Writing! Writing! Anyone please share your AWA experience!

Tks you guys.. Just because I did AWA in GRE so bad so this time I can not feel confident

I have the GRE-GMAT writing book too, its badly scanned, I am lazy too

Do you know any good templates for AWA?

well i have princeton verbal book which has good templates.Moreover 800score.com awa also has templates which can be found on esnips i guess.That would be sufficient.

yah i have the 800score.com awa template as well, if u want u can PM me i'll send to u

Why not post it here? Others need it too.....

i scored a 6.0 on AWA. here are my notes for analysis of an issue:

essay 1: analysis of an issue
1). PRE-WRITING: dismantle the the issue - what is the basic issue framed as a question?

2). PROS AND CONS: think of pro arguments and con arguments that answer the question. pick a side based on which you can more adequately defend.

3). CLARIFICATION: identify any phrases in the "analysis of an issue" information given that may need interpretation. expand on these (if applicable) in your essay.

4). WRITING THE ESSAY: the essay should be organized as follows -
i.) INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH - explain argument and introduce pros or cons
ii). ARGUMENT 1 - for or against
iii). ARGUMENT 2 - for or against
iv). ARGUMENT 3- for or against
v). COUNTER-ARGUMENT - i.e., "some might argue that something else is true, however..."
vi). CLEAR CONCLUSION - conclude your argument and be clear about what you've argued.

5). RHETORICAL QUESTION: include a rhetorical question in both AWA essays - i.e., "What does the author mean by patriotic expression?"

here are my notes for analysis of an argument:

essay 2: analysis of an argument
1). PRE-WRITING: identify the conclusion, evidence, and assumptions contained within the argument.

2). VALIDITY: identify under what circumstance the assumptions are valid or invalid.

3). MISSING INFORMATION: is there anything you deem relevant to the argument that is not discussed?

4). WRITING THE ESSAY: the essay should be organized as follows -
i.) INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH - state the arguments assumptions. i.e., "the writer concludes that..." identify three problems with the argument that will correspond to three paragraphs in your essay. remember that any undefined or vague terms need to be addressed in your essay.
ii). ASSUMPTION PROBLEM 1
iii). ASSUMPTION PROBLEM 2
iv). ASSUMPTION PROBLEM 3
v). CONCLUSION (HOW THE ARGUMENT COULD BE IMPROVED): demonstrate how additional information you have suggested in the 3 body paragraphs of your essay would be useful in strengthening the author's argument.

5). RHETORICAL QUESTION: include a rhetorical question in both AWA essays - i.e., "What does the author mean by patriotic expression?"

hope this helps and good luck to everyone!!

also, for what it's worth, i didn't study for AWA in any way.

i wrote the notes that i have typed here on a small index card and glanced at it a few times in the car on my way to the exam. the notes are from a Kaplan class.

I scored a 5.0. I was expecting a 2.0. I practiced once during my prep only because I wanted to get used to building up stamina for taking the entire exam. That is the only reason. I never looked at any of the AWA in the OG. I never practiced from the OG. Here's the only template you need, for both essays:

paragraph #1 your opinion
paragraph #2 first reason for your opinion
paragraph #3 second reason for your opinion
paragraph #4 third reason for your opinion
paragraph #5 restate your opinion & your reasons

Write furiously, write as much as you can, and write quickly. You're not writing for quality, you're writing for quantity. I finished my awa in about 35 minutes which gave me some time to sit in front of my comp to relax.

Also, stop worrying about the awa, you do not need to prepare, it really doesn't matter what you score, instead concentrate on the more important verbal and quant.

Good luck.

Nothing more to say...Thanks you guys so much..

Definitely develop a quick outline to get your ideas sorted out before you begin to write. Make sure to provide enough evidence for your statements, and do a grammatical and spell check before submitting. Princeton Review also will grade your practice essays if you pay a lovely $19.95 .

julia

Okay guys, i will post here, hopefully no issue with copyright =))

I took the PR class any the teacher told us that "he has heard" of people using this template and writing complete garbage sentences in the middle of the paragraph and still getting 6s - I got a 5.5 and all I did was dumb it down. PR teaches good GMAT writing is NOT good writing.

"First trick" write a lot.

"Second trick" Always disagree with the essay

"third trick" use transitional words that show a person who is skimming this essay you have structure.


This is my Sample.

I disagree with the authors claim that....blah blah (semi restatement). Filler sentence. Thesis (I normally use three parts ex. The major emphasis of any gmat study should be on verbal, quant, and awa)

-Now use your three parts for each paragraph.

The FIRST POINT, blah blah blah. Support sentences. Support sentences. Finish Paragraph off.

ANOTHER Point, (same)

Finally, (same)

IN CONCLUSION (if you always end this way you'll get your points) restatement of argument. Final sentence.


--Ok so if you write anything that looks like that you will hate yourself because it is sooo pitiful but it truly works, people are reading your essay for about 1 min. If you write a lot they basically skim it, look for buzz words and structure. Like I mentioned before our teacher told us they would put stuff like I really enjoy spending time with cats and dogs. Or As soon as I get done writing this essay it's on to the math, then verbal, and finally I'll get to go home.

I definitely don't suggest writing in the garbage sentences but if you write a lot and have 3 paragraphs plus an introduction and a conclusion you are basically guaranteed a 5 with no prep at all.

AlbertNTN, thanks

Tks so much Albert...

Yes I have heard about writing alot, too. TKs for sharing
I have trouble with argument essays. What is your experience dealing with it? Should we always confute the argument?

..Now I should spend time reading the attachment that Albert sent to us..

Yes, you should always find weak points in the argument, at least 3 of them

The issue essay should have at least two points in support of pros (or cons) and 1 in support of the opposing view.

All essays are presented as debatable, so you can refute them and show how can they be improved. Well, at least that worked for me (6.0)

Quick Question??

If v finish AWA is 35mins, will we be able to take a 25min break. I was under the impression that v get 2 breaks, one before quant and one before verbal and that too 10min fixed optional break.

?