GRE Analytical Writing

Issue Essay

© EducationUSA Russia, Moscow, Graduate Students Support Group (GSSG), 2017.

GRE Structure
Analytical Writing
• Issue Essay (30 min)
• Argument Essay (30 min)

Verbal Reasoning
• 2 sections x 30 min (adaptive)
• 20 questions per section
(Reading Comprehension and experimental
Vocabulary) (QR or VR)
or
Quantitative Reasoning research
section
• 2 sections x 35 min (adaptive) (does not affect
• 20 questions per section (Math) your score)
GRE Issue Essay
• assesses your ability:
• to think critically about a topic of general interest
according to specific instructions;
• to develop a compelling argument supporting your
own evaluation of an issue;
• to effectively communicate that argument in writing
to an academic audience
• an issue topic makes a claim that test takers can discuss
from various perspectives and apply to many different
situations or conditions;
• your task is to present a compelling case for your own
position on the issue
GRE Issue Essay Task Examples
A nation should require all of its students to study the same national
curriculum until they enter college.
Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or
disagree with the claim. In developing and supporting your position, be sure to
address the most compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to
challenge your position.

Some people believe that government officials must carry out the
will of the people they serve. Others believe that officials should base
their decisions on their own judgment.
Write a response in which you discuss which view more closely aligns with
your own position and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In
developing and supporting your position, you should address both of the views
presented.
GRE Issue Essay Tasks Pool
http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/anal
ytical_writing/issue/pool

~ 125 unique topics

6 types of task

151 pairs “topic + task”

(You will get one of those on the exam!)

Categories: education, politics etc.

4 things to remember
Argument means persuasion.
• take a position – say in which extent you agree/disagree with
the statement (under which circumstances?);
• provide arguments for your position – concentrate on one
side of the argument; do not try to explain both sides;
• support your arguments with specific details and examples;
• consider opposing points in order:
• to explain why they are wrong
Many people argue that … but …
• to show their limited scope
Sometimes it is a good idea to … However, …
ETS on Using Essay Writing Techniques
Many college textbooks on composition offer advice on persuasive writing
and argumentation that you might find useful, but even this advice might be
more technical and specialized than you need for the Issue task. You will not
be expected to know specific critical thinking or writing terms or strategies;
instead, you should be able to respond to the specific instructions and use
reasons, evidence, and examples to support your position on an issue.

GSSG:
However, it is still a good idea to learn some basic principles of writing an
essay.
Recommended Resources
Getting Started with Essay Writing
University of California, Irvine
https://www.coursera.org/learn/getting-started-with-essay-writing
ETS Scored Issue Sample Essay Responses:
https://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/analytical_writing/issue/sa
mple_responses

Additional Resources:
Grammar and Punctuation (Грамматика и пунктуация)
University of California, Irvine
https://www.coursera.org/learn/grammar-punctuation
Advanced Writing
University of California, Irvine
https://www.coursera.org/learn/advanced-writing
What is an Academic Essay?
Getting Started with Essay Writing, UCIrvine (coursera.org)
What is an Academic Essay?
• a piece of writing about one topic
• several paragraphs or more

Parts of an essay:
• Introduction (background + thesis statement)
• Body Paragraphs (support the thesis; usually 3
or more paragraphs)
• Conclusion (summarizes the main points and/or
restates the thesis)
Rules of Academic Essays
Use 3rd person pronouns (optional for GRE)
• he, she, they, him, her, them
• do not use “I think”, “I believe”, “in my opinion”, “as we can
see”, etc.

Cite your sources

• use quotes and names of sources

Use correct grammar and punctuation

Introduction Paragraph
Getting Started with Essay Writing, UCIrvine (coursera.org)
Introduction Paragraph
• Hook
surprising statement, anecdote, statistic,
question, quotation
• Funnel
get more specific as you go
• Thesis Statement
your position on the issue
Thesis – Things to Avoid
• Don’t announce your thesis
I will talk about this … This essay is about…

• Don’t write a popular opinion

Issue topic: As we acquire more knowledge, things do not
become more comprehensible, but more complex and
mysterious.
Thesis: As we acquire more knowledge, we learn more and
more about our universe.

• Don’t use pronouns, be specific

… They have a right to be informed about it.
… People have a right to be informed about what their
government is doing.
Body Paragraph
Getting Started with Essay Writing, UCIrvine (coursera.org)
Body Paragraph
Topic Sentence
Supporting Idea #1
details and examples
Supporting Idea #2
details and examples
Supporting Idea #3
details and examples
Conclusion Sentence
Body Paragraph
Topic Sentence (starts the paragraph):
• must support / relate to the thesis
statement
• must have keywords and/or a transition
• avoid pronouns

Conclusion Sentence (ends the paragraph)

restates the topic sentence.
Conclusion Paragraph
• Summarize major points (you can use the
topic sentences of the body paragraphs)
• Restate the thesis

• Don’t state new information or introduce

new ideas
 Kinds of Body Paragraphs

Reasons (classic)
Answers to opposition (classic)
Example (classic)
 Answer to Opposition – Classic
Сell phones should be banned in classrooms.
First of all, students lack concentration in class because of cellphones. …
Another reason cell phones should be banned in class is that phones are not as
useful for learning as students might claim. Students can get a lot of useful
information through their phone, but cellphones should not replace the actual
teacher. The teacher is there to answer questions for the students so they don’t
need to be looking it up on their phone. Phones have replaced real learning by
letting students look up answers on the internet or use them as a calculator
instead of solving problems by hand. Texting has changed the way people learn to
write and talk to each other too. If students are given permission to use their
phone during class to look up information, they may decide to log into social
media instead, which they lose focus on learning again. If students really need to
use the Internet for learning, it should be for homework and not in class time.
Finally, cellphones in classroom are not just a distraction, but students can be
looking at inappropriate information during school time. …
 Answr to Opp. – Mixed Paragraph
Original topic: Laws should be flexible enough to take account of various
circumstances, times, and places.
Thesis: Laws that entail some sort of punishment to the perpetrators should be
flexible enough to take account of various circumstances, times and places in which
the perpetration is committed.
…
Some people, however, argue that flexible laws help criminals to avoid or, at least,
mitigate punishment for their crimes. For example, a marauder can pass himself off as
a victim of war; …; in some cases, criminals can try and simulate mental instability
knowing that it will help them to avoid a serious penalty. But, while this is true –
flexibility can work in both ways mitigating punishment for those who deserve it and
for those who don’t – to eliminate it just for the sake of delivering justice for grave
criminals would be wrong. First of all, it is morally wrong to ensure appropriate
punishment for inveterate criminals at the expense of those whose guilt is not that
serious and whose lives can be easily reclaimed for the society in case if flexible laws
are applied. Second, there are more meaningful ways to cope with the issue. They can
include conducting more thorough investigations … So, despite some setbacks, it is still
preferable for a society to have flexible laws while dealing with illegal activity.
 Answr to opp. – Opp. Intr. Paragraph
Original topic: Claim: Many problems of modern society cannot be solved by laws
and the legal system. Reason: Laws cannot change what is in people's hearts or
minds.
Thesis: Introducing appropriate changes to laws and the legal system can significantly
contribute to solving many problems of modern society as it can help to gradually
change what is in people’s hearts or minds.
Few people would argue that the legal system is not helpful at all in solving problems
of the modern world. However, many would say that, while laws can limit undesirable
behavior by instilling fear of punishment, they don’t really address the core of the
problem because they are not capable of instilling new values into people’s hearts. For
example, the fact that, according to the law, women have the same rights as men does
not stop some men from believing that women can’t work as well as men. New
regulations aimed at fighting climate change won’t make a coal miner who believes
that he lost his job because of them very happy. Legal prohibition of selling cigarettes
to children does not make smoking less attractive to teenagers who think that smoking
makes you look cool. But, while it is true – laws do not address people’s hearts and
minds directly – they can, however, induce changes in them in various indirect ways.
 Answr to opp. – Complex Thesis
Original topic: The well-being of a society is enhanced when many of its people question
authority.
Thesis: Questioning authority is a good way to enhance the well-being of a society, but
only if that questioning takes a constructive form.
Challenging the government’s decisions and actions can help to improve existing policies.
Public critique can be a good means to give appropriate feedback to the country’s leaders.
For example, when people come to a town-hall meeting … they inform the lawmaker about
how exactly this policy affects their lives. … Public critique can also draw attention of the
government as well as the society in general to different aspects of the issue. For example,
media often invites political analysts … to discuss political issues on TV or in newspapers.
Getting different opinions … helps to expand the understanding of a problem …. Moreover,
sometimes public critique can precipitate actions … by the people themselves. For example,
recent decision by President Trump to leave the Paris climate accord called forth
widespread condemnation … As a result, various alliances were created which vowed to
fight climate change and fulfill the accord’s obligations on their own … So, appropriate
forms of questioning authorities can help to improve people’s lives.
However, not all forms of criticizing authorities are useful. The criticism is unlikely to have
positive consequences … if its only aim is to express negative emotions …. Protests which
include violence do not help to solve any problem. Belligerent crowds going to the streets…
 Consider Opposing Points
University tuition costs should be decreased.

For Against
• more students could go • quality would decrease
to college • students can get loans
• not fair for students or scholarships
because no income
• too many other
expenses
 Skeleton Essay
Thesis.
Consider opposing points (answer to opp. – classic,
mixed, introducing paragraph, complex thesis)
Topic Sentence.
Supporting Idea #1. Details and Examples.
Supporting Idea #2. Details and Examples.
Reason.
Topic Sentence.
Supporting Idea #1. Details and Examples.
Supporting Idea #2. Details and Examples.
Conclusion.