GRE Analytical Writing Topics: Important GRE AWA Topics

The GRE analytical writing topics demand deep critical thinking for better analysis and presentation. The GRE AWA topics from the two sections (Issue & Argument) of the test are complementary to each other. While one needs a personal argument with evidence, the other expects you to evaluate someone else's argument by assessing its claims and evaluating the evidence it provides. The 7 categories of GRE essay topics are: Education, Technology and Society, Cities, Arts, Government and Power, Intellectual Endeavors, and Philosophical.

In this blog we dwell at length about different GRE essay topics and the possible type of questions commonly asked in the GRE test.

What is GRE Analytical Writing(AWA)?

The GRE essay topics for analytical writing tests your critical thinking capacity and analytical skills of writing. The primary aim here is to articulate and support complex ideas, construct and evaluate arguments for a coherent discussion. The GRE AWA topics comprises two analytical writing tasks that are separately timed:

• Argument Essay
• Issue Essay

You will be given 30 minutes separately to complete both the essays. The GRE AWA topics for both essays need to be approached differently. For that you must be clear about the differences between the two.

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GRE Argument Essay

The GRE argument essay topics tests your ability to understand, analyze and evaluate arguments.  Your task here is to depict your thoughts in writing vividly. You will be given a short passage that demands a definite course of action and interpretation backed by reasons and evidence. You must be keen enough to critically examine the line of reasoning and present logical and convincing evidence.

Sample GRE Argument Topics

Mentioned below are some sample GRE analytical writing topics for argument essays taken from the official GRE website:

• "Salicylates are members of the same chemical family as aspirin, a medicine used to treat headaches. Although many foods are naturally rich in salicylates, for the past several decades, food-processing companies have also been adding salicylates to foods as preservatives. This rise in the commercial use of salicylates has been found to correlate with a steady decline in the average number of headaches reported by participants in our twenty-year study. Recently, food-processing companies have found that salicylates can also be used as flavour additives for foods. With this new use for salicylates, we can expect a continued steady decline in the number of headaches suffered by the average citizen of Mentia."

Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed to evaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken or strengthen the argument.

• "A jazz music club in Monroe would be a tremendously profitable enterprise. Currently, the nearest jazz club is 65 miles away; thus, the proposed new jazz club in Monroe, the C-Note, would have the local market all to itself. Plus, jazz is extremely popular in Monroe: over 100,000 people attended Monroe's annual jazz festival last summer; several well-known jazz musicians live in Monroe; and the highest-rated radio program in Monroe is 'Jazz Nightly,' which airs every weeknight at 7 P.M. Finally, a nationwide study indicates that the typical jazz fan spends close to $1,000 per year on jazz entertainment."

Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed to evaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken or strengthen the argument.

• "In a controlled laboratory study of liquid hand soaps, a concentrated solution of extra strength UltraClean hand soap produced a 40 percent greater reduction in harmful bacteria than did the liquid hand soaps currently used in our hospitals. During our recent test of regular-strength UltraClean with doctors, nurses, and visitors at our hospital in Worktown, the hospital reported significantly fewer cases of patient infection (a 20 percent reduction) than did any of the other hospitals in our group. The explanation for the 20 percent reduction in patient infections is the use of UltraClean soap."

Write a response in which you discuss one or more alternative explanations that could rival the proposed explanation and explain how your explanation(s) can plausibly account for the facts presented in the argument.

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GRE Issue Essay

The GRE issue essay topics evaluates your ability to think critically about a given topic of general interest and clearly express your views about it in writing. Each issue statement provides a claim that you can be seen and analyzed from different perspectives and applicable to multiple situations or conditions.

Sample GRE Issue Topics

Mentioned below are some sample GRE analytical writing topics for issue essays taken from the official GRE website:

• Governments should place few, if any, restrictions on scientific research and development.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the recommendation and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, describe specific circumstances in which adopting the recommendation would or would not be advantageous and explain how these examples shape your position.

• The luxuries and conveniences of contemporary life prevent people from developing into truly strong and independent individuals.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position.

• The best way to teach — whether as an educator, employer, or parent — is to praise positive actions and ignore negative ones.

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.

Suggested: How to write GRE AWA Essays?

So this was a gist of the questions for GRE analytical writing topics and their question patten. Now let us see some tips to tackle AWA topics for GRE with answers:

Tips to Prepare for GRE Analytical Writing Topics

Be it GRE issue topics or argument topics, you may follow the following approach for an informative essay:

• Before taking the GRE Test, carefully go through the sample topics, essay responses and rater commentary for each task of the section. Review the scoring guides for each task as well. It will offer a deeper understanding of how GRE essays are evaluated and the most important elements of the essay.
• You are given 30 minutes each to complete the GRE argument topics and issue topics. So utlize every moment with care.
• Save a few minutes at the end of each timed task to check for obvious errors like spelling mistakes, grammatical mistakes, etc.

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