GRE Analyze an Argument: Topics, Pattern, Sample Essays

Score 3: Limited

Usually a 3 response demonstrates some competence in addressing the specific task directions, in examining the argument and in conveying meaning, but is obviously flawed.

A typical response in this category exhibits some of the following characteristics:

1. does not identify or examine most of the aspects of the argument relevant to the assigned task
2. mainly discusses irrelevant matters, or reasons given are poorly constructed
3. limited logical of idea
4. offers support and value for its main points
5. has problems in language and sentences lack of clarity
6. contains frequent major or minor errors in grammar

Score 2: Seriously Flawed

Generally a 2 response largely disregards the specific task directions as it signifies serious weaknesses in analytical writing.

A typical response in this category exhibits more than one of the following characteristics:

1. does not based on logical analysis, but may instead present the writer's own views on the subject
2. does not follow the directions for the assigned task
3. poorly organized and illogical ideas
4. provides little or reasonable support for its main points
5. has serious problems in language and sentence structure
6. contains serious errors in grammar, words used have obscure meaning

Score 1: Fundamentally Deficient

A 1 response demonstrates fundamental deficiencies in analytical writing.

A typical response in this category exhibits many errors from the following characteristics:

1. Provides a little or no evidence of understanding the argument
2. has severe problems in language and sentence structure
3. contains pervasive errors in grammar

Score 0: Off Topic

Score 0 implies that it provides no evidence of an attempt to respond to the assigned topic’ is in a foreign language, consists of only keystroke characters, or is illegible or nonverbal.

GRE Analyze an Argument sample essays

Before appearing for GRE you must know the question pattern of analyzing an argument GRE. Solving analyze an argument GRE sample essay questions will get you accustomed to the question types and topics. The Analyze an Argument GRE question is associated with one of the following instructions:

1. Write an essay explaining which questions should be answered to support the advice and the argument. Discuss the answers to the questions to establish that the advice helps evaluate the argument.

Argument:

The argument to be analyzed is as follows: The following appeared in an article written by Dr. Karp, an anthropologist. “Twenty years ago, Dr. Field, a noted anthropologist, visited the island of Tertia and concluded from his observations that children in Tertia were reared by an entire village rather than by their own biological parents. However, my recent interviews with children living in the group of islands that includes Tertia show that these children spend much more time talking about their biological parents than about other adults in the village. This research of mine proves that Dr. Field’s conclusion about Tertian village culture is invalid and thus that the observation-centered approach to studying cultures is invalid as well. The interview-centered method that my team of graduate students is currently using in Tertia will establish a much more accurate understanding of child-rearing traditions there and in other island cultures.” Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed to evaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken or strengthen the argument.

2. Write an essay explaining how the argument depends on the stated or unstated assumptions and the implications if the assumptions are unjustified.

Argument:

The following appeared in a memo from the mayor of the town of West Egg.

"Two years ago, our consultants predicted that West Egg's landfill, which is used for garbage disposal, would be completely filled within five years. During the past two years, however, town residents have been recycling twice as much aluminum and paper as they did in previous years. Next month the amount of material recycled should further increase, since charges for garbage pickup will double. Furthermore, over ninety percent of the respondents to a recent survey said that they would do more recycling in the future. Because of our residents' strong commitment to recycling, the available space in our landfill should last for considerably longer than predicted."

3. Write an essay explaining which questions should be answered to support the recommendation and the argument. Discuss the answers to the questions to establish that they help evaluate the argument.

Argument:

The following appeared in a letter sent by a committee of homeowners from the Deerhaven Acres to all homeowners in Deerhaven Acres.

"Seven years ago, homeowners in the nearby Brookville community adopted a set of restrictions on how the community's yards should be landscaped and what colors the exteriors of homes should be painted. Since then, average property values have tripled in Brookville. In order to raise property values in Deerhaven Acres, we should adopt our own set of restrictions on landscaping and house painting."

4. Write an essay explaining which questions should be answered to support the advice and the argument. Discuss the answers to the questions to establish that the advice helps evaluate the argument.

Argument:

The following appeared in a memo from a vice president of Alta Manufacturing.

"During the past year, Alta Manufacturing had thirty percent more on-the-job accidents than nearby Panoply Industries, where the work shifts are one hour shorter than ours. Experts believe that a significant contributing factor in many on-the-job accidents is fatigue and sleep deprivation among workers. Therefore, to reduce the number of on-the-job accidents at Alta and thereby increase productivity, we should shorten each of our three work shifts by one hour so that our employees will get adequate amounts of sleep."

5. Write an essay explaining which questions should be answered to decide whether the provided recommendation may have the predicted result. Explain how the answers to the questions evaluate your argument.

Argument:

The following was posted on an Internet real estate discussion site.

"Of the two leading real estate firms in our town, Adams Realty and Fitch Realty, Adams is clearly superior. Adams has 40 real estate agents. In contrast, Fitch has 25, many of whom work only part-time. Moreover, Adams' revenue last year was twice as high as that of Fitch, and included home sales that averaged $168,000, compared to Fitch's $144,000. Homes listed with Adams sell faster as well: ten years ago, I listed my home with Fitch and it took more than four months to sell; last year, when I sold another home, I listed it with Adams, and it took only one month. Thus, if you want to sell your home quickly and at a good price, you should use Adams."

6. Write an essay explaining which questions should be answered to decide whether the provided prediction is logical. Explain how the answers to the questions evaluate your argument and support the prediction.

Argument:

The following appeared in a memorandum written by the vice president of Nature's Way, a chain of stores selling health food and other health-related products.

"Previous experience has shown that our stores are most profitable in areas where residents are highly concerned with leading healthy lives. We should therefore build our next new store in Plainsville, which has many such residents. Plainsville merchants report that sales of running shoes and exercise clothing are at all-time highs. The local health club, which nearly closed five years ago due to lack of business, has more members than ever, and the weight training and aerobics classes are always full. We can even anticipate a new generation of customers: Plainsville's schoolchildren are required to participate in a 'fitness for life' program, which emphasizes the benefits of regular exercise at an early age."

7. Write an essay discussing one or more than one alternative explanation opposing the given argument. Explain how your points are related to the argument in the GRE Analyze an Argument question.

Argument:

The following appeared in the business section of a newspaper.

"Given that the number of people in our country with some form of arthritis is expected to rise from 40 million to 60 million over the next twenty years, pharmaceutical companies that produce drugs for the treatment of arthritis should be very profitable. Many analysts believe that in ten years Becton Pharmaceuticals, which makes Xenon, the best-selling drug treatment for arthritis, will be the most profitable pharmaceutical company. But the patent on Xenon expires in three years, and other companies will then be able to produce a cheaper version of the drug. Thus, it is more likely that in ten years the most profitable pharmaceutical company will be Perkins Pharmaceuticals, maker of a new drug called Xylan, which clinical studies show is preferred over Xenon by seven out of ten patients suffering from the most extreme cases of arthritis."

8. Write an essay explaining which questions should be answered to decide whether the conclusion made is relevant and logical. Explain how the answers to the questions evaluate your argument.

Argument:

The following appeared in a memo from the mayor of the town of West Egg.

"Two years ago, our consultants predicted that West Egg's landfill, which is used for garbage disposal, would be completely filled within five years. During the past two years, however, town residents have been recycling twice as much aluminum and paper as they did in previous years. Next month the amount of material recycled should further increase, since charges for garbage pickup will double. Furthermore, over ninety percent of the respondents to a recent survey said that they would do more recycling in the future. Because of our residents' strong commitment to recycling, the available space in our landfill should last for considerably longer than predicted."