About: Argument Essay, GMAT
The Argument Essay is your first test on the GMAT, the very beginning of the end, once its done, only 3 hours left of hell to go.
The Argument Essay is dependent on a classical argument structure. The Argument follows the same structure as in the Reading Comprehension part of the GMAT. it consists of written premises, a written conclusion and unwritten assumptions (which is what defines an assumption).
The Argument Essay will present you with an intrinsically flawed argument, it is your job to pull apart this argument until there is nothing left, find the assumptions! You always need to be negative and counter the argument, never agree with it!
The Argument is always weak, find the flaws within it and expose them. Finding the flaw goes back to finding the assumption within the text, remember an assumption is never written in the passage. In the GMAT you can never refute a premise, only the conclusions.
Keywords that you can find in the text that strongly signify assumptions are “some, similar, only”, use them to dispute the assumption.
Assumptions within the Argument Essay generally fall within one of the following categories:
1) Causality
If you see a causality argument you can draw it as X -> Y, this is an assumption. It is assumed that only “X” causes “Y”. A strengthener to this argument would be to say something like: “studies show that X causes Y”. A weakener would be to say that “Z -> Y” or that “Y->X”. There can be new information for a weakener (“Z”).
2) Representativeness
Is the sample significant? How is it selected? Is it in significant numbers?Always question the representativeness of a survey, sample or anything. This is present in nearly every argument essay for the GMAT.
3) Plans, Proposals, Predictions
“A” will lead to “B”, therefore “C”. This is a flawed argument, what is the link between A, B and C? While it may make logical sense within the context of the argument, it is still based on assumptions. Question everything!
In preparing your essay, create a grid such as the one below:
| SUCCESS | FAILURE |
|
| FIRST ASSUMPTION |
1 or 2 Examples | 1 or 2 Examples |
| SECOND ASSUMPTION |
1 or 2 Examples | 1 or 2 Examples |
Try to fill as many of the boxes as possible with examples of success and failure for each of the assumptions you have found for the passage. Once you have a diagonal (in red in the table below) of a failure in an assumption and a success in another assumption (or vice versa) than you can start writing, those examples will form the main stream of your essay. In your sub-ultimate paragraph, use one of the examples you have not used in your write up (in blue in the table below) as a counter example used to reinforce your point, in essence, for your “Obamafication”.
| SUCCESS | FAILURE |
|
| FIRST ASSUMPTION |
1 or 2 Examples | 1 or 2 Examples |
| SECOND ASSUMPTION |
1 or 2 Examples | 1 or 2 Examples |
Structure of the Essay
Remember that the GMAT wants to see notions as well as examples, try to find a minimum of 3 flaws 4 is best. Finding the flaw goes back to finding the assumption within the text, remember an assumption is never written in the passage. Try to find a “Disney” ending to your text, recap everything , take up your intro again and restate it finishing by “and they lived happily ever after….”
Below is a recommended structure for the Argument Essay.
Paragraph 1
Understand the concept it is talking about, introduce your position. Start the paragraph by restating the conclusion, then take a stand.
Paragraph 2
Present the first flaw or issue, give a notion or theory, present an example.
Paragraph 3
Present another flaw or issue, give a notion or theory, present an example.
Paragraph 4
Present another flaw or issue, give a notion or theory, present an example.
Paragraph N-1
Present a strengthener, do an “Obama” (present the contradicting point followed by a “However”) for example, “It is true that……. however………”
Paragraph N (conclusion)
Create a strong conclusion and then reiterate your position with added emphasis.
The evaluation of the essay is based on the structure, style, and logic. The essay is marked, in a first instance, by a computer and then verified by a human reader. It is marked out of 6 and a good score is considered to be a 4. The score will be sent to you by post about 2 weeks after taking the test. Remember that the essay must be written on a qwerty keyboard, if you use a different keyboard, switch and get used to typing on qwerty.
In terms of timing, it is a short essay so you should manage your time carefully, 30mins is not long to write an essay:
- 8 Mins to read the problem and organise your thoughts on paper
- 20 Mins to write the essay
- 2 Mins to proof read the essay (maybe the most important part)
Alec, my beloved teacher, has always advised me not to spend too much time and energy on the essays, getting a 4 should be your aim, not necessarily a 6. While a 6 would always be nice, if you think too hard about the essays, you will erode your endurance for the rest of the test which is infinitely more important. Get the basic tricks in your mind, type it up, remember to proof read it and then submit it.
After the Argument Essay, the Issue Essay will start directly.
About: Argument Essay, GMAT
