Building a "Mental Bank" of Examples

The difference between a competent LNAT essay and an outstanding one often comes down to examples. Vague, generalised arguments are easy to write but unconvincing. Specific, well-chosen examples transform an abstract argument into a concrete, persuasive case. This lesson shows you how to build a bank of versatile examples that you can deploy across multiple essay topics.

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Why Examples Matter

The Problem with Vague Arguments

Consider these two versions of the same argument:

Vague: "Surveillance can be misused by governments."

Specific: "The Snowden revelations of 2013 demonstrated that the NSA and GCHQ conducted mass surveillance on their own citizens, far exceeding what most people believed was legally or morally acceptable — and crucially, this was done in secret, without meaningful democratic oversight."

The specific version is more persuasive because it:

• Grounds the abstract claim in a real event
• Provides verifiable detail
• Demonstrates the writer's knowledge and engagement with current affairs
• Makes the argument harder to dismiss

How Many Examples Do You Need?

For a 500–600 word essay, you need 2–3 well-deployed examples. That means your mental bank should contain approximately 20–30 versatile examples across all seven topic areas — enough to ensure you have relevant examples for any prompt.

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The Three Types of Example

1. Historical Examples

Events, movements, or figures from history that illustrate a principle or argument.

Example	Useful For
The Suffragettes	Protest rights, civil disobedience, gender equality, democracy
The Nuremberg Trials	International law, human rights, accountability, justice
The abolition of slavery	Moral progress, human rights, the limits of cultural relativism
The French Revolution	Democracy, liberty, the dangers of unchecked state power
Apartheid in South Africa	Discrimination, human rights, international pressure, reconciliation
The Tuskegee syphilis study	Research ethics, racism, informed consent

Strength: Historical examples are uncontroversial (the facts are established) and demonstrate intellectual breadth.

Risk: Can feel distant from contemporary debates if not connected explicitly to the present issue.

2. Philosophical Examples

Thinkers, theories, and thought experiments that illuminate ethical or political principles.

Example	Useful For
John Stuart Mill's harm principle (On Liberty)	Free speech, the limits of state power, individual autonomy
John Rawls' "veil of ignorance" (A Theory of Justice)	Fairness, equality, distributive justice, the design of institutions
Peter Singer's argument for animal rights (Animal Liberation)	Animal welfare, consistency in moral reasoning, utilitarianism
Jeremy Bentham's utilitarianism	Consequentialist reasoning, criminal justice, public policy
Immanuel Kant's categorical imperative	Deontological ethics, human dignity, the ethics of lying
Thomas Hobbes' social contract (Leviathan)	The purpose of government, security, individual freedom

Strength: Philosophical examples demonstrate intellectual sophistication and the ability to reason at an abstract level.

Risk: Can seem pretentious if dropped in without explanation. Always connect the philosopher's idea to the specific essay question.

3. Contemporary Examples

Current or recent events, policies, and data that ground your argument in the real world.

Example	Useful For
The EU AI Act (2024)	Technology regulation, AI ethics, precautionary principle
The UK's Online Safety Act 2023	Free speech, social media regulation, harm prevention
Norway's Halden Prison	Prison reform, rehabilitation, comparative criminal justice
The COVID-19 pandemic	Public health, state power, liberty restrictions, vaccine mandates
The Snowden revelations (2013)	Surveillance, privacy, whistleblowing, government accountability
The gender pay gap in the UK	Discrimination, equality, workplace policy
NICE and the QALY threshold	Healthcare rationing, resource allocation, the value of life
Scotland's free tuition policy	Education funding, access, devolution

Strength: Contemporary examples are the most directly relevant and demonstrate current affairs awareness.

Risk: Can become dated quickly. Ensure your examples are accurate and up to date.

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The "Swiss Army Knife" Examples

Some examples are so versatile that they can be deployed across multiple topic areas. These are your most valuable assets.

Example 1: The COVID-19 Pandemic