to clearly and forcefully state your position on it. More than 3-4 sentences is too long. In the conclusion, 1-2 sentences is great to reiterate your position and leave the essay with a closing idea. Save your writing-time for your body paragraphs!
- Use Transition Words. Scroll down to the bottom of this article to see a good list of common transition words. Be sure to use these words as you move between paragraphs! Always make sure the reader will understand why you are moving from one paragraph to the next paragraph!
TSI Essay Template
This is a sample outline for the TSI Essay. Notice we are aiming for 5 paragraphs total. You may opt for a shorter 4 paragraph version if 5 paragraphs are too many for you to write, but aim for 5 paragraphs if you can. If you have trouble completing 5 paragraphs, see if you can streamline your body paragraphs. They can often be bloated with unnecessary wordiness. Keep the introduction and the conclusion short and sweet.
Paragraph 1 — Introduction (3–4 sentences)
You will want to begin your essay with one of the following: a generalization about the topic, a quotation, a short anecdote to set-up the correctness of your position, a historical framework, or a piece of news illustrating the contemporariness of the issue. Admit the complexity of the issue.
You have two goals in the beginning part of the essay: to introduce the topic, and to express your opinion on it. Be sure to place your thesis as the final sentence in your introduction.
Paragraph 2 — First Example (4–6 sentences)
Start with your most-powerful or relevant example. Be specific. Your example can be from history, science, politics, business, entertainment, pop culture, current events, personal experience, etc. Anything can be an example, but choose ONE only for each paragraph. It needs to be something you are knowledgeable about and also something that you believe strongly supports your thesis. You have three tasks in your body paragraphs:
Paragraph 3 — Second Example (4–6 sentences)
Use a transition phrase to introduce the second example. Describe it, and explain again how it fully supports your thesis. You may refer to your first example if you need to, but prioritize a focus on your new example. Don’t mention your third example until you get to the third paragraph.
Paragraph 4 — Third Example (4–6 sentences)
Use a transition phrase again in the first topic sentence. Describe the example. Explain how it supports. Make sure you are elucidating for the reader how each example relates to the topic.
Paragraph 5 — Conclusion (2–4 sentences)
In your conclusion, you may introduce the opposing side. Explain their position in general terms. Refute their position. Then reinforce the correctness of your own thesis. This takes care of having to come up with a conclusion—you’ll already know what to do! Here’s how it might look:
Although ________ is demonstrably correct, some have argued that _______, believing that ________. However, this viewpoint on the present issue is negated by ________. Rather, __________. Therefore, in the long run,
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What might that look like in an essay? Here is an example of what a conclusion might look like if an essay was about mandatory school uniforms (and you took the "pro-uniform" stance):
Although requiring school uniforms is demonstrably the best choice, some have argued that the change is not justifiable, believing that maintaining the status quo is easier.
However, uniforms are more cost effective over the course of the year, they create camaraderie, and streamline daily preparation for the school day. Rather, the advantages of mandatory school uniforms are well worth changing the status quo. Therefore, in the long run, school uniforms are the easier and the best option for students.
Paragraph 1 — Introduction (3–4 sentences)
You will want to begin your essay with one of the following: a generalization about the topic, a quotation, a short anecdote to set-up the correctness of your position, a historical framework, or a piece of news illustrating the contemporariness of the issue. Admit the complexity of the issue.
You have two goals in the beginning part of the essay: to introduce the topic, and to express your opinion on it. Be sure to place your thesis as the final sentence in your introduction.
Paragraph 2 — First Example (4–6 sentences)
Start with your most-powerful or relevant example. Be specific. Your example can be from history, science, politics, business, entertainment, pop culture, current events, personal experience, etc. Anything can be an example, but choose ONE only for each paragraph. It needs to be something you are knowledgeable about and also something that you believe strongly supports your thesis. You have three tasks in your body paragraphs:
- Introduce your example.
- Describe it.
- Explain how it fully supports your thesis.
Paragraph 3 — Second Example (4–6 sentences)
Use a transition phrase to introduce the second example. Describe it, and explain again how it fully supports your thesis. You may refer to your first example if you need to, but prioritize a focus on your new example. Don’t mention your third example until you get to the third paragraph.
Paragraph 4 — Third Example (4–6 sentences)
Use a transition phrase again in the first topic sentence. Describe the example. Explain how it supports. Make sure you are elucidating for the reader how each example relates to the topic.
Paragraph 5 — Conclusion (2–4 sentences)
In your conclusion, you may introduce the opposing side. Explain their position in general terms. Refute their position. Then reinforce the correctness of your own thesis. This takes care of having to come up with a conclusion—you’ll already know what to do! Here’s how it might look:
Although ________ is demonstrably correct, some have argued that _______, believing that ________. However, this viewpoint on the present issue is negated by ________. Rather, __________. Therefore, in the long run,
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
What might that look like in an essay? Here is an example of what a conclusion might look like if an essay was about mandatory school uniforms (and you took the "pro-uniform" stance):
Although requiring school uniforms is demonstrably the best choice, some have argued that the change is not justifiable, believing that maintaining the status quo is easier.
However, uniforms are more cost effective over the course of the year, they create camaraderie, and streamline daily preparation for the school day. Rather, the advantages of mandatory school uniforms are well worth changing the status quo. Therefore, in the long run, school uniforms are the easier and the best option for students.
This conclusion assumes the 3 REASONS were:
1. uniforms save money
2. uniforms create camaraderie (a sense of community)
3. uniforms make it easier to get ready for school
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DO NOT overuse "bringing up an opposing point of view." If you bring up an opposing viewpoint (do NOT do it unless you can squash it). Here is an example of using this kind of sentence in a body paragraph:
Although requiring school uniforms is demonstrably the best choice, some have argued that this is a financial burden for families, believing that uniforms cost more than a traditional wardrobe.
However, uniforms are made of sturdier material and last much longer than most of the items in a typical student's wardrobe. Once they are added to a student's wardrobe, no new clothes should need to be purchased for the entire school year. Uniform construction is sturdier and longer lasting than most clothing purchased from retail stores.In addition to that, the desire for the latest fashion is a moot point when uniforms are the required dress code. Thus clothing budgets do not suffer according to the whims of fashion. Uniforms are easier on the budget. Therefore, in the long run, school uniforms are the best option for students.
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Here is the paradigm written in a really simple way:
Here is the paradigm written in a really simple way:
Although (your opinion) is correct, some have argued that (a small point that the opposition says). They are opposed to this because they think that (give their weak reason here). However, this viewpoint on the issue is false because (give the reason it is false). Therefore, in the long run, (your opinion).
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Transition Words List
Agreement Words Opposition Words
- in the first place • in contrast
- not only … but also • different from
- as a matter of fact • but
- in like manner • on the other hand
- in addition • on the contrary
- coupled with • at the same time
- in the same fashion / way • in spite of
- first, second, third • (and)still
- in the light of • although
- in the event that • in other words
- for the purpose of • to put it differently
- with this intention • as an illustration
- with this in mind • in this case
- in the hope that • for this reason
- in order to • to put it another way
- If • that is to say
- … then • with attention to
- in case
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