Introduction to the Analytical Writing Section

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Introduction to the Analytical Writing Section
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Introduction

• The Analytical Writing section is always
  presented as the first section of the GRE test
• You may handwrite your responses or use the
  testing-center-provided word processor
• The word processor is very basic
• it does not have spell-checking
• you cannot change the font
• it has limited keyboard commands
• You are graded on CONTENT rather than mechanics
  however, consistent grammar or spelling errors
  may cause your score to drop.
• The Analytical Writing section consists of two
  parts . . .

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Present Your Perspective on an Issue

• 45 minutes
• Two topics will be presented.
• Each states an issue of broad interest
• You may choose ONE topic,
• and discuss it from any perspective you choose.
  You are taking a stand and arguing your point of
  view.
• You must provide relevant REASONS and EXAMPLES to
  support your point of view
• Let me state that again, your must provide both
  REASONS and EXAMPLES to receive a high score.

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Present Your Perspective on an Issue

• Sample issue topics from this years pool
• Important truths begin as outrageous, or at least
  uncomfortable, attacks upon the accepted wisdom
  of the time.
• Originality does not mean thinking something that
  was never thought before it means putting old
  ideas together in new ways.
• Laws should not be rigid or fixed. Instead, they
  should be flexible enough to take account of
  various circumstances, times, and places.
• It is always an individual who is the impetus for
  innovation the details may be worked out by a
  team, but true innovation results from the
  enterprise and unique perception of an
  individual.
• The function of science is to reassure the
  purpose of art is to upset. Therein lies the
  value of each.

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Analyze an Argument

• 30 minutes
• As opposed to the issue topic, you will only be
  given one topic you do not have a choice of
  topics.
• You do not agree or disagree with this topic.
• Instead, you must critique the given argument by
  discussing how well-reasoned it is.
• You can assume that all arguments presented will
  have a flaw (or several).
• You must find flaws and analyze them.

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Analyze an Argument

• Sample topic from this years pool
• A recent study shows that people living on the
  continent of North America suffer 9 times more
  chronic fatigue and 31 times more chronic
  depression than do people living on the continent
  of Asia. Interestingly, Asians, on average, eat
  20 grams of soy per day, whereas North Americans
  eat virtually none. It turns out that soy
  contains phytochemicals called isoflavones, which
  have been found to possess disease-preventing
  properties. Thus, North Americans should consider
  eating soy on a regular basis as a way of
  preventing fatigue and depression.

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Scoring

• You are scored on a scale of 0-6, with half point
  increments (4.5, 5, 5.5, etc.)
• According to ETS, when scoring your responses,
  they will evaluate your ability to
• articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively
• examine claims and accompanying evidence
• support ideas with relevant reasons and examples
• sustain a well-focused, coherent discussion
• control the elements of standard written English
• We WILL come back to these criteria, as they are
  the key to a good score.
• Notice the phrase, relevant reasons and
  examples did I mention that this is important?
• Organization is another key to a good essay.

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How the analytical writing section is graded.
Your essay
5.5
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Your score5.25
Reader 1
Reader2
The average of the two scores
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How the analytical writing section is graded.
If there is a discrepancy of more than 1 point, a
very experienced third reader will decide your
final score
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How the analytical writing section is graded.
Final Score 5
The average of the two scores (in this case,
4.875) rounded up to the nearest half point
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Average Distribution of ScoresOctober 1, 2002 to
June 30, 2004from data provided by www.ets.org
Number of examinees 686,205 Mean 4.2 Std.
Dev. 1.0
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View the pool of topics

• ETS publishes the entire pool of topics that may
  appear on your test
• YES! These are the actual topics that WILL
  appear on the exam.
• If it is not in the published pool, it will not
  be on the test!
• Two of the issue topics will be chosen and one of
  the argument topics.
• http//www.gre.org/pracmats.com
• Test Preparation Materials ? General Test ?View
  the entire pool of Issue topics and Argument
  topics