GREedge’s

Quant Handbook For

A Perfect 170 Score
 Introduc�on
What is GREedge?
GREedge is an Online Academy which is completely focused on
improving your GRE score.

The average GRE score of students from GREedge is a good 8 points

above na�onal average as published by ETS, the provider of GRE.

GREedge has helped over 30,000 students score be�er in the GRE.
GREedge uses different so�ware across its online pla�orm to propel
you toward a high GRE score.
 Online academy = Higher GRE score
Academy means a society of learned persons organized to advance a field
of knowledge or area of exper�se. Online means available over the
internet or done over the internet. Yes, even the mobile internet. Online
Academy has the best GRE experts available online. GREedge offers
complete help in your GRE prepara�on to help you boost your GRE score.

Student Facilitators and Analysts (SFAs)

SFAs are personal trainers who will be with you throughout your GRE
prepara�on to help you with concepts, provide feedback, and solve all
your doubts. They teach, mo�vate, guide, and prepare you for a high GRE
score.

Learning Tracker
The Learning Tracker (LT) is a smart online pla�orm designed by experts.
It provides complete materials for GRE and constantly monitors your
prepara�on with the help of “milli-second monitoring" technology.

Personalized Feedback
SFAs provide personalized feedback a�er reviewing your prac�ce
sessions and full length tests. This helps you iden�fy your weak areas and
strengthen them for a be�er GRE score.
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10 mistakes to avoid for
a 320+ on your GRE

And how to know if you’re making them

 1

What you’ll be learning

from this eBook!
1.) The top 10 mistakes you need to avoid for a 320+ score on your GRE!

2.) Common errors in verbal and quants that cause students to lose marks.

3.) Why time management can make or break your score and what you can

do to work on it!

4.) What GRE® trainers recommend for getting your target score!
 2
Did you know
that the average GRE score of
Indian students
is just 298? (Source: ETS)
However, the average GRE score of students who successfully gain admittance

to Top 20 US universities is 322!

So what are the factors that cause students to lose precious marks on their

GRE?

Also, what can you do to ensure that you don’t make these mistakes?

That’s exactly what we’ll be discussing in this eBook.

Do read till the end to find out all the DOs and DON’Ts of preparing for a 320+

score on your GRE!

India’s national average GRE score

298

Scores Required by Top 25 Universities

322
 3

Mistake #1
An unbalanced study plan!
“Even slight differences in tyre pressures can unbalance a
car!”

The same holds true for your GRE preparation.

 4

One Size
Does NOT Fit All
An engineer who solves complex sums for breakfast, lunch and

dinner, may be far more comfortable in quants than someone with a

degree in comparative literature,

but on the other hand, the latter might easily outpace the engineer

when it comes to the Verbal and AWA sections!

Even though the exam is the same for all, their study plans might be

completely different. However, both their study plans have to be

comprehensive in the way they identify and tackle the individual

issues they face.

 5

Case in Point:

Meet Karan Saluja,

GRE score - 332 (Q: 169, V: 163)

Diagnostic Test Score - 299 (Q: 161, V: 148)

Analysis: Quite comfortable with Quants,

needs to work extensively on Verbal.

Being a working professional, does not have much time to spare for

GRE preparation,

His problem areas: Verbal - Reading Comprehension, Sentence/Text Completion

Quants - Data Interpretation

Let’s take a look at the study plan his trainers made for him!
 6

Study Plan
As his diagnostic test identified RC and SC/TC as his weakness areas in verbal,

that’s exactly what his study plan focused on for the first 2 weeks - along with a

regular dose of assorted quants topics that centred more around

data interpretation.
 7

SOLUTION
A well laid out study plan that focuses on each aspect of the GRE syllabus is a

crucial step in the way you prepare for the test.

And that’s not all, it has to be one that is tailored to suit your individual needs

as well!

Even before drawing up a study plan, one must ensure that they have a

thorough understanding of their strengths and weaknesses and thereby

prepare in a way that best prepares them to take the test! A carefully designed

diagnostic test helps in this regard, as it helps students accurately identify

where they stand, and the areas which they need to work on to achieve the

target score!
 8

Mistake #2
Putting off GRE preparation till
the last moment!
There are a lot of exams you can or might have cracked in your life with

last-minute cramming and pulling a couple of all nighters!

Your GRE, however, is not likely to be one of them!

Depending on your general proficiency levels and ability to take intelligent

guesses you might be able to come up with a slightly higher than average score

after taking a GRE crash course.

But, to target a really good score (read: 320 and above), you need to start your

preparation at least 45 - 60 days in advance!

Of course, if you’re ready to put in some really intensive work, you might be able

to prepare for your target score in as less as a month, but on the whole it’s

advisable to keep time by your side for a more comfortable and comprehensive

learning experience.

This is especially true for those students who face more difficulties with GRE

Verbal than they do with Quants, as vocabulary building and analytical essay

writing are things that are particularly hard to master overnight!

 9

SOLUTION
Try and plan your GRE preparation as far in advance as possible so that you are

completely equipped to achieve the score you’re targeting! Remember, your GRE

score is valid for 5 years after taking the test, so you can start planning for your

exam as early as your 1st year of college!

600
Number of Students

400

200

0
0-30 30-60 60-90 90-120 >120
Preparation Time (Days)
 10

Mistake #3
Preparing only from previous
years questions
Think previous year’s questions are going to be enough to prepare you for your

GRE?

However,

Yesterday’s questions are rarely enough to accurately anticipate those of

tomorrow.

The first reason is that, although some question patterns might be repeated

across papers, the questions are nearly always unique.

The second and most important reason?

This method is more likely to encourage rote-learning and leave a

lot of knowledge gaps!

Don’t get us wrong here! It’s important that you do have experience of solving

previously asked questions to know what to expect on the day of the test!

However, it would be a grave mistake to solely rely on them for your

GRE preparation.
 11

SOLUTION
It’s always a better idea to prepare extensively for the exam first, and then

attempt previously asked questions to test your concepts and learning! Make

sure to attempt other GRE-style mock tests as well as many of the questions on

your test are going to be absolutely distinctive.

 12

Mistake #4
Silly mistakes in quants
Before we start with this, let us first find out what is makes a mistake a silly one!

Well, put simply, silly mistakes are those in which you possess all the requisite

skills to solve a problem, yet you get it wrong for some reason!

These are commonly due to either:

Reading errors: Caused mostly when students don’t read the data correctly or

succumb to a trick question.

Computational errors: These are due to either too many mental calculations,

sloppy writing or simply your mind playing tricks on you!

 13

SOLUTION
A lot of people think that making silly mistakes is better than making mistakes

due to not knowing the technique to solve a problem, but both have the same

potential to make you lose marks! Hence, if you find yourself making these type

of errors often, maybe you could start making a conscious effort to avoid them by

being doubly cautious while reading the question or cross checking your answers

at every step to ensure mistakes don’t inadvertently creep in!

ProTip: It’s a good idea to maintain a log of the mistakes you make. If you make

the same type of mistake often, there’s a chance it might not purely be a careless

mistake but due to flawed understanding of some concepts, which might need

immediate attention.
 14

Mistake #5
Not being able to pick out the
correct choices in sentence
equivalence and text completion!
The sentence equivalence and text completion questions are those which actu-

ally test the student’s grasp on advanced English vocabulary. Often similar

words are used to confuse students and test the depth of their knowledge!
 15

Examples
Consider this question for
example
Select the two answer choices that, when used to complete the sentence, fit the

meaning of the sentence as a whole and produce completed sentences that are

alike in meaning

Unlike many young men, who look forward to living in an urban environment,

Charles preferred the charm of a quiet ______ setting!

(A) unpopulated

(B) typical

(C) bucolic

(D) unknown

(E) rural

(F) quiet

If you answered (A) unpopulated and (E) rural, then you have got it wrong!

The reason? Unpopulated, even though a suitable fit for the blank, isn’t the exact opposite of Urban.

So what is the correct answer?

It’s (C) bucolic and (E) rural.

Now if you’re wondering what bucolic means, it’s has exactly the same meaning as rural!
 16

Examples
Let’s take a look at a text completion
question now!
“There is something __________ about the pictures on the packaging that is

__________ the buyers. It is no wonder that the business house plans to

__________ its designers for gross insensitivity”

Your choices are:

A. repulsive

B. magnetic

C. alluring

D. dissuading

E. distracting

F. digressing

G. penalize

H. reward

I. felicitate
To answer the question correctly, a student has to focus on the tone of the sentence, which is set by

the last word - insensitivity, typically a negative trait!

Hence the correct answers will be (A) repulsive, (D) dissuading and (G) penalize, in that order!

Note that if the last two words were those that had a more positive connotation, like say, ‘sheer

creativity’, then the correct options would have been: (B) magnetic, (C) alluring and (H) reward!
 17

SOLUTION
GRE® Verbal preparation is not something that can be achieved in a matter of a

days or weeks. Ensure to cultivate a reading habit and listen to native speakers of

English to pick up metaphors, figures of speech and subtler nuances of the En-

glish language. As for mastering GRE vocabulary which comprises around 3500

advanced words, it’s a good idea to have a methodical way to learn a certain

number everyday, using pictorial tools and their usage in sentences to help you

retain more. Mastering text completion and sentence equivalence can be a criti-

cal cog on your way to a 320+ score!

 18

ProTip :
“Remember words faster and remember them longer by using picture guides and

understand their application by seeing how they are used in a sentence!” -

GREedge SFA

This is exactly what is done in the WordBot app by GREedge, where GRE words

are accompanied by a relevant picture, usage in a sentence, its synonyms and

antonyms as well as its pronunciation.

See an example in the next page!

 19

Mistake #6
Spending too much time on
Reading Comprehension passages!
GRE Reading Comprehension passages are typically around 500 words long and

contain a lot of unnecessary information. The key is to extract the information

that you’ll need to answer the questions asked, without wasting time reading or

analysing the sections!

Just imagine having to the entire block of text from the beginning, line by line,

word by word, every time you have to answer a question.

That is just what many students do, losing out valuable time in the process!
 20

SOLUTION
An important way to master the RC section is to develop the capacity to skim read

or scan long passages and extract precisely the information you’re searching for!

When you skim read, you are not reading every single word and paragraph, you

are looking for specific keywords, factual points, certain names and a

chronological sequence to locate what you need in the shortest possible time!

This approach works wonders in boosting your reading speed and helps you save

a lot of time.

Skimming — getting the essence from reading material without reading all the

words — boils down to knowing what parts to read and what parts to pass by.

Following are some tips and techniques for recognizing what is important to read

in the act of skimming

 21

The Beginner’s Guide

to Skim-Reading
(DISCLAIMER: It takes some time to perfect)

1. KNOW WHAT YOU WANT

Before you start skimming, ask yourself what information you wish to get from

the book or article. Think of 2 or 3 terms that describe what you want to know,

and keep an eye out for those terms.

2. READ VERTICALLY AS WELL AS HORIZONTALLY

When skimming, you move your eyes vertically as much as you move your eyes

horizontally. Which means, you have to move your eyes down the page as much

as you move them from side to side.

3. THINK LIKE THE AUTHOR

Detecting the author’s point of view requires that you put yourself in his/her

place. Apart from noticing the content, notice how he presents the content. See if

you can characterize how the author presents important information, secondary

statements, tangential information, and even non-relevant points.

4. PRE-READ THE ARTICLE ONCE BEFORE YOU SKIM

Examine an article closely and in its entirety at least once. By pre-reading an

article before you skim, you know where exactly to find the parts of the article

that require your close attention and the parts that you can gloss over.
 22

Mistake #7
Not understanding the nuances
of the passages
Nuances refer to the fine distinctions in the meaning of words or phrases that can

totally change the context of the speech!

Let’s analyse this with an example!

Arthur is Stubborn!

Arthur is Determined!

Arthur is Pig-Headed!

Arthur is Headstrong!

Arthur is Single Minded!

Arthur is Inflexible!

Now, while the ones marked in green often have a positive ring to them, the ones

in red have a more negative or critical tone to them. The term headstrong, howev-

er, may be either positive or derogatory, depending on the supporting circum-

stances!
 23

SOLUTION
READ, READ, and then READ some more! It’s only when you develop a voracious

reading habit that you know all the ways a word can be used and how even subtle

variations in tonality can cause sentences to be interpreted differently!

If you absolutely cannot sit down with a book, try listening to native speakers of

English understand how nuances work in everyday speech.

 24

Mistake #8
Insufficient Practice of
Data Interpretation
Data Interpretation is undoubtedly the most feared element of GRE Quants for

many test takers!

Around 7-8 questions on the GRE are from this section. They can comprise

graphs, charts, plots and tables.

The purpose of data interpretation is to test your knowledge of percentages,

ratios and statistical measures such as mean, median & mode.

Two of the major actions you’ll have to perform in data interpretation questions

are translating and extrapolating.

Students have a tough time with data interpretation as they fall prey to the tricky

and sudden axis and unit changes, and answers corresponding to the mistakes

students are most likely to make!

 25

Example :
Question: In a survey of 190 manufacturing companies, 103 hired operators, 67

hired technicians, and 49 hired both operators and technicians, as illustrated in

the Venn diagram below:

How many companies surveyed hired at least one category of employees: opera-

tors and technicians?

(a) 130

(b) 121

(c) 49

(d) 67

(e) 93

Answer:

49 companies hired both operators and technicians.

103 - 49 = 54 companies hired operators only.

67 - 49 = 18 companies hired technicians only.

Therefore, the number of companies that hired at least one category of employees is 49 + 54 + 18 = 121
 26

SOLUTION
Watch out for sudden unit changes. For example the question could have data in

hours and yards, but the answers could be in days and miles! Make sure you don’t

get caught up in unit conversions!

Keep a tab on the axes - which axis corresponds to which value. In questions that

have multiple axes, you have to pay be extra careful to not make careless mis-

takes!

Use estimation to solve questions fast! The GRE often uses inconvenient num-

bers. It may ask you to calculate the July expenditure as a fraction of the annual

expenditure. It could provide the July expenditure as $11,210 and the annual

expenditure as $56,025. In this case you could just approximate the values as

11,000 and 55,000 and pick the value just below 20%!
 27

Mistake #9
Not working on your time management!
Arguably one of the most dangerous mistakes you can possibly make, time man-

agement is a key skill to master if you have your sights set on a great score!

Often, candidates who are well equipped to answer GRE questions with accuracy

often find themselves battling the clock towards the end of the exam and conse-

quently fail to complete the test on time -

This is often because they have not practiced taking timed and full length mock

tests before their GRE® exam!

Common areas where students end up spending more time than they can afford

to include Reading Comprehension, analytical writing assessment passages, and

the data interpretation section of quants!

This is roughly how much time you can devote to each type of question:

Sentence Equivalence - 45 seconds

Text Completion - 30 to 90 seconds, depending on the number of blanks

Reading Comprehension - 1 minute 30 seconds

Quantitative Comparisons - 1 minute 15 seconds

Discrete Quant - 2 minutes

Data Interpretation - 2 minutes

AWA - 30 minutes on each essay

 28

SOLUTION
Practice taking full length timed tests at least once a week. Make it a point to time

your tests using an online timer and not a watch as watches are not permitted in

the GRE exam.

Remember that the actual GRE exam has a total of 5 sections (2 scored sections

each of quant and verbal and an unscored section that can be either). Since you

have no way of knowing which section is unscored, make it a point to practice all

5 sections during your timed practice sessions and not just 4!

Using the IGMO technique: The IGMO technique is used by almost all high scor-

ers, and it stands for intelligent guess and move on! If you find a question you’re

stuck on for more time than you can afford, just eliminate the options that totally

violate the given conditions, take an educated guess and move on! Remember the

GRE has no negative marking so ensure that you don’t leave any questions unan-

swered!

Try spending as little time as possible on the simpler questions so you have more

time to devote to the more difficult ones and also revise your answers to elimi-

nate careless mistakes.

Keep looking at the background timer from time to time to evaluate how much

time you have left and spend time on questions accordingly.

 29

Mistake #10
Ignoring the AWA section
Since the Analytical Writing Assessment is scored separately and does not form a

part of your final GRE score, a lot of students tend to take it lightly, or even go so

far as to ignore it!

However, this can pose a serious problem to students, which is why we decided to

talk about it in this eBook!

What is the AWA anyway?

The AWA is a separate component of the GRE marked on a scale of 6. However,

your AWA scores are not included in your total GRE score.

The AWA comprises two essays, with 30 minutes for each!

In the 1st essay candidates have to analyse an issue and give an argument either

in favour or against it!

Students are expected to present a compelling essay explaining their stand on the

statement.

The 2nd essay is called analyse an argument and tests your ability to logically

understand and analyze arguments and express your reasoning clearly in your

passage.

One must not be concerned about the accuracy of the statements or your own

views regarding it, but only evaluate the logic behind the argument.
 30

Mistake #10
Ignoring the AWA section
Why do universities pay so much attention to the AWA?

The AWA section checks your aptitude at understanding a topic and your ability

to analyse it from various angles, supported by foolproof logic.

Your AWA really starts to matter when the admissions council evaluates your

statement of purpose (SoP). If an applicant sends in an SoP that’s simply

astounding, but has a lesser than desirable score on his/her AWA (3 or below),

they might think that you have copied your SoP or have had it written by some-

one else.

If the quality of content, reasoning prowess and flow of your SoP is out of sync

with your performance in the AWA, it may lead to your application getting reject-

ed - unless of course your other credentials are so outstanding that they are will-

ing to overlook it.

 31

SOLUTION
Make sure you get sufficient practice for your AWA, specially if you’ve been out

of touch with writing for a while, or lack the confidence to write long passages. It

is a good idea to get your passages evaluated by an expert, to point out how you

might be going wrong and ensure you are able to write perfect essays on your

GRE .
 32

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 What is GREedge?

2 Online Academy = Higher GRE scores

What students have to say about

3 GREedge

4 Checklist to write a perfect AWA essay

AWA Essays- Issue and Argument

5 essay

7
 WHAT IS ?
GREedge is an Online Academy which is completely focused on improving
your GRE score.

The average GRE score of students from GREedge is a good 8 points

above national average as published by ETS, the provider of GRE.

GREedge has helped over 30,000 students score better in the GRE.
GREedge uses different software across its online platform to propel you
toward a high GRE score.

GREedge vs. Rest of India: 8 points lead

160
India(Avg) GREedge (Avg)

155

150
158.2

153.1
145
147.2

143.8

140
Verbal Quant
3.4 points* in Verbal, 5.1 points* in Quant* (Based on ETS published data,
GREedge internal data)

Wall of Fame CLICK HERE

 ONLINE ACADEMY = HIGHER GRE
SCORE
Academy means a society of learned persons organized to advance a field of
knowledge or area of expertise. Online means available over the internet or done
over the internet. Yes, even the mobile internet. Online Academy has the best GRE
experts available online. GREedge offers complete help in your GRE preparation to
help you boost your GRE score.

Student Facilitators and Analysts (SFAs)

SFAs are personal trainers who will be with you throughout your GRE preparation to
help you with concepts, provide feedback, and solve all your doubts. They teach,
motivate, guide, and prepare you for a high GRE score.

Learning Tracker
The Learning Tracker (LT) is a smart online platform designed by experts. It provides
complete materials for GRE and constantly monitors your preparation with the help of
“milli-second monitoring" technology.

Personalized Feedback
SFAs provide personalized feedback after reviewing your practice sessions and full
length tests. This helps you identify your weak areas and strengthen them for a better
GRE score.

START YOUR GRE PREPARATION START LEARNING NOW

WITH
 WHAT STUDENTS HAVE TO SAY
ABOUT

Shyam Sundar Arpita Sahu

“Preparing for GRE despite a hectic work
schedule is difficult but GREedge made it
possible. My SFAs designed a perfect study plan
for me and without them, it wouldn’t have been
possible.”
“The evaluation of the tests and the
explanation provided for each and every
question was simply amazing. The
explanations were so simple and easy to
understand”

Gautam Gupta
“The SFAs constantly helped me in my
preparation. All of the doubts were
answered within a day or two. The
reminders pushed me to work harder.
It was a great learning experience.”

READ MORE SUCCESS STORIES CLICK HERE

 GRE: How to score above 4 in AWA

ENSURE YOU TICK EACH BOX BEFORE STARTING YOUR AWA PREPARATION

WHAT IS AN AWA SECTION AND WHAT DOES IT COMPRISES OF?

1
KNOW MORE ABOUT THE SECTION BEFORE PREPARING.

● What is the AWA section about?

● How is the AWA section scored?
● What does the AWA section comprise of?
● What is the importance of AWA section?

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THE ARGUMENT ESSAYS?

2
UNDERSTAND THESE BEFORE MOVING ON TO FURTHER PREPARATION.

● What exactly is the issue essay?

● What exactly is the argument essay?
● What do the issue and the argument essay comprise of?

WHAT IS THE DURATION OF ESSAY WRITING?

3
MANAGE YOUR TIME WHILE PRACTISING.

● Do you know the duration of issue task?

● Do you know the duration of argument task?
● How can you manage time to score maximum in AWA?

WHAT DOES THE AWA SECTION TEST?

4
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU.

● What does the issue section demand?

● What does the argument section test?
● What kind of AWA scores do the universities look for?

FACT: 30% OF GREedge STUDENTS GET A SCORE BOOST OF AT LEAST 10 POINTS!

Mar 2016
 FAQS
1WHAT DOES ISSUE TEST?

 It tests your ability tounderstand and simplify complex ideas which will be needed during your
higher studies.
 This section is not meant to see your knowledge on anyspecific content.

2WHAT DOES ARGUMENT TEST?

 Ability to understand, analyze and evaluate arguments.

 Ability to convey your evaluation clearly in the writing.

3 HOW IS AWA SECTION SCORED?

 AWA is scored on a scale of 0 to 6

 With a Point increment of 0.5 points
 Your essay responses on the Analytical Writing section will be reviewed by e-rater,
computerized software developed by ETS.
 And by experienced essay readers during the scoring process

4 WHAT IS THE DURATION OF THE AWA SECTION?

The AWA section is 60 minutes long with 30 minutes for the issue task and 30 for the argument task.

5 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TOPICS IN THE AWA ISSUE AND ARGUMENT ESSAYS?

The topics for both issue and argument task vary from technology, art, education all the way ton
politics. These topics contain several sub topics and each lengthier than the other. So, the best way
would to gather as much information as possible and equip yourself with the current state of affairs.

--------------------------------------------------------
If you have any more doubts, you can interact with an expert and get all your
doubts clarified.

FACT: 30% OF GREedge STUDENTS GET A SCORE BOOST OF AT LEAST 10 POINTS!

Mar 2016
 HOW TO SCORE ABOVE 4 IN AWA

WHAT IS THE ISSUE TASK ABOUT?

Issue task demands you to understand the topic, focus on the instructions and decide how to address
the issue based on the instructions.

WHAT IS AN ARGUMENT?

 An Argument is a paragraph given, from where you have to find the logical flaws.
 A conclusion will be drawn based on some assumptions.
 You have to find out how the assumptions are not correct and how it cannot help us reach the
given conclusion.
 Find out the logical flaws and give reasons.
 For eg. A fifteen year old boy met with an accident. He has his board exam in a week. So he must
undergo a surgery immediately.

CONCLUSION:

 He must undergo a surgery.

 Premises (supporting detail)
 He met with an accident.
 He has his exam in a week

WHAT IS CONCLUSION, PREMISE AND ASSUMPTION?

Conclusion
 The author's opinion and recommendation for action

Premises
 The facts the author uses to back up his or her opinion

Assumptions
 Unstated conditions that must be true in order for the argument to make sense.

FACT: 30% OF GREedge STUDENTS GET A SCORE BOOST OF AT LEAST 10 POINTS!

Mar 2016
ON WHAT BASIS IS THE ARGUMENT EVALUATED?

 Responds to the argument given in the topic

 Identifies the key features of the argument and analyze each one in a thoughtful manner
 Supports each point of critique with insightful examples and analysis
 Develops its ideas in a clear, organized manner, with appropriate transitions to help connect
ideas together
 Demonstrates proficiency, fluency, and maturity in its use of sentence structure, vocabulary,
and idioms
 Demonstrates an excellent command of the elements of standard written English, including
grammar, word usage, spelling, and punctuation—but may contain minor flaws in these areas

WHAT ARE THE DO’S AND DON’TS FOR ARGUMENT TASK?

 Do’s
 Understand
 Critically analyze
 Evaluate
 Check for assumptions
 Point them out
 Logically state how the conclusion cannot be reached by the given data
 Don’ts
 Agree or Disagree with the position stated
 Express your own views on the subject being discussed.

LET’S HAVE A LOOK AT AN EXAMPLE

 The following appeared in a letter to the editor of the Balmer Island Gazette.

"On Balmer Island, where mopeds serve as a popular form of transportation, the population
increases to 100,000 during the summer months. To reduce the number of accidents involving
mopeds and pedestrians, the town council of Balmer Island should limit the number of mopeds
rented by the island's moped rental companies from 50 per day to 25 per day during the summer
season. By limiting the number of rentals, the town council will attain the 50 percent annual
reduction in moped accidents that was achieved last year on the neighboring island of Seaville,
when Seaville's town council enforced similar limits on moped rentals."

 Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in order to
decide whether the recommendation is likely to have the predicted result. Be sure to explain
how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the recommendation.

FACT: 30% OF GREedge STUDENTS GET A SCORE BOOST OF AT LEAST 10 POINTS!

Mar 2016
ARGUMENT TASK DEFINITIONS FOR INSTRUCTIONS

 Analysis
 Breaking the whole into parts
 Evaluation- Evidence, Reasoning, Conclusion
 What is the quality of the evidence?
 How sound is the reasoning?
 Assumption- belief to maintain a position (may be false)
 Alternative explanation
 Other possible causes
 Counterexample- example to refute stated argument

WHAT DO YOU GET?

 It’s about Balmer Island.

 Moped rentals are popular.
 Population increases in summer.
 Accidents occur more often.

BALMER ISLAND

 Conclusion: Accidents due to Mopeds

 Solution: Reduce Moped rentals from 50 to 25 per day.
 Reason: Seville's accidents reduced by implementing the same policy
 Flaws that can be detected

The whole passage is based on this assumption:

Mopeds are the reason of accidents.

Things that are not considered:

1. Accidents can happen due to bad road conditions.
2. It can happen due to bad weather conditions.
3. It can happen due to violation of traffic rules (both for pedestrian & Mopeds)
4. Time of accidents and also the cause. No data is present to state mopeds as the only reason
for accidents.
5. People may also own mopeds, so then decreasing the rentals will not happen.
6. Other modes of transport can also be the cause of accidents. This is not taken into
consideration.
7. Neighboring Island Seaville is taken as an example, as it implemented the same method
and reduced accidents. Seaville's climatic, traffic conditions and populations might be
different from Balmer. Hence it worked. No data to prove that both have the same
conditions and thus the same solution will work.

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INTRODUCTION

 You have to write that the paragraph is basedon which assumption and that there are a number of
flaws which help us detect that the given conclusion cannot be reached.

 The author of the letter puts forth some seemingly valid points buthis entire reasoning as a
whole seems to be rife with holes andinconsistencies. The entire argument is based on
assumptions madeabout the popularity of rented mopeds, baseless statistics andanother
town's actions. The town council would have to consider anumber of questions and evaluate
these thoroughly before actuallyimplementing the recommendation.

BODY PARAGRAPH 1

 Start with citing the flaws, the most important being the first one.

 The author states that the population rises to 100,000 in the summer months. This may indeed
be a fact but it is unknown since no source is quoted in the letter for this particular number, so
this claim must be verified. Also, an increase in population does not necessarily mean an
increase in number of mopeds used. Perhaps an alternative form of transport is used, such as
public buses, or even walking. Whatever the case may be, a detailed trend analysis must be
carried out to see how population increase, if any, affects moped usage. When patterns of
usage are determined a decision can be made on limiting the number of mopeds on the roads.

BODY PARAGRAPH 2

 Consecutively the next points should be followed:

 The author states that mopeds are a popular form of transport. While this may be true, popular
is a subjective term and could quite literally mean anything. There is no backing to prove that
most people in the town use mopeds as their primary form of transport. Mopeds may be most
commonly used by some section of residents or tourists and this is one of the questions that the
council would have to find the answer to. If the council can determine how popular the use of
mopeds is it will be able to evaluate the situation better. If you have any more doubts, you can
register for our online seminars.

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BODY PARAGRAPH 3

 The next point should be here:

 The author seems to believe that all the mopeds used by the general population are rented, but
perhaps some section of the people own their own mopeds. If this is true, then limiting the
number of rentals need not bring about any kind of a reduction in the number of these vehicles
that are on the streets of Balmer Island during the summer months. It must be determined by
the town council whether the majority of the people rent or own mopeds. Also, it is not
necessary that by reducing the number of mopeds on the streets, the number of accidents will
drastically fall. There will still be a substantial number of mopeds and pedestrians, and one
careless rider can do more damage that four careful riders. This must also be taken into
consideration by the town council before any decisions are made.

BODY PARAGRAPH 4

 The next point follows-The comparison:

 The author quotes the example of neighboring island Seaville where a limit was imposed on the
number of moped rentals. There is no proof to substantiate the claim that a similar reduction in
number of accidents will be achieved in Balmer Island. The conditions at Seaville could be vastly
different from those on Balmer Island. For example, most of the mopeds could be rented, and
all the incoming population could use mopeds as their primary method of transport. The fact
that the success of the scheme at Seaville does not guarantee its success on Balmer Island must
be kept in mind and suitable comparisons of present conditions can be made.

CONCLUSION

 Although it seems like the author has put forth some valid points about the number of
accidents in summer and their reduction, it is necessary that the town council consider all the
related questions before taking any decision on the matter. So it seems unlikely that any
immediate action will be taken based on one recommendation by the author, but on
investigating the matter further perhaps the council can decide on the best course of action.

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 •Paraphrase the conclusion
•Mention the premise
Introduction •Present your position on the logical soundness of the conclusion
•Point out that the argument is not well reasoned

•Make a smooth transition

Supporting •State the most obvious flaw/assumption
•Explain the assumption made by the author
detail 1 •Discuss the plausibility of this assumption
•Mention what information is needed to strengthen the argument

Supporting •Ensure a smooth transition

•Describe the next flaw/assumption
•Assess the assumption and its plausibility
detail 2 •Describe what else is needed to strengthen the argument

Supporting •Make a smooth transition

•State the next flaw/assumption
•Question the assumption made by the author
detail 3 •Assess the accuracy of this assumption
•Describe the kind of information that will strengthen the argument.

Conclusion •State once again that the argument is not well reasoned
•Summarize-Suggest ways to strengthen the argument.

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SAMPLE ESSAY SCORE OF 6

The following appeared in an article written by Dr. Karp, an anthropologist.

"Twenty years ago, Dr. Field, a noted anthropologist, visited the island of Tertiaand concluded
from his observations that children in Tertia were reared by an entire village rather than by their
own biological parents. However, my recent interviews with children living in the group of islands
that includes Tertia show that these children spend much more time talking about their biological
parents than about other adults in the village. This research of mine proves that Dr. Field's
conclusion about Tertian village culture is invalid and thus that the observation-centered approach
to studying cultures is invalid as well. The interview-centered method that my team of graduate
students is currently using in Tertia will establish a much more accurate understanding of child-
rearing traditions there and in other island cultures.“

 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. (It is
important to follow the instruction)

(INTRODUCTION)

It might seem logical, at first glance, to agree with the argument in Dr. Karp’s article that
children in Tertia actually are raised by their biological parents (and perhaps even, by
implication, that an observation-centered approach to anthropological study is not as valid as
an interview-centered one). However, in order to fully evaluate this argument, we need to have
a significant amount of additional evidence. The argument could end up being much weaker
than it seems, or it might actually be quite valid. In order to make that determination, we need
to know more than analyze what we learn.

(EVIDENCE 1)

The first piece of evidence that we would need in order to evaluate Dr. Karp’s claims is
information about whether or not Tertia and the surrounding island group have changed
significantly in the past 20 years. Dr. Field conducted his observational study 20 years ago, and
it is possible that Tertia has changed significantly since then. For example, if we had evidence
that in the intervening years Westerners had settled on the island and they introduced a more
typical Western-style family structure, it would certainly weaken Dr. Karp’s argument. In that
case, the original study could have been accurate, and Dr. Karp’s study could be correct, as well,
though his conclusion that Dr. Field’s method is ineffective would be seriously weakened.

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(EVIDENCE 2)

Another piece of evidence that might help us evaluate this claim involves the exactlocations
where Dr. Karp’s interviews took place. According to this article, Dr. Karp andhis graduate
students conducted interviews of “children living in the group of islands that includes Tertia.” If
we were to learn that they never interviewed a single Tertian child, it would significantly
weaken the conclusion. It could turn out to be the case, forexample, that children on Tertia are
raised communally, whereas children on otherislands nearby are raised by their biological
parents.

(EVIDENCE 3)

In order to fully evaluate this article, we would also need to learn more about theinterview
questions that Dr. Karp’s team used. What exactly did they ask? We don’tknow, nor do we
know what the children’s responses actually were. What did they sayabout their biological
parents? The mere fact that they speak more frequently abouttheir biological parents than they
do about other adults does not meant that they areraised by their biological parents. It would
significantly undermine Dr. Karp’s argumentif it turned out that the children said things like
how much they missed their parents orhow their parents had left them in a communal
environment. Without knowing WHATthe children said, it is hard to accept Dr. Karp’s
conclusion.

(EVIDENCE 4)

It is slightly more difficult to discuss the evidence we might need in order toevaluate the more
interesting claims in Dr. Karp’s article, namely his extension of theresults of his study to a
conclusion that interview-centered methods are inherentlymore valid than observational-
centered approaches. In order to fully evaluate thisclaim, in fact, we would need to look at
many more examples of interview-based andobservation-based anthropological studies and we
would also need to look intodifferent study designs. Perhaps Dr. Field did not conduct an
effective observationalstudy, but other observational approaches could be effective. In order to
make suchgrandiose claims, Dr. Karp really needs a lot of additional evidence (ideally a meta-
analysis of hundreds of anthropological studies).

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(CONCLUSION)

Clearly, then, we need to have additional evidence in order to get a more

completeunderstanding of the strengths and weaknesses of Dr. Karp’s article. We need to know
about Tertia and the surrounding islands, whether or not they have changed over thepast 20
years. We also need to know about study design (Dr. Karp’s and Dr. Field’s).And we really need
a lot more information if we want to extend the results of a studyabout one island culture to all
anthropological fieldwork.

WHY IT IS 6?

 This outstanding response clearly addresses the specific task directions and presents a cogent,
insightful analysis by specifically detailing the impact that different pieces of evidence would
have on the argument. The introductory paragraph sets up the organization of the response,
and each body paragraph provides the sort of compelling development typical in responses that
receive a score of 6. For example, after the writer discusses possible evidence that Tertian child-
rearing practices have changed over the past 20 years, he or she clearly explains the impact
information about those changes might have on the argument, saying, “In that case, the
original study could have been accurate, and Dr. Karp’s study could be correct, as well, though
his conclusion that Dr. Field’s method is ineffective would be seriously weakened.” Not only is
this argument compelling, but it also demonstrates sophisticated syntax and facility with
language. There is more insightful development in the fifth paragraph, in which the writer
examines Dr. Karp’s claims about interview-based studies. Although there are a few typos and
minor errors here, nothing in the response distracts from the overall fluency of the writing.
Sentences like this one demonstrate the fluent and precise diction and varied syntax that are
evident throughout the response: “It could turn out to be the case, for example, that children on
Tertia are raised communally, whereas children on other islands nearby are raised by their
biological parents.” Because of its compelling and insightful development and fluent and
precise language, this response fits all of the bullet points for a 6.
 An argumentative essay should have at least 450 to 550 words
 Four steps to practice

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LET’S HAVE A LOOK AT AN EXAMPLE OF AN ISSUE ESSAY

In addressing the specific task directions, a 6 response presents a cogent, well-articulated analysis of
the issue and conveys meaning skillfully.

A typical response in this category exhibits the following characteristics:

1. It articulates a clear and insightful position on the issue in accordance with the assigned task.

2. It develops the position fully, with compelling reasons and/or persuasive examples.

3. It sustains a well-focused, well-organized analysis, connecting ideas logically.

4. It conveys ideas fluently and precisely, using effective vocabulary and sentence variety.

5. It demonstrates superior facility with the conventions of standard written English (i.e., grammar,
usage, and mechanics) but may have minor errors.

ISSUE WRITING FALLS UNDER THESE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES

• Education

• Art

• Technology and society

• Government and Power

• Intellectual Endeavors

• Philosophical

EDUCATION

 “Educational institutions have a responsibility to dissuade students from pursuing fields of

study in which they are unlikely to succeed.”

TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

 “As people rely more and more on technology to solve problems, the ability of humans to think
for themselves will surely deteriorate.”

CITIES

 “Claim: Governments must ensure that their major cities receive the financial support they
need in order to thrive.
Reason: It is primarily in cities that a nation’s cultural traditions are preserved and generated.”

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ARTS

 “Some people believe that government funding of the arts is necessary to ensure that the arts
can flourish and be available to all people. Others believe that government funding of the arts
threatens the integrity of the arts.”

GOVERNMENT AND POWER

 “The well-being of a society is enhanced when many of its people question authority.”

INTELLECTUAL ENDEAVORS

 “In any field of inquiry, the beginner is more likely than the expert to make important
contributions.”

PHILOSOPHICAL

 “The greatness of individuals can be decided only by those who live after them, not by their
contemporaries.”

ISSUE TOPIC

 "True beauty is found not in the exceptional but in the commonplace."

 Write an essay in which you take a position on the statement above. Indeveloping and
supporting your essay, consider instances in which thestatement does and does not hold true.

A GOOD INTRODUCTION ACCOMPLISHES THE FOLLOWING TASKS:

 Clearly establishes the topic of the paper.

 Previews both sides of the issue at hand.

 Presents a clear thesis.

 How should I begin my introduction?

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 Rhetorical
Question

Famous
Quotations Anecdote

Fact/Statistic Definition

INTRODUCTION

Beauty, by definition, is that which moves us or impacts us significantly. Some would argue that
beauty is found everywhere, from the flowers to the stars. But others would state that true
beauty is found only in rare, special instances. After weighing the evidence, it is certain that
beauty is the province of the exceptional, not the commonplace. People are moved most by
things that they rarely experience, not the things they experience every day.

A GOOD BODY PARAGRAPH SHOULD DO THE FOLLOWING:

1 . Use a good transition /topic sentence

2. Present an example
3. Explain how the example supports the thesis(Good examples are relevant to the topic
and contain specific details.)

HOW TO DEVELOP A PARAGRAPH?

 The paragraph is a series of sentences developing one topic.

 The main idea of a paragraph is stated in one sentence. This is called the topic sentence.
 The rest of the paragraph consists of sentences that develop or explain the main idea.
 A topic sentence can be developed by giving details, examples, evidence or reason.
 A concluding sentence clinches the point made in the paragraph.

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BODY PARAGRAPH 1

Those that would argue that true beauty is everywhere might pointto the beauty of a flower, or
the starlit night. These experiences arecertainly common, but do they show that true beauty is
commonplace?Flowers might be considered beautiful, but how often does a personstop to look
at or appreciate every flower? Flowers are so commonthat in many cases, they are ignored or
viewed as nothing special.However, on those rare occasions- exceptional occasions, one
mightsay-when we want to commemorate an event or express emotion, wenotice the beauty
of flowers. Thus, it is not the commonplace flowerthat strikes us as beautiful, but the
exceptional situations themselvesthat move us to appreciate the flower.

BODY PARAGRAPH 2

Now consider the exceptional. Leonardo da Vinci 's Mona Lisa is sure one of the most
exceptional, and beautiful, paintings ever created. Few people who view the painting are not
moved by the sheer beauty of it, and the Mona Lisa is instantly recognized as a masterpiece of
art. And yet, there have been literally millions of paintings produced in human history. Is every
single one of them beautiful? Does every one of those paintings have the impact that da Vinci 's
does? Of course not. In order to find beauty, we must separate the exceptional cases from the
common ones. True beauty is such because it stands out from the masses of the average and
pedestrian

BODY PARAGRAPH 3

Like da Vinci 's Mona Lisa, the cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris is an exceptional, and
exceptionally beautiful, object. Churches and cathedrals line the streets of most major cities in
Western Europe, but few possess the renown of Notre Dame, one of the most beautiful
cathedrals in the world. Compared to a common church or cathedral, Notre Dame is truly awe-
inspiring; Victor Hugo used the building as the backdrop for his magnificent book The
Hunchback of Notre Dame and thousands of tourists travel untold miles to view the cathedral.
That sort of beauty is not possessed by just any church on the corner.

CONCLUSION

A good conclusion :
1 . Alerts the reader that the essay is ending
2. Summarizes the main points of the essay

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  In conclusion, it's clear that true beauty is found not in the commonplace, but in the exceptional.
The Mona Lisa and Notre Dame Cathedral are both exceptional examples of fairly
commonplace things and it is these exceptions that are noted as truly beautiful. If anything, the
commonplace serves only as a contrast so that we can understand what a true beauty really is.

STRUCTURE OF THE ESSAY

•Paraphrase the Issue/Explain the given quote.

•State your Thesis clearly
•A quick description/instance or supporting the thesis can be given.
Introduction

•Ensure a smooth transition.

•Introduce your best/most relevant example.
•Explain the relevance of the example.
Supporting •Justify your example i.e. how it supports your thesis
detail 1

•Provide a suitable transition.

•Introduce the next example—this should be the second best example and should be
somehow different from the first example.
Supporting •Explain the relevance of the example.
detail 2 •Explain how it supports your thesis.

•Use a transition word

•Introduce the next example—this example, too, should be somewhat
different from the first two example—try not to be repetitive.
Supporting •Explain the relevance of the example.
detail 3 •Explain how it supports your thesis.

•Write an effective conclusion

•Transition is important
•Restate your thesis
Conclusion •Summarize

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BUDGET YOUR TIME

• Understand the topic as well as the

2 minutes instruction

4 minutes • Jot down the notes

2 minutes • Organize your ideas

20 minutes • Write your essay

2 minutes • Proofread

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