Overview for GRE Analytical Writing <<Argument Questions>> Sections

(I. Argument Questions)

I. Introduction to Argument Questions II. How to Answer Argument Questions

-- the Pool of Argument Questions
(II. ETS)

III. Other Useful Tips (III. ) IV. Related Links and References
(IV.)
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I. Introduction to Argument Questions

There are two kinds of essay questions in the GRE test 1) Present Your Perspective on an Issue 1 question, 45 minutes 2) Analyze an Argument 1 question, 30 minutes GRE-- issue question & argument question,,45 ,30
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This file focuses on the second kind argument question. argument question *you analyze a paragraph-length argument, pointing out and discussing problems with its line of reasoning, adequacy and use of evidence, and internal logic. ,, ETS www.gre.com ETS has released its official pool of GRE Analytical Writing questions on www.gre.org

II. How to Answer Argument Questions

Directions for the Argument Writing Task Argument Task: Analyze a paragraph-length argument, pointing out and discussing problems with its line of reasoning, adequacy and use of evidence, and internal logic.
(sample argument topic and essayETS An Introduction to the Analytical Writing Section of the GRE General Test. http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/GRE/pdf/awintro.pdf )
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Argument Task: * Analyze a paragraph-length argument, pointing out and discussing problems with its line of reasoning, adequacy and use of evidence, and internal logic. *

Specific guidelines: You are not asked to agree or disagree with any of the statement in the argument. You should analyze the arguments line of reasoning. You should consider questional assumptions underlying the argument. You may discuss what additional evidence would help strengthen or refute the argument.
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www.gre.com

Sample Question (ETS)

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument.
Hospital statistics regarding people who go to the emergency room after roller skating accidents indicate the need for more protective equipment. Within this group of people, 75 percent of those who had accidents in streets or parking lots were not wearing any protective clothing (helmets, knee pads, etc.) or any light-reflecting material (clip-on lights, glow-in-the-dark wrist pads, etc.). Clearly, these statistics indicate that by investing in highquality protective gear and reflective equipment, roller skaters will greatly reduce their risk of being severely injured in an accident.
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Sample Essay ()
Introductory part The notion that protective gear reduces the injuries suffered in accidents seems at first glance to be an obvious conclusion. After all, it is the intent of these products to either provent accidents from occuring in the first place or to reduce the injuries suffered by the wearer should an accident occur. However, the conclusion that investing in high quality protective gear greatly reduces the risk of being severely injured in an accident may mask other (and potentially more significant) causes of injuries and may inspire people to over invest financially and psychologically in protective gear. 9

Outline of the Main Body ()

(1) First of all, as mentioned in the argument, there are two distinct kinds of gear - preventative gear (such as light reflecting material) and protective gear (such as helmets). (2) The argument above is weakened by the fact that it does not take into account the inherent differences between skaters who wear gear and those who do not. (3) The statistic also goes without differentiating between severity of injuries. (4) Finally, there is absolutely no evidence provided that high quality (and presumably more expensive) gear is any more beneficial than other kinds of gear.
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Conclusion
The argument for safety gear based on emergency room statistics could provide important information and potentially saves lives. Before conclusions about the amount and kinds of investments that should be made in gear are reached, however, a more complete understanding of the benefits are needed. After all, a false confidence in ineffective gear could be just as dangerous as no gear at all.

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Before you write:

carefully read the argumentyou might want to
read it over more than once identify as many of its claims, conclusions, and underlying assumptions as possible think of as many alternative explanations and counterexamples as you can think of what additional evidence might weaken or lend support to the claims ask yourself what changes in the argument would make the reasoning more sound
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8 Steps to the Argument Writing Task

(1) Read the argument and identify its conclusion. (2) Identify and examine the arguments evidence to determine how strongly it supports its conclusion. (3) Organize and prioritize your points of critique. (4) Compose a brief introductory paragraph (5) Compose the main body. (6) Compose your conclusion (7) Review and revise for coherence (8) Proofread for significant mechanical problems.
Stewart, Mark Alan. Writing Skills for the GRE/GMAT. Lawrenceville: Petersons, 2002.
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(1) (2) (3) (4) (introductory paragraph) (5) (main body) (6) (conclusion) (7) (8)
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More questions from the pool of argument topics (www.gre.com) The following appeared in a health newsletter.
Eating a heavy meal may increase the risk of heart attack. A recent survey of 2,000 people who had had a heart attack revealed that 158 of them said they had eaten a heavy meal within 24 hours before their heart attack, and 25 of them said they had eaten a heavy meal within 2 hours before their heart attack. Eating and digesting food releases hormones into the bloodstream and temporarily increases heart rate and blood pressure slightly. Both of these things put stress on the heart. Therefore, people who are at risk of having a heart attack 16 can lower that risk by not overeating.

 The following is a memo from the business manager

of National Daily News. To expand the home delivery service of our national newspaper, we should concentrate on the state of Urba rather than on the state of Sylva. First, the population of Sylva is more widely dispersed, which would require us to spend more money to deliver our papers in that area, resulting in less profit per customer. Second, a long-term study of television viewing habits suggests that Sylvans prefer local to national news, since they spend twice as much time viewing local news programs as they do viewing national programs. Finally, because events in Urba receive more coverage in our newspaper than do events in Sylva, we can expect Urbans to be more 17 interested in reading our newspaper.

 The following is a recommendation from the

president of Appleby College. Whereas Appleby College holds class reunions every five years, Edelston College holds annual reunions for all classes, during which Edelston's alumni are treated to banquets, lectures, and student performances, enhancing their loyalty to the college and their willingness to donate money. Edelston College receives most of its alumni donations during or shortly after these reunions. Therefore, the best way for Appleby to increase its alumni donations is to offer similar reunion activities and to have each 18

III. Other Useful Tips

Phrases you can use in your essay

Acknowledge different sides of argument Some people think that Although many people feel that It is claimed that Some people feel that While it is true that I believe Despite the fact that , many people think... Although many people think that., I feel that Although it is often said that, in fact the opposite is true 19

Acknowledge different sides of argument

It is undoubtedly true

that However It is often argued that However, it is Some people say that They claim Nevertheless, Supporters of this viewpoint say that Nevertheless, it is
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To Signal Examples for example, for instance consider, take the case of To demonstrate, to illustrate As an illustration, in this case, on this

occasion One possible scenario is that

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To singal conclusion In sum, in brief, in conclusion In essence, in a nutshell Summing up, to recapitulate

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transitional phrases or words

after all / as a result at any rate / at the same time in other words / in the second place on the contrary / on the other hand in turn, subsequently, consequently, previously, beforehand simultaneously, concurrently
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IV. Related Links and References

<<GRE Writing Skills>> http://www.novapress.net/gre/writing.html http://www.west.net/~stewart/ws/ http://www.west.net/~stewart/grewa/wa101.h tm#Whoscores <<ETS introduction to GRE Analytical Writing>> http://web.mit.edu/gso/mymsrp/handouts/inte rnpdfs/awintro.pdf http://www.ets.org
http://thedoublee.blogspot.com/2007/04/argument.ht 24 ml

<<free GRE general test materials, including scoring details, sample tests and answers>> http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem .1488512ecfd5b8849a77b13bc3921509/?vgn extoid=302b66f22c6a5010VgnVCM10000022 f95190RCRD&vgnextchannel=d687e3b5f64f 4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD <<>> Stewart, Mark Alan. Writing Skills for the GRE/GMAT. Lawrenceville: Petersons, 2002.
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<<writing suggestions on issue, opinion & argument essays>> http://www.writefix.com/argument/ http://www.rscc.cc.tn.us/owl&writingc enter/OWL/Argument.html http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/han douts/argument.html http://www.studygs.net/wrtstr4.htm
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