Studying the gre 2 potx

While scoring an essay is far more subjective than correcting a multiple-choice exam, the GRE pro￾gram has developed a detailed scoring rubric to guide readers through the essay-scoring process. This

rubric lists specific criteria that essays should meet to attain each score. The complete GRE Analytical Writ￾ing scoring guide is available to download for your review at www.GRE.org/getscore.html#scoreprocess.

Be sure to review the scoring guide carefully. The more you know about what is expected of you in the essay,

the better you will be able to meet those expectations. You can review adapted GRE Analytical Writing

rubrics on pages 55–56.

Unlike the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the General Test, on the Analytical Writing section of

the exam, you will not receive your scores immediately because the scorers need time to read and evaluate

your writing. It usually takes 10 to 15 days after you take the test to receive your score for this section.

The Analytical Writing Process

The Analytical Writing section asks you to complete two separate but complimentary tasks. Each task tests

your analytical writing skills, including the assessment of your critical thinking skills; however, completing

the two tasks requires two different abilities. The Issue task requires you to construct and support your own

point of view on a prompted issue, while the Argument task requires you to analyze an argument that some￾one else has constructed. To be successful on this part of the GRE, you will need to understand the nature of

each task and thoroughly demonstrate that understanding to the readers of your essays. The next section of

the chapter will help you understand how to complete each task effectively, starting with the Issue task.

Present Your Perspective on an Issue—Attack Mode

This 45-minute task in the Analytical Writing section tests your ability to communicate and support your

point of view on a particular topic. You will be given two persuasive writing prompts—general claims about

topics, which are designed to provide an issue on which you will take a perspective—and you may choose only

one of these prompts to address in your essay. Your job will be to clearly express and support your point of

view throughout your essay.

It is likely that you have already done a lot of persuasive writing in your undergraduate career, so this

section of the chapter will serve as a review of the essential things to keep in mind as you develop this par￾ticular persuasive essay. Remember, on this task, you must think about a topic critically, decide which per￾spective to take, and then plan and write a thoughtful essay in a limited amount of time.

–THE GRE ANALYT ICAL WR IT ING SECT ION–

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