Writing Skills for the GRE & GMAT (Peterson's Writing Skills for the GRE & GMAT Test)

235 Pages·2002·6.14 MB·English

.....-.. ..
".'.'.~ ~- ' -.. . .... .,
":., ,.~~ '
rHOIVlSON
*
PETERSON"S Australia • Canada • MexIco Singapore SpOIn United Kingdom United Siotes
,
THOfVISON
*
PETERSON'S
About The Thomson Corporation and Peterson's
With revenues of USS7.2 billion, The Thomson Corporation (www.thomson.com) is a leading global provider of Integrated
information solutions for business. education, and professional customers. Its Learning businesses and brands
{WV'NJ.thomsonleaming.com) serve the needs 01 individuals, learning Institutions, and corporations with products and
seTVlces for both traditional and distributed learning.
Peterson's, part of The Thomson Corporation. is one of the nation's most respected providers of liIelong learning online
resources, software. reference guides, and books. The Education SupersiteSM at www.petersons.com-the Internet's
most heavily traveled education resource-has searchable databases and interactive tools for contacting U,S,-accredited
i~st~~~~ons and programs. In addition, Peterson's serves ..m are than 105 million education consumers annually.
For more infonmation, contact Peterson's, 2000 Lenox Drive, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648;
8,00.338-3282; or lind us on the WoMd Wide Web at www.petersons.comlabouf. ..
COPYRIGHT C 2002 Peterson's, a division 01 Thomson Learning, Inc.
~homson LeamingTM is a trademark used herein under license.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part at this work covered by 'the copyright herein may be
reproduced or used in any fann or by any means-graphic, electronic, or mechanical.
including photocopying. recording. taping. Web distribution, or information storage and
retrieval systems--y.rithout the prior writ1en permission of the publisher.
For permission to use material from this text or product. contact us by
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Web: W'NW.-thomsonri9.hts.com
ISBN 0-7689-1094-3
Printed in the United States of America
\ .-
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 04 03 02
CONTENTS
Introduction
Get Ready for GRE and GMAT Analytical
\ftfritill!J ...................................................
1
0
Essay-Phobic? You're Not Alone! 1
Some Testing Terminology You Should Know 2
The Official "Pools" of GRE and GMAT Essay Questions 4-
What You'll Learn from This Book 5
Additional Resources for GRE-and GMAT Analytical Writing 8
Iconic Symbols Used in This Book 8
About the Author 8
Part 1 All the Facts About GRE and GMAT
Analytical \ftfriting ...........................
9
00
GRE and GMAT Analytical Writing-at a Glance 9
The Issue Writing Task 11
The Argument Writing Task 16
The Analytical Writing Computer Interface 21
Essay Evaluation and Scoring 24
Score Reporting and Use of Scores 29
Analytical Writing-Diagnostic Test 29
Part 2 HOWl to Compose a High-Scoring
Issue Essay.......................................
31
8 Steps to the Issue Writing Task 31
Developing a Position on the Issue 41
Supporting Your Position and Refuting Others 43
Organizing Your Ideas (Your Essay's Structure) 47
DO's and DON'Ts for Your Issue Essay 52
."
Reinfbrcement E.,xercises 55
Reinforcement E.,xercises-Sampies and Comments 59
Peterson's • \'Vri!ing Skills lor {be WUllU.peICTSOlls.c:om
GRE/GMAT Tests
.\.." .' .,, ..
Part 3 How to Write a High .. Scoring
Argument Essay ......................... ". ...... 71
8 Steps to the Arl,'llment Writing Task 71
Organizing Your Idea.. (Your Essay's Structure) 80
Recognizing and Handling Flaws in GRE and GMAT
Arguments 84 .'
DO's and DON'Ts for Your Argument Essay 106
If You Have More Time 107
Reinforcement Exercises 108
Reinforcement Exercis~amples and Comments 111
Pili't 4 Writing Style and Mechanics ............. 121
o-...
Your ",rall Voice and Tone 121
Dcvclo;;'.ng a PE;'.si.l~ -,' p ·,,'dt;.r." 'l'c-'~ 122
Connecting Your Ideas TogethG 1',
References to Yourself and to the Statement or Argument r..:'.."'-
Your Sentences 127
Your Facility with the English Language 133
Your Grammar 138
DO's and DON'Ts for Writing Style and Mechanics 143
Paw-Ii 5 Sample Essays for 20 Official GRE
Issues .........................................................................
145
Pari 6 Sample Essays for 20 Official
GR~
Arguments .................................... ., .... ". . "' .. '" '" "' .... 169
'Pai"t '7 Sample Essays 'foi" 20 Official GMAT
Issues .................................. ". .........
193
0 .... '"
Pai't8 Sample Essays"for 20 Official GMAT
'
,
Arguments ... ~ ~ 211
oo ............................ .. .........
www.petn..Sons.com Pelcr,on's III Writ/fig Skills Jor tbc
GRE/GMAT Tests
--. \
"Introduction
GET READY FOR GRE OR GMAT
ANALYTICAL WRITING
Graduate admissions officials are increasingly relying. on GRE and GMAT
essay scores to predict graduate-level academic performance and, in rum,
.{Q..make admissions choices among. similarly qualified applicants. The paIn t
is clear. You'd better take the essay portion of your exam seriously!
Fortunately, you've come to the right place. This book; will giV~ you the
competitive edge you need to gain admission to your first-choice graduate
program or B-school.
All GMAT test takers and, beginning in October 2002, all GRE test
takers, will need to compose two essays as part of their testing experi
ence. The following twO essay tasks, while quite distinct from each other
in terms of material, are essentially the same on the GRE as on the GMA T:
Present Your Perspective on an Issue (GRE) or Analysis of an
Issue (GMAT): In this type of essay, you'll adopt a position on a
given issue of broad intellectual interest and support that position
with reasons and/or examples (45-minute time limit on the GRE;
30-minute time limit on tbe GMAD.
Analyze an Argument (GRE) or Analysis of an Argument
(GMAT): In thls type of essay, you'U analyze a paragraph-length
argument and point out and discuss problems with its line of reason
ing, adequacy and lise of evidence, and internal logic GO-minute
time limit on both exams).
During your GRE or GMAT tests (both of which are now administered
only by computer), the computerized testing system will randomly select
your essay questions from its large database -or "pool"-of official
questions. The test maker, Educational Testing Service (ETS), has revealed
its complete pool of essay questions-250 altogether-for each of the tWO
exams, which will help \'Oll be prepared for what YOll will see on the test.
ESSAY.PHOBIC? YOU'RE NOT ALONE!
Okay, you've commillec.l yourself to taking the GRE (or C;.\1,\n. Perhaps
you've already hought one of those big, thick test-prep !looks to help you get
ready for your exam. flut j{ you're like most test taker" you've put olI any
earnest attempt to prepare for the two essays, focusinf; insle"d on the
·tenon's _ \Vrlting Skills for (be
'/£/GMAT Tests
.....
""' ~- ........... .
exam's multiple-choic~ sections. Why 00 so man)' test tak~r" neglecl Analyli·
cal Writing when it comes to GRE and GMAT prep? Probably for'one or more
of the following reasons:
- . "r.-n· k /ded.YI
o TiJe task I~f/; intimidating because liJere's flO room /(}1" glleSStl'ori.!.
During the exam·s multiple-choice sections, you can score point~
by making lud.-,.. random guesses and by making so-called "edll'
cated" guesses (by eliminating som~ answer choices). But it's
impossible to fake your way throu!til the essa" sections.
• Scoring tbe essays is so subjective. It's difficull to know what the
readers will reward you for and where you stand in relation to
other test takers-or so you think.
• Writing essays is sucb bard work. Organizing and composing an
essay inherently reqUires far mare activiry, both mentally and physi·
cally, than analyzing and answering a multiple-choice question.
• There are so man)' possible essay questions but so little time to
get ready for thenL Since ETS has pre-disclosed all of the questions,
you might feel you're at a competitive disadvantage unless you're
ready for each and every one of them. And given a pool of 250
questions, who has the time, let alone the brain power, to get
ready for every single one' Not you-so you wonder why you
should even bother trying.
Take hean: Nearly all your peers experience similar insecurities about the
GRE or GMA T writing tasks. And by picking up tq;s book, you've taken an
imponant first step toward overcorp.ing your anxiety!
TESTING TERMINOLOGY YOU SHOULD KNOW
~OME
TIrroughout this book, 1 rder to various acronyms and other termS thal
test make" use and you should know. TItis first one is for GRE as well as
GMA T test takers:
ETS TItis is the nonprofit organization that creates the GRE and
GMAT tesLS, administers the exams, and repons exam scores to the
graduate schools. ETS also conducLS ongoing research projects aimed
at improving its tesLS.
GRE
TERMINOLOGY
GRE General Test or GRE (Graduate Record Exam). Sitting for this
exam is a prerequisite for admission to many college and university'
graduate programs (Masters and Ph.D.). The GRE is designed to measure <l
broad range of verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing abilities. Remem
ber, the exam is ofkred only by computer now (except in some r"mote
locations outside the U.S.).
www.petersons.com Peterson's '. Writing Skills for;the
GRE/GMAT Tests
GET READY FOR GRE OR GMAT ANALYTICAL WRITING
..
•.•. ~:"~'.. . !:'~-" ".:. • :-:';:---, -::-.~~:;.:;';'. O:'l •• "r,·~.·~"T"":C::::: -:::_'''''-''~
· NOTE:.. Do not confuse the GRE General Test witl:uhe GRE' ~1ifeCr---"'<
tests. E:xch subject' test is designed to gauge,'the test.takdS:,·~ .:~ .. ",.. ;
.. . : " '. . -",,-.;'\"', Sl;. . '-~ ...•
· knowledge of one particul",,: ac:ldemiC fideL ~_~~J!!.C~ ~e3~~~~;;;:;
· administered' separately from the GRE GcnaaL·Test:..!,.,., ..... ::"':,~~.~'!,,'':''
·Q• •
:T""',-',,' ._'_".-~'. .. - .. '. - . . .' .. ', ". ::.,'.;; ... ~~ .. ;. ....... _--..- ..... "":. ,;..( ... _.'!I-,_,;,~""":,,,,~~;:~,.z::
Analytical Writing section. TIlis is the section of the GRE that includes
the two writing tasks. This test section is new on the GRE as ofOctobcr"~'-'
: t·,"- ""- , :" '.- 2002_ J .. " f,'
-
GRE Writing Assessment. TIlis is a stand·alone test that is identical. tOo· the
. ..
Analytical-Writing section of the new GRE. ETS began administermg the
GRE Writing Assess,?ent in fa!! 1999 and .will continue to do so through
December 2002. On January I, 2003, ETS will discontinue the stand-alone
GRE Writing Assessment.
Present Your Perspective on an Issue. ThIs is the name of one of the
two writing tasks on the Analytical Writing section of the GRE. Through·
out this book, I refer to it by the single word "Issue" (using an uppercase
"I").
Analyze an Argument. TIus is the name of the other writing task on the
Analytical Writing section of the GRE. Throughout this book, I refer to it
by the single word "Argument" (using an uppercase "A").
GMAT
TERMINOLOGY
GIl-fAT CAT (Graduate Management Admission Test• . col"ter.Adaptivej.
Test). Sitting for this exam is a p\ rerequisite .for' .m...a t.r _r1i\-c.lwW~?L:2i - LIVaiart. .,m Lo .-s: .t... ,'Ie? I~)
graduate business schools (MBA progI'.uns). The GMAT. is'designed to
measure a broad r-ange of verbal. quantitative, and analytical writing
abilities. Since the GMAT is offered only by computer now (except in
some remote locations outside the U.S.), the acronym "GMA T" is synony
mous with "GMAT CAT."
GlI-lAC (Graduate Management Admission COllncil). This pOlicy-making
organization guides bUSiness schools in establishing their admission
requirements and gUidelines. GMAC also confers with ETS about possible
retmemenls in the GMAT and about possible changes in policies and
procedures with respect to GMAT evaluation and sCOre reporting. G,\HC
is primarily cumprised of :Idministrators from various graduate manage,
ment schools.
AWA (Analytical Writing Assessment). This is the term that GMAC and
ITS use in referring to [he cwo Gt\1A T cisay secrions as a unir and [0 [he
single score that ITS awards for both essays.
'ImOIl'S • IVriling Skills for tI)e
WGMATTests
...
..........
",~ ~,,~, ,
Analysis of an Issue. This is the name of one of the two GMAT essay
tasks. ThroughOut this book, I refer to it by the single word "ls::;ue (using
an uppercase
~Ift).
Analysis of an Argument. This i:, the name oj' the other GMAT essay
(aSks. Throughout this book, I refer to it by the single word -Arp.llment~
(using. an Upperca.c;e "A
~).
THE OFFICIAL "POOLS" OF GRE AND GMAT ESSAY
QUESTIONS
n
During your GRE (or GMA sitting, the computerized testing system will
randomly select your Issue and Argument questions from a large database,
or ·pool.ft (You won't know beforehand which particular questions the
testing S}'stem will· present to you.) ITS has predisclosed its complete pool
of essay questions for each of the two exams. To get the greatest possible
benefit from this book, especially.£rom the sample essays in Paits 5-8, you
should obtain your official list. They're available on line, and the G~tAT list
is also availabk in print. (For detailS, see below.)
THE POOL OFGRE ESSAY QUESTIONS
The official list (pool) of GRE Ana!ytica.l Writing questions currently
consi.sts of 125 Issues and 125 Arguments. Here are three different ways to
obtain the complete list:
• View the list, free of charge and without registration, at the official
GRE Web site (www.gre.org). Follow the link to the deSCription of
the GRE General Test, then locate the description of the Analytical
Writing section. There, you'll find separate links to the list of Issues
and list of Arguments.
o Link directly· to the Issue and Argument lists fTom my GRE Analyti ..
cal Writing Web site (www.west.net/-srewart/grewa) .
The two lists might be available from ITS in printed fonn. For the
.0
latest information, check my update page at this book's Web site
(www.west.net/-stewaft/ws).
11m
POOlOF-GMAT ESSAY QUESTIONS
The ,official list (pool) -of GMAT essay questions ({ilr the adro.issions year
2001-02) consists of 125 Issues and 125 Arguments. Here.are three
different ways to obtain the list:
.. Download the fut, free of charge and without registration, from the
GMAC's official GMAT Web site (www.mba.coru). The list is
available only as a PDF (portable document format) me, not as an
,
WWW.pctCTSons.com PcrCTSon'.~ 'U -Writing Skills for tbe
GRE/GMAT Tests
GET REAOY FOR GRE OR GMAT ANALYTICAL WRITING
me
HTML" (Web page). A single me contain::; all 125 Arguments and
125 Issues. The me is 38 pages in length; you'll fUld the Arguments
on pages 1-25 and the Issues on pages 26-38.
,',r--·: ._,
:·,1;·:·~;:;,-:;,._ h'-!-' "':"~-'{-':::-~:~;':;"<I"'El~
. NOTE::.To view the:PDF.ifile;...you!J.1;nee,f,:Adobe'$~crobat
. .. _.. .. . "';", _., ._h: __ •
-~flleader'softw:.u:e_ ra?ilEllkeilliooct;A'crobacKeadinrcOOakeady;
<'1';\ f.n s'r.a'l Ie".d :. o. n :your com- p"u"-t'c-:r.. ::~: 'If.it :i.s.'n,.:" C.;,, you~Il fIndtfDst;r uctlons.
-.':;"fo'rd~wil.tcadIng;and:-insiaurrig.i~firo.Yo~co~e;-1::OO~tlie;~., ~­
..
~J~P.niifirci'at--theiOfficiali GM.w;w-~tiisit~:- :~··~·";'!:'~;·fi\-:h'~':::'"
'C -,- .,
;:::-;,:'\;:',:-.':'j'
"-" •. '0'::. '.:':, ."._.,.=- '~'--"'::'~'::'.;,:'.,:.:.. _ ". .,."
• • Download the PDF me described above via my GMAT Analytical
Writing Web site (www.west.net/-stewart/awa).
, • ETS publishes the GMAT'essay questions in a printed publication:
The Official Guide/or GMAT Review ($19.95). The questions are }lOt
published in the offiCial G.ll:fAT In/annatfon Bulletin (free from ITS),
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN FROM THIS BOOK
TItis book is designed as a st~d-alone resource for GRE and GMAT essay
preparation. In Parts 1-4, you'll learn how to br.tinstorm, organize, and
compose your best possible GRE or GMAT essays-all within the can·
straints of the exam's testing environment. Then, in Parts 5-8, you'llleJ.ffi
how to apply what you read in Parts 1-4, by srudying model responses to
a vanety of Issues and Arguments from the official pools.
Part 1 is the primer, where you'trfamiliarize yourself with both essay
sections (Issue :tnd.Argument). In Part .1. you'llle:1m:
•. Ground rules for the rnro essay sections
• About typical Issues and Arguments
• About the Writing Assessment computer interface
• Wha[ to expect of the exam's special word processor
• How your essays are scored. evaluated. :lnd reported
At the end of Part 1, you'll perfonn two diagnostic writing tasks under
simulated exam conditions. You'll then !icore your own essay by using the
official scoring criteria :l.Od by comparing your essays with scored essays
composed hy other test taker~.
Pe/en'on's • Writing SkIlls lor thl.! 11I1IJW.pelt'T"SO'u. com
GRE/G"~JAT Tests