Topic of the Day

How to write an ISSUE

Analytical Writing
What is it?
Why is it included in GRE?
What do you have to do?

Questions in Mind

All these things surely come to your mind when you

think about AWA.
Here we will discuss these along with some tips on
how to score well in ISSUE.

What is AWA
AWA is the section which tests your writing ability.
It comes at the beginning of the exam.
It has 2 tasks: a)Issue
b)Argument.
The scoring pattern is from 0 to 6 pointer.

Why is it needed?

ETS says that this section tests your critical thinking and
ability to articulate and support complex ideas.
It also tests your ability to construct and evaluate arguments
with logical examples and sustain a coherent discussion.
This is actually evaluated as to see your ability to
understand and simplify complex ideas which will be
needed during your higher studies.
This section is not meant to see your knowledge on any
specific content.

What do you have to do?

Now this is the most vital question.

You have to write two essays, 1 issue & 1
argument.

You will be given 30 mins for each to complete.

You will get this at the beginning of the exam.

Two topics will be given, 1 for each. No choice of

topics is given in this section.

Topic to be discussed

Hope you are clear about the basics now. Let's discuss
in details about ISSUE in the coming slides.

Issue

A topic will be given.

Agree or Disagree.It can be complete or partial.

Give relevant logic and examples.

Maintain coherence of ideas.

Time allotted: 30 mins.

Do's & Don'ts

Agree or disagree.
4-6 paragraphs with 56 lines in each.
Correct grammar and
spelling.

Logic & Examples.

Conclusion

Don't write too short or

too long.
Avoid grammatical and
spelling mistakes.
Don't write out of the
context.
Don't use I,you,we
anywhere without
stating stance.

Flow of writing Issue

1)Mention in the very first paragraph about your stance

clearly.
2)Second paragraph should have the logic and reasoning
behind your stance.
3)Third paragraph should be about some more examples
which will justify your logic.
4)Fourth paragraph should be about negating the
opposition's logic through your point of view.
5) Fifth paragraph should be the conclusion.
6)You can write 1 paragraph more if you have more
examples and logic.(according to the topic)

Demonstrate

Now let's demonstrate with an Example

Topic

Over the past century, the most significant contribution

of technology has been to make people's life more
comfortable.

Your stances

Completely Agree : You can agree that technology

has made life comfortable.
Completely Disagree: You can say that technology
has not made life comfortable.
Partially Agree or disagree : You can say that you
agree that technology has made life comfortable
but it has some flip sides as well.

Discussion

Now let's take one stance i.e first one, completely

agree and discuss the flow of the essay

Completely Agree

So now lets see how an issue can be written.I will

give a model issue and discuss it with you.
Keeping this as a model try to work on the other
stances as well.
Let's now follow the flow stated in the previous
slides and see how an issue can be written.

Introduction
It is human nature to look for shortcuts. When we have an easier
way of doing something, we do not take the longer path. As the
world is advancing, it is making our lives easier. Many problems
faced in the olden times which required a lot of physical as well
as mental effort are now only a matter of a few clicks. Since
technology has entered every home, office and school, there is
an increased tendency to depend on it to get our jobs done. I
agree with the fact that human dependence on technology has
increased and thus made life very comfortable. The advancement
of technology has made people get time out of their busy lives
without worrying for work that consume a lot of time. It can be
agreed upon that technology advancement has acted as a boon to
people's lives.

Flow of Introduction

Started in an indirect way and not the clichd way

of saying 'I agree to.....'.
Then stated the situation of old times in comparison
to the more comfortable contemporary living.
Then stated my stance that I completely agree with
the topic.
Given one advantage of how technology has made
life comfortable by stating that it has helped man
get time out of busy lives.

Points highlighted

It is human nature to look for shortcuts. When we have an easier

way of doing something, we do not take the longer path. As the
world is advancing, it is making our lives easier.
As the world is advancing, it is making our lives easier. Many
problems faced in the olden times which required a lot of
physical as well as mental effort are now only a matter of a few
clicks.
Since technology has entered every home, office and school,
there is an increased tendency to depend on it to get our jobs
done. I agree with the fact that human dependence on technology
has increased and thus made life very comfortable.
The advancement of technology has made people get time out of
their busy lives without worrying for work that consume a lot of
time. It can be agreed upon that technology advancement has
acted as a boon to people's lives.

Second paragraph
Technology is a creation of the human mind. When people face
problems,only then they come out with a solution. And that
exactly is the root cause behind advancement of technology. It is
created to make people's lives comfortable. For instance,in olden
days people used carts to travel long distances which was a tiring
and time consuming experience, then automobiles were
discovered. Likewise people became busy gradually and then
aeroplane came into existence to make people commute long
distances within few hours. This saved time and also made the
journey less tiresome.

Flow of

nd
2

paragraph

Started with what technology is.

Gave the reason of its existence and then one
example to show the advantage of technological
advancement. eg: cart to automobile to
aeroplane.
All you have to do is, justify your stance with some
relevant example.

rd
3

Paragraph

Previously computer and internet was also used under strict

regulations which kept it away from getting damaged. Now
mobile also has internet features and thus can be used anywhere
anytime. Reaching out to people was a big problem as people
had to wait for days to get a letter having any kind of news in it.
But now due to social networking people can sit at home and get
to know the whereabouts, thus also minimizing the tension of
not getting any news of loved ones for days. Technology has
acted as a cushion on which, if you lie ,you get the warmth and
comfort which makes you fall asleep without any worries.

Flow of

rd
3

Para

Few more examples to justify well and make the

reasoning stronger.
1 to 3 examples would suffice.
Eg: Letter to computer to internet to social
networking.

th
4

Paragraph

Dependence on Technology has made people feel at ease, but

on the other hand, it has also reduced human capability of
doing things. Previously people used to calculate sums
mentally, but now usage of calculators have made them solve
the simplest sums on machine. This is reducing brain work,
which needs to be active to get things going. Moreover man is
adapting to stay on his own, making social networking
virtual and not real. But in contrast to it, technology has
proved to be the best thing that has happened as it has made
long calculations simpler and also keeping in touch with
people have become a minutes game. It is making life
comfortable and it will continue to do so till people misuse it.

Para 4:Negation

Negation is an integral part of an issue writing as it makes

your reasoning stronger .
It actually strengthens your argument as you negate the
oppositions point of view through your logic.
In this paragraph I have stated some disadvantages of
technology to show that I have considered the opposite
point of view. Negated it with the logic by just stating
two advantages against it.
Concluded it with a fact that it is making life comfortable
and will continue to do so.

Part V: Conclusion

As I have said earlier, technology has truly made life

comfortable but its personal choice to take the good or get
affected by the negative things. People should take the
opportunity of making life easier and thus enjoy the bliss. Every
good things come with some bad in it, but trying to make things
work in one's favour is what makes it advantageous to the whole
mankind. We must thus make it a point to make technology
work for us and not the reverse.

Flow of Conclusion

To conclude it I have summed up whatever I have

written in the previous paragraphs.
Then I have also said that people should enjoy the
advantages and make life easier.
Do not make it too long, just give a gist of
whatever you have written before.

Completely Disagree

Technology has not at all made people's life comfortable.

Give logic and relevant examples.

Give common examples like abuses of social

networking,expenditure on technological
advancement,people being more lazy etc.
After stating your logic with examples you should state how
life was better before the technological phase.
Your logic will be concrete then.

Partially Agree or Disagree

You can say that technological advancement has improved in

some ways but also have some cons to it.
Give relevant logic and example for both stances. For
example: Internet helps people reach out to distant friends
and relatives in a click but social networking is also
reducing socializing in person, thus making people alone.
Then justify accordingly. You can take this: Virtual vs
Reality.

Gist
Hope now you are clear about the flow of Issue.
Try writing on the other stances on the same topic.
This will improve your thinking skills and also
articulation skills.

Last min tips

Always remember when you see a topic, try to think from

various angles.
Take few seconds to think about all the angles.
Decide which angle seems most convincing and which one
YOU can justify well.
Do not go by clichd views always if you can justify something
unconventional.
Always think of global examples and not something Indian or
anything which gives out your nationality. It should be
common,global.
Use Simple Language to articulate your ideas.

Continued...

Be careful about Grammar,Punctuation,Spellings.

Do not oscillate between views,stick to one.

Always remember that the Issue is not a test on

your specific content knowledge, but a test on
your reasoning and justification of what you
opine.
Write without fear,practice from the very first day
to write within the given time frame.
Practice with a watch on your side so that in the
exam hall you do not miss out.

Revised GRE Issue

Let me inform you that ETS has given some 6 instructions

on writing Issue. You have to follow any one pattern and
write.
You can go through this link to have an idea of what they
are:
http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/analytical_writing/issue/sample_responses

You can also find scored sample essays in this link:

http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/analytical_writing/issue/sample_responses

Issue made EASY

So now what do you think?

Its easy right?
So All the Best for your writing.
You will surely write well if you follow these tips.

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