The first section that you see in your GRE test is the Analytical Writing section. You need to type two essays: Analysis of an Issue and Analysis of an Argument. Let’s briefly look at the latter essay as students find this one trickier than the first one.
In the Analysis of an Argument essay, you will be given a brief paragraph or set of statements. Your first job is to understand the text in front of you. Then, you should take 2 to 3 minutes to plan your essay and think about the structure that you are going to have. But even before you do all this, you should know what an argument really is.
An argument is composed of three things: the premises, the conclusion and the assumptions. The premises constitute the evidence on the basis of which a conclusion is drawn. The assumptions are the unstated premises that may strengthen or weaken the conclusion. Hence, you should go through the following steps when confronted with this essay:
- Identify the premises
- Identify the conclusion and separate it from the premises
- Think about the assumptions
- See how the premises may not lead to the conclusion offered due to the assumptions
Hence, your job is to critique the conclusion based on the loop-holes present between the conclusion and the premises. You can start your essay by stating why you may not think that the conclusion is valid and then in each of the following paragraphs, write why you think this is the case. In the last paragraph, give your own conclusion that should support your opening statement and the line of reasoning that you have taken. The analysis of an argument essay may seem to be tough but it’s really not as tough as you may think if you understand how to go about it.
