Overview for GRE Analytical Writing<>     

Overview for GRE Analytical Writing Issue Questions Four Sections in this overview I. Introduction to Issue Questions (I. 介紹 Issue Questions) II. How to Answer Issue Questions (II. 答題技巧及 ETS 提供的例題 ) A Detailed Look at an Issue Topic and Answer / Developing a Position on the Issue III. Other Useful Tips (III. 更多答題技巧 ) IV. Related Links and References (IV. 相關連 結與參考資料 ) 1

I. Introduction to Issue Questions There are two kinds of essay questions in the GRE test 1) Present Your Perspective on an Issue 1 question, 45 minutes 2) Analyze an Argument 1 question, 30 minutes GRE 分析寫作共有兩種題型 -- issue question & argument question, 各為一題 , 前者有 45 分鐘可作答 , 後者 30 分鐘。 2

This file focuses on the first kind – issue questions. *You will be asked to -Present your perspective on the issue, using relevant reasons and/or examples to support your views. That means, you will adopt a position. *You need to choose from two issue topics. Each presents an opinion on an issue of broad interest. ETS has released its official pool of GRE Analytical Writing questions on www.gre.org 3

此檔案主要介紹 issue question * Present your perspective on the issue, using relevant reasons and/or examples to support your views. That means, you will adopt a position. 作答時考生須表明所選擇的立場，並運用相關具體之理由 或例子支持其看法。 *You need to choose from two issue topics. Each presents an opinion on an issue of broad interest. 題目會提供兩個議題，只需要選擇一個作答。 Issue question 提出的議題基本上都是大眾熟悉或感興趣的議 題。 ETS 在 www.gre.com 已公布題庫。 4

Directions for the Issue Writing Task (Issue writing task 作答指示 ) Present your perspective on one of the issues below, using relevant reasons and/or examples to support your views. You are free to accept, reject, or qualify the statement. 以下兩項議題請選擇一題，提出你的看法，並運用相關 理由或例子支持你的看法。你可以接受或反對所選的 議題 (accept or reject the statement) ，或者不 選擇接受及反對議題，而是闡述議題的正當性 (qualify the statement) 。 5

Topic 1 "Both the development of technological tools and the uses to which humanity has put them have created modern civilizations in which loneliness is ever increasing." Topic 2 "Our declining environment may bring the people of the world together as no politician, philosopher, or war ever could. Environmental problems are global in scope and respect no nation's boundaries. Therefore, people are faced with the choice of unity and cooperation on the one hand or disunity and a common tragedy on the other." 6

More Questions from the Pool of Issue Topics "The university community consists of three different worlds—the sciences, the humanities, and the social sciences. Because each world operates on its own assumptions and has its own special habits of thinking, rarely is there meaningful interaction among the sciences, the humanities, and the social sciences." ——————————————— "The problems of modern society have led many people to complain: 'We live in terrible times.' Yet, given the choice, no one today would prefer to live in any other time." 7

"Students should be encouraged to realize that mental agility and rhetorical skill must be accompanied by sincerity and the true conviction of their own beliefs." ——————————————— "While most of the environmental problems we face result from the use of technology, society must depend upon technology to find solutions to these problems." 8

"The absence of choice is a circumstance that is very, very rare." ——————————————— "What we call progress is a matter of exchanging one problem for another." ——————————————— "Only through mistakes can there be discovery or progress." ——————————————— "Every new generation needs to redefine 'right' and 'wrong' in its own terms and according to the conditions of its own time." 9

II. How to Answer Issue Questions II. 答題技巧及 ETS 提供的例題 A Detailed Look at an Issue Topic and Answer Issue Topic 例題 : “In our time, specialists of all kinds are highly overrated. We need more generalists—people who can provide broad perspectives.” 在我們的時代，各行各業的專家都被高估了。 我們需要更多的博學家，也就是能提供多樣性、 廣泛觀點的人們。 以下為此議題的範例回答 (sample essay) ，包括引言 , 主文大綱及結論。完整 回答請參考 ETS 官方網站 (http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/GRE/pdf/ awintro.pdf ) 。 ( 此處之 sample issue topic and essay 及 strategies 取材自 ETS 網站 An Introduction to the Analytical Writing Section of the GRE General Test. 10 http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/GRE/pdf/awintro.pdf )

Sample Essay: In this essay, the writer attempts to qualify the issue statement. He/She acknolwedges that both specialists and generalists are needed. 在這篇回答中，作者不贊同也不反對議題的敘述。他選 擇闡述議題的正當性。他認為專家與博學者都是社會 上需要的人才。 (For complete sample essays scored from 1-6 with reader commentaries, please refer to http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/GRE/pdf/awintro.pdf ) 11

Introduction of this essay: In this era of rapid social and technological change leading to increasing life complexity and psychological displacement, both positive and negative effects among persons in Western society call for a balance in which there are both specialists and generalists. 12

Outline of the Main Body: (1) (2) (3) Specialists are necessary in order to allow society as a whole to properly and usefully assimilate the masses of new information and knowledge that have come out of research and have been widely disseminated through mass global media. Simply put, without specialists, our society would find itself bogged down in the Sargasso sea of information overload. On the other hand, Over specialization means narrow focii in which people can lose the larger picture. 13

(4) Not only may over-specialization be dangerous in terms of the truth, purity and cohesion of knowledge, but it can also serve to drown moral or universall issues. (5) Finally, over-specialization in a people's daily lives and jobs has meant personal and psychological compartmentalization. 14

Conclusion Without generalists, society becomes inward-looking and eventually inefficient. Without a society that recognizes the importance of broad-mindedness and fora for sharing generalities, individuals become isolated. Thus, while our form of society necessitates specialists, generalists are equally important. Specialists drive us forward in a series of thrusts while generalists make sure we are still on the jousting field and know what the stakes are. 15

Strategies 答題策略 Before you start writing, explore the complexities of the issue. 開始作答前請 考慮以下問題。 1) What, precisely, is the central issue? 中心議題為何？ 2) Do I agree with all or with any part of the claim? Why or why not? 我是否同意議題的所有敘述，或部分敘述？ 理由為何？ 3) Does the claim make certain assumptions? If so, are they reasonable? 議題的敘述是否有任何預設立場？如果有，它們合 16 理嗎？

4) Is the claim valid only under certain conditions? If so, what are they? 議題的敘述是否只有在特定情況下才合 理 ? 若是的話，是哪些情況 ? 5) Do I need to explain how I interpret certain terms or concepts used in the claim? 敘述中是否包括特殊用語或觀念，而我是 否需要在作答時解釋我如何詮釋這些特殊 用語或觀念 ? 17

6) If I take a certain position on the issue, what reasons support my position? 若我作答時採取某一觀點 ( 表示贊同或反對 議題的敘述 ) ，有哪些理由支持我的觀點？ 7) What examples could I use to illustrate those reasons and advance my point of view? Which examples are most compelling? 我可以用哪些例子驗證我提出的理由，並加 強我的觀點 ? 哪些例子是最能說服讀者的 ? 18

Developing a Position on the Issue 關於針對某議題採取立場 The instructions emphasizes: You are free to accept, reject, or qualify the statement. 答題時你可以接受或反對所選的議題， 或者不選擇接受及反對議題，而是闡述議題的正當性 1) Qualifying an Issue Statement For issue statements that have the following patterns, you might want to consider choosing to qualify the statement in your essay( 當議題敘述有以下特質時，建議考慮闡述議 題的正當性 ): 19

A statement whose accuracy depends on various factors 敘述的正當性因各式各樣的因素而有所變化 that raises two distinct but related issues 敘述包括兩個看似不同，其實有關聯的議題 that lists, or otherwise embraces, two or more distinct categories 敘述列出或贊成兩者以上不同的議題 that is unclear or vague in some way 有某些部分交代不清楚或敘述模糊 that might be true generally but fails to account for significant exceptional cases 大致上而言，該敘述為真，但無法適用於某些特殊的情況 20

2) Accepting or Rejecting the Statement 關於接受或反對議題之敘述 You must provide sound reasons and supporting examples to justify your strong agreement or disagreement. 作答時必須提供完善的理由及例子 , 以 支持你的立場 -- 為何你贊同或反對議題之敘述 * It is ok to adopt a controversial stance, but avoid a fanatical or extreme stance. * 可以採取具爭議性的立場，但盡量避免提出極端的看法 。 * Avoid making criticism based on personal moral grounds, spirituality, or jingoism (excessive patriotism). * 避免以個人的道德觀點、宗教或極端的愛國主義做出批 評。 21

III. Other Useful Tips 更多答題技巧 5-Steps Approach 答題五步驟 Step 1 Read the question – make sure you understand the question. (1) 仔細閱讀議題敘述，確定你了解其文意。 Step 2 Underline Underline key words in the question and write words with the same or related meaning. (2) 找出關鍵字並聯想同義字或類似字詞。 Step 3 Get Ideas Decide if you are for or against the idea. It is ok to give both sides (for and against - one paragraph each) and then to give your opinion in the conclusion. (3) 決定你贊成或反對。若你選擇闡述議題的正當性，可以各用 一段落表達贊成和反對的理由，最後在結論重申你的觀點。 22

Step 4: Decide Layout (4) 考慮文章結構 There is one easy layout called 3773, which you can use if you agree with both sides of the argument. That means four paragraphs: introduction (3 sentences) one side (7 sentences), the other side (7 sentences) and the conclusion (3 sentences). 若你選擇闡述議題的正當性，可參考所 謂的 3773 結構，也就是總共寫四段 : 引言段落三句 , 主 文各兩段，各七句，而結論三句。 Step 5: Choose a major layout You may choose 3773 or 35553 layout. 23 (5) 決定文章結構是 3773 或 35553 結構。

3773 layout Use the 3773 layout if you are giving both sides of the argument or situation. In the second and the third prgs, you can give examples and reasons. In the conclusion, just sum up your main idea, or paraphrase your introduction. 3773 結構適用於闡述議題的正當性，在第二 , 三 段段表達贊成和反對的理由，並提出佐證的例子 ，最後在結論重申你的觀點，或再回應引言。 24

35553 layout It’s best to say if you agree or not right at the beginning. a five-paragraph essay with three sentences in the introduction, five sentences in the second, third and fourth paragraphs, and three in the conclusion. In the three body paragraphs, you give examples and supporting information. 35553 結構適用於贊成或反對議題敘述。最好在 引言馬上表明你的立場，總共五段，引言三句， 主文三段各五句，結論三句。在主文記得提供相 關且明確的理由及例子加以佐證你的立場。 ( 取材自 http://www.writefix.com/argument/) 25

IV. Related Links and References 相關連結與參考資料 GRE Writing Skills http://www.novapress.net/gre/writing.html http://www.west.net/ stewart/ws/ http://www.west.net/ stewart/grewa/wa101 .htm#Whoscores ETS introduction to GRE Analytical Writing http://web.mit.edu/gso/mymsrp/handouts/ internpdfs/awintro.pdf http://www.ets.org http://thedoublee.blogspot.com/2007/02/greissue.html 26

free GRE general test materials, including scoring details, sample tests and answers http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/ menuitem.1488512ecfd5b8849a77b13bc3921509 /? vgnextoid 302b66f22c6a5010VgnVCM10000022f 95190RCRD&vgnextchannel d687e3b5f64f4010 VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD 參考書目 Stewart, Mark Alan. Writing Skills for the GRE/GMAT. Lawrenceville: Peterson’s, 2002. 27

writing suggestions on issue, opinion & argument essays http://www.writefix.com/argument/ http://www.rscc.cc.tn.us/ owl&writingcenter/OWL/Argument.html http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/ handouts/argument.html http://www.studygs.net/wrtstr4.htm 28