gmat analytical writing argument

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GMATAnalyticalWritingArgument

JOHN CHU

写作基本要求

◆ 字数： 30 分钟 300 - 400 字（ 100 字来源于题目）◆ 抓住要害攻击攻击语言可以不专业

写作步骤与时间分配◆ 快速审题（ 2 分钟）重点把握：• Claim and Conclusion• Evidence: Statistics, Examples, Facts• Assumption

分析材料Of the two leading real estate firms in our town—Adams Realty and Fitch Realty—Adams is clearly superior. Adams has 40 real estate agents. In contrast, Fitch has 25, many of whom work only part-time. Moreover, Adams' revenue last year was twice as high as that of Fitch, and included home sales that averaged $168,000, compared to Fitch's $144,000. Homes listed with Adams sell faster as well: ten years ago, I listed my home with Fitch and it took more than four months to sell; last year, when I sold another home, I listed it with Adams, and it took only one month. Thus, if you want to sell your home quickly and at a good price, you should use Adams.

分析材料Conclusion: choose Adams

Evidence 1: 工作人数Evidence 2: 收入的两倍Evidence 3: 平均房价Evidence 4: 十年与去年的销售差别Assumption: 更快更好

分析材料Previous experience has shown that our stores are most profitable in areas where residents are highly concerned with leading healthy lives. We should therefore build our next new store in Plainsville, which has many such residents. Plainsville merchants report that sales of running shoes and exercise clothing are at all-time highs. The local health club, which nearly closed five years ago due to lack of business, has more members than ever, and the weight training and aerobics classes are always full. We can even anticipate a new generation of customers: Plainsville’s schoolchildren are required to participate in a ’fitness for life’ program, which emphasizes the benefits of regular exercise at an early age.

分析材料Claim: build the next new store in Plainsville

Evidence 1: 以前的经验Evidence 2: 销售处于历史最高点Evidence 3: 会员 / 满员Evidence 4: 预见新生代Assumption: 盈利

分析材料Seven years ago, homeowners in nearby Brookville community adopted a set of restrictions on how the community's yards should be landscaped and what colors the exteriors of homes should be painted. Since then, average property values have tripled in Brookville. In order to raise property values in Deerhaven Acres, we should adopt our own set of restrictions on landscaping and house painting.

分析材料 Conclusion: 实施景观房屋涂色规定Evidence 1: 附近的社区实施了布置房屋及涂色规定，房屋平均价格翻了三番Assumption: 规定的实施使得价格增长

写作步骤与时间分配◆ 开头段（ 5 分钟）归纳所给论证的结论假设和证据指出其犯有严重逻辑错误

写作步骤与时间分配◆ 开头段（ 5 分钟）第一句：指出原论证的结论或主张第二句：重复其重要论据第三句：表明自己对原论证的判断

写作步骤与时间分配Seven years ago, homeowners in nearby Brookville community adopted a set of restrictions on how the community's yards should be landscaped and what colors the exteriors of homes should be painted. Since then, average property values have tripled in Brookville. In order to raise property values in Deerhaven Acres, we should adopt our own set of restrictions on landscaping and house painting.

写作步骤与时间分配In this letter, a committee of Deerhaven Acres homeowners recommends that in order to enhance Deerhaven property values homeowners should follow certain restrictions concerning their homes’ exterior appearance. To support this recommendation the committee points out that in the seven years since Brookville adopted similar restrictions property values there have risen. This argument rests on a series of unsubstantiated assumptions, and is therefore unpersuasive as it stands.

写作步骤与时间分配开头段模板 1

In this argument the author concludes that . The conclusion is based on (the result of a survey) . In addition, the arguer asserts that . However, the statement alone does not constitute a logical argument in favor of its conclusion and fails to provide compelling support making this argument sound.

写作步骤与时间分配开头段模板 2

In this argument, the arguer recommends that . To justify this claim, the arguer provides the evidence that . (In addition, he cites the result of a recent study that .) A careful examination of this argument would reveal how groundless the conclusion is.

写作步骤与时间分配People should not be misled by the advertising competition between Coldex and Cold-Away, both popular over-the-counter cold medications that anyone can purchase without a doctor's prescription. Each brand is accusing the other of causing some well-known, unwanted side effect: Coldex is known to contribute to existing high blood pressure and Cold-Away is known to cause drowsiness. But the choice should be clear for most health-conscious people: Cold-Away has been on the market for much longer and is used by more hospitals than is Coldex. Clearly, Cold-Away is more effective.

写作步骤与时间分配The argument concludes that Cold-Away is a more effective non-prescription cold medication than Coldex. According to the author, each one has a distinct unwanted side effect, stated by its opponent: Cold-Away causes drowsiness, while Coldex contributes to existing high blood pressure. To support his conclusion, the argument points out that Cold-Away has been on the market considerably longer, and that it is used by more hospitals than Coldex. I find the argument unconvincing for several reasons.

写作步骤与时间分配◆ 正文段落（ 17 分钟）移动光标，先写出每个正文段落的主旨句按照错误出现的自然顺序或是错误的大小进行攻击，在已经写好的主旨句下展开全面分析，完成正文段落。

写作步骤与时间分配◆ 正文段落（ 17 分钟）要求：Unity ，一段一个错误，小错可以合二为一 Coherence, 段落开头要有主旨主旨句前要有信号词

例题

◆ P792

逻辑错误与经典句式1. 无理假设During her seventeen years as a professor of botany, Professor

Thomas has proved herself to be well worth her annual salary of $50,000. Her classes are among the largest at the university, demonstrating her popularity among students. Moreover, the money she has brought to the university in research grants has exceeded her salary in each of the last two years. Therefore, in consideration of Professor Thomas' demonstrated teaching and research abilities, we recommend that she receive a $10,000 raise and a promotion to Department Chairperson; without such a raise and promotion, we fear that Professor Thomas will leave Elm City University for another college.

逻辑错误与经典句式

The reporter provides no evidence whatsoever regarding the likelihood that Thomas would leave the university if she is not granted the proposed raise and promotion. Lacking such evidence, it is entirely possible that Thomas is quite content in her current position and at her current salary level. Thus, the committee cannot justifiably rely on this claim to bolster its recommendation.

逻辑错误与经典句式1. 无理假设It is unreasonable / unwarranted to assume …

The arguer takes for granted without justification that …

The argument depends on a questionable assumption that …

逻辑错误与经典句式The department of education in the state of Attra recommends that high school students be assigned homework every day. Yet a recent statewide survey of high school math and science teachers calls the usefulness of daily homework into question. In the district of Sanlee, 86% of the teachers reported assigning homework 3 to 5 times a week, whereas in the district of Marlee, less than 25% of the teachers reported assigning homework 3 to 5 times a week. Yet the students in Marlee earn better grades overall and are less likely to be required to repeat a year of school than are the students in Sanlee. Therefore, all teachers in our high schools should assign homework no more than twice a week.

2. 证据不足或缺失


In addition, the speaker’s recommendation relies on the assumption that the amount of homework assigned to students is the only possible reason for the comparative academic performance between students in the two districts. Perhaps …

逻辑错误与经典句式Typically, as people age, their bone mass decreases, making them more vulnerable to bone fractures. A recent study concludes that the most effective way to reduce the risk of fractures in later life is to take twice the recommended dose of vitamin D and calcium daily. The three-year study followed a group of French women in their eighties who were nursing home residents. The women were given daily supplements of twice the recommended dose of vitamin D and calcium. In addition, the women participated in a light weightlifting program. After three years, these women showed a much lower rate of hip fractures than is average for their age.


First and foremost, the arguer unfairly assumes that the additional vitamin D and calcium rather than the weight training, were responsible for the lower-than-average incidence of hip fractures among this group of women…


The argument also overlooks many other possible explanations for the comparatively low incidence of hip fractures among this group of women. For example…

逻辑错误与经典句式2. 证据不足或缺失• It does not take into account that possibility that…• The arguer fails to rule out the possibility that…• The arguer fails to provide any sufficient evidence

to support the assumption that…• The arguer ignores/neglects other relevant factors

concerning…

逻辑错误与经典句式3. 无因果关系In measuring electrical activity in different parts of the brain, researchers found that people who describe themselves as generally happy have more activity in the left prefrontal lobe of their brains than do other people. Therefore, a medication for stimulating the left prefrontal lobe of the brain would be an effective treatment for clinical depression.

逻辑错误与经典句式3. 无因果关系There is no relationship, at least the author does not provide, that more activity in the left prefrontal lobe of brains is responsible for the feeling of happy, and in turn can be used in the treatment for clinical depression. If the author provide evidence at the same time that most of the people whose left prefrontal lobe act more are likely to be happy, then, his assumption might have the chance to be true.

逻辑错误与经典句式3. 无因果关系A recent study suggests that people who are left-handed are more likely to succeed in business than are right-handed people. Researchers studied photographs of 1000 prominent business executive and found that 21 percent of these executives wrote with their left hand. So the percentage of prominent business executive who is left-handed (21 percent) is almost twice the percentage of people in the general population who are left-handed (11 percent). Thus, people who are left-handed would be well advised to pursue a career in business, whereas people who are right-handed would be well advised to imitate the business practices exhibited by left-handers.

逻辑错误与经典句式3. 无因果关系

The survey does not lend support to the assumption that left-handed people have an innate ability to succeed in business, since 1,000 executives are not representatives of the overall population of prominent business executives.

逻辑错误与经典句式3. 无因果关系

The fact that_______ does not justify the assertion that _______.

The arguer relies on incorrect / irrelevant data.

The fact that _______ does not necessary ensure / imply that ______.

逻辑错误与经典句式4. 数据错误Walnut Grove’s town council has advocated switching from EZ Disposal (which has had the contract for trash collection services in Walnut Grove for the past ten years) to ABC Waste, because EZ recently raised its monthly fee from $2,000 to $2,500 a month, whereas ABC’s fee is still $2,000. But the town council is mistaken; we should continue using EZ. EZ collects trash twice a week, while ABC collects only once. Moreover, EZ---which, like ABC, currently has a fleet of 20 trucks---has ordered additional trucks. Finally, EZ provides exceptional service: 80 percent of respondents to last year’s town survey agreed that they were ’satisfied’ with EZ’s performance.

逻辑错误与经典句式4. 数据错误

First of all, the fact that EZ collects trash twice as often as ABC is significant only if the town would benefit from an additional collection each week. Yet the author provides no evidence that this is the case. For all we know, one collection per week suffices to dispose all of the town’s trash. If so, then on the basis of frequency of collection it would make no sense to favor EZ’s costlier service over ABC’s less expensive one.

逻辑错误与经典句式4. 数据错误Secondly, the fact that EZ has ordered more trucks

proves little in itself about which service would be the better choice for Walnut Grove. Perhaps EZ does not plan to use its new trucks for collecting Walnut Grove’s trash. For that matter, perhaps EZ does not use its entire current fleet for this purpose, whereas ABC would. Besides, the author does not indicate when EZ will receive its new trucks; the later the delivery date, the less significant this factor should be in Walnut Grove’s decision.

逻辑错误与经典句式4. 数据错误Thirdly, the mere fact that most respondents to a

recent survey considered EZ’s service satisfactory provides little support to the author’s recommendation. The author fails to provide assurances that these respondents are representative of the overall population of people who prefer EZ. Moreover, even if that population is generally satisfied it is entirely possible that they would be even more satisfied with ABC’s services.

逻辑错误与经典句式4. 数据错误According to a poll of 200 charitable organizations, donations of money to nonprofit groups increased by nearly 25 percent last year, though not all charities gained equally. Religious groups gained the most (30 percent), followed by environmental groups (23 percent), whereas educational institutions experienced only a very small increase in donations (3 percent). This poll indicates that more people are willing and able to give money to charities but that funding for education is not a priority for most people. These differences in donation rates must result from the perception that educational institutions are less in need of donations than are other kinds of institutions.

逻辑错误与经典句式4. 数据错误First of all, the author’s conclusions about people’s willingness to donate to the three types of charities listed depend on the assumption that the poll results are statistically reliable. Yet, the author offers no evidence to substantiate this assumption. The author must show that the 200 charitable organizations poled constitute a sufficiently large sample of religious, environmental and educational charities, and that this sample is representative of all such charities. Otherwise, the author cannot confidently draw any conclusion about people’s willingness to donate to these three types of institutions.

逻辑错误与经典句式4. 数据错误The author must also show that the total number of donors actually increased last year; as it stands the argument leaves open the possibility that the total number of donors decreased last year while the average amount given by each donor in creased. Absent evidence to support these assumption, the author’s broad conclusion that “more people are willing and able” to make charitable donations is dubious at best.

逻辑错误与经典句式4. 数据错误We recommend that Grove College preserve its century-old tradition of all-female education rather than admit men into its programs. It is true that a majority of faculty members voted in favor of coeducation, arguing that it would encourage more students to apply to Grove. But eighty percent of the students responding to a survey conducted by the student government wanted the school to remain all female, and over half of the alumni who answered a separate survey also opposed coeducation. Keeping the college all-female, therefore, will improve morale among students and convince alumni to keep supporting the college financially.

逻辑错误与经典句式4. 数据错误First, the memo provides no evidence that the results of the either of the two surveys are statistically reliable. For example, suppose newer students tend to be content with the all-female policy while students who have attended Grove for a longer time would prefer a co-educational policy. If a disproportionate number of the survey’s respondents were newer students, then the survey results would distort the student body’s opinion as a group.

逻辑错误与经典句式4. 数据错误With respect to the alumni survey, perhaps fewer alumni who donate substantial sums to Grove responded to the survey than other alumni did. If so, then the survey results would distort the comparison between the total amount of future donations under the two scenarios. Besides, the memo provides no information about what percentage of Grove’s students and alumni responded to the surveys; the lower the percentages, the less reliable the results of the surveys.

逻辑错误与经典句式4. 数据错误The statistical evidence of the survey upon which the argument relies is too vague to be informative.

Lacking more specific information about base amount, it is impossible to assess the reliability of the survey’s results or to make an informed recommendation.

逻辑错误与经典句式4. 数据错误From the survey quoted in the argument, however, we find no sign of such procedure for random sampling, and have good reasons to doubt if the sample is representative enough to reflect the general ____ as a whole.

逻辑错误与经典句式4. 数据错误The statistical result of the survey lacks credibility and therefore does not lend strong support to the arguer’s assumption.

逻辑错误与经典句式5. 模糊概念

Because of its spectacular natural beauty and consistent climate, Clearview should be a top choice for anyone seeking a place to retire. As a bonus, housing costs in Clearview have fallen significantly during the past year, and real estate taxes remain lower than those in neighboring towns. Nevertheless, Clearview's mayor promises many new programs to improve schools, streets, and public services. Retirees in Clearview can also expect excellent health care as they grow older, since the number of physicians in the area is far greater than the national average.


If the Clearview’s housing costs in the year before last year is excessively high, even if they decline sharply, they can be still higher than the housing costs in other cities.

逻辑错误与经典句式5. 模糊概念One month ago, all the showerheads on the first five floors of Sunnyside Towers were modified to restrict the water flow to approximately 1/3 of its original force. Although actual readings of water usage before and after the adjustment are not yet available, the change will obviously result in a considerable savings for Sunnyside Corporation, since the corporation must pay for water each month. Except for a few complaints about low water pressure, no problems with showers have been reported since the adjustment. Clearly, restricting water flow throughout all the 20 floors of Sunnyside Towers will increase our profits further.


There is no hard evidence to prove that the reform will reduce costs given that the readings are not available.

A few complaints about low water pressure has already proved that the consequence of the reform might be grave.


The survey concerning the situation of the first floor to the fifth floor does not cover that of the floors above the fifth while low water pressure might be an acute problem.


Any further linkage of these two phenomena requires more evidence and is not justified by the data so far available.

Comprehensive analysis is necessary to identify the actual cause of_____.

逻辑错误与经典句式6. 错误类比

Two years ago, the town of Ocean View built a new municipal golf course and resort hotel. During the past two years, tourism in Ocean View has increased, new businesses have opened there, and Ocean View's tax revenues have risen by 30 percent. The best way to improve Hopewell's economy, and generate additional tax revenues, is to build a golf course and resort hotel similar to those in Ocean View."


The mayor’s argument rests on the unsubstantiated assumption that Hopewell and Ocean View are sufficiently alike in ways that might affect the economic impact of a new golf course and hotel.

逻辑错误与经典句式6. 错误类比Last year the number of students who enrolled in long-distance degree programs at Omni University increased 50%. During the same year, Omni showed a significant decrease from prior years in expenditures for dormitory and classroom space, most likely because instruction in the long-distance programs takes place via interactive video computer connections. In contrast, over the past three years, enrollment at Humana College has diminished and costs of maintaining buildings have risen. Thus, to increase enrollment and solve the problem of budget deficits at Humana College, we should initiate and actively promote long-distance degree programs like those at Omni.


The arguer's recommendation relies on what might be a poor analogy between Omni University and Humana College.


The argument fails to take into account the possible differences between A and B that are relevant to the conclusion.

However, the problem is that the two situations are not similar enough to justify the analogical deduction.

逻辑错误与经典句式7. 非此即彼Fifteen years ago, Omega University implemented a new procedure that encouraged students to evaluate the teaching effectiveness of all their professors. Since that time, Omega professors have begun to assign higher grades in their classes, and overall student grade averages at Omega have risen by thirty percent. Potential employers apparently believe the grades at Omega are inflated; this would explain why Omega graduates have not been as successful at getting jobs as have graduates from nearby Alpha University. To enable its graduates to secure better jobs, Omega University should now terminate student evaluation of professors.

逻辑错误与经典句式7. 非此即彼

The author is presenting a false dilemma by imposing an either-or choice/fallacy between two courses of action that need not be mutually exclusive.

写作步骤与时间分配◆ 结尾段（ 3 分钟）按照已准备好的模式和句型快随完成指出作者的论据不能支持结论指出假如要支持结论还需那些信息

写作步骤与时间分配结尾段模板 1

In conclusion, the argument is unconvincing as it stands. To strengthen the assertion that , the author must provide evidence that .

写作步骤与时间分配结尾段模板 2

In sum, the author has failed to provide adequate evidence to support his claim that . Before I can accept it, the author must supply clearer evidence that .

写作步骤与时间分配◆ 检查（ 3 分钟）快速扫描全文注意平常写作的常见错误第三人称单数

全文模板

In this argument, the arguer concludes that___. To support this conclusion, the arguer points out that___. In addition, he reasons that___. Furthermore, he also indicates that___. But in my point of view, this argument suffers from ___ critical flaws.

开头段

全文模板

First problem with the argument is that___.

Another problem with the argument is that___.

Finally, the argument ignores other factors, such as___.

主体段

全文模板

Since the author commits the above mentioned logical mistakes and fails to consider the whole situation comprehensively, his ideas should not be adopted. The conclusion would be strengthened if______.

结尾段

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