Ohio
Wesleyan
University Writing Center

Writing Sample
Guidelines

Graduate Record Examination
(GRE®)
From the OWU Writing Center in the Sagan Academic Resource Center

The Writing Center
Location: Corns 316
Phone: x 3925 (740-368-3925)
Website: http://writing.owu.edu/
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Ohio Wesleyan University Writing Center © 2010

Graduate Record Examination (GRE®)
Writing Sample Guidelines
Table of Contents
Page

Essay at a Glance

…………………………………………….. 1

Description of Essay Prompts

Organization

……………………………….. 1

…………………………………………….. 1

Style Guide/Writing Suggestions ……………………………... 3

Sample Essays

…………………………………………….. 4

Practice Prompts

…………………………………………….. 7

Sources

……………………………………………... 9

Ohio Wesleyan University Writing Center © 2010

Graduate Record Examination (GRE®)
Writing Sample Guidelines
Essays at a Glance
The Analytical Writing section of the GRE consists of two timed essays: ―Present Your Perspective on an Issue‖ (45 minutes) and ―Analyze an Argument‖ (30 minutes). This section tests critical thinking and analytical writing skills, and assesses your ability to articulate and support complex ideas, analyze an argument, and sustain a focused and coherent discussion. How important is the essay portion of the GRE?

Every school weighs this exam differently so it may be beneficial to you to find out from the schools you are applying to how strongly they consider the essay portion. How are the GRE essays scored?

Paper-Based Test: Each response is scored holistically (as a whole based on overall quality, not on individual parts or skills) by two readers on a 6-point scale. If readers‘ scores differ by more than one point, the essay is scored by a third reader. Scores on the two responses are averaged for the final score. Computer-Based Test: Each essay is scored by at least one trained reader, using a six-point holistic scale. The essay score is then reviewed by e-rater®, a computerized program. If the e-rater(R) evaluation and the human score agree, the human score is used as the final score. If they disagree, a second human score is obtained, and the final score is the average of the two human scores. http://www.ets.org/gre/general/scores/how/index.html All essay responses (paper-based and computer-based) are reviewed by ―essay-similaritydetection software‖ to identify essays or portions of essays that have been memorized or copied. http://www.ets.org/gre/general/scores/how/index.html

The average score on the GRE writing section for applicants to top private US universities is about 4.9 (2004-07). http://testprep.about.com/od/thegretest/a/Private_U_GRE_Scores.htm

Description of Essay Prompts
Prompt 1 – “Present Your Perspective on an Issue” (The Issue Essay) Take a stand on a broad issue and create a compelling case for your own position using relevant reasons and examples. You will choose between two prompts.

Prompt 2 – “Analyze an Argument” (The Argument Essay)
Critique someone else‘s argument. Consider the logical soundness of the argument and evaluate how the evidence is used. You will not have a choice of prompt for this task. The ETS, which publishes and administers the GRE, provides the pool of topics from which the test prompts will be drawn on its Website: www.gre.org/pracmats.html

Organization
While the ETS does not provide a particular pattern of organization for your response, having a clear plan to follow will guide your writing task.

Ohio Wesleyan University Writing Center © 2010

Page 1

Issue Essay: Describe both sides of the issue and support your own position with reasons and/or examples. Here are three patterns of organization to consider: Pattern One
Paragraph 1
Introduce both sides of the controversy
State your position
Paragraph 2
One reason for my belief is that ...
Paragraph 3
Another reason for my belief is ...
Paragraph 4
Perhaps the best reason is…
Paragraph 5
For all these reasons, I believe that…
Pattern Two
Paragraph 1
State both sides of the argument briefly before announcing your side Paragraph 2
Support your argument with examples
Paragraph 3
Further support
Paragraph 4
Further support
Paragraph 5
Conclusion
Pattern Three
Paragraph 1
State your position
Paragraph 2
Acknowledge the arguments in favor of the other side
Paragraph 3
Rebut each of those arguments in order
Paragraph 4
Conclusion
Argument Essay: Do not take a stand; rather, evaluate the logic and soundness of the argument presented. Before you begin writing this essay, it is helpful to identify the following: Premises – the facts the author uses to back up his or her opinion Conclusion – the author‘s position and recommendation for action Assumptions– unstated conditions that must be true in order for the argument to make sense. Assumptions create connec...

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