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Leonardo DiCaprio is not an expert on climate change. While he is a celebrity who may have some influence, his speaking
on the issue in no way validates or invalidates the global warming argument.
Analyze an Argument Practice Writing Exercise
At the end of this chapter you will find a practice essay prompt. On one page we have provided a series of questions
and a basic outline structure to help you think through the elements needed for a successful Analyze an Argument essay.
The questions will help you solidify and organize your responses to the argument and draft your essay. Practicing with
these questions in mind can help you firm up your strategic approach to writing your essay.
Chapter Overview
The Analyze an Argument task measures your ability to analyze a presented argument and its evidence to evaluate its
persuasiveness and logical soundness. The Analyze an Argument essay always appears last in the Analytical Writing
section; you will have 30 minutes to complete the essay.
Essay Task Directions
In addition to assessing the argument, you will also be presented with specific writing instructions that require you to
both understand and explain the errors in logical reasoning and potential weaknesses in the argument. Pay close attention
to these instructions and familiarize yourself with the prompts ahead of the exam.
Scoring
Essays are scored on a scale of 0.0−6.0, and your Analyze an Argument essay score is averaged with your score from the
Analyze an Issue essay to derive your cumulative Analytical Writing score. You will not receive a separate score for the
Analyze an Argument essay.
Tips for a Solid Analyze an Argument Essay
• Evaluate the argument and identify logical flaws, areas of weakness, and/or issues with data.
• Analyze the merits of the argument and leave your opinion out of the equation.
• Your overall essay organization is important, but make sure each paragraph is also well organized.
• Take a few minutes to proofread your essay and check for missing words, awkward sentence constructions, and
grammatical errors.
Common Flaws
• Assuming that characteristics of a group apply to each member of that group, and vice versa
• Assuming that a certain condition is necessary for a certain outcome
• Drawing a weak analogy between two things
• Relying on inappropriate or potentially unrepresentative statistics
• Relying on biased or tainted data (methods for collecting data must be unbiased and poll responses must be
credible)
UP NEXT:
In the next chapter, we will switch gears and look at the Verbal Reasoning section to explore the kinds of
questions asked, some general strategies, and resources for helping you prepare for the section.
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