GRE Writing: Analyze An Argument

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 By Kaunbi Jiemie

GRE Writing: Analyze An Argument

1 Overview of Analyze Argument Writing
In this task, GRE test takers should analyze the logic of a given argument. As a general GRE test task, you don't need specialized knowledge regarding the topic or argument to write response.

For example, if the argument claims that an iPhone product is not selling well because of its high price. You are not supposed to have an idea about marketing strategies. Your job is only to discuss the offered evidence or material can or cannot have the conclusion.

Every argument presented as a GRE writing task to analyze must be flawed; otherwise, none can write a response. In initial reading, you should try to get the conclusion, understand logic connections among the argument and point views, and figure out the principal faults.

You can check logical errors in these respects:
  • Generalization Error
  • Mislead with Surveys or Statistics
  • False causes
  • False analogies
  • Hidden assumptions
  • Inadequate authority
Analyze an argument is a writing task so that you have to finish an essay to express your analyzing in 30 minutes. But there isn't a standard pattern to resolve the task. We also believe the GRE raters have no specific format to recommend. However, when you prepare a 30 minutes writing test, you had better set up your pattern to work more efficiently.

You can see more than 100 analyze argument questions in GRE official site - Pool of Argument Topics. Some of them are selected in section 3 to link with sample answers. But never copy any samples or others' compositions, it risks having your score discounted. These questions and sample answers are for studying as well as practicing and help to build your patterns.

2 Format of Analyze Argument Writing
If you are serious in the GRE test, don't try to structure or organize an essay rashly after you see the question. You should work out a pattern or multiple patterns for this sort of task when preparing. Different people may develop separate patterns. The following format should give you some ideas to form your essay pattern to analyze an argument writing.

Part 1 - Introduction
Write an introduction to explain in your words what the argument is, don't copy task directly. At the end sentence, you should raise your point, like
  • However, this conclusion cannot be accepted in ...
  • However, the offered information does not lead to this conclusion ...
  • This conclusion is not well supported ...
Part 2 - Body
Write 2-4 paragraphs to deal with argument according to instructions in writing question. It is the body of the essay.

In general, each paragraph should deal with only one instruction, but you can write more than one paragraph for the same instruction too. It depends on the actual question and applied pattern.

Part 3 - What else is needed
The last paragraph ends your essay. You should point out there what else should be considered to solidify the conclusion.

3 Question Pool of Analyze Argument Writing
Woven baskets characterized by a particular distinctive pattern have previously been found only in the immediate vicinity of the prehistoric village of Palea and therefore ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 601
The following appeared as part of a letter to the editor of a scientific journal. "A recent study of eighteen rhesus monkeys provides clues as to the effects of ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 602
The following appeared as a letter to the editor from a Central Plaza store owner. "Over the past two years, the number of shoppers in Central Plaza has been ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 603
The following appeared in a letter from a homeowner to a friend. "Of the two leading real estate firms in our town—Adams Realty and Fitch Realty—Adams Realty is ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 604
Arctic deer live on islands in Canada's arctic regions. They search for food by moving over ice from island to island during the course of the year. Their habitat is ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 606
The following is a recommendation from the Board of Directors of Monarch Books. "We recommend that Monarch Books open a café in its store. Monarch, having been ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 607
The following appeared in a memo from the director of student housing at Buckingham College. "To serve the housing needs of our students, Buckingham College ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 608
Nature's Way, a chain of stores selling health food and other health-related products, is opening its next franchise in the town of Plainsville. The store should prove to ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 609
Twenty years ago, Dr. Field, a noted anthropologist, visited the island of Tertia. Using an observation-centered approach to studying Tertian culture, he concluded from his ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 610
The council of Maple County, concerned about the county's becoming overdeveloped, is debating a proposed measure that would prevent the development of existing farmland in ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 611
Fifteen years ago, Omega University implemented a new procedure that encouraged students to evaluate the teaching effectiveness of all their professors. Since that time, ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 612
In an attempt to improve highway safety, Prunty County last year lowered its speed limit from 55 to 45 miles per hour on all county highways. But this effort has failed: ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 613
The following appeared as part of an article in a business magazine. "A recent study rating 300 male and female Mentian advertising executives according to the ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 614
The following memorandum is from the business manager of Happy Pancake House restaurants. "Recently, butter has been replaced by margarine in Happy Pancake ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 615
The following appeared in a memorandum from the manager of WWAC radio station. "To reverse a decline in listener numbers, our owners have decided that WWAC must ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 617
The following is a memorandum from the business manager of a television station. "Over the past year, our late-night news program has devoted increased time to ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 618
Two years ago, radio station WCQP in Rockville decided to increase the number of call-in advice programs that it broadcast; since that time, its share of the radio audience ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 619
According to a recent report, cheating among college and university students is on the rise. However, Groveton College has successfully reduced student cheating by adopting ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 622
A recently issued twenty-year study on headaches suffered by the residents of Mentia investigated the possible therapeutic effect of consuming salicylates. Salicylates are ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 624
The following was written as a part of an application for a small-business loan by a group of developers in the city of Monroe. "A jazz music club in Monroe ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 625
The following appeared in a letter to the editor of a local newspaper. "Commuters complain that increased rush-hour traffic on Blue Highway between the suburbs ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 627
The following appeared as a recommendation by a committee planning a ten-year budget for the city of Calatrava. "The birthrate in our city is declining: in fact ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 630
The following appeared in a letter to the editor of Parson City's local newspaper. "In our region of Trillura, the majority of money spent on the schools that ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 631
The following appeared in a memo from a vice president of Quiot Manufacturing. "During the past year, Quiot Manufacturing had 30 percent more on-the-job ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 632
The following appeared in a memorandum from the planning department of an electric power company. "Several recent surveys indicate that home owners are ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 633
The vice president of human resources at Climpson Industries sent the following recommendation to the company's president. "In an effort to improve our ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 634
The following appeared in a letter from the owner of the Sunnyside Towers apartment complex to its manager. "One month ago, all the showerheads in the first ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 635
The following report appeared in the newsletter of the West Meria Public Health Council. "An innovative treatment has come to our attention that promises to ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 636
The following appeared in a recommendation from the planning department of the city of Transopolis. "Ten years ago, as part of a comprehensive urban renewal ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 637
The following appeared in a memo from the new vice president of Sartorian, a company that manufactures men's clothing. "Five years ago, at a time when we had ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 638
A recent sales study indicates that consumption of seafood dishes in Bay City restaurants has increased by 30 percent during the past five years. Yet there are no currently ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 639
Milk and dairy products are rich in vitamin D and calcium—substances essential for building and maintaining bones. Many people therefore say that a diet rich in dairy ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 640
The following appeared in a health newsletter. "A ten-year nationwide study of the effectiveness of wearing a helmet while bicycling indicates that ten years ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 641
The following is a letter to the head of the tourism bureau on the island of Tria. "Erosion of beach sand along the shores of Tria Island is a serious threat to ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 642
The following appeared in a memorandum written by the chairperson of the West Egg Town Council. "Two years ago, consultants predicted that West Egg's landfill, ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 643
The following appeared in a letter to the editor of a journal on environmental issues. "Over the past year, the Crust Copper Company (CCC) has purchased over 10 ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 644
The following is part of a memorandum from the president of Humana University. "Last year the number of students who enrolled in online degree programs offered ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 645
The following appeared in a health magazine published in Corpora. "Medical experts say that only one-quarter of Corpora's citizens meet the current standards ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 646
The following appeared in a memorandum from the owner of Movies Galore, a chain of movie-rental stores. "Because of declining profits, we must reduce operating ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 647
The following appeared in a magazine article about planning for retirement. "Clearview should be a top choice for anyone seeking a place to retire, because it ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 648
An ancient, traditional remedy for insomnia—the scent of lavender flowers—has now been proved effective. In a recent study, 30 volunteers with chronic insomnia slept each ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 650
The following appeared in a health magazine. "The citizens of Forsythe have adopted more healthful lifestyles. Their responses to a recent survey show that in ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 653
The following appeared in an editorial in a business magazine. "Although the sales of Whirlwind video games have declined over the past two years, a recent ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 655
The following appeared in a memo from the vice president of marketing at Dura-Sock, Inc. "A recent study of our customers suggests that our company is wasting ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 656
The following appeared in a memo from the president of Bower Builders, a company that constructs new homes. "A nationwide survey reveals that the two most ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 659
The following appeared in a letter from a firm providing investment advice for a client. "Most homes in the northeastern United States, where winters are ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 660
The following appeared in an article in the Grandview Beacon. "For many years the city of Grandview has provided annual funding for the Grandview Symphony. Last ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 661
The following appeared in a letter to the editor of the Parkville Daily newspaper. "Throughout the country last year, as more and more children below the age of ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 663
Collectors prize the ancient life-size clay statues of human figures made on Kali Island but have long wondered how Kalinese artists were able to depict bodies with such ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 664
When Stanley Park first opened, it was the largest, most heavily used public park in town. It is still the largest park, but it is no longer heavily used. Video cameras ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 665
A recent study reported that pet owners have longer, healthier lives on average than do people who own no pets. Specifically, dog owners tend to have a lower incidence of ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 668
The following appeared in a memo from a vice president of a large, highly diversified company. "Ten years ago our company had two new office buildings ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 669
The following appeared as a letter to the editor of a national newspaper. "Your recent article on corporate downsizing* in Elthyria maintains that the majority ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 672
The following appeared on the Mozart School of Music Web site. "The Mozart School of Music should be the first choice for parents considering enrolling their ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 673
The president of Grove College has recommended that the college abandon its century-old tradition of all-female education and begin admitting men. Pointing to other all ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 674
The following appeared in a letter to the editor of a Batavia newspaper. "The department of agriculture in Batavia reports that the number of dairy farms ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 675
The following appeared in a memo from the vice president of a food distribution company with food storage warehouses in several cities. "Recently, we signed a ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 679
The following appeared in a memorandum from the manager of WWAC radio station. "WWAC must change from its current rock-music format because the number of ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 693
The following appeared in a memo from the director of a large group of hospitals. "In a controlled laboratory study of liquid hand soaps, a concentrated ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 721
Hospital statistics regarding people who go to the emergency room after roller-skating accidents indicate the need for more protective equipment. Within that group of ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 742
The following appeared in a memo to the board of directors of Bargain Brand Cereals. "One year ago we introduced our first product, Bargain Brand breakfast ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 752
The following appeared in a memo from the mayor of Brindleburg to the city council. "Two years ago, the town of Seaside Vista opened a new municipal golf course ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 769
The following appeared in the editorial section of a student newspaper. "In a recent survey, most students who were studying beginning Russian gave higher ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 774
The following appeared in a newspaper feature story. "There is now evidence that the relaxed manner of living in small towns promotes better health and greater ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 775
The following appeared in a newspaper feature story. "Advertising with Cable Communications corp. is a great way to increase your profits. Recently, the Adams ... Full question of Analyze An Argument - 776