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800SCORE AWA
Chapter 1：Guide to the E-rater and the AWA
Introduction
The Analytical Writing Assessment, more than any other element of GMAT preparation, hasbenefits that extend far beyond test day. The skills, reasoning tools, and techniques you learn forthe AWA may be applied to any essay or persuasive writing. These skills will help you throughbusiness school and beyond.
The AWA can be beaten. The essay topics are available for you to review beforehand. Thestructures for the AWA answers are simple and may be learned.
Here are some tips before we get started:
★ Grammar and spelling is, by-and-large, less important than structure and content. Focuson structure and your argument formation.
★ The E-rater's main impact is to put more value on highly structured writing and the use of"key" words and phrases that the E-rater recognizes.
★ Take plenty of timed practice tests on a computer. Our sample essays on the site aredesigned for you to take practice essays and be evaluated.
★ Do not procrastinate AWA preparation. Students tend to put off the AWA until it is too lateand then they cannot adequately prepare.
The new E-rater will grade your test along with a human grader. If they disagree, it will besent to a third human grader. Thus, if you do not write your essay in the proper format for the E-rater it could lead to a lower score. Throughout the guidebook we have tips on the E-rater and asection exclusively about the E-rater.
The AWA consists of two 30-minute sections, the Analysis of Issue essay and the Analysisof Argument essay. You will receive a grade from 1 to 6, which will be sent with your GMATscores.
The guide is divided into these sections:
Chapter 1: Introduction (this page)
Chapter 2: Analysis of Issue
Chapter 3: Analysis of Argument
Chapter 4: About the E-rater
Chapter 5: Improving Your Writing
Chapter 6: Getting the Real Essay Questions
Chapter 2: Analysis of Issue
In the Analysis of Issue question you discuss your opinion toward an issue. You write a well-balanced analysis of the issue the test presents to you.
These are the most common topics:
★ Government's role in ensuring the welfare of its citizens
★ Culture and social mores, attitudes, values
★ Management/organizational structure/behavior
★ Business: advertising and marketing
★ Business: labor and employment issue
★ Business-its overall role and objectives in society
★ Government's regulatory responsibilities.
Here is an example of an Analysis of Issue question:
Following the Colorado massacre of schoolchildren, many lawmakers have proposed that aninternational body regulate the internet so that sites which provide information to terrorists shouldbe eliminated.
Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the above opinion. Support your opinionwith reasons and examples.
The people who grade the Analysis of Issue for the GMAT expect the following:
i) A well-developed essay that is logical and coherent;
ii) An essay that demonstrates critical thinking skills;
iii) An essay which uses varied sentence structure and vocabulary;
iv) An essay that uses the language of standard written English;
v) An essay that is free of mechanical errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization; andvi) An essay that follows the conventions of standard written English.
Analysis of Issue: Content
How do I write a well-balanced essay?
You should always acknowledge both sides of an issue. Among the sample essays there is notone irrefutable essay, yet you must pick a side. The trick to doing this is to persuade the reader that,despite the counter-arguments, your position is the strongest one overall.
Try to "straddle the fence" between both sides of the issue by making limited use of qualifiers.This will allow you to acknowledge the opposing view and appear scholarly. (Note that overuse ofqualifiers will make the essay appear too vague and dilute an argument you are making.)
In general, take a politically correct opinion or an opinion that a majority of top scorers mighttake. However, if you do not think you can write an effective politically-correct essay, adjust yourcontent to fit what you can comfortably express. In general, though, stay uncontroversial andbalanced. Do not use it as a forum to be an ideologue. Writing a highly charged essay might evokea bias from the reader (if he disagrees with you) and it also may confuse the E-rater, since youessay will not resemble any essays it has stored in its database. Try to approach each issue in adispassionate and balanced manner.
Nevertheless, you must be sure to take a stand. You must pick a side that will "win out" in theconclusion/introduction. The test instructions specifically tell you to pick a side. Make sure todisagree or agree with the question's statement.
How in-depth should the essays be?
Your essay is short (you have only 30 minutes), so you won't be able to cover every possibleargument, rebuttal and example. When you start the test set aside a few minutes to set up thepoints and examples. You do not have to cover every idea/concept. Most GMAT students do nothave time to cover everything they would like to cover. Choose the most persuasive relevantpoints and examples to use. The GMAT graders do not expect you to go in-depth on every topic.
The most important concern here is that you do not go off of the main subject. Stay focusedon the topic. Do not either go off on tangential arguments or excessively focus on one example.Where should I get examples?
The instructions (with only a few exceptions) allow you to draw upon your personalexperiences in developing your answer to each essay question. This practice is acceptable, butdon't overdo it. You should generally rely more on academic knowledge than personalexperiences.
Your examples and knowledge can be impressive, but you shouldn't go too far. Don't try toimpress the grader with you expertise in a narrow area. The AWA tests analytical writing, notspecific subject knowledge.
Where do I get essay issue ideas?
The topics in the Analysis of Issue section are commonly addressed in policy-orientedmagazines.
◆ Wall Street Journal editorial page
◆ Forbes
◆ The Economist
◆ The New Republic
◆ Slate
International Students: Read these American magazines as much as possible to see howAmericans structure their writing and to stay updated on issues.Write with your grader in mind
When you write your Issue essay, remember that you are fundamentally writing youressay to please your grader. ETS essay graders will typically be under-employed academics. Theirony is that B-school candidates, with hopes of multiple 6-figure salary offers, come from anentirely different worldview. Don't ramble in a self-righteous manner. The graders will too easilydismiss you as another arrogant MBA candidate.Keep it concise
Put yourself in the position of a grader. They grade essays all day. Wouldn't you favor aconcise and effective essay with 5 paragraphs of 4 sentences each more than a 4 paragraphrambling essay with 10 sentences in each paragraph? The bottom line: keep the essays crisp,concise, and written in a manner appealing to the grader. This is particularly important on theAnalysis of Issue question, where you essay expresses personal opinions.
Analysis of Issue: Structure
Structure is the most important part of your essay. Your essay must be written in a standardformat with the standard logical transitions. The E-rater will scan your essay to identify if it has astandard structure.
◆ Introduction/Conclusion- These elements will provide the structure for your essay andkeep you on track.
◆ Number of Paragraphs. To satisfy the E-rater, your essay should be 4 to 5paragraphs: an introduction, a conclusion, and three "body" paragraphs. Each paragraph shouldhave 2 to 5 sentences (total essay about 300-400 words).
Note: You should skip a line between paragraphs since the TAB key does notfunction in the essay section.
Essay Template
The template is just a guideline. You do not have to adhere to it. Often you will have to makechanges to suit your argument.
▲ The numbers of sentences indicated for each paragraph is a guideline that variesdepending on how much content you have.
▲ The transitional phrases we use in the Template are intentionally simplistic. This is nota simple approach where you can "fill-in-the-blanks." Flesh out the template somewhat and use itas a guideline to write a disciplined and focused essay.
Template
1) Introductory Paragraph (2-4 sentences)
Make sure to keep your introductory paragraph concise, strong and effective.
What the introductory paragraph should accomplish:
▲ Explain the issue (briefly).
▲ Show that you understand the full complexities of the issue (for example, by recognizingcompeting interests or various factors).
▲ State your position on the issue (without the details yet).
Sample template for introductory paragraph (2 sentences):
a) Whether ________________________ depends on _____________________.
b) (Insert your opinion), __________________________.
2) First Body Paragraph (3-5 sentences)
Begin to develop your position with your most important reason. Use one or two examples to backup your main point:
a) The chief reason for my view is ___________________________________.
b) For example, ____________________________________.
c) Moreover, ______________________________.
d) Finally, ________________________.
3) Second Body Paragraph
Expand your position with a "secondary" reason. Support your rationale further with at least oneexample.
▲ State your second reason (one only).
▲ Provide rationale and/or evidence to support it.
Here's a sample template for the second body paragraph that accomplishes these objectives:a) Another reason for my view is_____________________________.
b) Specifically,________________.
c) The result is,__________________.
4) Optional Third Body Paragraph
In this paragraph (optional) you acknowledge a competing viewpoint or counter-argument (andrationale and/or examples that support it), and then provide rebuttals to further support yourposition. In this paragraph you walk a tightrope, you must acknowledge the counter-argument, butyet deny it immediately in the next sentence and use that denial to strengthen your own argument. ▲ Acknowledge a different viewpoint or a counter-argument.
▲ Provide rationale and/or examples that support it.
▲ Provide a rebuttal.
Here's a sample template for the third body paragraph that accomplishes the objectives indicatedabove:
a) Some might argue,_____________________________.
b) Yet,____________________
c) Others might cite, __________________.
d) However,_____________________.
5) Conclusion Paragraph
In this paragraph you write a summary of your position in 1 to 3 sentences:
▲ State the thrust of your position.
▲ Restate the main points from the body of your essay.
The concluding paragraph is not the place for new information or reasons. It is not a place to drawnew conclusions.