Medium GRE Essay Analysis Questions Practice Questions

Concept Explanation

GRE essay analysis questions require test-takers to evaluate the logical soundness of a given argument or the philosophical validity of a specific claim. These tasks, specifically the Analyze an Argument and Analyze an Issue prompts, assess your ability to think critically, identify hidden assumptions, and articulate a coherent response in written English. Unlike standard multiple-choice questions, these analysis tasks focus on the structural integrity of reasoning and the quality of evidence provided to support a conclusion. Success in this section depends on recognizing logical fallacies, such as the post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy, and providing specific examples that either bolster or undermine the prompt's central thesis. For those building their foundation, reviewing GRE writing strategy questions can provide a structured approach to these prompts.

When approaching medium-level questions, you must move beyond simple summary. You are expected to dissect the relationship between evidence and claims. For instance, if an argument suggests that a new city park will increase local business revenue based on a single survey, a medium-level analysis would question the survey's sample size, the representativeness of the participants, and the potential for confounding variables like seasonal economic shifts. This analytical rigor is a cornerstone of GRE Prep, as it mirrors the critical thinking required in graduate-level research.

Solved Examples

1. Prompt Analysis: "The city council of Riverdale should invest in a new stadium to boost the local economy. A similar project in the neighboring city of Brookside led to a 15% increase in tourism." Identify one major assumption.
   1. Step 1: Identify the conclusion. The conclusion is that Riverdale should invest in a stadium.
   2. Step 2: Identify the evidence. The evidence is the 15% tourism increase in Brookside.
   3. Step 3: Evaluate the link. The argument assumes that Riverdale and Brookside are sufficiently similar. If Brookside is a major transit hub and Riverdale is a remote residential suburb, the stadium may not have the same effect.
   4. Step 4: Formulate the analysis. The "false analogy" fallacy is present here; the success of one city does not guarantee the success of another without comparing demographic and geographic variables.
2. Issue Analysis: "Governments should prioritize environmental protection over economic growth." How would you develop a balanced perspective?
   1. Step 1: Acknowledge the importance of environmental protection for long-term sustainability (e.g., climate change mitigation).
   2. Step 2: Acknowledge the necessity of economic growth for funding social services and technological innovation.
   3. Step 3: Synthesize the two. Argue that "Green Growth" is a viable middle ground where sustainable technologies create new economic sectors.
   4. Step 4: Provide a concrete example, such as Denmark's investment in wind energy, which supports both the environment and the economy.
3. Argument Logic: "Sales of 'Glow-Health' vitamins rose by 30% after a famous athlete endorsed them. Therefore, the increase is entirely due to the celebrity endorsement." Evaluate the causality.
   1. Step 1: Identify the causal claim (Endorsement → Sales increase).
   2. Step 2: Look for alternative explanations. Did the company also lower prices? Was there a simultaneous health trend or a flu season that drove vitamin sales?
   3. Step 3: Address the word "entirely." This is an extreme qualifier that makes the argument vulnerable.
   4. Step 4: Conclude that without data ruling out other market factors, the causal link is weak.

Practice Questions

1. An argument states that because a local library saw a decrease in book checkouts, the community is becoming less interested in reading. What is a primary flaw in this reasoning?
2. Consider the claim: "Educational institutions should discourage students from pursuing fields of study in which they are unlikely to succeed." To what extent do you agree or disagree?
3. A memo suggests that a company should switch to remote work permanently because productivity stayed the same during a three-month trial. What information is missing to make this a sound recommendation?

4. Identify the assumption: "If the university increases tuition by 10%, it will have enough funds to renovate the science lab, which will attract more prestigious faculty."
5. Evaluate the following statement: "The best way to understand a society is to study its major cities." Provide one reason for and one reason against.
6. A study shows that students who eat breakfast perform better on exams. A principal decides to provide free breakfast to all students to raise the school's average GPA. What is the potential logical fallacy?
7. Analyze the prompt: "Companies should be required to provide a portion of their profits to the communities in which they operate." What are the potential negative consequences of such a policy?
8. "Recent data shows that people who own pets live longer. Therefore, the government should subsidize pet ownership to reduce healthcare costs." Critique the logic of this proposal.
9. If a city sees a drop in crime after installing more streetlights, is it safe to conclude the streetlights caused the drop? Why or why not?
10. Discuss the extent to which you agree with the statement: "Highly successful people have a responsibility to mentor others."

Answers & Explanations

1. Question 1: The flaw is the assumption that "book checkouts" is the only metric for "interest in reading." People might be reading e-books, buying books online, or using different media types, which means interest hasn't declined, just the medium of consumption has changed.
2. Question 2: A strong response would address the difficulty of defining "success" early in a student's life. It might argue that discouraging students stifles innovation and that failure is often a prerequisite for eventual mastery.
3. Question 3: The missing information includes long-term effects on company culture, employee burnout, and the cost of maintaining cybersecurity for remote workers. A three-month trial (a short-term sample) may not reflect long-term sustainability.
4. Question 4: The argument assumes that a 10% increase in tuition will not lead to a decrease in enrollment. If enrollment drops significantly, the total revenue might actually decrease, leaving no funds for the renovation.
5. Question 5: Pro: Cities are hubs of culture, economy, and politics. Con: Cities often represent an elite or specific demographic, ignoring the rural and suburban populations that constitute a large part of many societies.
6. Question 6: The fallacy is "correlation implies causation." It is possible that students who eat breakfast come from higher-income households with more resources, and those resources (rather than the breakfast itself) lead to higher exam scores.
7. Question 7: Negative consequences could include companies moving their operations to areas with fewer regulations, reduced capital for reinvestment and innovation, or companies passing the cost onto consumers through higher prices.
8. Question 8: The logic is flawed because it ignores the costs associated with pet ownership (veterinary bills, food) which might offset healthcare savings. Furthermore, the correlation between pet ownership and longevity might be due to the fact that healthier, more active people are more likely to adopt pets.
9. Question 9: No. Other factors could be at play, such as increased police patrols, a change in local economic conditions, or new community outreach programs that coincided with the installation of the lights.
10. Question 10: An analytical response would weigh the moral obligation of giving back against the individual's right to their own time and labor. It could also consider whether forced or expected mentorship is as effective as voluntary mentorship.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an Issue and an Argument essay?

The Issue essay asks you to take a position on a general topic and support it with evidence, while the Argument essay asks you to critique the logical flaws in a provided short passage. In the Issue task, you are the architect of the argument; in the Argument task, you are the inspector of someone else's reasoning.

How long should a medium-level GRE essay be?

While there is no official word count, most high-scoring essays range between 400 and 600 words. Quality of analysis and clarity of thought are significantly more important than sheer length, provided you have fully developed your points.

Do I need to know specific facts for the GRE Issue essay?

No, you do not need specialized knowledge, but you should use specific, relevant examples from history, current events, science, or personal experience to support your claims. The readers are looking for how you use evidence to build a logical case, not your ability to recall trivia.

How is the GRE Analytical Writing section scored?

Each essay is scored by at least one human reader and one computerized e-rater on a scale of 0 to 6. The two scores are averaged and then the scores for the two essays are averaged again to produce a single final score for the section.

Can I use "I" in my GRE essays?

Yes, using the first person is acceptable, especially in the Issue essay where you are expressing your own perspective. However, you should maintain a formal tone and avoid overusing personal anecdotes if they don't directly serve your logical argument.