GRE Analytical Writing

[fancypants09]

So the big test is tomorrow! I'm feeling mostly ready, except for the GRE AW section. Previous GRE takers, do you have any tips on scoring high on these essays? I've done the 2 AW practice sections in PowerScore and reviewed their sample answers, but I'd like to know if there is anything more that I can be doing/reviewing at this point.

Thanks for your help!

[ColorlessGreen]

Well, I got a 5 by writing a formulaic five paragraph essay (intro, three main points, conclusion). Be sure to address every part of the question, use high-level vocabulary words only if you are positive that you are using them properly, that they add to the paper and that they aren't distracting, and make sure that each of your three main points has around three pieces of evidence to support it (I have no real proof for thinking this, but it seems to me that readers like to see groups of three - I've done very well on every writing assessment since 5th grade by following this formula. It's orderly, somehow).

I think you will be fine. Don't sweat it too much - the general consensus seems to be that AW isn't that important.

[ristastic]

I second that. I prepared by setting up a rough outline before I even went in for the test, then started by typing out the outline to ground my initial thoughts about the topic, then just started filling it in. A standard 5-paragraph essay that clearly states your points is the best, and a strong vocab never hurts. Overall, just having an idea beforehand of the way/order in which you want to write, even if you don't know exactly what you will write. I got a 5.5 and a 6 on my AWs with this "method," if you can even call it that. The general consensus is that AW doesn't matter too much, especially if you're submitting a separate writing sample.

[jacib]

So the big test is tomorrow! I'm feeling mostly ready, except for the GRE AW section. Previous GRE takers, do you have any tips on scoring high on these essays? I've done the 2 AW practice sections in PowerScore and reviewed their sample answers, but I'd like to know if there is anything more that I can be doing/reviewing at this point.

Thanks for your help!

I got 6.0 using the below strategies. I've been teaching SAT/GRE/GMAT so I have a good idea of what they're looking for.

Make each paragraph in your opinion essay (other than the introduction an conclusion) about one specific example. It sounds stupid, but seriously, use one example per paragraph. That's what they want. Number each paragraph "Our initial examples comes from....." Explain how the example related to your thesis in a specific way. Then explain why this is the case. As a last sentence, clearly explain how your example proves your thesis.

Use your best vocabulary, but only if you are using it correctly.

Use TONS of transitions (Nevertheless, however, on the other hand, in addition, moreover, furthermore, as a result, etc.) and conjunctions (while, whereas, although, since, because, by, rather than). Vary your sentence structure (using although at the beginning of a sentence per paragraph is a great way of doing this). Use "For instance"/"for example" before every example, to make your point clear use "if... then" constructions.

For the argument essay, the argument is always wrong. Summarize the argument in the first paragraph, then say something like "though perhaps initially compelling, the argument is unsound for several reasons." Number the next three paragraphs, "Firstly," "secondly," "lastly". The first paragraph can always be a confusion of causation and correlation. The second is usually based on the assumption that past performance predicts future performance, without taking into account other factors. I couldn't find a third thing that's in almost all of them, but there's usually one other thing clearly wrong. For example, if there are any numbers, question where they're from (shoddy poll data, etc.) Then finish up with a conclusion which clearly says, "In conclusion," perhaps saying "if the author had considered (all the things i said above), her point would have been more convincing. As it stands, however... blah blah blah" Use words that the computer will recognize like "will not necessarily", therefore you should also use the key words from the actual question (remember computer).

Edited December 17, 2009 by jacib

[jacib]

Oh and I'm an SAT teacher, here's a good example paragraph I show my students. It's a little different (they can use examples from literature, for example). I underlined all the transitions. Write more complex sentences than these (my students are all non-native speakers of English), but this should give you the idea of the kind of structure they want. Notice how most of the paragraph is explaining the relevant parts of the example.

The thesis is "The past effects the future". Sorry I can't quite get it to be all the same size.

The next example comes from World War II. In 1944, in order to punish the Dutch people for their support of the invading Allied forces, Nazi Germany stopped grain shipments to the parts of the Netherlands that it still occupied. This had serious effects, not only on the people who were alive in 1944, but also those who were born after. The winter of 1944 in the Netherlands was one of the worst famines in Europe of the 20^{th century. To this day, it is still called the “hongerwinter” (“hunger winter”) in Dutch. During the famine, more than 10,000 people died directly from malnutrition and many more thousands died from related causes. However, the effects did not end with the end of the famine. Instead, there have been lingering affects throughout Dutch society. One important and obvious effect is that women who were pregnant during the famine gave birth to malnourished babies. In fact, vitamins are more important to adults than children so these children carried the effects of the “hunger winter” throughout their lives—for example, on average they are short for Dutch people. All of these are predictable effects of famine. However, one interesting thing is that the hunger baby’s children are also shorter than average. This result was surprising for scientists and clearly shows how events in the past, even temporary ones, can affect a population for generations.}

^{This is the basic formula for a body paragraph:}

^{Ourfirst/next/last example comes from (Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare/World War II/World History/the history of science). (In World History, blah blah). (Romeo’s actions/Ataturk’s actions/Alexander Flemming’s actions) show that [my thesis is correct in this specific example]. Explain relevant parts of your example clearly, giving all necessary information (We can’t assume that the reader knows the story of Romeo and Juliet). Therefore/Clearly/Certainly, this shows [how my thesis is correct in general].}

[peppermint.beatnik]

I got a 6.0.

I used the Kaplan method + I recommend using active voice.

[fancypants09]

Thanks everyone! Your words of wisdom calmed my nerves.

Happy to report that I'm quite pleased with the Verbal and Math section scores. I'm just so glad that I don't have to worry about this test anymore!