GRE Analytical Writing

www.vibrantpublishers.com

*****

Published by Vibrant Publishers at Smashwords

Copyright 2018 Vibrant Publishers, USA.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal use only.This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If youwould like to share this book with another person, please purchasean additional copy for each recipient. If youre reading this bookand did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only,then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This publication is designed to provide accurate andauthoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered.The author has made every effort in the preparation of this book toensure the accuracy of the information. However, information inthis book is sold without warranty either expressed or implied. TheAuthor or the Publisher will not be liable for any damages causedor alleged to be caused either directly or indirectly by thisbook.

Vibrant Publishers books are available at specialquantity discount for sales promotions, or for use in corporatetraining programs. For more information please write tobulkorders@vibrantpublishers.com

Please email feedback / corrections (technical,grammatical or spelling) to spellerrors@vibrantpublishers.com

To access the complete catalogue of VibrantPublishers, visit www.vibrantpublishers.com

*****

Tableof Contents

Argument Task 18 Student housing at BuckinghamCollege

Argument Task 19 Study on headaches(evidence)

Argument Task 20 Rialto MovieTheatre

Argument Task 21 Mozart School ofMusic

Argument Task 22 Blue Highway(recommendation)

Argument Task 23 Newsbeatmagazine

Argument Task 24 Reading habits of Waymarshcitizens

Argument Task 25 HealthNaturally

Argument Task 26 WWAC radiostation

Argument Task 27 Classical ShakespeareTheatre

Argument Task 28 Jazz music

Argument Task 29 Pace of life in small towns vsthat in big cities

Argument Task 30 Cheese stores

*****

The Analytical Writing Measure is intended toassess your ability to think critically and write effectively abouta topic while following specific directions. You will not need anyspecific content knowledge to complete either in this portion ofthe test. The purpose of both writing pieces is to determine yourreadiness to perform appropriately at the graduate level.

During this portion of the test, you willcomplete two writing tasks: Analyze an Issue and Analyze anArgument. For each portion, you will have 30 minutes to read theprompt and directions and to plan and execute your response.

The two tasks are opposite in their nature.During the Analyze an Issue task, you will write persuasively asyou express your point of view on the selected topic, which may bein the form of an opinion, a recommendation, a claim and reason, orthe presentation of two points of view. It is important to read thedirections carefully to ensure that your response is addressing theprompt correctly and to enable you to receive the highestscore.

During the Analyze an Argument task, you willevaluate an argument to determine the strength of the facts andassumptions that it presents. You may be asked to evaluate theevidence to determine if the assumptions are correct, formulatequestions that will need to be answered before determining if theassumptions are correct, what further evidence is necessary beforethe argument can be declared correct, or what steps should becompleted before accepting a recommended course of action. As inthe Analyze and Issue task, in the Analyze an Argument task,reading and following the directions carefully is the best way toensure that you receive a high score for your efforts.

*****

As you complete this task, you will have anopportunity to express your point of view on an issue. Because itis essentially your opinion, there is no correct answer. Youmust, however, support your point of view with sufficient evidenceto show the strength of your argument. You may agree completelywith the statement about the issue, partially agree with it, orcompletely disagree with it. Be certain to stay on topic and followthe directions carefully.

For example, you might be presented with astatement similar to the following:

It is always best to look before you leap.

One interpretation of this statement is thatone should consider potential consequences before taking anyaction. The directions may instruct you to write a response inwhich you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree withthe statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take.If you agree with the statement, you should recall examples fromyour reading, your studies, or your own experience that supportyour position. Think about Holden Caulfields actions in TheCatcher in the Rye. His impulsive decision to spend some time alonein New York City before going home after his expulsion from PenceyPrep had unsatisfactory consequences. You may have taken someaction in your own life that you regretted afterwards. On the otherhand, you may disagree with the statement. Early explorers likeChristopher Columbus had little idea about what they would find asthey set out in their relatively small sailing vessels. If they hadthought only about the dangers of their ventures, the new worldwould have been discovered much later. You can also take aqualified approach by agreeing with the statement to some extent.Remember, the best approach to a given prompt is the one you canargue the best. The GRE essay readers are trained to evaluate awide variety of approaches to the issue and evaluate them on theirstrengths and weaknesses and not on the opinion expressed.

The following is a comprehensive list of theinstructions that can accompany the statements in the Analyze anIssue task.

a) Write a response in which you discuss theextent to which you agree or disagree with the statement andexplain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing andsupporting your position, you should consider ways in which thestatement might or might not hold true and explain how theseconsiderations shape your position.

b) Write a response in which you discuss theextent to which you agree or disagree with the recommendation andexplain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing andsupporting your position, describe specific circumstances in whichadopting the recommendation would or would not be advantageous andexplain how these examples shape your position.

c) Write a response in which you discuss theextent to which you agree or disagree with the claim. In developingand supporting your position, be sure to address the mostcompelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to challengeyour position.

d) Write a response in which you discusswhich view more closely aligns with your own position and explainyour reasoning for the position you take. In developing andsupporting your position, you should address both of the viewspresented.

e) Write a response in which you discuss theextent to which you agree or disagree with the claim and thereasons on which that claim is based.

f) Write a response in which you discuss yourviews on the policy and explain your reasoning for the position youtake. In developing and supporting your position, you shouldconsider the possible consequences of implementing the policy andexplain how these consequences shape your position.

You may have had some experience with writingpersuasively in high school or college, but you do not need toworry about employing specific rhetorical devices to receive a highscore. It is important to stay on topic, present your argument in acoherent and cohesive manner, and to acknowledge counterargumentsto strengthen your own. You should also make every attempt to usecorrect grammar, mechanics, and a variety of sentence structures toimprove the fluency of your essay. The scoring guide that followsis reprinted from the