How to Write the GRE Analytical Writing Essays

Writing your strong suit? I hope so! You'll have two tasks on the Revised GRE Writing section: The Analyze an Issue Task and the Analyze an Argument Task. The GRE Writing Section is a doozy, but here's a brief how-to for writing the essays.

How to Write the Revised GRE Issue Essay:

1. First, choose an angle. The good news about the GRE Analytical Writing scoring is that you get to write about the issue from any angle. For example, you could do any of the following or choose an approach of your own:
   
   
   • Agree with the issue
   • Disagree with the issue
   • Agree with parts of the issue and disagree with others
   • Show how the issue has inherent logical flaws
   • Demonstrate the validity of the issue with comparisons to modern society
   • Concede a few points of the issue but refute the most important part of the claim
2. Second, choose a plan. Since you only have 30 minutes, you need to make the best use of your writing time as is possible. It would be foolish to jump into the writing without scratching out a brief outline of the details and examples you want to include to make your strongest argument
3. Third, write it. Keeping your audience in mind (faculty members and trained GRE graders), write your essay quickly and concisely. You can go back afterward to make changes, but for now, get the essay written. You can't be scored on an empty sheet of paper.

Sample Issue Essays

Write the GRE Argument Essay:

1. First, analyze the details. What facts are considered evidence? What is the offered proof? What are the underlying assumptions? What claims are made? Which details are misleading?
2. Second, analyze the logic. Follow the line of reasoning from sentence to sentence. Does the author make illogical assumptions? Is the movement from point A to B logically rational? Is the writer drawing valid conclusions from the facts? What is the author missing?
3. Third, outline. Map out the biggest problems with the prompt's logic and your alternative rationale and counterexamples. Come up with as much evidence and support you can think of to support your own claims. Think outside the box here!
4. Fourth, write it. Again, keep your audience in mind (which rationale would work best to convince a faculty member) write your response quickly. Think less about semantics, grammar, and spelling, and more about demonstrating your analytical skills to the best of your ability.

Sample GRE Argument Essays