Analytical Writing Section According to ETS

7/28/2019 Analytical Writing Section According to ETS

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1.What does the Analytical writing sectionassess?

(A)How well you write(B)The thought process you employ to

formulate and articulate a position(C)Both a and b2.How much time is allotted for the Analysisof an Issue writing?

(A)45 min(B)30 min(C)1 hour

3.How much time is allotted for the Analysisof an Argument writing?

(A)45 min(B)30 min(C)1 hour

4.Is there any choice of several topics?(A)Yes(B)No

5.What is the scoring scale of writing?(A)130170(B)03(C)06

The Writing Concepts:Streamlining wordy phrasesEliminating redundancyAvoiding excessive qualificationRemoving unnecessary sentencesAvoiding needless self- referenceUsing active rather than passive voiceIncluding strong openingsAvoiding needlessly vague languageRewording clichsAvoiding jargonEnsuring subject-verb agreementAvoiding faulty modificationAvoiding unclear pronoun referenceIncluding parallelismUsing a consistent narrative voiceAvoiding slang and colloquialismsAvoiding sentence fragments and run-onsCorrectly using commasCorrectly using semicolonsCorrectly using colonsCorrectly using hyphens and dashesCorrectly using apostrophes

Microfiber synthetics have been taking the place of natural fibers in

ever-increasing number of clothes because they provide the same durabiland deplete fewer natural resources. A shirt made of microfiber synthetiis, however, three times as expensive to produce as a natural-fiber shirt.follows that the substitution of microfiber synthetic clothes for natural-fibclothes is, at this time, not recommended from a financial standpoint.

1.Which of the following statements, if true, most seriously weakens theargument?

(A)A microfiber synthetic shirt costs one-half the price of a natural-fibershirt to maintain.

(B)The production of microfiber synthetic clothes necessitates garmentfactories to renovate obsolete machinery and to hire extra workers tooperate the new machines.

(C)The upkeep of natural-fiber shirts is far less expensive than the upkeepof any other natural-fiber garment in current production.

(D)While producers anticipate that the cost of microfiber synthetics willremain stable, they recognize that the advent of recycling programs fo

natural fibers should bring down the costs of natural fibers.

(E) The cost of providing stain guards for microfiber synthetic shirts wouprobably be greater than what garment producers now spend on stainguards for natural-fiber shirts.

When the maker of Megapower, a vitamin supplement, modified itsformula two years age, Tasmania, an island off the coast of New Zealand,

suffered a decrease in its export earnings. Tasmanias only export, kiwifruit, constitutes a substantial portion of the world supply of that fruit.

Researchers concluded that the old Megapower formula contained naturalkiwi extract, but the new formula does not.

2.Which of the following, if true, gives the strongest support for theresearchers claim?(A)Some South American counties have begun to grow kiwi fruit

successfully.

(B)United States chemists have started development of a synthetic kiwiextract.

(C)The manufactures of Megapower chose not to renew their contract witthe Tasmania kiwi growers.

(D)Imports of kiwi fruit have fallen in the country where Megapower ismanufactured.

(E)There was a marked drop in sales of a number of formerly profitableitems that used kiwi as an ingredient.


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Collins International Education Paper: 0

"A Complete GRE Test Preparation Center."

Trained GRE readers will read your response and evaluate its overall quality, based on how well you: Respond to the specific instructions Consider the complexities of the issue Organize, develop, and express your ideas Support your ideas with relevant reasons and/or examples Control the elements of standard written English

The best way to teach is to praise positive actions and ignore negative ones.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the recommendation and explain you

reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, describe specific circumstances in whiadopting the recommendation would or would not be advantageous and explain how these examples shape your position.

Score 6 Response

The recommendation presents a view that I would agree is successful most of the time, but one that I cannot fully suppodue to the all or nothing impression it gives.

Certainly as an educator I agree fully that the best way to elicit positive respons e from students is to make use of student

positive energy and then encourage actions that you would like to see repeated. It is human nature that we all want to accepted and achieve on some level, and when people in authority provide feedback that we have done something well, t

drive to repeat the action that was praised is bound to be particularly strong.

This blanket statement would obviously pay dividends in situations in which a teacher desires to have students repeparticular behaviors. For example, if an educator is attempting to teach students proper classroom etiquette, it would appropriate to openly praise a student who raises his or her hand when wishing to speak or address the class. In such casethe teacher may also help shape positive behaviors by ignoring a student who is trying to interject without approval from tteacher. In fact, the decision to ignore students who are exhibiting inappropriate behavior of this type could work very we

in this situation, as the stakes are not very high and the intended outcome can likely be achieved by such a method. Howevit is important to note here that this tactic would only be effective in such a lowstakes situation, as when a student speakwithout raising her hand first. As we will discuss below, ignoring a student who hits another student, or engages in moserious misbehaviors, would not be effective or prudent.

To expand on this point, it is important for teachers to be careful when working with the second half of this statement, onignoring negative actions that are not serious. Take for instance a student who is misbehaving just by chatting with a fello

classmate. This student might not be presenting much of a problem and may be simply seeking attention. Ignoring thstudent might, in fact, be the best solution. Now assume the negative action is the improper administering of chemicals in

science experiment or the bullying of a fellow student. To ignore these negative actions would be absurd and negligent. Noyou are allowing a problem to persist, one that could potentially lead to much bigger and more dangerous issues. In a moserious situation, addressing the negative actions quickly and properly could stop the problem it in its tracks. It is for reasolike this that I do not advocate the idea that a teacher can be successful by simply ignoring negative actions.

I do, whoever, greatly support the idea that the central focus of teaching should be to build on and encourage positivactions. However, the authors all-encompassing statement leaves too many negative possibilities for the classroom. Perha

a better way to phrase this statement would be to say, The best way to teach is to praise positive actions and ignore negationes that are not debilitating to class efficiency or the safety of any individual.

Thus, in the original statement, there are indeed some good intentions, and there could be a lot of merit in adopting its bas

principles. Data proves that positive support can substantially increase motivation and desire in students and contribute positive achievements. In fact, most studies of teaching efficacy indicate that praising positive actions and ignoring negationes can create a more stable and efficient classroom. It needs to be stressed, however, that this tool is only effective certain levels of misbehavior. As mentioned above, when the behavior is precipitated by feelings of revenge, power or totselfworthlessness, this methodology will likely not work. It is likely to be very successful, however, when the drive behinthe misbehavior is simple attention seeking. In many of these instances, if the teacher demonstrates clearly that inappropria

behavior does not result in the gaining of attentions, students are more likely to seek attention by behaving properly. Shouthe student choose this path, then the ignoring has worked and when the positive behavior is exhibited, then the teacher cautilize the first part of the theory and support or praise this behavior. Now it is much more likely to be repeated. If thstudent does not choose this path and instead elects to raise the actions to a higher level that presents a more serious issuthen ignorance alone cannot work and other methods must be employed.

In conclusion, one can appreciate the credo expressed in this instance, but surely we all can see the potential error following it through to the extreme.


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Score 5 Response

I partially agree with the statement The best way to teach is to praise positive actions and ignore negative ones. Childreshould be rewarded when they perform well; however, they should not be ignored for performing sub-optimally. Fo

purposes of this essay, the term actions is defined as behaviors within the classroom.

Utilizing positive reinforcements, such as tangible rewards, can be a good method to teach children. If the teacher praisechildren for actions that are desirable, then the children are more likely to repeat those actions. For example, a student student who completes an assignment on time and does a good job is likely to want to do a good job on the nexassignment if he gets positive feedback. Likewise, the children who are not currently engaging in the desirable actionmay be more inclined to do so in order to receive the positive reinforcement.

Conversely, children should not be ignored for negative actions. If a child is not exhibiting appropriate behavior in thclassroom, then it is the teachers responsibility to encourage the child to perform optimally. Ignoring something doesn

make it go away, actions and consequences do. A student who is being disruptive in class will continue to be disruptivunless the teacher does something about it. However, the teachers actions need be appropriate.

Before the teacher attempts to modify a childs behavior, the teacher needs to try and identify the reason behind thbehavior. For instance, children who leave their seat often, stare in to space, or call out of turn may be initially viewed a

having poor behavior. However, the teacher may suspect that the child has an attentional problem, and request that thchild be tested. If the child does have an attentional problem, then the teacher can work with a related service, such a

occupational therapy, to alter the classroom environment in order to cater to the needs of the child. For instance, thteacher could remove some of the stimulating bulliten board displays to make the room more calming to the child. If thchild becomes more attentive in class then the teacher was able to assist the child without scorning them or ignoring them

The teacher met the needs of the child and created an environment to enable the child to optimally perform in theducational setting.

On the other hand, it the child is tested, and does not have any areas of concern that may be impacting the educationaperformance in the classroom, then the negative behavior may strictly be due to defiance. In such a case, the teacher stishould not ignore the child, because the negative actions may hinder the learning opportunity for the remaining children ithe class. As a result, a child who is being disruptive to the learning process of the class should be set apart from the classo that they do not receive the positive reinforcement of peer attention.

The teacher should not ignore the student who is misbehaving, but that does not mean that the teacher just needs tpunish. It is better to address the child privately and make sure the child is aware of the negative actions. Once the child

aware, then the teacher should once again try to determine the reason why the child is behaving in a negative mannePerhaps the childs parents are in the middle of a divorce and the child is outwardly expressing his frustration in th

classroom. Or the academic content of the class may not be challenging enough for the child and so he is misbehaving ouof boredom. Whatever the reason behind the behavior, the key factor is that the teacher works with the child to try and

identify it. Simply punishing or ignoring the child would not solve the problem, whereas working to create a plan fosuccess in the classroom would. Likewise, rather than punishing and defeating the child, the teacher is working with anempowering the child; a much more positive outcome to the situation.

Score 4 Response

I absolutely agree with the first section of the statement above, but find fault with the latter half.

There is no doubt that praising positive actions is an excellent way to teach, and this method is most clearly exemplifie

when dealing with much younger children. When a young child learning basic social behavior, it is imperative that he iencouraged to repeat positive actions. For example, when a child voluntarily shares his toys with another, if a teache

rewards that behavior, the child will understand that this is a good practice, and likely share again in the future.

In contrast, if a child displays negative behavior by stealing a toy away from his playmate, it would be very dangerous fo

the teacher to ignore this action, for then the child may never recognize that this is unacceptable. In this instance, the chilhas not learned from the situation at all. So what should a teacher do when faced with such a situation? Punishment is nonecessarily the optimal choice, either. Rather than scolding a child for mistreating his playmates and sending him off to corner, a teacher would be wise to demonstrate: the positive alternative: to share his toys instead.In this case, rather than ignoring or punishing negative action, the teacher could seize the opportunity to reinforce positiv

behavior, and further extend the childs learning experience.

In summary, positive reinforcement is certainly an excellent method for teaching new methods or behaviors, an

encouraging a student to learn more. However to ignore, rather than recognize and correct negative actions, would be disservice to the student, for he would not know what conclusion to draw from his action.


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Collins International Education Paper: 0"A Complete GRE Test Preparation Center."

As people rely more and more on technology to solve problems, the ability of humans to think for themselves will sureldeteriorate.

Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you tak

In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold truand explain how these considerations shape your position.

Score 6 ResponseThe statement linking technology negatively with free thinking plays on recent human experience over the past century

Surely there has been not time in history where the lived lives of people have changed more dramatically. A quicreflection on a typical day reveals how technology has revolutionized the world. Most people commute to work in a

automobile that runs on an internal combustion engine. During the workday, chances are high that the employee wilinteract with a computer that processes information on silicon bridges that are .09 microns wide. Upon leaving homfamily members will be reached through wireless networks that utilize satellites orbiting the earth. Each of these commooccurrences would have been inconceivable at the turn of the 19th century.

The statement attempts to bridge these dramatic changes to a reduction in the ability for humans to think for themselveThe assumption is that an increased reliance on technology negates the need for people to think creatively to solv

previous quandaries. Looking back at the introduction, one could argue that without a car, computer, or mobile phone, th

hypothetical worker would need to find alternate methods of transport, information processing, and communicationTechnology short circuits this thinking by making the problems obsolete.

However, this reliance on technology does not necessarily preclude the creativity that marks the human species. The prio

examples reveal that technology allows for convenience. The car, computer, and phone all release additional time fopeople to live more efficiently. This efficiency does not preclude the need for humans to think for themselves. In factechnology frees humanity to not only tackle new problems, but may itself create new issues that did not exist withoutechnology. For example, the proliferation of automobiles has introduced a need for fuel conservation on a global scaleWith increasing energy demands from emerging markets, global warming becomes a concern inconceivable to the horse

and-buggy generation. Likewise dependence on oil has created nation-states that are not dependent on taxation, allowinruling parties to oppress minority groups such as women. Solutions to these complex problems require the unfettereimaginations of maverick scientists and politicians.

In contrast to the statement, we can even see how technology frees the human imagination. Consider how the digita

revolution and advent of the internet has allowed for an unprecedented exchange of ideas. WebMD, a popular interneportal for medical information, permits patients to self research symptoms for a more informed doctor visit. This exercisopens pathways of thinking that were previously closed off to the medical layman. With increased interdisciplinarinteractions, inspiration can arrive from the most surprising corners. Jeffrey Sachs, one of the architects of the UNMillenium Development Goals, based his ideas on emergency care triage techniques. The unlikely marriage of economic

and medicine has healed tense, hyperinflation environments from South America to Eastern Europe.

This last example provides the most hope in how technology actually provides hope to the future of humanity. Bincreasing our reliance on technology, impossible goals can now be achieved. Consider how the late 20th

centurwitnessed the complete elimination of smallpox. This disease had ravaged the human race since prehistorical days, and ye

with the technology of vaccines, free thinking humans dared to imagine a world free of smallpox. Using technology, battlplans were drawn out, and smallpox was systematically targeted and eradicated.

Technology will always mark the human experience, from the discovery of fire to the implementation of nanotechnologyGiven the history of the human race, there will be no limit to the number of problems, both new and old, for us to tackle

There is no need to retreat to a Luddite attitude to new things, but rather embrace a hopeful posture to the possibilities thtechnology provides for new avenues of human imagination.


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Score 5 ResponseSurely many of us have expressed the following sentiment, or some variation on it, during our daily commutes to workPeople are getting so stupid these days! Surrounded as we are by striding and strident automatons with cell phoneglued to their ears, PDAs gripped in their palms, and omniscient omnipresent CNN gleaming in their eyeballs, it

tempting to believe that technology has isolated and infantilized us, essentially transforming us into dependent, conformismorons best equipped to sideswip one another in our SUVs.

Furthermore, handing around with the younger, pre-commute generation, whom tech-savviness seems to have renderelethal, is even less reassuring. With Teen People style trends shooting through the air from tiger-striped PDA to zebra

striped PDA, and with the latest starlet gossip zipping from juicy Blackberry to teeny, turbo charged cell phonetechnology seems to support young peoples worst tendencies to follow the crowd. Indeed, they have seemingly evolve

into intergalactic conformity police. After all, todays tech-aided teens are, courtesy of authentic, hands-on video gameliterally trained to kill; courtesy of chat and instant text messaging, they have their own language; they even have tinycameras to efficiently photodocument your fashion blunder! Is this adolescence, or paparazzi terrorist training camp?

With all this evidence, its easy to believe that tech trends and the incorporation of technological wizardry into ou

everyday lives have served mostly to enforce conformity, promote dependence, heighten comsumerism and materialismand generally create a culture that values self-absorption and personal entitlement over cooperation and collaborationHowever, I argue that we are merely in the inchoate stages of learning to live with technology while still loving onanother. After all, even given the examples provided earlier in this essay, it seems clear that technology hasnt impaireour thinking and problem-solving capacities. Certainly it has incapacitated our behavior and manners; certainly our value

have taken a severe blow. However, we are inarguably more efficient in our badness these days. Were effective workebees of ineffectiveness!

It technology has so increased our senses of self-efficacy that we can become veritable agents of the awful, virtual CEOof selfishness, certainly it can be beneficial. Harnessed correctly, technology can improve our ability to think and act fo

ourselves. The first challenge is to figure out how to provide technology users with some direly needed direction.

Score 4 ResponseIn all actuality, I think it is more probable that our bodies will surely deteriorate long before our minds do in an

significant amount. Who cant say that technology has made us lazier, but thats the key word, lazy, not stupid. The eveincreasing amount of technology that we incorporate into our daily lives makes people think and learn every day, possibl

more than ever before. Our abilities to think, learn, philosophize, etc. may even reach limits never dreamed of before baverage people. Using technology to solve problems will continue to help us realize our potential as a human race.

If you think about it, using technology to solve more complicating problems gives humans a chance to expand thethinking and learning, opening up whole new worlds for many people. Many of these people are glad for the chance t

expand their horizons by learning more, going to new places, and trying new things. If it wasnt for the invention of newtechnological devices, I wouldnt be sitting at this computer trying to philosophize about technology. It would bextremely hard for children in much poorer countries to learn and think for themselves with out the invention of th

internet. Think what an impact the printing press, a technologically superior mackine at the time, had on the ability of thhuman race to learn and think.

Right now we are seeing a golden age of technology, using it all the time during our every day lives. When we get u

theres instant coffee and the microwave and all these great things that help us get ready for our day. But we arenallowing our minds to deteriorate by using them, we are only making things easier for ourselves and saving time for otheimportant things in our days. Going off to school or work in our cars instead of a horse and buggy. Think of the brain

power and genius that was used to come up with that single invention that has changed the way we move across thglobe.

Using technology to solve our continually more complicated problems as a human race is definitely a good thing. Ouability to think for ourselves isnt deteriorating, its continuing to grow, moving on to higher though functions and mor

ingenious ideas. The ability to use what technology we have is an example.


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Collins International Education

"A Complete GRE Test Preparation Center."

Issue Essay Practice Set

Issue essay 1Length: 1 essay

Directions: You will be given a statement that presents an issue you need to respond to, along with detailed instructio

on how to respond to the statement. You have 30 minutes to plan and compose a response in which you develop argument according to the instructions. A response to any other issue results in a score of zero.

The perceived greatness of any political leader has more to do with the challenges faced by that leader than with anyhis or her inherent skills and abilities.

Write a response in which you examine your own position on the statement. Explore the extent to which you either agror disagree with it, and support your reasoning with evidence and/or examples. Be sure to reflect on ways in which

statement might or might not be true, and how this informs your thinking on the subject.

Issue Essay1: OUTSTANDING, SCORE OF 6

Perceptions of greatness in national and political leaders are largely determined by the seriousness of the problems tha

they face during their terms in office. Most national histories principally highlight individuals in the context of significanevents in which the leaders played important roles. Most political leaders need to have large stores of inherent skill an

ability just in order to become a political leader. However, history remembers those who lived in great times more fondlythan those who did not. Examples of this are numerous and include the histories of Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilsonand Winston Churchillall men who are perceived as great leaders largely because of the times in which they lived.

Abraham Lincoln is often considered the greatest of all the American presidents. He graces two unites of the currency an

has one of the largest monuments built in his honor in Washington D.C. However, Lincoln is considered great largelbecause he faced a great challengethe civil war between the North and the South in the 1860s. Lincoln led the UniteStates to victory over the rebels and reunited the country and is therefore considered great. This is not to say that Lincol

was not skilled. Many know that he was bourn in a log cabin and progressed to law school and eventually to thpresidency. He was also a skilled orator. However another man, James Buchanan, also was born in a log cabin, went t

law school, gave good speeches and ascended to the presidency. However there are no monuments to Buchanan in thcapital or pictures of his face on the fivedollar bill.

Woodrow Wilson was another talented man who ascended to the presidency of the United States. However his talents arnot what make his perceived greatness. In this age, few remember if Wilson was particularly smart, a very goo

speechmaker, or a good arbitrator. Most remember that he led the United States to victory in the first World War antherefore perceive him as great. At the time, however, Wilson was rather unpopular. In fact, he had so little sway wit

Congress that he was unable to get the United States to join the League of Nationsa fact that many claim helped lead tthe second World War.Wilson Churchill was another man that history views favorably because of the incredible challenges that he faced

However, Churchill was not very popular before the war. When Franklin Roosevelt first met Churchill before either wathe leader of his respective country. Roosevelt wrote in his diary that Churchill was full of himself and far too talkative

Early in his term as Prime Minister, Churchill even faced a noconfidence vote in Parliament. However, the events oWorld War II accorded him the perception of greatness in the eyes of history.

Many might argue that these men and other men and women were already great before history gave them greachallenges. While it is impossible to definitely disprove this assertion and it may be true that they had great skill an

ability, otherwise they would not have been political leaders, most examples point to the fact that the times make the manor woman. If the presidencies of Buchanan and Lincoln were switched, we would very likely have the Buchanamemorial instead. In summary, it is true that the perceived greatness of a political leader is more due to great challengethan great inherent ability. The historical examples of Lincoln, Wilson, and Churchill bear this out. All were talented, buso too are all political leaders. Only the leaders that live in eventful times are remembered as grate.


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Issue Essay Practice SetIssue essay 2

Length: 1 essay

Directions: You will be given a statement that presents an issue you need to respond to, along with detailed instructionon how to respond to the statement. You have 30 minutes to plan and compose a response in which you develop aargument according to the instructions. A response to any other issue results in a score of zero.

Progress should be the aim of any great society. People too often cling unnecessarily to obsolete ways of thinking anacting because of both a high comfort level and a fear of the unknown.

Write a response in which you examine your own position on the statement. Explore the extent to which you either agre

or disagree with it, and support your reasoning with evidence or examples. Be sure to reflect on ways in which thstatement might or might not be true, and how this informs your thinking on the subject.

Issue Essay1: OUTSTANDING, SCORE OF 6Keeping up with global progress is, doubtless, a desirable attribute of any society. However, to purport that the reason

certain societies may not progress at the same rate as great societies are their reluctance to break from their comforzones and a fear of the unknown is to present an overly simplistic view. Such a view does not take into consideration th

set of economic, political, and cultural constraints that affect every societys ability to progress on a global scale.

Before exploring these constraints, it would be useful to examine the use of the word great in the above context. Th

concept of what makes a society great is highly subjective; some may equate greatness with military might or economidominance, while others would emphasize cultural achievement or progress in care for less privileged citizens. Whateve

ones definition of greatness, however, it is ludicrous to suggest that any society actively rejects the desire to be greatMany societies face the seemingly insurmountable struggle to maintain societal structure in the face of economic neeand/or political upheaval; the desire for greatness can only come when a societys basic structure is intact.

Societies facing severe economic challenges are virtually unable to progress in areas like medicine, militia, an

agriculture even if they want to do so. Countries like Bolivia use a majority of their limited resources to maintain aagricultural status quo. Bolivian farmers are not afraid of the unknown or passively content with their current situation

but are using all of their resources to maintain a functional economic climate and structure. Given this situation, the luxur

of advancements in medicine, economics and military power is simply not possible.

Also, societies embroiled in political upheaval, such as Bangladesh, are unable to send its young and talented members tuniversity where they can spearhead progress; the most viable sectors of the population are required to serve in th

military and/or to care for their families through difficult economic and political times. Maintaining a societal structuramid chaotic conditions engenders a lack of globally accepted progress, but as we have seen throughout time, episodes ogreat drama in any given society can yield important works of art, one such example being Albert Camus The Strange

written during the French Resistance.

Another point to consider is that, in some cases, an entire societys cultural history, including its artistic contributions, preserved only through its living members rich oral tradition and their active rejecting of progress in the worlds otechnology, medicine, and science. This is evident when considering such so-called primitive societies as the Africa

Masai or certain Native American tribes, the introduction of technology into the world of the Masai would inarguably leato the demise of the entire society.

In conclusion, to devalue a society that isnt among the most progressive in the world is to discount the c ontributions a socalled unprogressive society can provide, such as artistic and cultural phenomena unique to a given society. Progress ia valuable tool for the advancement of a society, but blindly reaching for greatness can lead to a societys downfa ll just amuch as ignoring it altogether can. The balance between accepting a societys constraints and highlight its strengths i

what will ultimately lead to a societys greatness.

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Analytical Writing Section According to ETS