This is a sample outline for the GMAT’s Issue Essay. Here we are aiming for 5 paragraphs total. You may opt for a shorter 4 paragraph version, but aim for 5 paragraphs. 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.
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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, 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: introduce the topic, and provide the scope. In what context will you be discussing the topic? Your talent as a writer lies in your choice of scope. What aspect of the issue do you want to focus on?
