GREAnalyticalWriting

SolutionstotheRealEssayTopics-Book1

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GREAnalyticalWritingSolutionstotheRealEssayTopics-Book1

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TableofContents

1.IntroductiontotheAnalyticalWritingMeasure2.AnalyzeanIssueTaskScoringGuide

3.SolvedIssueTaskswithStrategiesGeneralStrategiesIssueTask1–InfluencedbypastachievementsIssueTask2–FormaleducationIssueTask3–ImportantcontributionsIssueTask4–Indicatorofagreatnation-generalwelfareIssueTask5–MoreknowledgeIssueTask6–CharacteristicsofasocietyIssueTask7–FinancialsupportformajorcitiesIssueTask8–EffectivepoliticalleadersIssueTask9–BestwaytoteachIssueTask10–Teachers'salariesIssueTask11–ChoiceoffieldofstudyIssueTask12–RapidpaceoflifeIssueTask13–TakevarietyofcoursesIssueTask14–MeanstakentoattainagoalIssueTask15–Tobecomewell–roundedindividualsIssueTask16–PoliticiansshouldpursueIssueTask17–Undertakeriskyaction

IssueTask18–LeaderscreatedbydemandsIssueTask19–ContemporarycultureIssueTask20–ParentsshouldvolunteertimeIssueTask21–StudyinginaforeigncountryIssueTask22–People'sbehaviorIssueTask23–InnovationsdistractfromlearningIssueTask24–PassionateinterestIssueTask25–EthicalandmoralstandardsIssueTask26–CriticaljudgementofworkIssueTask27–IndicatorofagreatnationIssueTask28–ModerndevelopmentIssueTask29–MakeimportantdecisionsIssueTask30–Characterofasociety

4.AnalyzeanArgumentTaskScoringGuide

5.SolvedArgumentTaskswithStrategiesGeneralStrategiesArgumentTask1–PaleanbasketArgumentTask2–IslandofTertiaArgumentTask3–MasonCityresidentsArgumentTask4–WCQPinRockvilleArgumentTask5–AcmePublishingCompanyArgumentTask6–MoviesGaloreArgumentTask7–CheatingamongstudentsArgumentTask8–JazzmusicclubArgumentTask9–Nature'sWayArgumentTask10–OmegauniversityArgumentTask11–MapleCounty

ArgumentTask12–WWACradiostationArgumentTask13–TelevisionstationArgumentTask14–Dr.KarpArgumentTask15–GrovetonCollegeArgumentTask16–ElectricpowercompanyArgumentTask17–ClimpsonIndustriesArgumentTask18–MoviesGaloreArgumentTask19–BlueHighwayArgumentTask20–FoodstoragewarehouseArgumentTask21–CalatravaArgumentTask22–ParsonCityArgumentTask23–QuiotManufacturingArgumentTask24–WestMeriaArgumentTask25–TransopolisArgumentTask26–SartorianArgumentTask27–BayCityArgumentTask28–OsteoporosisArgumentTask29–CrustCopperCompanyArgumentTask30–HumanaUniversity

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IntroductiontotheAnalyticalWritingMeasure

The Analytical Writing Measure is intended to assess your ability to thinkcriticallyandwriteeffectivelyaboutatopicwhilefollowingspecificdirections.You will not need any specific content knowledge to complete either in thisportion of the test. The purpose of both writing pieces is to determine yourreadinesstoperformappropriatelyatthegraduatelevel.Duringthisportionofthetest,youwillcompletetwowritingtasks:AnalyzeanIssueandAnalyzeanArgument.Foreachportion,youwillhave30minutestoreadthepromptanddirectionsandtoplanandexecuteyourresponse.Thetwotasksareoppositeintheirnature.DuringtheAnalyzeanIssuetask,youwillwritepersuasivelyasyouexpressyourpointofviewontheselectedtopic,whichmaybeintheformofanopinion,arecommendation,aclaimandreason,or thepresentationof twopointsofview. It is important to read thedirectionscarefullytoensurethatyourresponseisaddressingthepromptcorrectlyandtoenableyoutoreceivethehighestscore.During the Analyze an Argument task, you will evaluate an argument todeterminethestrengthofthefactsandassumptionsthatitpresents.Youmaybeasked to evaluate the evidence to determine if the assumptions are correct,formulate questions that will need to be answered before determining if theassumptionsarecorrect,whatfurtherevidenceisnecessarybeforetheargumentcanbedeclaredcorrect,orwhat steps shouldbecompletedbeforeacceptingarecommendedcourseofaction.AsintheAnalyzeanIssuetask,intheAnalyzeanArgumenttask,readingandfollowingthedirectionscarefullyisthebestwaytoensurethatyoureceiveahighscoreforyourefforts.

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AnalyzeanIssueTask

Asyoucompletethistask,youwillhaveanopportunitytoexpressyourpointofview on an issue.Because it is essentially your opinion, there is no “correct”answer.Youmust,however,supportyourpointofviewwithsufficientevidenceto show the strength of your argument. You may agree completely with thestatementabouttheissue,partiallyagreewithit,orcompletelydisagreewithit.Becertaintostayontopicandfollowthedirectionscarefully.Forexample,youmightbepresentedwithastatementsimilartothefollowing:

Itisalwaysbesttolookbeforeyouleap.One interpretation of this statement is that one should consider potentialconsequencesbeforetakinganyaction.Thedirectionsmayinstructyoutowritearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewiththestatementandexplainyourreasoningforthepositionyoutake.Ifyouagreewiththestatement,youshouldrecallexamplesfromyourreading,yourstudies,or your own experience that support your position. Think about HoldenCaulfield’sactions inTheCatcher in theRye.His impulsivedecision tospendsometimealoneinNewYorkCitybeforegoinghomeafterhisexpulsionfromPenceyPrephadunsatisfactoryconsequences.Youmayhavetakensomeactionin your own life that you regretted afterwards. On the other hand, you maydisagreewiththestatement.EarlyexplorerslikeChristopherColumbushadlittleideaaboutwhattheywouldfindastheysetoutintheirrelativelysmallsailingvessels. If they had thought only about the dangers of their ventures, the newworld would have been discoveredmuch later. You can also take a qualifiedapproach by agreeingwith the statement to some extent. Remember, the bestapproach toagivenprompt is theoneyoucanargue thebest.TheGREessayreaders are trained to evaluate a wide variety of approaches to the issue andevaluate them on their strengths and weaknesses and not on the opinionexpressed.ThefollowingisacomprehensivelistoftheinstructionsthatcanaccompanythestatementsintheAnalyzeanIssuetask.a) Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree ordisagreewiththestatementandexplainyourreasoningforthepositionyoutake.

Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,youshouldconsiderwaysinwhichthestatementmightormightnotholdtrueandexplainhowtheseconsiderationsshapeyourposition.b) Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree ordisagreewith the recommendation and explainyour reasoning for thepositionyou take. In developing and supporting your position, describe specificcircumstances in which adopting the recommendation would or would not beadvantageousandexplainhowtheseexamplesshapeyourposition.c) Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree ordisagreewiththeclaim.Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,besuretoaddress the most compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used tochallengeyourposition.d)Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusswhichviewmorecloselyalignswithyour own position and explain your reasoning for the position you take. Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,youshouldaddressbothoftheviewspresented.e) Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree ordisagreewiththeclaimandthereasonsonwhichthatclaimisbased.f)Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscussyourviewsonthepolicyandexplainyour reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting yourposition, you should consider the possible consequences of implementing thepolicyandexplainhowtheseconsequencesshapeyourposition.Youmayhavehadsomeexperiencewithwritingpersuasivelyinhighschoolorcollege, but you do not need to worry about employing specific rhetoricaldevices to receive a high score. It is important to stay on topic, present yourargument in a coherent and cohesive manner, and to acknowledgecounterargumentstostrengthenyourown.Youshouldalsomakeeveryattemptto use correct grammar, mechanics, and a variety of sentence structures toimprove the fluencyofyouressay.The scoringguide that follows is reprintedfrom the Practice Book for the GRE Revised General Test, developed byEducationalTestingService.

ScoringGuide

Score6Inaddressingthespecific taskdirections,a6responsepresentsacogent,well-articulatedanalysisoftheissueandconveysmeaningskillfully.Atypicalresponseinthiscategory:a)articulatesaclearandinsightfulpositionontheissueinaccordancewiththeassignedtaskb) develops the position fully with compelling reasons and/or persuasiveexamplesc)sustainsawell-focused,well-organizedanalysis,connectingideaslogicallyd)conveysideasfluentlyandprecisely,usingeffectivevocabularyandsentencevarietye) demonstrates facilitywith the conventions of standardwrittenEnglish (i.e.,grammar,usageandmechanics),butmayhaveminorerrors

Score5In addressing the specific task directions, a 5 response presents a generallythoughtful,well-developedanalysisoftheissueandconveysmeaningclearly.Atypicalresponseinthiscategory:a)presentsaclearandwell-consideredpositionontheissueinaccordancewiththeassignedtaskb) develops the position with logically sound reasons and/or well-chosenexamplesc)isfocusedandgenerallywellorganized,connectingideasappropriatelyd) conveys ideas clearly and well, using appropriate vocabulary and sentencevarietye) demonstrates facility with the conventions of standard written English butmayhaveminorerrors

Score4

In addressing the specific task directions, a 4 response presents a competentanalysisoftheissueandconveysmeaningwithacceptableclarity.Atypicalresponseinthiscategory:a)presentsaclearpositionontheissueinaccordancewiththeassignedtaskb)developsthepositionwithrelevantreasonsand/orexamplesc)isadequatelyfocusedandorganizedd)demonstratessufficientcontrolof language toexpress ideaswithreasonableclaritye)generallydemonstratescontroloftheconventionsofstandardwrittenEnglishbutmayhavesomeerrors

Score3Athreeresponsedemonstratessomecompetenceinaddressingthespecifictaskdirections, in analyzing the issue and in conveyingmeaning, but is obviouslyflawed.A typical response in this category exhibitsONEORMOREof the followingcharacteristics:a) is vague or limited in addressing the specific task directions and/or inpresentingordevelopingapositionontheissueb) is weak in the use of relevant reasons or examples or relies largely onunsupportedclaimsc)ispoorlyfocusedand/orpoorlyorganizedd)hasproblemsinlanguageandsentencestructurethatresultinalackofclaritye)containsoccasionalmajorerrorsorfrequentminorerrorsingrammar,usageormechanicsthatcaninterferewithmeaning

Score2A two response largely disregards the specific task directions and/ordemonstratesseriousweaknessesinanalyticalwriting.A typical response in this category exhibitsONEORMOREof the followingcharacteristics:a)isunclearorseriouslylimitedinaddressingthespecifictaskdirectionsand/orinpresentingordevelopingapositionontheissue

b)providesfew,ifany,relevantreasonsorexamplesinsupportofitsclaimsc)isunfocusedand/ordisorganizedd) has serious problems in language and sentence structure that frequentlyinterferewithmeaninge) contains serious errors in grammar, usage or mechanics that frequentlyobscuremeaning

Score1Aoneresponsedemonstratesfundamentaldeficienciesinanalyticalwriting.A typical response in this category exhibitsONEORMOREof the followingcharacteristics:a)provideslittleornoevidenceofunderstandingtheissueb)provideslittleevidenceoftheabilitytodevelopanorganizedresponse(i.e.,isextremelydisorganizedand/orextremelybrief)c) has severe problems in language and sentence structure that persistentlyinterferewithmeaningd) contains pervasive errors in grammar, usage or mechanics that result inincoherence

Score0Atypicalresponseinthiscategoryisofftopic(i.e.,providesnoevidenceofanattempttorespondtotheassignedtopic),isinaforeignlanguage,merelycopiesthetopic,consistsofonlykeystrokecharactersorisillegibleornonverbal.

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SolvedIssueTaskswithStrategies

GeneralStrategies

a)Restatetheissueinawaythatmakessensetoyou.b)Youcouldalsodeterminewhatquestionisbeingansweredbythestatement.Creating a question may help you determine your position on the issue. Ifsomeoneweretoaskyouthisquestion,wouldyousayyes,no,ormaybe?c) Next, create a statement that expresses the opposing viewpoint, usinglanguagesimilartothatoftheoriginalstatement.d)Thinkaboutalternativeviewpoints.Isthereanotherwaytolookatthisissue?Can you qualify the original recommendation in some way? How can youanswerallorsomeofthequestionsthatyougeneratedearlier?e) From here, youmust decidewhich point of view to address in your essay.Before you decide, carefully consider the following questions. You will haveaddressedseveralofthemintheexercisesyouwillperformbelow.i)What,precisely,isthecentralissue?ii)Whatpreciselyaretheinstructionsaskingmetodo?iii)DoIagreewithalloranypartoftheclaim?Whyorwhynot?iv)Doestheclaimmakecertainassumptions?Ifso,aretheyreasonable?v)Istheclaimvalidonlyundercertainconditions?Ifso,whatarethey?vi)DoIneedtoexplainhowIinterpretcertaintermsorconceptsusedintheclaim?vii)IfItakeacertainpositionontheissue,whatreasonssupportmyposition?viii)Whatexamples-eitherrealorhypothetical-couldIusetoillustratethosereasonsandadvancemypointofview?Whichexamplesaremostcompelling?

f)Onceyouhavedecidedonapositiontodefend,consider theperspectivesofotherswhomightnotagreewithyourposition.Askyourself:i)Whatreasonsmightsomeoneusetorefuteorunderminemyposition?ii)HowshouldIacknowledgeordefendagainstthoseviewsinmyessay?

Thenextstepshouldbelistingthemainreasonsandsupportforyourposition.KeepinmindthattheGREreadersscoringyourresponsearenotlookingfora

“right”answer—infact,asfarastheyareconcerned,thereisnocorrectpositiontotake.Instead,thereadersareevaluatingtheskillwithwhichyouaddressthespecific instructions and articulate and develop an argument to support yourevaluationoftheissue.

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IssueTask1

TopicIn any field of endeavor, it is impossible to make a significant contributionwithoutfirstbeingstronglyinfluencedbypastachievementsinthatfield.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewith the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,youshouldconsiderwaysinwhichthestatement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerationsshapeyourposition.

StrategiesYou might begin by restating the issue. In this case the issue is a negativestatementthatincludesthewordimpossible.Considerhowthestatementwouldlookifyoureplacedimpossiblewiththeword,possible.

Inotherwords:Theonlywaythatitispossibletomakeasignificantcontributioninanyfieldofendeavoristofirstbestronglyinfluencedbypastachievementsinthatfield.OrTheonlypossiblewaytomakeasignificantcontributioninanyfieldofendeavoristofirstbestronglyinfluencedbypastachievementsinthatfield.You could also determine what question is being answered by the issuestatement.By what means is it possible to make a significant contribution in a field ofendeavor?The interrogatory form of the statement may help some writers developalternative viewpoints. The original issue statement is only one of severalpossibleanswerstothequestion.

Now thinkabout thepartsof the statement thatprovideevidence thatyoucanaffirmorrefute.a) the only possible way - Is there no other way to make a significantcontribution?Isnothingreallyoriginal?Iseverythingderivative?b)any field of endeavor -Are there fields of endeavor that can be excludedfromthisstatement?Canweevenimaginefieldsofendeavorthatmightariseinthefuture?c) strongly influenced - Is it possible to bemildly influenced or tangentiallyinfluencedbypastachievements?d)contribution-Whatkindofcontribution?Isitanewinvention?Anidea?Aprocedure?Next,createastatement thatexpressestheopposingviewpoint,usinglanguagesimilartothatoftheoriginalissuestatement.

Opposingviewpoint:Inanyfieldofendeavor,itispossibletomakeasignificantcontributionwithoutbeingstronglyinfluencedbypastachievementsinthatfield.OrBeingstrongly influencedbypastachievements inany fieldofendeavor isnottheonlywaytomakeasignificantcontributiontothatfield.Identify the parts of the opposing statement that provide evidence to refute oraffirm.Someofthesemaylookverysimilartothoseinthelistgeneratedabove.a)contribution-Howdoesonedeterminethesignificanceofanycontribution?Significancemaybesubjective.b)any field of endeavor -Are there fields of endeavor that can be excludedfromthisstatement?c)influence-Whatformofinfluence?Isitaproduct?Anidea?Aprocedure?d) not the only way - Howmight one contribute significantly without beinginfluencedbypastachievements?

Alternatives:Is there anyotherway to lookat this issue?Bywhatmeansother than stronginfluencefrompastachievementscansomeonemakeacontributiontoafieldofendeavor? Begin by listing important fields of human endeavor: medicine,

science,art,philosophy,literature,flight,etc.Thinkaboutexperiencesyouhavehad, books you have read, course you have taken and come up with someexamplesofcontributionstothatfield.a)Medicine–Flemingandpenicillinb)NativeAmericansandwillowbarkc)Science-Galileoandheliocentrismd)Art-Picassoandcubisme)Literature-EzraPoundandimagismf)Energy–prehistoricmanandfireWhat statements can you make about the items in your list? Fleming’s,Galileo’s, and prehistoricman’s contributions came in the form of discovery.Picasso’sandPound’scontributionscameintheformofrejectingthepreviousachievementsintheirfieldsofendeavor.Galileo’sdiscoveryoccurredalsoasherejectedthechurch’stheoryoftheEarthasthecenteroftheuniverse.Nowyouhave two specific means of contribution: discovery of something new andrejectionofsomethingold.Createastatementthatexpressesaviewpointusingthenewideasthatyouhaveuncovered.

NewViewpoint:It is possible to make a significant contribution in any field of endeavor byrejectingpastachievementsinthatfield.OrAll significant contributions in any field of endeavor occur as a result of animportantdiscovery.Whatevidenceexistsinthesestatementsthatprovidepointstosupportorrefute?a)rejectingpastachievements - Is itpossible to transformrather thanreformanexistingideaorproduct?b)discoverycomesbeforeachievement-Everyfieldofendeavorarisesfromanimportantdiscovery.Nowyoumustdecidewhichpointofviewtoaddressinyouressay.Completingtheprewritingactivitieshasgivenyouseveralchoicesand ideas fordefendinganyof thosechoices.Even theviewpoints thatareoppositeofyourswillhave

points that you can use in writing your response. As you review your notes,decidewhichofyourideasofferthestrongestsupportforyourposition;youdonot have touse all of them.Keep inmind that othersmaydisagreewithyourposition,soaddresstheirconcernsinyourresponse.Beforeyoudecide,carefullyconsiderthefollowingchecklist.Youwillhaveaddressedseveralofthemintheexercisesyouhavecompletedabove.a)Ihaveidentifiedthecentralissue.b)Iunderstandtheinstructions.c)IhavedecidedthatIagree/disagree/partiallyagreewiththeissueandwhy.d)Ihaveidentifiedtheassumptionsintheclaimanddeterminedwhetherornottheyarereasonable.e)Ifnecessary,IcanexplainhowIinterpretanyoralloftheconceptsandtermsusedintheclaim.f)IhaveidentifiedmyreasonsforthepositionIhavetaken.g)Ihavecompellingexamplestosupportmyposition.Thenextstepshouldbelistingthemainreasonsandsupportforyourposition.Youmayuseanyoftheaboveprewritingactivitiesasyouprepareevidenceforsupporting you point of view. Remember that the GRE readers scoring yourresponsearenot looking fora“right”answer.The readersareevaluatingyourability to address the specific instructions and articulate and develop anargumenttosupportyourunderstandingandevaluationoftheissue.

Position:All significant contributions in any field of endeavor occur as a result of animportantdiscovery.

Examples:a)Fire–Oncemanlearnedtocontrolit,hedevelopedusesforitandsourcesoffueltofeedit.b)Medicine –Mandiscovered that leaves, roots, andbarkof trees andplantsamelioratedpainandrelievedthesymptomsofothermaladiesc)Waterpower–Mancouldharnessthepowerofflowingwatertoturnwheelstogrindgrainsandseeds.

Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyour ideas.Useasmanyoras fewparagraphsasyouconsiderappropriateforyourargument,butyoushouldcreateanewparagraphwhenyoumoveontoanewideaorexampleinsupportofyourposition.TheGREreadersarenot looking for a specificnumberof ideasorparagraphs. Instead, theyarereadingtodeterminethelevelofunderstandingofthetopicandthecomplexitywithwhichyourespond.Inthistask,youareaskedtodiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewiththestatement.Youmaycompletelyagreeordisagreewiththestatement,oryoumayagreeundercertainconditions.Youarealsoinstructedtoexplainyourreasoningandconsiderwaysinwhichthestatementmightormightnotholdtrueandexplainhowtheseconsiderationsshapeyourposition.Youmayuseanyorganizational strategyor formof reasoning topresentyourpositionasclearlyandsuccinctlyaspossible.Youmayrecallwritingstrategiesthat you learned in high school or awriting-intensive course that you took incollege,butitisnotnecessarytoemployanyofthosestrategies.Itisimportantthatyourideasfollowalogicalprogressionanddisplaystrongcriticalthinking.

SampleEssayThepremisethatsignificantcontributionsinanyfieldcanonlybemadethroughthe influence from past achievements in that field holds true in the modernworld.Modernappliances,advancedmedicine,andimprovedfuelefficiencyarefoundedonearliermodels.Thenextbigthingissimplyaversionofthelastbigthing.Itmaybethinner,smaller,faster,ormoreintuitive,but,fundamentally,itis the same thing. The ubiquitous television sets in people’s homes today areprobablyhangingon thewall andhaveplasmaorLCDscreens.Thesebigger,brighter versions essentially perform the same function as the older, bulkiervacuumtubemodels;theybringmovingpicturesintoourhomes.TheBand-Aidsfoundineverymedicinechestcomeinavarietyofsizes,colors,withorwithoutan antibacterial cream embedded, and even in liquid form. These superiorbandagesalsoperformthesamefunctionastheirpredecessors; theycovercutsand scrapes. In actuality, everything new is not very original. They areadaptations.Onemustturntotheancientworldtorecognizethatthegreatestcontributionsinany field of endeavor have come through discovery rather than invention or

advancement.Earlymandiscoveredfireandrealizedhecoulduseittocookhisfood,warmhiscave,andkeeppredatorsatbay.Eventually,he learnedhowtocreate it, preserve it, and carry it with him as he migrated to better huntinggroundsormoretemperateclimates.Modernmanhaswitnessedtheharnessingof fire to create steam that powered ships and locomotives. It still heats ourhomesandcooksourfood,butitalsotakesusintoouterspace.At some point ancientman realized that round objectsmovemore effectivelyover theground thandosquareor rectangularobjects, that thepowerofwatercouldhelpmantoaccomplishtasksmoreeasily,andthattheleaves,roots,andbarkofplantsandtreesprovidedrelieffrompainandothermaladies.Thus,wehavethewheel,gristmillsonlocalstreams,andaspirinintabletform.WereitnotforFranklin’sflyingakiteduringathunderstormorFleming’sdiscoveryofpenicillin, wewould live in the dark and die from bacterial infections.Whenbold seafarers fromScandinavia andWesternEurope sailed east and failed tofallofftheedgeoftheearth,theydiscoveredthefishingbanksoffthecoastofNewfoundland and treasures in Mexico and opened the doors to modern-daytravel.In the final analysis, it is appropriate to assert that no one can contributesignificantly in any field of endeavor without first being influenced by pastachievements in that field. While those contributions generally improve thequality of our lives, it is likely that the next important discovery will have aprofoundeffect.

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IssueTask2

TopicFormal education tends to restrainourmindsand spirits rather than set themfree.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewith the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,youshouldconsiderwaysinwhichthestatement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerationsshapeyourposition.

StrategiesRestate the issue. In this case, the issue is stated in the positive. It tellswhatformaleducationdoes.Whatdoesformaleducationnotdo?

Inotherwords:Formaldoesnotsetourmindsandspiritsfree.You could also determine what question is being answered by the issuestatement.Whateffectdoesformaleducationhaveonourmindsandspirits?Makingthestatementaninterrogatorymayclarifytheissue.Theoriginal issuestatementisonlyoneofseveralpossibleanswerstothequestion.Now thinkabout thepartsof the statement thatprovideevidence thatyoucanaffirmorrefute.a) formal – Formal simply means that it has a form. Would students, evenoutside the formal educational setting, develop or create a form for studyingwhattheychoose?Issomeformnecessaryorinevitable?b)restrain–Doesformaleducationholdbackourmindsandspirits?c)tends–Tendsisnotastrongword.Doesthisweakentheissuestatement?

Next,createastatement thatexpressestheopposingviewpoint,usinglanguagesimilartothatoftheoriginalissuestatement.

Opposingviewpoint:Formaleducationtendstounleashourmindsandspirits.Identify thepartsof theopposing statement thatprovideevidence to affirmorrefute.a)unleashes–removesrestraintsorsetsfree

Alternatives:Is thereanyotherwayto lookat this issue?Canyouqualify theoriginal issuestatementinsomeway?Perhapsacombinationofstructureandfreedomis thebestwaytoeducateourcitizens.

Newviewpoint:Aformalstructurecombinedwiththechoicetoselectareasofstudyisthemosteffectivewaytosetourmindsandspiritsfree.Identifythepartsofthenewstatementthatprovideevidencetoaffirmorrefute.a)combination–Doesacombinationdilutetheeffectivenessofoneorbothofthecomponents?b)choice–Atwhatlevelofformaleducationarestudentscompetenttochoosetheircourseofstudy?Nowyoumustdecidewhichpointofviewtoaddressinyouressay.Completingtheprewritingactivitieshasgivenyouseveralchoicesand ideas fordefendinganyof thosechoices.Even theviewpoints thatareoppositeofyourswillhavepoints that you can use in writing your response. As you review your notes,decidewhichofyourideasofferthestrongestsupportforyourposition;youdonot have touse all of them.Keep inmind that othersmaydisagreewithyourposition,soaddresstheirconcernsinyourresponse.Beforeyoudecide,carefullyconsiderthefollowingchecklist.Youwillhaveaddressedseveralofthemintheexercisesyouhavecompletedabove.a)Ihaveidentifiedthecentralissue.b)Iunderstandtheinstructions.c)IhavedecidedthatIagree/disagree/partiallyagreewiththeissueandwhy.

d)Ihaveidentifiedtheassumptionsintheclaimanddeterminedwhetherornottheyarereasonable.e)Ifnecessary,IcanexplainhowIinterpretanyoralloftheconceptsandtermsusedintheclaim.f)IhaveidentifiedmyreasonsforthepositionIhavetaken.g)Ihavecompellingexamplestosupportmyposition.Thenextstepshouldbelistingthemainreasonsandsupportforyourposition.Youmayuseanyoftheaboveprewritingactivitiesasyouprepareevidenceforsupporting you point of view. Remember that the GRE readers scoring yourresponsearenot looking fora“right”answer.The readersareevaluatingyourability to address the specific instructions and articulate and develop anargumenttosupportyourunderstandingandevaluationoftheissue.

Position:Formaleducationisthemosteffectivemeansforintroducingstudentstoawidevarietyofsubjectsinorderforthemtodiscoverwhatsetstheirmindsandspiritsfree.

Examplesandreasons:a)variety–formaleducationinAmericaiscomprisedofcontentfromvariousdisciplines. Students will be exposed to grammar, writing, literature, science,math,foreignlanguage,art,musicb)discover – exposure to avarietyof disciplinesprovidesopportunities tobeinspiredbyatopicthatstudentsmightneverhavefoundontheirownc)mosteffective–mostisaqualifier–notsayingit’stheonlymeans,justthebest–othertypesofeducationmayworkbetterforsomestudentsd) introducing – from primary grades through the first two years of mostcolleges, students are introduced to a variety of subjects – no major focus isdetermined,generally,untiltheendofthesecondyearincollegeYournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyour ideas.Useasmanyoras fewparagraphsasyouconsiderappropriateforyourargument,butyoushouldcreateanewparagraphwhenyoumoveontoanewideaorexampleofsupportforyourposition.TheGREreadersarenot looking for a specificnumberof ideasorparagraphs. Instead, theyare

readingtodeterminethelevelofunderstandingofthetopicandthecomplexitywithwhichyourespond.Inthistask,youareaskedtodiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewiththestatement.Youmaycompletelyagreeordisagreewiththestatement,oryoumayagreeundercertainconditions.Youarealsoinstructedtoexplainyourreasoningandconsiderwaysinwhichthestatementmightormightnotholdtrueandexplainhowtheseconsiderationsshapeyourposition.Youmayuseanyorganizational strategyor formof reasoning topresentyourpositionasclearlyandsuccinctlyaspossible.Youmayrecallwritingstrategiesthat you learned in high school or awriting–intensive course that you took incollege,butitisnotnecessarytoemployanyofthosestrategies.Itisimportantthatyourideasfollowalogicalprogressionanddisplaystrongcriticalthinking.

SampleEssayInthebookofGenesisinthebible,thestoryofcreationrevealsthatGodsawtheworldasvoidandhavingnoform,sohetookituponHimselftogiveitform.Hedividedthelandfromthesea,populatedhisnewworldwithanimalsandplantsofeverykind,separatedthenightfromtheday,and,finally,createdman.EvenGodrecognizedtheneedforform.Withoutformthereisvoid.Formaleducationis,atitsmostbasiclevel,educationthathassomestructureappliedtoit.Withoutstructureineducation,thereisvoid.Some might argue that formal education is too restrictive; the prescribedcurriculum in most schools inhibits creativity and free thinking; and thepedagogy confines the imaginations of students. Some find a syllabus to beonerous, ananthology tobe limiting, andabell schedule tobe jarring.Withinthis structured environment, however, is the opportunity to sample courses inShakespeare, poetry, philosophy, geography, American history, sociology,French, Spanish, biology, physics, algebra, statistics, art, music, and physicaleducation. This smorgasbord of academic offerings will surely containsomethingtotemptthepalateofeventhefussiestscholar.Othersmaypointtothestructureorformalitythatexistsoutsideoftheworldofeducation as a justification to similarly define academia. Upon leaving one’seducationbehind, the formerstudentwillneed to followthestructure imposedupontheworldofwork.Thedisciplinetodosowillhavebeendevelopedduringtheyearsofformaleducation.

Left to his own devices, a child can indulge hiswhims by studyingwhateverinterestshim.Rarelydoesachildhavethedisciplinetosustainthatinterest.Hewillmoveonto thenextfleetingattraction.Avarietyoffactorsmayinfluencehis exposure to the world: his parents’ educational level, family income,geographical location, and availability of arts and cultural performances.Throughformaleducationthesedifferencesneednotmatter.Everychildwillgetthesameopportunitiestoreadabsorbingbooks,constructandperformscientificexperiments,attendschoolassemblies,andconnecttotheInternet.Withouttheformofpubliceducation,therewilllikelybeavoidinthischild’sexperienceoftheworld.

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IssueTask3

TopicIn any field of inquiry, the beginner is more likely than the expert to makeimportantcontributions.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewith the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,youshouldconsiderwaysinwhichthestatement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerationsshapeyourposition.

StrategiesA good starting point is to break down the statement and identify theassumptions itmakes. Look for ambiguous phrasing and consider all possibleexceptions–theyrepresentweakpointsthatyoucandefendorattackdependingonyourchosenposition.

Statementbreakdowna)Anyfield–isitapplicabletoallfields?Howabouthighlycomplexonesthatrequirespecializedknowledge?b)Beginner – howdo you classify the beginner?Based on age?Experience?Knowledge?c)Morelikely–doesitrefertostatisticalprobability(numbersgame)?Doesitrefertoinherentqualitiesofthebeginner?d)Importantcontributions–whatconstitutesanimportantcontribution?Whatistheclassificationcriterion:applicability,usefulness,impact?

Assumptionsa)Beginnersaremorelikelytocontribute,sincetherearemorebeginners thanexpertsb)Importantcontributionsarenotbasedonexperience

c)Beginnershavemorecreativeminds,whileexpertsaresetintheirways

ProsandConsProsa) Thinking outside the box (integrating and reorganizing existingunderstandings–aprocessessentialtobeginnersb)With age, cognitive abilities deteriorate, it becomes harder to process newinformation(expertsareoftenolder)c)Beginnersaredetermined–theyhavesomethingtoproved)Beginnersarefreertoexperiment–expertsaresetintheirwayse)Therearegreaternumbersofbeginners,soalargerchancetobringaccidentalcontributionsf)Beginnershavemorewillingnesstotryorevaluatenewpathsg) Beginners havemore time (experts are committed tomultiple projects andoftenhavetoperformsupervisoryroles)h)BeginnershavelesstolosebypursuingriskyavenuesConsa)Beginnersthatmakeimportantcontributionsareconsideredexpertsb)Theagingbrain is similar to thecreativebrain (basedonneural imaging)–lowinhibitions,highscoresoncrystallizedIQc)Expertsaremoreproductive,haveabetterworkethicd) Some fields are very complex (entry level knowledge is insufficient toprovidedeepinsight)e)Forbeginners, lackofpracticalapplicationcanleadtocorrectbut irrelevantinsight(researchingavenuesthatleadtonowheref) Focused research (knowing the field allows you to conduct a targetedresearch)g)Historically,mostofthegreatinventionscomefromexpertsbetweentheagesof30to50h) Experts havemore freedom of choicewhen it comes to the research topic(beginnersarelimitedbysupervisors

i) Experts can get more funding, or obtain it easier than beginners can(reputation)j)Expertsenjoymorecredibility

Examplesa)Inventorsandscientificcontributorsfromthepastb)Studieslinkingageandcreativityc)Problemsolvingskillsandmethods(youcanpairthemupwiththegroupthatfitsbest)d)Currentresearchpractices

SampleEssayHumanshave conquered their surroundings andovercome their limits in leapsandboundsmarkedbygreatinnovations.Ourabilitytointegrateandreorganizeexistingunderstandings,tobringnewordertochaos,hasbeenthedrivingforceof our progress. It is nowonder that people seek to understand the process ofinnovationandencouragethosethataremostlikelytosucceedinrevolutionizingtheworld.Sofar, inventionhasbeenconsidered thepatrimonyofexperts,andoneof thereasonsisthefactthat,inordertobeabletocombinefragmentsofknowledgeinnewways,oneneedstohavesufficientknowledgeinthefirstplace.It is notdifficult tounderstandwhy suchperceptions abound, especially ifweconsider highly complex fields that require specialized, in depth, knowledge.Take for instance astrophysics or microbiology – a beginner in these fieldswouldonlypossesssummaryknowledgeoftheforcesatplayandtheprocessesinvolved.Theywouldn’tbeabletorevolutionizetheoriesondarkmatterwithouta basic understanding of quantum theories, and by the time they would haveacquiredthisknowledge,theywouldbeconsideredexperts.Thisisalsothecaseof Albert Einstein, whose major contributions in the field came as a steadyprogression after getting his PhD.Most important of all, Einstein’s theory ofrelativityonlystartedtakingshapeafteryearsofteachingtheoreticalphysicsattheuniversities inZurichandPrague,and twoyearsspentstudyingcontinuummechanics,themoleculartheoryofheat,andtheproblemofgravitation.When it comes toestablishingwhetherbeginnersorexpertsaremore likely torevolutionizeanewfield,itisimportanttonotethatalotofthepastinventions

havecomefrompeoplethathadtoconstantlystrugglewithaspecificproblem.A lot of the people that have contributed to the advancement of societywereexperts in a field (they were in the proper circumstances to encounter theproblemandpossessedsufficientknowledgetorecognizeandsolvetheissueathand).Thisisthecaseofprominentphysician,JohnSnow,whosefieldworkintracingthe1854choleraoutbreakinLondonisregardedasthefoundingeventofepidemiology. He encountered many cases of viral diseases as a physician,which, alongside his skepticism of the then dominant miasma theory ofinfection,spurredhimontoresearchtheSohoepidemicanddiscoverthesourceoftheoutbreak.Moreover,oneshouldalwayskeepinmindthatit’snotsufficienttohaveagoodidea; a researcher should also be able to support it and make it known. Thisholds especially true when considering the basic conditions for any form ofresearchtobeconsideredamajorcontributioninafield.Namely,saidresearchshouldrevolutionizeitsfieldofstudy,itshouldbeknownbyotherexpertsinthedisciplineandobtainexternalvalidation(evenifatalaterpointintime).Inthissense,expertsenjoymorecredibility thanbeginners,andare likely tobe takenmore seriously. Furthermore, experts already have networks in place and getquicker access to information like interesting research proposals and latestadvancements.Companiesandotherresearcherswillchoosetogotothepersonwithabetterreputation.Thesamecanbesaidintermsoffunding,expertscanattract more funds for promising research– simply because they have moreexperienceandanestablishedreputation.Studieshaveshownthatexpertsaremoreproductiveandhavebetterworkethicand time management skills. In addition, being an expert doesn’t signify thedeathofcreativity,likethestatementimplies,blindlystickingtoonemethodhasmore to dowith personality.The samegoes for linking expertisewith age, asneural imaging studies have shown that the aging brain is more creative,uninhibitedandshowsbettercrystallizedIQ.BenjaminJoneshasalsofoundthatoverthepast100years,themajorscientificdiscoverieshavecomefrompeoplewithagesbetween30and50.Overall,whenitcomestohavingmajorcontributionsinafield,expertspossesstheadvantage.Theyhavemoreknowledge,anincreasedabilitytoorganizetheinformationtheyposses,moreresourcestofundresearchandabetterworkethicthanbeginners.

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IssueTask4

TopicThesurestindicatorofagreatnationisrepresentednotbytheachievementsofitsrulers,artists,orscientists,butbythegeneralwelfareofitspeople.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewith the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,youshouldconsiderwaysinwhichthestatement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerationsshapeyourposition.NOTE:TheabovetopichaswordingsimilartoIssueTask27ofGREAnalyticalWriting Solutions to the Real Essay Topics – Book 1. However, if you readcarefullyyouwillnoticethatthetaskinstructionsaredifferent.Hence,itisveryimportanttoreadthetopicaswellasitsinstructionscompletelybeforeyoustarttowriteyourresponse.

StrategiesStatementbreakdowna)Surest indicator–Welfare isnot theonlyindicatorofgreatness; it isnotacausality relationship – welfare doesn’t cause greatness, but can be used tomeasureitb)Great nation –what constitutes a great nation?How do you define it? Intermsofpower,size,economyetc.?c)Rulers,artistsorscientists–categoriesofpeoplewhosecontributionscanbe significant – are they the only ones with memorable achievements?Whataboutathletes,spiritualleaders,militaryheroes,brilliantbusinessmenandotherpeoplethatbroughtsignificantadvancementsintheirfields?d)Generalwelfare–whatisthedegreeofwelfare?Meetingthebasicneedsofthe people?What indicators do you use tomeasure it – safety, buying poweretc.?

Assumptionsa)Greatnationshaveahighlevelofwelfareb)Thewelfareofthepeopleismoreimportantthantheachievementsofrulers,artistsandscientistsc)Rulers,artistsandscientistsaretheonlyoneswithnotablecontributions

ProsandConsProsa)Highlivingstandardsareahallmarkofcivilizedsocietyb) Rulers, artists and scientists are not the only ones whose achievementscontributetoacountry’sgreatnessc)Welfareisanindicator–somethingthatwhenmeasuredcantellthestateofacountry–it’seconomicalandculturalprosperityd) Welfare encourages scientific development – in the sense that if people’sbasicneedsaremet,thatgivesthemthefreedomtopursuetheirvocations/idealse)More programs and support systems for artists and scientists (scholarships,researchfundingetc.)f)Happinessstudiesaredirectlylinkedwithproductivity/creativityg) People centered modern day philosophy – human resources are the mostvaluableh)Greatthinkers(scientists)andartistsaregreatinthemselves,regardlessofthenationtheycamefrom–theircontributionstranscendboundariesConsa) Historically speaking, countries arememorable due to the achievements oftheirrulers,artistsandscientistsb)Greatrulersmakewelfarepossible–theypromotepoliciesthatsupportgoodlivingconditionsforthecitizensofthestatec)Scientificadvancementsmakelifeeasier,increasethelivingstandardsd)Greatness ismeasured in contributions toworld benefit – ruling principleslikedemocracy,freedomofspeechetc.e) Good rulers and scientific advancements drive the economy. Strongeconomiesareindicativeofgreatnations.

f) A country’s power is an indicative of greatness, and a major contributingfactorinscientificadvancementsg)Culturalidealshelpshapenotonlyanation,buttheentireworld

Examplesa) Civilizations of the past, to showcase what history considers being greatnationsb)Currentgreatnationsc)Economicaltheoriesonwelfared)Greatachievementsinthefieldsofscience,greatartistsandcommanders

SampleEssayCurrent society, as a whole, has become highly invested in people centricpolicies–fromgovernmentsthatensurethewelfareofthecitizens,tocompaniesthatplacecustomerandemployeevaluesattheircore.Thistransformationisinthe spirit ofMahatmaGandhi’s teachings, that “manbecomesgreat exactly inthedegreeinwhichheworksforthewelfareofhisfellow-men.”Throughouttheages,welfarehasbeenanindicatorofanations’economicalandculturalprosperity.Highlivingstandardspoint toeconomicalstability,growth,abundance of resources – all of which are necessary to ensure that thepopulations’necessitiesaremet.Moreover, thepresenceofwelfaresignals theexistenceofaculturalsystemcapableoffosteringtheideasnecessarytosupportit. High living standards and civilization have always been linked – take forinstancethegreatnationsofthepast,likeAncientGreeceorRome,hallmarksofcivilizationthathaveleftadeepimprintontheworld.Inbothofthesecases,thequalityoflifeoftheaveragecitizenwaswellabovethatofthepeoplelivinginthe neighboring countries – they had the buying power and the possibility toenjoy a wider variety of products and leisurely activities, while being lessconcernedwithdaytodaysurvival.In this sense, it can be said that welfare encourages creativity, by meetingpeople’s basic needs which in turn gives them the freedom to pursue theirvocations/ideals. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs supports this idea. Maslow’stheorystates thatan individuals’ fundamentalneedshave tobefulfilledbeforehe can focus on the higher level needs.What thismeans is that, for instance,metabolic requirementswill tend to supersede self-actualizingactions,namely,artistic or creative activities will have to take a backseat to hunger or thirst.

Countries where people’s basic needs are being taken care of can afford todedicatemoretimeandresourcestohigherpursuits.Moreover, countries with a high standard of living have the means to createprogramsandsupportsystemsforartistsandscientists.ThecountriesinnorthernEurope that is famous for the quality of life of the average citizen, havesignificant government supportwhen it comes to education. Their tuition feesaremuchlowerthanintheUSA,andtheyinvestagreaterdealofresourcesintoscholarshipsandresearchfundingthancountrieslikeIndia.Morethanthat,thenorthernEuropeancountriesstrivetoensurenotjustthephysicalwelfareoftheircitizens,butalso theirmentaland ideologicalwellbeingbyprovidinganopen-mindedclimatewherediversitycanthrive.AsPlatopostulatedintheRepublic,thestabilityandsuccessofapoliticalcommunitydependsonthemoralcharacterofthepeoplewhomakeupthatcommunity.Fromthesearguments,itbecomesapparentthatrulers,artistsandscientistsarenot theonlyoneswhoseachievementscontribute toacountry’sgreatness.Butrather,economicalpower,oneof themaincharacteristicsofastrongnation, isdependentontheconsumersandtheirbuyingpower.Ultimately,whenassessinganation’sgreatness,itallcomesdowntowhattraitsbest represent it. From what we have seen so far, the welfare of a nation’scitizens,closelytiedtotheireconomicpower,providesanurturingenvironmentfortalentsthatwillendupshapingtherestoftheworldandcontributingtothebenefit ofmankind.As such, it can be said that generalwelfare is one of thesurestindicatorsofacountry'sgreatness.

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IssueTask5

TopicAsweacquiremoreknowledge,thingsdonotbecomemorecomprehensible,butmorecomplexandmysterious.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewith the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,youshouldconsiderwaysinwhichthestatement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerationsshapeyourposition.

StrategiesA good starting point is to break down the statement and identify theassumptions itmakes.What is interesting to note in this particular case is thefactthatthestatementiscounterintuitive:itseemstocontradictcommonsense.Thenatureofthestatementmakesitsuitableforphilosophicalandpsychologicalarguments

Statementbreakdowna)We–generalweofhumanityb)Acquiremoreknowledge–knowledgeiscumulative–howtoquantifyit?Isit“true”knowledge?Isit“useful”?c)Things–allencompassingtermforthesubjectofknowledge;vagueterm:isitonlyspecificthingsthatbecomelessunderstandable?d) Comprehensible – understandable; how do you gauge a person’sunderstanding?Basedonhow ‘true’ it is, or howmuch it conforms to currentscientifictrend?e)Complex andmysterious – suggest awe in the face of the vastness of theuniverse;isitafeelingratherthanfact-basedspeculation?

Assumptions

a)The universe cannot be fully known– the sumof all knowledge cannot beattainedb)Discoveringsomethingalwaysopensupnewavenuesofresearchc)Knowledgeismeasurable–walkinginthedirectionof“trueknowledge”d)Wearenot‘equipped’tobeabletograspallknowledge

ProsandConsProsa)Knowledgeisnotlinear–wealsotakestepsbackinourquestfortruthb)What is ‘true’ now will end up being proved wrong in the future, as ourunderstandinggrowsc)Knowledgeisinfluencedbysociety/dominatingparadigmsd)Eachnewquestionansweredraisesotherquestionse) More knowledge gained shows us just how complex things are (scientificmodelsalwaysgrowincomplexity)f)Ourminds arenot suitable for understanding the level of complexityof theuniverseg)WecanonlyperceivewhatoursensestellusConsa)Knowledgeisquantifiableb)knowledgeisattainable,stepbystep(knowledgebuilding)c)Not‘understanding”isafeeling–psychologicaleffectd)Shouldnotcomparecurrentknowledgewithsumofallknowledge–butwithhowlittleweknewinthepast(progressmeasuredbyhowfarwehavecome,nothowfarwestillhavetogo)e)Peoplefeeloverwhelmedbyhowmuchthereisstilltodiscover/thevastnessoftheuniverse–itisapsychologicaleffect(fallacyofinsignificance)f)Afullyknownuniverseisboring–andthatisfrighteningg)Averagehumanintelligencehasgrownsignificantlyh)High level, complex knowledge is attained by the brilliant and then parseddown

i) We don’t only accumulate information but also know how to process andunderstandit–wedon’tgatherinformationforinformation’s’sake

Examplesa)Scientificdiscoveriescanprovehowmuchweknowordonotknowabouttheuniverseb)Psychologycanshowhowourmindreacts to theuniverse, itsvastness,andhowhumanmindsareabletoprocessknowledgeandcomplexissuesc)Philosophy–thestudyofepistemology(understandingknowledgeandhowitisacquired)d) Researchers – what do the foremost minds involved in the knowledgegatheringprocessthinkaboutite)Biochemistry–abilitiesorlimitationsofthehumanmindf)BooksandmoviesthathaveexploredthethemebeforeLastly, spend a fewminutes coming upwith a roadmap.While at first itwillslow you down, once you become adept at outlining, yourwriting speedwillincrease,andyouressaywillbenefitfromhavingalogicalstructure.

SampleEssayThe universe has always fascinated us – from the very dawn of civilization,when everything seemed shrouded in mystery and the unexplainable was therealmsofthegods.Thecuriosityofthehumannatureisthedrivingforceofouraccelerated evolution and the reason why we have developed methods ofsystematic study – so that we are better able to understand and control oursurroundings.AsSirFrancisBaconsaid-“knowledgeispower”.Attheheartofknowledgeisthesearchfortruth;ofthemanywayspeopletrytounravelthemysteriesoftheuniverse,scientificresearchisdeemedtobeamoreaccurate understanding of the world. That is because, in essence, scientificresearch is based on gathering observable and measurable evidence byformulating and testinghypothesis in reproducible experiments.Epistemology,the study of knowledge and how it is acquired, shows us that knowledgegatheringisacumulativeprocess–newtheories,nomatterhowrevolutionary,haveabasisinprevioustheories.Saying that things becomemore complex andmysterious aswe acquiremoreknowledge means operating under the false assumption that progress is

measuredbyhowmuchwehaveyettodiscover.Whenhumanityisatthestartof the line, in terms of understanding the universe and its secrets, progressshouldbemeasuredbyhowfarwehavecome,nothowfarwestillhavetogo.Weshouldnotcompareourcurrentknowledgewiththesumofallknowledge,but ratherwithhowlittleweknewin thepast.Take, for instance,biologyandhowmuchwehaveprogressedfrombelievingthathumansicknessisaresultintheimbalanceofhumors,tothecurrentdayadvancedunderstandingoforgans,tissues,cells–downtotheDNAlevel.Thesamecanbesaidfortherudimentarynotionsofgeographyofthepast,namelytheideathattheEarthwasflatandthatthe Sun was orbiting around it. Comparing these notions to the currentunderstanding of tectonics, landscape formation and astrophysics theories likethe existence of dark mater, we can see how far our understanding of theuniversehasprogressed,onestepatatime.Andwhilewecaninnowaysaythatweknoweverythingthatthereistoknow,wecancertainlysaythatweareabletoaccomplishsomuchmorethaninthepast,allthankstoabetterunderstandingofourenvironment.As such, the amount of knowledge the average individual possesses, has beensteadilygrowingover theages– the samecanbe said forourcomprehension.Whatchildrenlearnandareabletograspinschoolstodaywouldhavebeenpartof the mystery of the universe in the past. This increase in knowledge wasobservedbyBuckminsterFullerandnamed“theKnowledgeDoublingCurve”.He noticed that until 1900 human knowledge doubled approximately everycenturyandbytheendofWorldWarIIknowledgewasdoublingevery25years.If onewere able to travel through time to a period like theMiddleAges, ourknowledge,technology,behaviorsandspeechwouldbeseenaswitchcraft.LikeArthurC.Clarkesaid:'Magic'sjustsciencethatwedon'tunderstandyet.'Part of the issue of thinking that the universe becomes progressivelyincomprehensibleisourwonderwiththeuniverse,which,whileunderstandable,alsoinspirestheideathattrueknowledgeissomehowunattainable.Peoplefeeloverwhelmedbythevastnessandcomplexityoftheuniverseandholdthebeliefthatoursimplemindcannotcomprehendit-thispsychologicalphenomenoniscalledthefallacyofinsignificance.ColinWilsoninTheStatureofManclaimsthatthisfallacyisaneffectofmoderndaysocietythatconditionsindividualstolack self-worth, as a mechanism of ensuring compliance – people want tobecome part of the system, in order to escape their feelings on unimportance.People end up operating on the idea that as an individual, they do notmatter

much in the grand scheme of things, which is why they should belong tosomethinggreaterthatgivestheirexistencemeaning.Last,butnotleast,peoplewanttobelievethattheuniversemaintainsitsshroudofmysterybecausetheideaofattainingfull,completeknowledgeisfrightening– a fully known universe is predictable and boring, like professor FarnsworthfromFuturamastipulates::”And,nowthatI'vefoundalltheanswers,IrealizethatwhatIwaslivingforwerethequestions!”

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IssueTask6

TopicTounderstandthemostimportantcharacteristicsofasociety,onemuststudyitsmajorcities.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewith the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,youshouldconsiderwaysinwhichthestatement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerationsshapeyourposition.

StrategiesRestatetheissue,perhapsbyreversingtheorderofthesentencecomponents.

Inotherwords:Studying a society's major cities leads to understanding its most importantcharacteristics.Determinewhatquestionisbeingansweredbythestatement.Thiswillhelpyoubegintothinkhowyouwouldansweritandwhetherornotyouagreewiththeoriginalstatement.Howcanoneunderstandthemostimportantcharacteristicsofasociety?Parts of the original statement that provide evidence that you can affirm orrefute.a)understand – This impliesmore than identifying or listing.Understandingoccursatadeeperlevel.b)most important – The superlative -most-implies a selection process thateliminateslessimportantcharacteristics.Whatprocessandhowwasitcreated?c)society–thiscanrefertoanysocialentity,largeorsmall.d)majorcities–Majormightrefertosizeofpopulation,statecapitals,centersof industry, number of educational institutions. How were cities identified as

major?e)study–Thisimpliesadeepexamination.Whataspectsofthesecitiesshouldonestudytogainunderstandingofsociety'smostimportantcharacteristics?Next,createastatement thatexpressestheopposingviewpoint,usinglanguagesimilartothatoftheoriginalstatement.

Opposingviewpoint:Studying its major cities is not a means to understanding a society's mostimportantcharacteristics.Identify the parts of the opposing statement that provide evidence to refute oraffirm. In this case, the evidence is the same as that in the original statementexceptforthewordnot.a) not – In this case, it removes studying major cities as a means ofunderstanding society's most important characteristics. Using this statementforces the writer to develop other means of understanding societalcharacteristics.

AlternativesIs there any other way to look at this issue? Can you qualify the originalstatementinsomeway?Isitpossibletopartiallyagreewiththestatement?

Newviewpoint:Tounderstandthemostimportantcharacteristicsofasociety,onemuststudyitsmajorcitiesaswellassmalltownsandruralcommunities.Identifythepartsofthenewstatementthatprovideevidencetoaffirmorrefute.a)onecomponent–Thissuggeststhatstudyingmajorcitiesdoesnotilluminateallofasociety'smostimportantcharacteristics.The following essay uses this balanced position. In other words, both majorcitiesandsmallertownsorruralareashavequalitiesthatmakethemrepositoriesof a society’s important characteristics.List some examples to use as support.Because the issue does not mention what the important characteristics of asocietyare,youwillhavethefreedomtosuggestwhattheymightbe.

Examples:a)Diversity–Citiesarethelikelyrepositoriesofthischaracteristic.Smalltownsaremorehomogeneous.

b)Culture–Majorcitiesprovidegreateraccesstoculturaleventsanddisplays,e.g.,theater,symphony,museums.c)Education–Accesstoawiderangeofeducationalinstitutionsexistsinmajorcities.d)Self-reliance–Lackofavarietyofproductsandservicesmakesresidentsofsmalltownsmoreself-reliant.

SampleEssayToclaim thatonecanunderstandasociety’smost importantcharacteristicsbystudyingonlyitsmajorcitiesignoresalloftheothersocialstructuresthatexistwithinacountry.AcountryasvastastheUnitedStates,forexample,ismadeupof fiftystates thatactas independententities inmanyrespects.Withineachofthose states reside groups of citizens united or divided by race, ethnicity,religion,orsocialclass.Somestatesdonotevenhavewhatmaybeconsideredamajorcity.Topresumethatonlymajorcitiesareworthyofstudyminimizesthecontributionofsmallerconstructstothecharacteristicsofthelargersociety.Onthe other hand, many large cities are composed of smaller societies that mayrepresentthosethatexistintheremoteandfar-flungareasofthislargecountry.Beforedeterminingwhereexamplesofacountry'smostimportantcharacteristicsreside,onewouldneedtoidentifywhat thosecharacteristicsare.Ifdiversityisnear the topof the list, thenmajorcitieswouldbe theplaces to study it.NewYork City is home to neighborhoods like Little Italy, Chinatown, SpanishHarlem, and Hell's Kitchen. Additionally, residents of NYC live inneighborhoods that cater to lifestyle or economic class, such as GreenwichVillage, SoHo, and ParkAvenue. Small towns in rural America tend towardshomogeneity,andtheirresidentshavelittleexposuretoracialorethnicdiversity.An appreciation for fine arts might rank high in importance as a societalcharacteristic,and,onceagain,citiesarehometomyriadinstitutionswherethefine arts aredisplayedor performed.Only inmajor cities is one likely to findmuseumsofart,symphonies,operahouses,andtheatersfortheliveperformanceof plays andmusicals.Residents of small townsmayonlyhave a high schoolbandandaccessworksofartontheInternet,thuslimitingtheirexposuretoandappreciationofthefinearts.Physicalaccesstoinstitutionsofhigherlearningelevatesthecitizensofasocietyand is universally considered to be important. Graduates of small town highschoolsmustgenerallyleavehometoobtainacollegedegree,whereasstudents

inamajorcityneedtravelonlyafewblockstoattendanIvyLeaguecollege,astateuniversity,adesign institute,oraschool for theperformingarts.Lackofaccess may even discourage children in remote areas from attending college,reducing the overall level of education in those towns and making them lessdesirabletostudyforidentifyingtheimportantcharacteristicsofsociety.In contrast, small cities and rural towns may be better locations to studycharacteristics thatareas importantas theonescitedabove.Residentsof thesecommunities aremore likely to combine their efforts to support amember inneed.Onecannotmissthedonationcansonconveniencestorecountersthatareusedforcollectingmoney tohelpa family thathas losteverything toa fireorhas a child undergoing expensive medical treatment. The local grocer has acommunitybulletinboardwhereserviceclubscanpostupcomingeventstoraisefundstosendthehighschoolbaseball teamtoFloridaforspringtrainingor tobuildnewdugoutsatthetown'splayground.Ifconcernforone'sneighborsrankshigh on the list of important characteristics, then small towns are suitablesubjectsofstudy.Residents of rural towns retain some level of self-sufficiency, although theexpansion of the Internet has had some impact on that quality. Vegetablegardensarecommon,andhousewivesstillcanandfreezetheiryieldsforfutureconsumption. Husbands are jacks-of-all-trades. They mow their own lawns,paint their own houses, and use their own tools to repair brokenmachines orchangeawasheronafaucet.Kidsonfarmshavechoresaswellasschoolworktocompleteeachday.Animportantcharacteristicofanysocietymightbehardworkcombinedwithingenuity,andsmalltownsarelikelytobepopulatedwithpeoplewhodisplaythis.Onthewhole,theoriginalstatementhasveracity.Majorcitiesaremicrocosms;theirresidentsarerepresentativeofthesocietyasawhole.Visitorstothosecitiescanseepeople fromallwalksof life, fromvariedbackgroundsand thosewhodisplay talentsandabilities thatonemay find isolated in smaller towns.Citiesare growing while small towns are shrinking, so the important characteristicsthat were once unique to rural America are making their way into cities.However,whenattemptingtounderstandanentiresociety,onemustexamineallof its communities, including small towns and rural villages. Knowing thecriteriausedtocreatetheoriginalpositionwouldmakeaffirmingorrefutingitasimplertask.

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IssueTask7

TopicClaim: Governments must ensure that their major cities receive the financialsupporttheyneedinordertothrive.Reason:Itisprimarilyincitiesthatanation'sculturaltraditionsarepreservedandgenerated.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewiththeclaimandthereasononwhichthatclaimisbased.

StrategiesCombinetheclaimandreasonintoonestatementusingasubordinateclause.

Inotherwords:Because it is in cities that a nation's cultural traditions are preserved andgenerated,governmentsmustensurethattheirmajorcitiesreceivethefinancialsupporttheyneedinordertothrive.Whataretheassumptionsintheclaimandreason?Thesewillprovideevidencethatyoucaneitheraffirmorrefuteinyourargument.a)Citiesgenerateandpreservemostofanation'sculturaltraditions.b) Small towns and rural areas do not generate or preserve a nation's culturaltraditions.c)Citiesareunabletothrivewithoutfinancialsupportfromthegovernment.d)Culturaltraditionsshouldbepreserved.e) Funding cities in order to preserve cultural traditions is a valuable use ofgovernmentmoney.Next, create a statement that expresses an opposing point of view, usinglanguagesimilartothatintheoriginalstatement.

Opposingviewpoint:

Claim: Governments must ensure that communities of all sizes receive thefinancialsupporttheyneedtothrive.Reason: All communities help to generate and preserve a nation's culturaltraditions.Whataretheassumptionsintheclaimandreason?Thesewillprovideevidencethatyoucaneitheraffirmorrefuteinyourargument.a)Notypeofcommunityshouldbeignoredasapreserverofculturaltraditions.b)Citiesandsmalltownsshouldreceiveequalfinancialsupportaspreserversofculturaltraditions.c) Some cultural traditionsmay disappear if certain types of communities areallowedtoflounderfinancially.Is there any other way to look at this issue? Can you qualify the originalstatementinsomeway?Isitpossibletopartiallyagreewiththestatement?

Alternativeview:Claim: Governments should not fund their major cities in order to preserveculturaltraditions.Reason: Cultural groups should be responsible for preserving their owntraditions.Whataretheassumptionsinthealternativeclaimandreason?a)Governmentsshouldnotfundthepreservationofculturaltraditions.b)Governmentshouldfundprojects thatbenefit thegreatestnumberofpeopleratherthansmallgroupsofpeople.c)Eachculturalgroupshoulddowhatittakestopreserveitsowntraditions.

SampleEssayAmerica is a country of immigrants. Over the course of this country's briefhistory, groups or individuals have made their way to our shores to escapepersecution,starvation,oranynumberofdisasters.Language,religious,orotherbarriersledthemtoseekthosefromsimilarbackgrounds,creatingcommunitiesandneighborhoodswheremanyculturaltraditionshavebeenpreservedthroughseveralgenerations.Theseare traditions that theycarriedwith themfromtheircountries of origin. As a nation, America has very few original culturaltraditions.ThemostnotableoftheseisThanksgiving.Wealsocelebrateourown

Independence Day on July fourth and Columbus Day in October. They wereneither generated inmajor cities, nor are they preserved exclusively inmajorcities.Americansgenerateandpreservecultural traditionsincommunitiesbothlarge and small. Whether these traditions help major cities to thrive isquestionable,andwhethergovernmentfundingoftheirpreservationiswarrantedissubjecttodebate.I grew up in a part ofMaine that had a significant number of people whoseancestors came fromSwedenduring the last half of thenineteenth century. Infact,myownancestorsmade that journeyandsettled inStockholm,obviouslynamedforthecapitaloftheirhomeland.TheseSwedeswereprincipallyfarmers,and theycleared theheavily-forested landandgrewcropsamenable toa shortgrowing season. They established Lutheran churches, married other Swedishimmigrants and prepared meals in the Swedish culinary tradition. Eventuallymills designed to manufacture products from the abundant timber were builtalong the stream that ran through town, andAcadian-French peoplemoved toStockholmtoworkinthemills.Theschools,oncepopulatedbychildrenwhosesurnames were Anderson, Johnson, and Soderberg now included Plourdes,Rossignols, andDoucettes.The inevitableoccurred:Frenchpeople fell in lovewithandmarriedSwedishpeople.Today,theremaynotbemorethanahandfulofresidentswhocanclaimunadulteratedSwedishblood.Despitethedeclineinpopulationandthedilutingofthebloodlines,theSwedishcommunitycelebratesMidsummer every year. To mark the longest day of the year, residents andvisitorsalikedress inquaintSwedishcostumes,decorateand raiseaMaypole,perform Swedish folk dances and eat Swedish food. This is accomplishedwithouttheinfusionofstateorfederalfunds;volunteersfromthecommunitydoit all. I'm sure it's all lovely. Iwouldn't knowbecause I've never attended thefestivities. Even though half of my ancestors are of Swedish descent, I haveneverlivedanywherebutAmerica.IamanAmerican,notaSwedish-American,nor,morecorrectly,aSwedish-Irish-English-Dutch-American.Becauseculturaltraditions are unique to specific religions, races, or ethnicities, they tend toseparatepeoplerather thanpull themtogether.These traditionshelp individualcultures,ratherthanentirecommunities,tothrive.ThevitalityofAmerica'smajorcitiesreliesonfactorsotherthanthepreservationof cultural traditions. Major cities or any community requires a soundinfrastructure to ensure its survival. Without sufficient streets in good repairresidentscannotgotoworkduringthedayortoplacesofentertainmentinthe

evening.Withoutanefficientmeansofdeliveringwaterandeliminatingwaste,citieswouldbecomebreedinggrounds fordisease.A lackof electricitywouldcrippleallformsofindustry.Majorcitiesmustprovideaccesstohealthcareandeducation to its residents. Any level of financial support on the part of thegovernmentshouldbeallocatedtoprojectsthatmakelivinginmajorcitiesmorecomfortable.Whenresidentsarecomfortable,theycanpursueactivitiesthathelptheircommunitiestothrive.Over recent decades, uniquely American cultural traditions have lost theirsignificance. Thanksgiving has been reduced to a day to prepare for BlackFriday, the kickoff to theChristmas shopping season. Stores open earlier thannormal and offer desirable merchandise at drastically reduced prices. Entirefamilies spend time on Thanksgiving plotting their shopping strategies. Theycampoutatstoresorgetupextraearlytobefirstthroughthedoorswhentheyopen,oftenpushingotherbargainhuntersoutoftheway.In2012,somemajorchain stores actually opened in the evening on Thanksgiving Day. WhenAmerica's citizens have so little regard for the country's traditions, thegovernmentwouldbeunwise toprovide funds tomajorcities inanattempt topreservethem.

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IssueTask8

TopicSomepeoplebelievethatinordertobeeffective,politicalleadersmustyieldtopublic opinion and abandon principle for the sake of compromise. Othersbelieve that the most essential quality of an effective leader is the ability toremainconsistentlycommittedtoparticularprinciplesandobjectives.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusswhichviewmorecloselyalignswithyourownpositionandexplainyourreasoningforthepositionyoutake.Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,youshouldaddressbothoftheviewspresented.

StrategiesRestatetheIssue:Considereachviewseparatelybeforedecidingwhichofthemyoumostcloselyagreewith.Pointofview1:Restatethepositionusingnegativeterminology.

Inotherwords:Somepeoplebelievethatpoliticalleaderswhodonotyieldtopublicopinionandfailtocompromisecannotbeeffective.Thinkaboutthequestionthatisbeingansweredbythestatement.Whatshouldpoliticalleadersdotobeeffective?Now identify elements in the statement that can provide evidence for you toaffirmorrefute.a) Some people – This implies that there are two sides to the issue. Not allpeopleagreewithposition1.b)effective–Tobeeffective is tohaveaneffectonsomethingor toeffectorcreateachange.

c)yield–Toyieldistogiveupsomething.Yieldingtoanopponentisgenerallytosurrenderyourownideas.d)publicopinion–Onegenerallythinksofmajorityopinioninthiscase.Theentirepublicneverseemstosharethesameopinion.e)abandon –This is a strongword.Abandoninganobject, person,or idea islikelypermanent.f)principle–Aprincipleisakintoanideal.Principlesdevelopoveraperiodofyearsanddeterminewhatindividualsfindacceptableorunacceptable.g)sake–Sakeisasynonymforinterestorbenefit.h)compromise– Incompromise,allpartiesgiveupsomething.Thephrase,astrongcompromise,isoxymoronic.Pointofview2:Restatethepositionusingnegativeterminology.

Inotherwords:Othersbelievethatthemostessentialqualityofaneffectiveleaderistherefusaltoabandonprinciplesandobjectivestowhichtheyarecommitted.Thisstatementanswersthesamequestionasthefirststatementdoes.Now,identifytheelementsinthisstatementthatcanprovideevidenceforyoutoaffirmorrefute.a)others–Likesomepeopleinthefirstpointofview,othersisnotinclusive.Itcouldjustaseasilybesome.b)most essential – This phrase contains redundancies. Essential is themost;nothingismoreneededthantheessentialpart.c) consistently committed – A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of littleminds.Consistentlymeans that circumstances cannot affectone’s commitmenttoanidea,person,etc.d)objectives–Objectivesmustbeaccomplishedonthewaytoreachingagoal.Thedirectionsdonotallowforalternativepositions.Eventhoughyoumaynotbe in complete agreementwith either of thepositions, youmust decidewhichonemostcloselymatchesthewaythatyouthinkabouttheissue.Makecertaintoacknowledgetheoppositeviewpointasyoudevelopyourresponse.

SampleEssay

Morethanacenturyago,RalphWaldoEmersonsaidthatafoolishconsistencyis the hobgoblin of little minds.When one becomes enamored of an idea orprinciple,heorshebecomesblindtoalternatives.Itisasthoughahobgoblinorlittle monster has entered the imagination and blocked off new ideas or theabilitytoseeadifferentperspective.Whenopposingpartiesinadebaterefusetoacknowledgeanyvalueintheiropponents’ ideas,nothingisaccomplished.Wecertainlysee this in theUnitedStatesCongress today.Pollnumbersareon thedeclineforthePresidentandmostsenatorsandrepresentativesbecauseoftheirinability togetanythingdone.Compromisemayseem likegiving inorgivingup,butthealternativeistoleaveproblemsunsolved.TheUnitedStatesmayhavebeengovernedverydifferentlythanitistodayifitwere not for theGreat Compromise. In the early days of America, there washeated debate about the way states would be represented in the nationalgovernment. One plan called for a unicameral congress where the number ofrepresentatives fromeach statewouldbebasedon the state’s population.Thisplanfavoredstateswithlargerpopulations.Theotherplanstatedthateachstateshould have the same number of representatives, again in a unicamerallegislature. This would leave the people in states with larger populationsunderserved. The Great Compromise created the bicameral system we havetodayinAmerica.Onebody,theSenate,iscomprisedoftwosenatorsfromeachstate, creating a body in which each state, regardless of population, isrepresented equally. The lower house, the House of Representatives, iscomprised of representatives from each state based on population. In thismanner,most citizens of theUnited States are served equally by their electedofficials.TheworldhasbecomeincreasinglycomplexsincethoseearlydaysofAmericaanddebatestillragesinthehallsofgovernmentinWashington,DC.Aflaggingeconomy,risingunemployment,greaternumbersofhousingforeclosures,threatstoentitlementprograms,andbankfailureshavesparkedcontrastingideasaboutfixes for these problems. Citizens watch while their President or senator orcongressmendeclaretothemediathattherewillbenobilliftheirownideasarenot included. Those whose terms in congress next year are already makingcampaignpromiseswithnosufficientplantopayforthosepromises.Therefore,theremustbecompromise.Afterall,promiseispartofcompromise.Thosewho are retired or near retirementworry about proposed cuts to SocialSecurityand/orMedicare,andtheyoungworkersworryaboutrisingtaxestopay

for those entitlements andwonderwhatwill be left for themwhen they reachretirementage.Currentandprospectiveworkersworryabouttheexportationofjobs to other countries while they are trying to pay for their homes or savemoneytosendtheirchildrentocollege.Studentsincollegeworryaboutthedebttheywillbesaddledwithaftergraduationandiftherewillbejobsforthemoncetheyhavetheirsheepskininhand.ThePresidentandCongressshouldlooktothepastandseethatcompromisewasthevehiclethatplacedtheminthepositionstheynowhave.Theymustcombinetheirpromisesforthegoodofeverycitizen.

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IssueTask9

TopicThebestwaytoteachistopraisepositiveactionsandignorenegativeones.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewith the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,youshouldconsiderwaysinwhichthestatement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerationsshapeyourposition.

StrategiesRestatetheIssue:Thisstatementtellswhatoneshoulddo.Whatshouldn’tonedo?

Inotherwords:The best way to teach is not to ignore positive actions or draw attention tonegativeones.Determinewhatquestionisbeingansweredbythestatement.Whatisthebestapproachtoteaching?The question may help you develop alternative points of view. The originalstatementisonlyoneofseveralanswerstothequestion.Now, thinkabout thepartsof theoriginal statement thatprovideevidence thatyoucanaffirmorrefute.a)best–Thisisthesuperlativeformofgood.Nothingcansurpassit.b)praise–Doesthepraisehavetobeverbal?Itmightbeagoldstaronachartoraspecialprivilege.c)positiveactions–Positivemaybesubjectiveandunclearinthemindofthechild.Dotheactionshavetobephysical,orcantheyincludedoingwellonatest

orhandinghomeworkinwhenitisdue?Itmightbevolunteeringtohelpanotherstudentorcleaningtheblackboard.d)ignore–Toignoresomethingistopretenditdoesn’texist.e)negative[actions]–Whatisnegativedependsontheteacher’svalues.Again,aretheseovertbehavioralissuesordotheyincludefailingatestornotturninginwork?

Opposingviewpoint:Thebestwaytoteachistoexpectpositiveactionsandcorrectnegativeones.Nowthinkaboutthepartsoftheopposingstatementthatprovideevidencethatyoucanaffirmorrefute.a)expect–Itissometimestruethat,ifyouexpectchildrentobewellbehaved,theywillbe.Theoppositecanbetrueaswell;expectbadbehaviorandyouwillprobablygetit.b) correct – Some children have not been taught or modeled good behavior.Theyneed tohave theirbadactionscorrected.Thisdoesnotnecessarily implypunishment.

AlternativesIsthereanotherwaytolookatthisissue?Cantheoriginalstatementbequalifiedinsomeway?

Newviewpoint:Modelinggoodbehavioristhebestwaytoobtainitfromothers.Identifythepartsofthealternativestatementthatcanprovideevidenceforyoutorefuteoraffirm.a)modeling–Thisimpliessettinganexample.Ifateacherispolite,herstudentsare likely to imitate that behavior. If she is inconsistent, children will beconfusedandnotknowhowtobehave.

SampleEssayEvery child’s first school is his home, and his parents are his first teachers.Whetherachildisraisedbyoneorbothparents,stepparents,grandparents,orfoster parents, the childobserves and, inmost cases, imitates thebehaviors ofthose adults. This imitation is so important that parents often say to theirchildren,“DoasIsay,notwhatIdo"whentheyfearthattheymaybesettinga

bad example. A young child's undeveloped brain cannot rely on observationalone to understand how to behave; he or she will make mistakes and actinappropriatelyfromtimetotime.Occasionally,childrenneedtobecorrected.Children will move on to more formal education around the age of five.Teacherswill act in locoparentis, in theplaceof their parents.Somechildrenenterschoolwithaninnateunderstandingofhowtoactinthisnewenvironment;otherswill struggle.Teachershave thebest interestsof theiryoungcharges inmind at all times but understand that some children needmore direction thanothers. Ignoringnegativeactionscanactuallybedangerous.Runningaroundaclassroom,achildcantripandfallorrunintoadesk,achair,oranotherstudent.Shouldtheteacherbeexpectedtowaituntilthechildtiresofrunningandpraisehimorherforstopping?Thesechildrenwilleventuallyenterthehallsofhighschoolwherethepotentialfor danger increases tremendously.Chemistry class, alone, has equipment andmaterials that have the potential to seriously injure those who handle themincorrectly.Theteacherwhoignoresdangerousactionsperformedbystudentsinthis situation should probably be fired. Additionally, there are classes wherechildren may use stoves, irons, pneumatic wrenches, or table saws. For theirsafety,studentsmustbetoldwhentheyareusingthosetoolsimproperly.Even in classes that are seemingly danger free, accidents can happen. In anotherwise tame English class, students throw pens across the room. Theseprojectilescanendupinanotherstudent'seye.Let'snotoverlookthecompassesthatstudentsuseinmathclass.Anynumberofinjuriescanresultfromthesharptiponthatinstrument.Teachingcontinuesafterchildrenhavefinishedtheireducations.Employersarenot likely to overlook negative actions in the workplace. The bottom linedepends on everyone performing his or her job correctly. Children whosenegativeactionshavebeen ignored throughout their liveswillbe in fora rudeawakeningaftertheyleavethesafehavenofhomeandschool.Ignoringnegativeactionsmay,intheend,besettingchildrenupforfuturefailure.

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IssueTask10

TopicTeachers'salariesshouldbebasedontheirstudents'academicperformance.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewith theclaim. Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,be sure toaddressthemost compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to challengeyourposition.

StrategiesAssumptions:Whataretheassumptionsintheclaim?Thesearestatementsthatyoucaneitheraffirmorrefute.Assumption1:Teacherswillbecomebetter teachers if theirsalariesarebasedonstudentperformance.Assumption2:Studentperformancewill improve if teacher salariesarebasedonthatperformance.Assumption 3:Teacherswill feelmore valued if they are rewarded for beingsuccessful.Assumption 4: Student academic performance – good or bad-depends onteacherpay.

Opposingviewpoint:Teachers'salariesshouldnotdependonstudent’sacademicperformance.Whataretheassumptionsintheopposingclaim?Assumption 1: Teachers' salaries should be determined in theway they havebeenpreviously.Assumption2:Studentperformancedoesnotdependonteacherpay.

Assumption3:Teacherpay shouldbedeterminedby somecriteriaother thanstudentperformance.

Alternativeclaim:Student academic performance should be one of several criteria used todetermineateacher'ssalary.

Supportforalternativeclaim:Example:Teachersmay lower their standards to allow students to earnbettergrades.Itshouldnotbetheonlycriterionfordeterminingsalaries.Example: Incentives are used in the business world to encourage increasedproductivity.Example:Treatingstudentacademicperformanceasacommoditydoesnottakeintoconsiderationtheirindividualnatures.

SampleEssayTeacher salaries traditionally depend on a step or seniority system. First-yearteachers allmake the same salary, asdo second-year teachers, and soon.Theonly way to increase one's salary on any step of the pay scale is to get anadvanceddegree.Someteacherssupplementtheirsalariesbyservingascoachesor advisers to school clubs and organizations. All school systems have anevaluation systemwhichdoesnothavean impacton theamountofmoneyanindividualteachermakes.Althoughthissystemprotectsteachersfrombecomingvictimsofapopularitycontest,italsoenablesincompetentteacherstocontinuetoadverselyaffectthequalityofeducationdeliveredtostudents.Reformislongoverdue,andthecriteriaforevaluatingateacher'sworthmustbecarefully considered and includemore than one critical element. Local schoolsystems,states,andcountriesarecontinuouslycomparedwitheachotherbasedonstandardizedtestscoresandothermeasuresofstudentachievement.Teachersandadministratorsfeelpressuredtoraisetestscores.TheunfortunateresultcanbethecheatingscandalthatoccurredinGeorgiaearlierthisyear,whenteachersandprincipalsinsomedistrictschangedstudentanswersonastandardizedtest.The temptation to take thisactioncould increase if teacherpaywerebasedonstudentachievement.Inadditiontostandardizedtestscores,studentgradesareanindicationofstudentachievement.Mostschoolsystemsstillusenumericalaveragesandlettergrades

todemonstratestudentsuccess.Thesegradesplacestudentsonhonorrolls thatare generally published in local newspapers which parents can point to withpride, and they determine class standing, a piece of information requested oncollege applications. If higher grades are a sign of teacher effectiveness andaffectteacherpay,teachersmaybetemptedtolowertheirstandardstomakeiteasierfortheirstudentstoearnthosehighergrades.Studentachievementcanbeusedtodetermineteachereffectivenessand,perhaps,pay,buttherefirstneedstobeabettermeansofmeasuringandreportingstudentsuccess.In the world of business, employees are often rewarded monetarily for theirsuccess in meeting or exceeding goals. In most of those cases, workers areproducing or selling items that are easilymade identical. Quality control is amatterofinsuringthateachitemwillperforminthewayitwasdesignedto.Thisisaprocessimpossibletoreplicatewhentheproductisahumanbeing.Teacherscanpresentthesamelessonsinthesamewayyearafteryearandhavedifferentresultsintermsofstudentsuccesseveryyear.Thecharacteristicsofeachyear'scohortaredifferent.Therefore,achievementwillbedifferent.Teachersdoneedtobeheldaccountableforstudentlearning.Theyalsoneedtobeevaluatedinamannerthatfostersandencouragesprofessionalgrowth.Whenteachers are given a clear direction in which to proceed, they will take theirstudents along.Educational leaderswould serve their schools, their states, andtheir countries well if they ceased comparing their achievements with others.Teacherpaycannotbebasedonachievementthatislooselydefinedorcomparedtotestscoresinotherpartsofthestate,country,orworld.

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IssueTask11

TopicCollegestudentsshouldbasetheirchoiceofafieldofstudyontheavailabilityofjobsinthatfield.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewith theclaim. Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,be sure toaddressthemost compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to challengeyourposition.

StrategiesAssumptions:Whataretheassumptionsintheclaim?Assumption1:Somecoursesofstudyaremorevaluablethanothers.Assumption2:Studentsshouldnotpersuewhattheyloveifitdoesnotleadtoreadyemployment.Assumption3:Somecareersaremorehighlyvaluedthanothers.Assumption4:Thesecareerswillalwaysbeinhighdemand.

Opposingviewpoint:Collegestudentsshouldnotbasetheirchoiceoffieldontheavailabilityofjobsinthatfield.Whataretheassumptionsinthisclaim?Assumption1:Collegestudentsshouldstudywhattheylove.Assumption2:Collegestudentsshouldbasetheirchoiceofafieldofstudyontheirstrengths.Assumption3:Alljobsarevaluable.Isthereanotherwayoflookingattheclaim?Whatreasonwouldsomeonehaveformakingthisclaim?

Reason 1: Studentswill need immediate employment to pay off accumulatedcollegedebt.Reason2:Jobsaremoreplentifulandreadilyavailableinsomefields.

AlternativeclaimCollege students must be encouraged to choose a field of study that intereststhemandaddressestheirpersonalandacademicstrengths.

Supportforalternativeclaim:Example:Nursesandnursepractitionersareingreatdemandtoday.Ifastudenthasgreatdifficultywiththesciences,heorshewillfinditvirtuallyimpossibletocomplete a nursing program successfully.What happens to the job market ifcollegesanduniversitiesproduceasurplusofnurses?

SampleEssayTheranksoftheunemployedarefilledwithpeopleofallagesandalllevelsofeducation who believed that, if you work hard, you will be successful. Theynevercouldhaveenvisionedthedaywhentheirskillswouldbecomeobsoleteortheir jobswouldbesent toanothercountrywhere theoverhead is lower.Theymayverywellhavelistenedtotheadvicepresentedintheoriginalclaimwhentheyweregoingoff tocollege.Withvisionsofdollar signs filling theirheads,they enrolled in programs that guaranteed employment post graduation. Theywere simply being practical. Therefore, students should not pick theirundergraduate majors based on the careers available at that moment, becausethereisnoguaranteethatthosecareerswillstillbeavailableoncetheygraduate.Onecanimagineparentstodaytellingtheirchildrentofollowthewordsoftheclaim.Intheseconddecadeofthetwenty-firstcentury,practicalityseemsmoreimportant than ever. The cost of college discourages students from alwaysfollowing theirdreams.Leftwithcollegedebt thatmayrangefrom$20,000 tomorethan$100,000,studentsmustconsiderhowtheywillrepaytheloans.Theunemployment rate, as well, drives students into careers that promise animmediateandsteadypaycheck.Dreamsandpassionsareputonhold.Allprospectivecollegestudentsshouldknowthatthedemandforemployeesinspecific careers ebbs and wanes. For the past few years, officials have beenpredicting shortage of teachers asmany current teacherswill reach retirementage shortly.High-schoolgraduates took this as a call tomajor in education incollege, believing that their skills would be in high demand after graduation.

Thentherecessionhit,andstatesandlocalschoolsystemshadtomakebudgetcuts, accomplished, inpart,byeliminating teachingpositions. InTexas, alone,the state eliminated 49,000 teaching positions. Not only are those positionsunavailabletonewcollegegraduates,theteacherswhooncefilledthemarenowlookingforwork.Becausebabyboomersarenearingoldage,jobsinthemedicalfield are plentiful. The classifieds are filled daily with ads for nurses, nursepractitioners,andpharmacists.Ifnewcollegestudentsfocusonthosecareersingreatnumbers, theywillsooncreateaglutofmedicalprofessionals,andmanyofthemwillnotfindworkintheirfields.Nomatterwhatstudentschoosetostudy, theyshouldbemadeawarethat theymay have to change careers at some point in their lives. Theymight as wellchooseacareer theyarepassionateabout.Themost importantskill theymightlearnincollegeishowtolearn.Intoday’schangingjobmarket,employeesmustbe prepared to update their skill sets. Advancing technology, by itself, haschangedthewaythattraditionaljobsaredonetoday.Ifcollegestudentschooseacareerwiththeskillsandenvironmentthatsuitthem,theywillbegoodatwhattheydo.Eventually, if not immediately, theywill be rewarded financially.Dowhatyoulove,andthemoneywillfollow.Itissaidthatifyouchooseajobyoulove,youwillneverworkadayinyourlife.Thetruerewardofacareerchoicemayresideinthefeelingofsatisfactionattheendofthedayandleavingworkwitheagernesstoreturnthenextday.

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IssueTask12

TopicTheincreasinglyrapidpaceoflifetodaycausesmoreproblemsthanitsolves.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewith the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,youshouldconsiderwaysinwhichthestatement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerationsshapeyourposition.

StrategiesRestatetheIssue:Inthiscase,thepositionisstatedinthepositive.Ittellswhattherapidpaceoflifedoes.Createastatementthatexpressestheissueinthenegative.

Inotherwords:Theincreasinglyrapidpaceoflifedoesnotsolvemoreproblemsthanitcauses.Youcouldalsodeterminewhatquestionthestatementanswers.Whataretheresultsoftheincreasinglyrapidpaceoflife?Creatingaquestionmayhelpyouformulatealternativeanswers.Now think about the parts of the original statement that provide evidence thatyoucanrefuteoraffirm.a)increasingly–Thisimpliesthatthepaceoflifeismorerapidthanitusedtobe,andthattherateisstillincreasing.b)today–Thismayleadtotheassumptionthatthepaceoflifedidnotincreasebeforenow,thatitisacurrentphenomenon.c)more–Thisisacomparativewordandisalmostalwaysfollowedby'than'.Inthiscase,therearemoreproblemsthansolutions.

Opposingviewpoint:

Theincreasinglyrapidpaceoflifedoesnotcausemoreproblemsthanitsolves.Or: The increasingly rapid pace of life today solves more problems than itcauses.Identify thepartsof theopposing statement thatprovideevidence to affirmorrefute.Inthiscase,theywouldbethesameasintheoriginalstatement.

AlternativesIsthereanyotherwaytolookatthisstatement?Whatwouldlifetodaybelikeifthepacewereslower?Isthisanewphenomenon?

Newviewpoint:Theincreasinglyrapidpaceoflifetodayisexcitingforthosewhoembraceitbutoverwhelmingforthosewhodonotadapt.Identifypartsofthenewstatementthatcancreateevidenceforyoutorefuteoraffirm.a) exciting – This can also mean stimulating. The rapid pace of life maystimulateone'screativityorsenseofadventure.b) embrace – To embrace something is to accept itwillingly. Embrace has apositiveconnotation.c)overwhelm–Beingoverwhelmedmeansthatone'sabilitiesoremotionsareunabletohandleanevent.d)adapt–Adaptation isessential to the theoryofevolution.Thosewhofail toadaptdonotthrive.

Position:The increasingly rapid pace of life today creates both obstacles andopportunities.

Examplesofobstacles:a)Somepeople feelcompelled to try tokeepupwitheverything.Theystretchthemselvestoothin.b) Cultures are losing their unique qualities thanks to rapid travel andcommunication.c)Therapidpacetriespeople'sabilitytoadapt.

Examplesofopportunities:a)Medicalresearchisclosinginoncuresfordeadlyanddebilitatingdiseases.b) The world has become a global village thanks to rapid travel andcommunication.

SampleEssaySincetheonsetoftheIndustrialRevolution,peoplehavecomplainedaboutthepaceofchangeandbemoaned the“goodolddays". In thebeginning,manandhorsepowerwerereplacedinthefieldsandontheroadsbymachinesthatcouldperformtasksmorequicklyandefficiently.Menwhowerenolongerneededinthefieldsfoundworkinthefactoriesbuildingthemachinesthathadtakentheirplaces.Communicationkeptpacewithautomation.The telegraphgaveway tothetelephone,and,whentheAtlanticcablewaslaid,communicationwithothercontinentsbecamepossible.Mandiscoveredtheabilitytotravelabovetheearth,and,eventually,peoplecouldcross theoceans inamatterofhours rather thanweeks. Men and women around the world seized the opportunity to takeadvantageof these changes andbelieved that, if theybuilt a bettermousetrap,theworldwouldbeatapathtotheirdoors.Someretreatedfromthisprogress,seeingallofthistechnologyasadistractionfrom the true meaning of life. Some, like Thoreau, did it for philosophicalreasons,andothers,liketheAmish,diditforreligiousreasons.Otherscouldnotaffordtoparticipateinthisrevolutionandcontinuedtosurviveusingtheirwits.Pockets of resistance exist to this day, populated by survivalists who see theadvances of the late twentieth and early twenty first century as signs ofimpendingdoom.Thesegroupsareheavilyarmedandsuppliedwithsufficientprovisions to fight off andholdout against thosewho, they are convincedwillsomedayattackthem.Othershavetakenagentlerapproachandsimplydesiretolivebythesweatoftheirownbrows.Theconundrumremains.Doesoneacceptandattempttokeeppacewithchange,or does one retreat from change and adhere to a simpler philosophy? Thedownside of the rapid pace is reflected in the busy lives that familymemberslead,leavinglittletimetospend“quality”timetogether.Coupleswithchildrenfrequentlymaintainagiantcalendarinthekitchenonwhichtheykeeptrackofeachperson’sdailyactivitiestoschedulewhomustbewhereandwhen.Mothersand fathers separately take their children to before-school practices and after-schoolorweekendgames,recitalsorothercompetitions.Childrenplayat least

onesportperseason,takedanceorkarateclasses,belongtoBoyScoutsorGirlScouts,andworkatapart-time job.Amid theseactivities, theymustcompleteschoolwork.Rarelyareallfamilymembersathomeatthesametimeexcepttosleep.It’saratrace.Ontheupsidearetheadvancesthatbenefithumans.Therapidpaceofmedicalresearch has led to successful treatments for a variety of deadly and/ordebilitatingdiseases.Itwasnotsolongagothatacancerdiagnosiswasadeathsentence. Today, many cancers are curable, and lives have been extended.Smallpoxhasbeeneradicated,andvaccinesexistthatpromisethesameendfordiseases that used to scar or kill thosewho contracted them.A future free ofcervicalcancercanonlybepromisingforthewomenoftheworld.Advancesincommunication have made knowledge of new discoveries readily availablearound theworld.Ultimately, individualsmust discriminate between activitiesandadvancesthatenhancetheirlives.Theproblemscreatedbytheincreasinglyrapidpaceof life todayare likelycreatedby thechoices that individualsmakeforthemselves.

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IssueTask13

TopicUniversitiesshouldrequireeverystudenttotakeavarietyofcoursesoutsidethestudent'sfieldofstudy.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewiththerecommendationandexplainyourreasoningforthepositionyoutake.Indevelopingand supportingyourposition,describe specific circumstances inwhichadopting the recommendationwouldorwouldnotbe advantageous andexplainhowtheseexamplesshapeyourposition.

StrategiesRestatethePosition:Youmaycreateaversionthatnegatestheoriginalinmorethanoneway.

Inotherwords:Universities should not allow students to take only courses in their fields ofstudy.You could also determine the question that is being answered by therecommendation.Whatkindsofcoursesshouldcollegesrequiretheirstudentstotake?Or: How can universities ensure that they are turning out well educatedgraduates?Creatingaquestioncanhelpyouthinkaboutthewaythatyouwouldanswerit.Consider what you would deem to be the composition of a good collegeeducation.Nowthinkaboutthepartsoftheoriginalrecommendationthatprovideevidencethatyoucanaffirmorrefute.a)require–Thisallowsfornoalternative.Onemustfulfillarequirement.Howmanyandwhattypesofcoursesshoulduniversitiesrequire?Shouldtheyrequire

anycourses?b)every–Again,thereisnooption.c)variety –Variety impliesmore than one type.Howmany types of coursesshoulduniversitiesrequireoutsideastudent'sfieldofstudy?d)outside–Howfaroutside?Ifoneisstudyingliterature,shouldheorsheberequiredtotakechemistry?

Opposingviewpoint:Universitiesshouldnotrequireeverystudenttotakeavarietyofcoursesoutsidethestudent’sfieldofstudy.Identify thepartsof theopposing statement thatprovideevidence to affirmorrefute.Inthiscase,theonlynewwordisnot,anditsimplyservestonegatetheoriginalstatement.

AlternativesIsthereanyotherwaytolookatthisstatement?Shouldcollegesrequirestudentsto take a variety of courses before they declare amajor?Should requirementsexistonlywithinacourseofstudy?

Newviewpoint:College and universities should require enough courses to complete a field ofstudytoensurethatastudentissufficientlyeducatedinthatfield.Identify thepartsof theopposing statement thatprovideevidence to affirmorrefute.a)enough–Whatisenough?Arethereoptionsforgainingadegreeinafieldofstudy?b)ensure–Thismeanstomakecertain.Isitacollege’sresponsibilitytomakesurethatastudenttakesthecoursesheorshewillneedtosatisfyadegreeinafieldofstudy?c)sufficiently–Thisissimilartoenough.Whatdoesitmeantobesufficientlyeducated?Shoulditbeenoughtogainemploymentinthefield?

Position:Universitiesshouldrequireeverystudenttotakeavarietyofcoursesoutsidethestudent’sfieldofstudy.

Examplesandreasons:a)Atthebeginningofastudent’scollegecareer,hemaynotknowthefieldinwhich tomajor.The studentmaydiscover anareaof interest in thevarietyofcoursesrequiredduringthefirsttwoyearsofcollege.b) A student may discover an avocation while taking a variety of courses. Arequiredcourseinarthistorymayleadtoalifelongpassionforcollectingfineartorvisitingmuseumsaroundtheworld.c)Theworkplaceisalwayschanging.Onemayfindhimselfoutofworkatsomepoint,andarequiredcourseoutsideofhisfieldmayleadhimtoanewcareer.

SampleEssayUniversitiesarelargeeducationalinstitutionsthatoffercoursesinawidevarietyofdisciplines.Atsomepoint,generallybytheendofthesecondyear,studentsare required to declare a major. In some cases, students begin classes in aprogram of study from the minute they enter the university. Some collegefreshmenseemtohavebeencalledtoaparticularprofessionatanearlyage,andtheir determination to become a teacher, or doctor, or engineer has neverwavered. On the other hand, most freshmen are waiting for the fires ofinspiration to be lit. The surestway to accomplish that is to take a variety ofcoursesinarangeofdisciplines.Itisafactthat,intheUnitedStates,only1in4collegestudentsgraduatesinfouryears.Thegreatestnumberfinishesafterfiveyearsofcollege,usuallybecausetheychangedtheirmajorsalongtheway.Itisunrealistic to expect today's seventeen or eighteen-year-olds, whose lifeexpectanciesarearoundeightyfiveyears,todecidewhattheywanttodofortherest of their lives.Gone are the days that an individualwill obtain a job in acompanyandremainthereforhisorherentireworkinglife.Surveysrevealthattheaverageworkingpersontodaychangescareerseverytenyears.Whatcareerselectionheorshemakesmayderivefromacourse takenincollege.Limitingwhatcoursesastudenttakesincollegemaylimithisorhercareerchoiceslaterinlife.Ontheotherhand,thejobmarkettodayisaminefield.Ifsomecollegestudentmissteps,hisorher chances for a careermayblowup.Somestudentsmaybefrustrated by a requirement to take courses outside their fields of study.Theirfocusontakingasmanycoursesaspossibleinthefieldtheywishtopursuemaybeimpressiveinthejobapplicationprocess.Collegestudentsmayfeelthattheir

exposuretoavarietyofcoursesinhighschoolissufficient,sorepeatingthatincollegeisredundant.At a traditional university, a student will enroll in five courses per semester;that'sa totaloffortyclassesinfouryears.Narrowingone'schoicescouldhavedisadvantages. It is realistic to assume that a student could burn out from thelackofvariety.Thecoursesmaybetaughtbyprofessorswhofailtoexpire,andthoseprofessorsmayteachallofthecoursesinthefield.Afteracoupleofyears,thestudentmaydecidethatheorshemadeamistakeinchoosingitandnowhasnooptionbuttocontinuetothebitterendorstartfromscratch.Universities should require students to take a variety of courses in severaldisciplines. Courses that teach the nuts and bolts in any field generally areofferedtocollegejuniorsandseniors,anyway.Attheendofthecollegecareer,astudentwill have the skills andknowledgehe or she needs to pursue a careerbeyond college, aswell as exposure to areas of knowledge thatmight spark alifelonginterestinsomehobbyorotheravocation.

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IssueTask14

TopicIfagoalisworthy,thenanymeanstakentoattainitarejustifiable.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewith the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,youshouldconsiderwaysinwhichthestatement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerationsshapeyourposition.

StrategiesRestatetheIssue:Restatetheissuebymakingthephrasingofitinthenegative.

Inotherwords:Nomeansofattainingagoalshouldbeoverlookedifthegoalisworthy.You could also determine what question is being answered by the issuestatement.Shouldanyandallmeanspossiblebeusedtoobtainaworthygoal?Or:Isanygoalworthachievingatanycost?Thesequestionsmayhelpyou thinkabouthowyouwouldanswer them.Youranswerscanhelpyoudevelopyourresponsetotheissue.Now thinkabout thepartsof the statement thatprovideevidence thatyoucanrefuteoraffirm.a)worthy – Worth of anything, including a goal, is subjective. If everyonebelievedallgoalsareworthy,therewouldbenoneedtotakeanyextraordinaryorunjustifiableactiontoreachthegoal.b)anymeans–Thisisexpansive.Inthiscase,anycanmeanall.

c) justifiable –To justify something is to explain or excuse it. Shouldwe doanythingthatneedsanexplanationorexcuse?

Opposingviewpoint:Nogoalisworthenoughtojustifytakinganymeanstoattainit.Identify thepartsof theopposing statement thatprovideevidence to affirmorrefute.a)no–Inthiscase,itmeansnone.Thisisprettydefinitive.

AlternativesIsthereanyotherwaytolookatthisissue?Inthiscase,itmaybedifficult.Theoriginal statement already qualifies the statement by using the word, if. Theoriginalstatementisessentiallysayingthatsomegoalsareworthanymeansofachieving,andtheopposingviewpointsaysthatnogoalsareworththatrisk.

Position:Nogoalisworthenoughtojustifytakinganymeanstoattainit.

Examplesandreasons:a)Guantanamo – Suspected terrorists are imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay, amilitary institution owned by theUnitedStates inCuba.These prisoners havebeen subjected to water boarding, a particularly inhumane form of torture. Isinformationaboutterroristactivitiesimportantenoughtojustifytorture?

SampleEssayTojustifyanaction is tomake itseemjustor fair. It implies that theaction isdonetorightawrong.Itisakintothebiblicalphilosophy,aneyeforaneye.Ontheotherhand,twowrongsdon’tmakearight.Areanygoalssoloftythatonecanjustifytakinganyactiontoreachthem?IsitokaytotaketheseactionsinthenameofGodorinthespiritofpatriotism?Eventsofthepastdecademaymakeonebelievethatreprisalsarejustifiable.Atrocities of such magnitude have been committed by groups or individualsaroundtheworldthroughouthistory,thatonemightagreethatanymeansusedtoeliminatetheseperpetratorsisjustified.In2001,extremistsMuslimsusedthepilotingskillstheyhadlearnedinaflightschoolintheUnitedStatestoflytwopassengerplanesintothetowersoftheWorldTradeCenterinNewYorkCity,oneintothePentagon,andanotheraimedattheWhiteHousethatwentcrashing

intoa field inPennsylvania.Theseevents caused thewaron terrorism tobeafocalpointofUSforeignpolicy.ItbecamethegoaloftheUnitedStatesmilitarytohuntdownandkillorcapturetheleadersofterroristcellsaroundtheworld.ChiefamongthosetargetswasOsamabinLaden.InMay2011,anelitegroupofSealsburstintohishomeandkilledhim.TheUSgovernmentpresentedthisasanincredibleaccomplishment–whichitwas–thatwasworththeeffortsneededtoreachit.However,thisisnotnecessarilytrue.To reach this end, the United States invaded Iraq, believing that SaddamHussein’s regime had caches ofWMDs,Weapons ofMass Destruction. Thatturnedout tobefalse,but,nonetheless, themilitaryhunteddownandcapturedHussein,afterwhichhewastriedandexecuted.Duringthisspanoftime,othersuspected terrorists were rounded up and detained at Guantanamo Bay, a USmilitary institution inCuba.There, these terroristsweresystematically torturedtomake them reveal information about thewhereabouts of terrorist cells and,likely,binLadenhimself.Amongthetechniquesusedtoextractinformationwaswater boarding, a particularly inhumane process that causes its victims to feelliketheyaredrowning.Andthen,there’sAbuGhraib,aprisoninIraq,whereUSmilitarypersonneltorturedanddegradedtheinmatesheldthere.Consideringtheacts perpetrated by these terrorists onAmerican soil, the actions taken by theUnitedStatesappearjustifiable.Theflameofpatriotismburnedbrightlyandwasreflected in the eyesofordinarycitizens and thosecalled tobattle.Across thecountry, acts of terrorism were perpetrated by those ordinary citizens againstothercitizensofMiddleEasternorigin.Youngmenwhoseancestorscameherefromcountries likeSyriaandLebanongenerationsagoweredetainedandstripsearched at border crossings between the US and Canada. People in airportsacross thecountry lookedaskanceat fellowpassengerswho lookedordresseddifferently.Membersof themilitarywhohave served in Iraq andAfghanistanare experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder in numbers greater than seenbeforeinourmilitaryhistory.If the goal is to eradicate terrorism, isn’t any action in the cause justifiable?Wheneverhumansare reduced to treatingotherhumanbeings inhumanely,wemust pause and consider the consequences of attaining this supposedly loftygoal.Wemustquestionwhetheranygoal isworththeultimatepriceonepays,especiallywhentheactions takenaredegradingordebasingtoothergroupsofpeople, and the price is a loss of human dignity for the perpetrators and thevictims.

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IssueTask15

TopicIn order to become well-rounded individuals, all college students should berequiredtotakecoursesinwhichtheyreadpoetry,novels,mythology,andothertypesofimaginativeliterature.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewiththerecommendationandexplainyourreasoningforthepositionyoutake.Indevelopingand supportingyourposition,describe specific circumstances inwhichadopting the recommendationwouldorwouldnotbe advantageous andexplainhowtheseexamplesshapeyourposition.

StrategiesRestatetheIssue:Theoriginalstatementtellswhatstudentsshoulddo.Rephraseitbytellingwhatstudentsshouldnotdowithoutchangingthemeaningoftheoriginalstatement.

Inotherwords:In order to become well-rounded individuals, all college students should notfinish college without first taking courses in which they read poetry, novels,mythology,andothertypesofimaginativeliterature.Or:Collegestudentswillfailtobecomewell-roundedindividualsiftheyarenotrequiredtotakecoursesinwhichtheyreadpoetry,novels,mythology,andothertypesofimaginativeliterature.You could determine what question is being answered by the original issuestatement.Whatrequiredcoursesshouldallcollegestudentstakeinordertobecomewell-roundedindividuals?Thinkingaboutyouranswer to thequestioncanhelpyouasyoudevelopyourresponsetotheoriginalstatement.

Now thinkabout thepartsof the statement thatprovideevidence thatyoucanaffirmorrefute.a)well-rounded–This isbothsubjectiveandvague.Whatdoesitmeantobewell-rounded, and who decides if one is well-rounded? Should the goal ofcollegebetocreatewell-roundedindividuals?b) all students – This leaves no room for doubt and no exceptions. Thestatementassumesthatthesecourseshavethepowertomakeallstudentswell-rounded.c) required – A requirement is a need. This is like saying that all collegestudentsneedthesecoursestobecomewell-rounded.d)othertypesofimaginativeliterature–Isn’tmostliteratureimaginative?

Opposingviewpoint:In order to become well-rounded individuals, all college students should berequiredtotakeavarietyofcoursesinseveraldisciplines.Identify thepartsof theopposingstatement thatprovideevidencethatyoucanrefuteoraffirm.a) variety of courses – Well-rounded individuals may be those that haveexposedthemselvestoavarietyofcoursesinseveraldisciplines.

AlternativesIs there any other way of looking at this issue? Can you qualify the originalstatementinsomeway?Whywouldn’ttakingavarietyofcoursesinthesocialsciencesmakeoneawell-roundedindividual?

Newviewpoint:Inordertobecomewell-roundedindividuals,collegestudentsshouldn’trestricttheirselectionofacademicclassestothosewithinonediscipline.Identifythepartsofthenewstatementthatprovideevidencetoaffirmorrefute.a)restrict–Thismeanstolimitoneself.Arestrictionissomethingonecannotdo.b)selection–Choiceandselectionaresynonymous.c)withinonediscipline–Thisisanarrowperspective.Narrowiscontradictorytowell-rounded.

Position:It shouldnotbe thegoalof collegesanduniversities to turnoutwell-roundedindividuals.

Support:a)cost–Educationistoocostlytodayforstudentstofocusoncoursesthathavenopracticalvalue.b)interest–Bythetimeastudentisincollege,heorsheshouldbeallowedtochoosecoursesthattheyhaveaninterestin.

SampleEssayIt is impossible to identify well-rounded individuals on the street, in theworkplace,oratthegym.Itisunlikelythatanyoneischoosinghisorherfriendsbased on their being well-rounded. It is probably impossible to define well-rounded;everyonewouldhaveapointofview.Itistruethatintheearlydaysofhigher education, one aimed to become a “man of letters”, knowledgeable tosome degree in a variety of subjects. That luxury is no longer desirable orpractical.Universitystudentsareenteringadifferentworld.Iliketothinkofmyselfaswell-rounded.Iaminterestedinavarietyoftopics,andIparticipateinavarietyofactivities.IcarryonconversationseasilywithmyfriendsandfamilyaswellaspeopleImeetinthegrocerystoreoratanairport.My seatmates on trains and planes find me engaging. I answer most of thequestions on Jeopardy! correctly, and I can complete the New York Timescrosswordpuzzle.Ilikeandcancookfoodfromavarietyofcuisines.IcanordercorrectlyfromamenuwritteninFrench.I likeHGTV,theFoodNetwork,andactionmovies.MyfriendsthinkI’mfunny,andIcryoversappycommercialsonTV. None ofmy self-perceivedwell-roundedness is a result of courses that Ieitherdidordidnottakeincollege.Theseinterestscanalsostemfromoutsideinfluences.Mymothertaughtmetoknitandsew.Igotmyloveofgardeningfrommyfather.Itaughtmyselftoread.Mysister taughtmehow to seedifferentperspectivesofan issue. I learned toswimduring lessons on coldmornings at the local pool. I learned to play thepiano from an older ladywho tapped out themeasureswith a plastic knittingneedleon the topof thepiano. I learned todrive fromakindandpatientmanwho did not use deodorant and wouldn’t let his students roll down the car

windows in the heat of the summer.My friends taughtme about friendship. IobtainedalloftheseskillsbeforeIwenttocollege.So,whatdidcollegeteachme?Collegetaughtmehowtoliveinclosequarterswith hundreds of other girls from different states and backgrounds. Collegetaughtmetounderstandfootball,topartyontheweekends,andhowtojointhebestsororityoncampus.Collegetaughtmetosignupforclassesthatendedby1:00pmandmetonMondays,Wednesdays, andFridays, so I’dhave two fulldaysofffromclasses.Collegeeventuallytaughtmehowtomanagemytime.IttaughtmetheclassesIwouldneedtogetadegreeinmymajor.High school seniors plan to enter colleges and universities with the goal ofgettingajobaftergraduation,andthatiswhatcollegeshoulddo.Whentoday’shigh-schoolseniorsgraduatefromcollege,theywillhaveenormousdebt.Whileincollege, theymust focusoncourses that servepracticalpurposes.Theywillneed immediate employment inorder tomeet their financial obligations.Theywill become well-rounded by living their lives after college, not by taking avarietyofcoursesinthehumanities.

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IssueTask16

TopicPoliticians should pursue common ground and reasonable consensus ratherthanelusiveideals.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewiththerecommendationandexplainyourreasoningforthepositionyoutake.Indevelopingand supportingyourposition,describe specific circumstances inwhichadopting the recommendationwouldorwouldnotbe advantageous andexplainhowtheseexamplesshapeyourposition.

StrategiesRestatetheIssue:Theoriginal statement tellswhatpoliticians shoulddo.Createa statement thattells what politicians should not do without changing the meaning of thestatement.

Inotherwords:Politiciansshouldnotpursueelusiveidealsinsteadofpursuingcommongroundandreasonableconsensus.You could also determine what question is being answered by therecommendation.Whatisthebestwayforpoliticianstoservetheelectorate?Nowthinkaboutthepartsoftherecommendationthatprovideevidencethatyoucanaffirmorrefute.a)commonground–Thisimpliesagreementorstandingtogether.b)reasonable–Thisissomethingthatisarrivedatbyusingreasonorlogic.c)consensus–Theimplicationisagreement,comingtogether.d)elusive–Somethingelusiveisnoteasilycaughtorunderstood.Itisslippery.

e)ideals–Anidealistheperfectformofsomething.f)pursue–Topursueistochaseorfollow.

Opposingviewpoint:Politicians should avoid common ground and reasonable consensus in thepursuitofelusiveideals.Identify thepartsof theopposingstatement thatprovideevidencethatyoucanrefuteoraffirm.a)avoid–Whenavoidingsomething,youstayawayfromit.

AlternativesIs there any other way to look at the recommendation? Can parts of it bequalified in any way? Should politicians retain some of their ideals whilepursuingcommongroundandreasonableconsensus?

Newviewpoint:Politiciansshouldnotabandontheiridealsastheypursuecommongroundandreasonableconsensus.

SampleEssayMen and women enter the political arena ready to do battle against specialinterest groups and pork barrel spending. They’ve promised their constituentsthatthey’regoingtocleanupthatmessinWashingtonorthecapitalinthestatetheyserve.Thevotersareconfident they’veelectedsomeonewhowillsticktohisorherguns.Withoutdreamsofmakingachange for thebetter,politicianswouldnotexist.ButaspoetRobertBurnssaid,‘Thebestlaidplansofmiceandmen often go awry.” It doesn’t take long for politicians to realize that theirindividualvoicesaren’tveryloud,orthattheymaynothaveafullunderstandingofthepolicythattheyareattemptingtoargue.Everyonewhochoosespoliticsasacareermustpossessat leastamodicumofnaiveté. If the candidate didn't think he or she couldmake a difference, therewouldbenoreasontorunforoffice.Changingtheworldisaloftygoal,butitisgenerallyaccomplishedatasnail'spaceandonecompromiseatatime.Welearntocompromiseasyoungchildren.Ourparentstellusifwecleanourrooms,wecanhaveatreat.Ifcompromisemeansthatbothsidesgiveupsomethingtogetsomething,thenthedealwemadewithMomiscompromise.Wegiveupsome

free time to clean our rooms and get in returnmoreTV time or a candy bar.Momgivesupsomepeaceandquietbutgetsacleanroom.Politicalcompromiseismoredifficulttoachieve,andthestakesarehigher.Theprinciple, however, is the same.Reaching a consensus takes a little sleight ofhandandagiftforrhetoric.Theidealisticpoliticianmayhavetotemperhisorherenthusiasmwhenchoosingfromthelistofpersuasivetechniquesathandtolead his fellow politicians to common ground. This politician must keep theconstituentsinmindasheseekstheconsensusthatwillallowhimtoretainhisideals.Today, in the halls ofCongress and in theWhiteHouse, there is greatdebateaboutthebudget.Senatorsandcongressmenonbothsidesofthedebateare finding itdifficult to findcommonground.The idealsof somemake themrefusetoconsiderraisingtaxesforanycitizensinAmerica,whileothersbelievethatthewealthyshouldpaymoretaxes.Somefeelsoprotectivetowardsthepoorandtheelderlythattheyrefusetomakecutsinanyofthetax-fundedprogramsthatservethosegroups,whileotherssaythatthoseprogramsmustbereducedinscope to protect everyone. It is sometimes difficult for citizens watching thisdebatetodetermineiftheirrepresentativesinWashingtonareholdingsteadfasttotheidealstheytookwiththemtoCongress,oriftheyarespoutingtherhetorictheybelievewillgetthemreelected.All politicians,whether on the local, state, or national levelwould dowell torevisitthePreambletotheConstitution,whosefirstlineincludesthewords,“inorder to form a more perfect union.” Perfect means ideal and union meansagreement. Whatever the issue may be, politicians should strive for perfectagreement.In theend, theagreementmaynotseemperfect toeverypolitician,butitshouldservetheneedsofthepeopletheyrepresent.

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IssueTask17

TopicPeopleshouldundertakeriskyactiononlyafter theyhavecarefullyconsidereditsconsequences.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewiththerecommendationandexplainyourreasoningforthepositionyoutake.Indevelopingand supportingyourposition,describe specific circumstances inwhichadopting the recommendationwouldorwouldnotbe advantageous andexplainhowtheseexamplesshapeyourposition.

StrategiesRestatethePosition:The original recommendation suggests how people should behave regardingrisks. How would the recommendation read if it were couched in negativeterms?

Inotherwords:Peopleshouldnottakerisksuntiltheyhaveconsideredtheconsequences.Themeaningofbothrecommendationsisessentiallythesame.You could also determine what question is being answered by therecommendation.Shouldindividualstakerisks?Or:Underwhatconditionsshouldpeopletakerisks?Nowthinkaboutthepartsoftherecommendationthatprovideevidencethatyoucanaffirmorrefute.a)only–Thisleavesnootheroption.It isakintosayingalways.Aretherenoexceptions?

b) risky – This can be relative. What may appear risky to one may becommonplaceforanother.c) carefully – The meaning of carefully can vary, as well. How muchconsiderationisconsideredcareful?d)considered–Toconsidersomething is to thinkabout it. itdoesnot requiretakinganyaction.Doesoneonlyneedtothinkabouttheconsequencesofone'sactions?Doesunderstandingtheconsequencespreventeveryonefromengaginginriskybehavior?Doesconsiderationnecessarilyleadtounderstanding?

Opposingviewpoint:Peopleshouldundertakeriskyactionregardlessoftheconsequences.Thinkaboutthepartsoftheopposingstatementthatprovideevidencetoaffirmorrefute.a)regardless–Thismeanswithoutregard.Toregardsomethingistolookatit.Oneshouldtakeriskswithoutlookingattheconsequences.b)should–Thisisnotacommand.Shouldimplychoice.

AlternativesIs thereanotherway to lookat this recommendation?Can itbequalified?Aresome risks worth taking despite the possible consequences? Can risks beminimized?

Newviewpoint:Evenwiththepossibilityofnegativeconsequences,somerisksareworthtaking.

Examplesandreasonsa)MarieandPierreCurie –When theybeganexperimentingwith radiation,the risks were unknown. Marie Curie died from radiation sickness, but hercontributiontotheadvancementofmedicineisimmeasurable.b)earlyexplorers–WhentheVikingssetout in theirboatsandheadedwest,theycouldnotimaginewhattheywouldfind.Theyfoundrichfishinggrounds.Columbus,Cook,Drake,Magellanallriskedtheirlivestosetoutacrossseasthatnomanhadnavigatedbefore.c)spaceexploration

d)Bill Gates and Steve Jobs – Both are pioneers in computing technology,GateswithsoftwareandJobswithMcIntoshcomputers

SampleEssaySomepeoplearebornrisktakers.Psychologistswilltellyouthatitiscomponentof one’s personality, and those who take risks sometimes exhibit negativebehaviorwhile others take risks that ultimately benefit themselves and others.The names of risk takers can be found in various halls of fame aswell as onWantedPosters.FamousrisktakersrangefromtheinfamouslikeAlCaponeandBernieMaidofftotheinnovatorslikeBillGates,MarkZuckerberg,andFrankLloydWright.Eventhoughtheseandothersknewthepossibleconsequencesoftheiractions,theywerenotdeterredfromreachingtheirgoals.Thosewhodonottake risks will not suffer the possible negative consequences, but neither willtheyexperiencetherewards.Wherewouldwebewithout thosewho tookgreat riskswithgeneraldisregardfor the consequences? Marie and Pierre Curie literally risked their lives toexperiment with radioactivity. The medical progress that resulted from theirwork not only earned the Curies the Noble Prize but made possible earlytreatmentof somecancers.Otherscientists followed in their footsteps,and thebenefitstomankindhavebeenenormous.OthermedicalpioneersincludeJonasSalkwho saved countless children fromdeath or paralysiswhen he tested hisnewpoliovaccineonhimself,hiswifeandhisownchildren.Riskinghisandhisfamily’s lives led tomass administration of the vaccine to school children alloverAmerica,andvirtuallymadetheironlungobsolete.Early explorers risked traveling to areasmarked onmapswith the forebodingphrase,“Here therearedragons”,andexpanded theknownworld. Inefforts tofindashorterroutetoIndia,sailorslikeChristopherColumbussetoffwithhiscrew in three small boats and bumped into theWestern Hemisphere. CharlesLindberghflewsoloacrosstheAtlanticinasmallplaneinhopesofreachingtheEuropeancontinent.Sincethattime,manhasusedflighttoreachthemoonandestablishspacestations. If theseadventurershadspent toomuch time thinkingabouttheconsequences,theymayverywellhavejuststayedhome.In the later years of the twentieth century pioneers in technology arose. BillGates,founderofMicrosoftandoneoftherichestmenintheworld,droppedoutof prestigiousHarvardUniversity to pursue computing. Steve Jobs, the brainsbehind Apple computers, also dropped out of college. These men defied the

popularwisdomthatoneneedsacollegeeducationtogetanywhereinthisworldandcreatedauniverseofcommunicationonalevelneverbeforeseen.Greatpoliticalleadershavetakengreatrisksforthesakeofreformorrevolution.Martin LutherKing, Jr andMohandasGandhi (afterwhomKingmodeled hisprotests), risked everything and, ultimately, lost their lives for the sake ofequalityandindependence.Bothmencertainlyconsideredtheconsequencesoftheiractionsbutdeemedthatthepotentialrewardsmadetherisksacceptable.Allminorities and repressed populations in theUnited States lead lives of greateropportunitythankstotheleadershipofMartinLutherKing,Jr,andIndiaexistsasanindependentcountryasaresultofGandhi’sactions.Justasthereareconsequencesfortakingrisks,thereareconsequencesforfailingto takerisks.Thosewhofear theunknownaredoomedto livemeager lives. Itmaybetritebutnonethelesstruetosaythatifyoudowhatyou’vealwaysdone,you’llgetwhatyou’vealwayshad.

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IssueTask18

TopicLeadersarecreatedbythedemandsthatareplacedonthem.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewith the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,youshouldconsiderwaysinwhichthestatement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerationsshapeyourposition.

StrategiesRestatetheIssue:Thisstatementtellshowleaderarecreated.Howtheyarenotcreated?

Inotherwords:Leadersdonotariseuntildemandshavebeenplacedonthem.Determinewhatquestionisbeingansweredbytheissuestatement.Howareleaderscreated?Or:Underwhatconditionsdoleadersemerge?Howwouldyouanswerthequestions?Youranswerwillhelpyoudevelopyourresponsetothestatement.Now thinkabout thepartsof the statement thatprovideevidence thatyoucanaffirmorrefute.a)created –This assumes that leaders aremade andnot born.Theremust besomeprocessbywhichleaderscometobe.b)demands–Thesearelikeorders.Onecannotavoidorignoreademand.c)placeduponthem–Thisimpliesalackofchoice.

Opposingviewpoint:

Leadersarisethroughsomepreparationtolead.Identify thepartsof theopposingstatement thatprovideevidencethatyoucanrefuteoraffirm.a)Arise – This implies that those that are prone to leadershipwill assume itwhenthesituationrequires.b)preparation–Leadersdon’tappearspontaneously.Throughsomedesireorproclivityforleadership,theyhavepreparedtoassumeitwhencalledupon.Is there anotherway to lookat this issue?Are some leaders reluctant to lead?Aretheyleadingbydefault?Didtheyassumealeadershiproleoutofasenseofresponsibilityratherthanthedesiretolead?Dosomeseekleadership?Canthetwostatedviewpointsbecombined?

Newviewpoint:Some leaders are forced into that position by circumstances, while othersdevelopleadershipskillsoveralifetime.Identifythepartsofthenewviewpointthatprovideevidenceforyoutorefuteoraffirm.a)Some–Thisleavesroomforexceptions.Itisnotall.b)forced–Thissuggestsalackofwillingnesstolead.Theremaybenooptions.c) circumstances – This is the same as a situation. The implication is thesituationisunexpected.d)develop–Developmentimpliesgrowth.Someleadershavegrownintomoresophisticatedleadershipabilities.e) lifetime – Real leadership isn’t something that happens overnight. Assituationschange,leaderslearntoadapt.

Position:Some leaders are forced into that position by circumstances, while othersdevelopleadershipskillsoveralifetime.

ExamplesandReasons:a) The lost battalion – Major Whittlesey’s sudden elevation to militaryleadershipb)Flight93–Regularcitizenstakingoverinacrisis.

c)Militarygenerals–Theyarecareerleaders.

SampleEssayLeadership positions are best filled by people whose nature enables them toendureboth the successes and failures that accompany the challenges a leaderwill face. Some leaders aremade by their circumstances,which push them toacquiretraitsthattheymaynothaveotherwise.Thisleadershipcanbetransient– that is, leaderscanbemadebyaparticular situationand then return to theirnon-leadership position once the situation has been handled. History containsmanyexamplesofallsuchleaders.When the United States enteredWWI, CharlesWhittlesey, a mild-mannered,Harvard-educatedlawyerwascommissionedanofficerintheUSArmy.HeledabattalionofyounginfantrymenoutofthetrenchesandintotheArgonneForestinFranceinanattempttoretakelandthatwasoccupiedbytheGermans.Havingbeengivenincorrectinformation,MajorWhittleseyandhismenbecametrappedbehind enemy lineswhere they endured artillery attacks by theGermanswhooutnumbered them. They even came under friendly fire when theAllies usedincorrectcoordinatesinanefforttoattacktheGermanswithcannonfire.After5days, the battalion was rescued. Of the more than 500 men who entered theforestwithWhittlesey, fewer than200walkedoutof the forestwithhim.Theremainderhadbeenkilled, capturedby the enemy,orwounded.After thewarended, Whittlesey, who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for hisheroic deeds, returned to the practice of law. Three years later, CharlesWhittleseybookedacruise,andwhileonthatcruise,jumpedoverboard.MajorWhittleseybecamealeaderthroughthedemandsplaceduponhim.Eventhoughheactedwithhonorandeffectivelysavedthelivesofhundredsofthemeninhischarge, the loss of somanymoreweighed so heavily onhim that he tookhisownlife.RenownedleadershavearisenfromtheranksoftheUSarmedforces.AmericanhistorytextsrecounttheexploitsofbravemenlikeGeneralDouglasMcArthurwho promised the people of the Philippines that he would return. GeneralDwightEisenhowerwasthesupremeAlliedCommanderduringtheinvasionofNormandyonD-Dayin1944andwentontoservetwotermsasPresidentoftheUnited States. The difference between thesemen and CharlesWhittleseywastheirchoiceofamilitarycareer.Theyembraced thechallenges, celebrated thevictories,andacceptedthelossoflife.

On rare occasions, situations do arise that force ordinary citizens to assumeleadershipandperformextraordinaryactsofbravery.Tenyearsago,passengerson United Airlines flight 93, after learning what had happened at the WorldTradeCenterinNewYorkCity,decidedtotakeactionthatwouldpreventtheirown hijacked plane from causing a similar disaster and stormed the cockpitwhereterroristshadassumedcontroloftheplane.Asaresult,theplanethatwasonacoursethatwouldhavetakenittothenation'scapital,crashedinafieldinPennsylvania,avertingdisasterwhilekillingeveryoneonboard.While events occasionally conspire to force individuals into leadership roles,effective,long-termleadershipisbestlefttothosewhoseproclivitiescausethemtodesiretheresponsibilitiesof leadership.Reluctantor ineffectual leadersmaycausemoreharmthangood,eithertothemselvesorthosetheyareleading.

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IssueTask19

TopicThe most effective way to understand contemporary culture is to analyze thetrendsofitsyouth.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewith the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,youshouldconsiderwaysinwhichthestatement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerationsshapeyourposition.

StrategiesRestatetheIssue:Howcanyouchangethestatementwithoutchangingitsmeaning?

Inotherwords:The least effective way to understand contemporary culture is to ignore thetrendsofitsyouth.Or: The surest way to misunderstand contemporary culture is to ignore thetrendsofitsyouth.Determinewhatquestionisbeingansweredbytheissuestatement.Howcanoneunderstandcontemporaryculture?Creatingaquestionwillhelpyoutothinkabouthowyouwouldrespond.Youranswertothequestioncanhelpyoudevelopyourresponsetothestatement.Now thinkabout thepartsof the statement thatprovideevidence thatyoucanaffirmorrefute.a)most effective – Most is the superlative form of many; nothing is moreeffective.

b)understand–Thisstatementassumesthatonecanunderstandcontemporaryculture.c) analyze – Analysis is the process of breaking something down into itscomponents.Whatarethecomponentsofthetrends?d)youth–Whatagegroupspecifically?Doestheterm,youth,extendtothoseincollege?

Opposingstatement:Themosteffectivewaytounderstandcontemporarycultureisnottoanalyzethetrendsofitsyouth.Identify thepartsof theopposingstatement thatprovideevidencethatyoucanrefuteoraffirm.a)not – In this case, the implication is that one should ignore the trends of aculture’s youth. Including those trends might give a false impression of theculture.

AlternativesIs there another way to look at this issue? Can you qualify the original issuestatementinsomeway?

Newviewpoint:Analyzing the trends of its youth is one component in understanding thecontemporaryculture.Identifythepartsofthenewstatementthatprovideevidencetoaffirmorrefute.a)one–Thisimpliesthatthereareothers.b)contemporary–Thecultureofthistime.

SampleEssayThecultureofanyeraisdefinedbyavarietyofelementsandmaybetheresultof past influences.Analyzing the trends of today's youth is only one of thoseelements.Onealsoneedstoanalyzethekindsofworkthatadultsarepursuingortheactivitiesitsseniorcitizensareparticipatingin.Torelysolelyonanalysisofyouth trends is short-sighted.Theyouthof a cultureareheavily influencedbythelatest,hottestfad.Theirgreatestneedistofitin,tobecool,andtheychangetheir clothes, their hair, and their phones as soon as the newest fashion isfeatured in print or on television. Their permanence is ephemeral, and their

influencemaybelonger lasting.Abigchunkof their timewouldbespent justkeepingup.Anyoneattemptingtoanalyzethetrendsofyouthwillbarelyfinishbeforethetrendschange.Themost widely-exposed youth culture of the last half century is that of the1960'sand70's.Theyouthofthateraadvisedotherstotunein,turnon,anddropout. Drugs, sex and rock and roll permeated the culture of youth in thosedecades. Because burning draft cards and bras was so widely publicized, itwouldbetemptingtobelievethatallyouthbehavedinthatmanner.Thatwouldbeamistake.DespitethepresenceofSDSchapters,peaceralliesandsit-insoncollegecampusesacrossthecountry,moststudentsquietlywentaboutattendingclasses, graduating and getting traditional jobs. The counterculture of the 60'sand70'shaditsgreatestinfluenceonlaterdecades.Thosedaysofrebellionandrevolutionled to increasedopportunitiesforminoritiesandwomen.Theyoungpeopleofthateraarenownearingretirementandarelivinglivesverydifferentfrom the senior citizens of previous generations.Theyhave tuned in, but theyhave not dropped out. They are healthier, better educated, and leading moreactivelivesthantheirparentsorgrandparentsdid.Analysis of youthful trends reveals what effect advertising had on a culture'syoungpeople.Tofullyunderstandcontemporaryculture,onemustanalyze thehopes,fears,andactionsofall thegroupsthatcompriseit.Aculture'syouthisblissfullyignorantofaculture'srealities.Thestruggleofadultstofindsatisfyingwork, to pay the bills, to provide security for themselves and their childrendefinetheattitudesandbehaviorsofcontemporaryculture.

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IssueTask20

TopicAllparentsshouldberequiredtovolunteertimetotheirchildren'sschools.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewiththerecommendationandexplainyourreasoningforthepositionyoutake.Indevelopingand supportingyourposition,describe specific circumstances inwhichadopting the recommendationwouldorwouldnotbe advantageous andexplainhowtheseexamplesshapeyourposition.

StrategiesRestatetheRecommendation:Attempttousenegativewordstoconveythesamemeaningastheoriginal.

Inotherwords:Noparentshouldbeexemptfromvolunteeringtimetotheirchildren’sschools.Determinewhatquestionisbeingansweredbytheissuestatement.Whichparentsshouldberequiredtovolunteertimetotheirchildren’sschools?OR:Shouldallparentsberequiredtovolunteertimetotheirchildren’sschools?OR:Howcanparentsbecomemoreinvolvedintheirchildren’seducations?There may be several other questions that call for the answer in the originalrecommendation.Answeringthesequestionscanhelpyouformulatearesponseor alternative recommendation. It can help you identify the circumstances inwhichadoptingtherecommendationwouldbeadvantageousordisadvantageous.Nowthinkaboutthepartsoftheoriginalrecommendationthatprovideevidencethatyoucanaffirmorrefute.a) All parents – There are no exceptions. What about working parents?Noncustodialparents?b)required–Again,therearenoexceptions.It’snotanoption.

c)time–Doesithavetobeduringtheschoolday?Thiscouldbeinterpretedtomeancleaning theclassroomon theweekend.Does it have tobe time?Couldtheyvolunteertosupplysnacksortissues?d)volunteer–Tovolunteer is togivefreely.Requireandvolunteercontradicteachother.

Opposingviewpoint:Notallparentsshouldberequiredtovolunteertimeintheirchildren’sschools.Identify thepartsof theopposingstatement thatprovideevidencethatyoucanrefuteoraffirm.a)notall–Thisimpliesthatsomeshouldberequired.Forwhichparentsshouldthisbearequirement?

AlternativesIs there anyotherway to look at this recommendation?Can it be qualified insomeway?Think about the absolutewords like all and required.Can theybereducedtolessthancommands?

Newviewpoint:Allparentsshouldbeencouragedtovolunteertimeintheirchildren’sschools.Identifythepartsofthenewstatementthatprovideevidencetoaffirmorrefute.a)all–Thisleavesnooneout.Ifvolunteerismisencouraged,everyoneshouldbeinvitedtoparticipate.b)encouraged–Toencouragewouldinvolvebuildingsomeflexibilityintothetimeframeandtypesofvolunteeringrequired.

ExamplesandReasonsa) financial –Budget cuts have adversely affected the ability of teachers andschoolstoaccomplishmanytasksthataidesorjanitorsusedtodo.b)transparency–Volunteeringisagreatwaytoknowwhatishappeninginachild’sschoolorclassroom.c)exceptions–Encouraging rather than requiring leavesanoption forparentswhohaveneitherthetimenorthedesiretovolunteerintheirchildren’sschools.d) danger – Some children have parents who should not volunteer at theirchildren’s schools under any circumstances. Some parents are abusive or

alcoholicsordrugusers.Theirchildrenarelikelytofeelsaferatschoolthanathome. Should volunteers have to undergo the same background checks asteachers?

SampleEssaySchoolshavealwayssoughttoinvolveparentsintheirchildren’seducations.Formostparentsthatinvolvementisreceivingprogressreportsandrankcards.Someofthemattendopenhousesorparticipateinparent/teacherconferences,althoughthosenumbersdeclineasthechildrenleaveelementaryschool,and,bythetimethey’vereachedhighschool,fewparentsevercrossthethresholdsoftheschoolstheirchildrenattend.Ifachildparticipatesinsportsorplaysintheband,hisorher parents may attend games or concerts. Many school and teachers wantparentstoknowwhatgoesonintheirschoolsandclassroomsinordertodeveloptransparency.Afterall,schoolsaren’t-orshouldn’tbe–tryingtohideanything.Today,schoolsarefacingbudgetcutsthathavedecimatedtheranksofteacheraideswhoperformed tasks that teachers,with theirbusyschedules,don’thavetime to do. Custodial staffs are smaller, and schools aren’t as clean or well-maintainedastheyusedtobe.Volunteerismseemsthesolutiontoanumberofproblems that schools face. However, requiring volunteerism is not a validconcepteitherinitsphrasingorexpectations.Volunteerismbyitsdefinitionissomethingdoneofone’sfreewill;itisachoice.Requiring someone to volunteer changes the entire concept. How does oneenforcemandatory volunteerism?What are the consequences for parents whocan’t or won’t volunteer? When a requirement is not met, consequences doensue.Ifonedoesn’tpayhis/hertaxes,thegovernmentleviesafineorsentencestheviolatortojail.Wouldschoolsfineparentswhodon’tvolunteer?Maybetheyor their child would get detention. Clearly, the enforcement of such a policywouldbedifficultatbestandunfairatworst.Thereareboundtobeparentswhocannot,willnot,orshouldnotvolunteerattheirchildren’sschools.It’sprobablysafetosaythatmostparentsworktoday.Howwouldtheyfulfilltherequirementtovolunteer?Therecommendationdoesnot specify that the volunteerism must take place during the school day, butshouldworkingparentsgiveup timewith their familieson theirdaysoff fromwork? Just as some children refuse to do their schoolwork, there are parentswhowill simply refuse tovolunteer at their children’s schools.Theypay theirtaxes to support the schools in their district, and that should be enough of acontribution.Thereareparentswho,undernocircumstance,shouldbeallowed

to volunteer at their children’s schools. Some parents are physically,psychologically,or sexuallyabusive.Their childrenmay thinkof school as anescape from a dangerous home, even if it is only for a few hours of the day.Whatwouldtheimpactbeonthosechildreniftheirparentsweretoshowupintheirclassroomsonaregularbasis?Adultswhoworkinschoolsystemstoday,fromtheprincipalandteacherstothebusdriversmustundergofingerprintingandbackgroundchecksbeforetheycanwork around children. Shouldn’t volunteers be subject to the same scrutiny?After all, we are letting them into spaces populated by our most vulnerablecitizens.What is the liability to a school systemwhen a volunteer becomes adanger tochildren?Teachersservein locoparentis, in theparents’placewhiletheirchildrenareatschool.Parentstrustthattheirchildrenaresafe,anditistheschool’sresponsibilitytoseethattheyare.Schoolsystemsfaceanumberofchallengestoday.Administratorsandteachersarebeingaskedtodomorewithless.Volunteerismseemsawaytofillsomeofthe needs that are not met by tight budgets. Some wonderful people do givefreelyoftheirtimeandtalentstohelpoutintheirlocalschools,buttherewardsaren’t worth the risks of requiring all parents to volunteer in their children’sschools.

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IssueTask21

TopicColleges and universities should require their students to spend at least onesemesterstudyinginaforeigncountry.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewiththerecommendationandexplainyourreasoningforthepositionyoutake.Indevelopingand supportingyourposition,describe specific circumstances inwhichadopting the recommendationwouldorwouldnotbe advantageous andexplainhowtheseexamplesshapeyourposition.

StrategiesRestatetheRecommendation:Restate the recommendation by telling what students should not do whileretainingtheoriginalmeaning.

Inotherwords:Students should not complete collegewithout being required to spend at leastonesemesterstudyinginaforeigncountry.You could also determine what question is being answered by therecommendation.Whatshouldcollegesrecommendthatalloftheirstudentsdobeforecompletingtheireducations?Or: Should colleges recommend that all of their students spend at least onesemesterstudyinginaforeigncountry?Creatingaquestionwillallowyoutothinkaboutthewayyouwouldansweritandwhyyouwouldansweritinthatway.Nowidentifythepartsoftherecommendationthatprovideevidencethatyoucanaffirmorrefute.

a)require–Thiswordleavesnoroomforchoice.Bythe timestudentsare incollege,theyshouldbeabletomakesomechoicesaboutwheretheystudy.b)all–Again,thereisnoroomforcompromise.Willallcollegestudentsbenefitfrom studying abroad? Some fields of study may be enriched by a semesterabroad.

Opposingviewpoint:Colleges and universities should not require all of their students to spend atleastonesemesterstudyinginaforeigncountry.Identifythepartsoftheopposingrecommendationthatprovideevidenceforyoutoaffirmorrefute.a)require–As in theoriginal recommendation, thisword leavesno roomforequivocation.Inthiscase,it isfollowedbythewordnot,sotherequirementisnegated.b)all–Thiswordallowsnoexceptions.Whenastatementincludesnotbeforeall, one may interpret it to mean some. Should some students be required tostudyabroad?

AlternativesIs there another way to look at this issue?Many colleges and universities dohave requiredclasses forstudentsseekingdegrees inparticularmajors.Shouldcandidatesinsomemajorsberequiredtostudyabroad?Woulditbeafinancialhardship for some? Should study abroad simply be an available option forcollege students?Many colleges and universitiesmake study abroad availableforthirdyear.

Newviewpoint:Collegesanduniversitiesshouldmakestudyinaforeigncountryavailabletoallofitsstudents.

ExamplesandReasonsa) the global economy – A country’s economy relies on those of countriesaroundtheworld.Studentsinbusinessoreconomycouldbenefitfromstudyingthoseaspectsofaforeigncountryinthatcountryitself.b) foreign language students – These students would most obviously benefitfrom studying the language immersed in the culture of the country and living

withnativespeakersofthelanguage.c)requiringasemesterabroadcouldbeafinancialhardshipforstudents.Manystudentshavetoworktheirwaythroughcollege.Thelikelihoodofbeingabletoworkinaforeigncountryisslim.d)nontraditionalstudents.Mostcollegestodayhaveanumberofnontraditionalstudents.Theyareolderandmaybemarriedwithchildren.Theymayhavejobs.Forcingthemtostudyabroadisshortsighted.e)onlinecolleges

SampleEssayThechancetoearncollegecreditwhilestudyingabroadisanattractiveoption,and that is what it should remain. The world’s shrinking size makes it seempracticaltorequirestudentstospendatleastonesemesterstudyinginaforeigncountry. Most of those students would develop a better understanding of theglobalperspective,butitsimplyisn’tapracticaloptionformanyyoungpeople.Colleges and universities must look at the issue from several sides beforeadoptingthisrequirement.Studentsinsomeprogramsofstudywouldbenefitfromstudyabroad,whileforstudentsinotherprograms,therequirementwouldbeaburden.Thosewhoarestudying a foreign language are themost obvious beneficiaries of studying inanothercountry.WhatbetterwaytolearnFrench,forexample,thantoimmerseoneselfinthecultureofFrance.Rubbingshouldersonadailybasiswithpeoplewhose native tongue is French is the best way to grasp the nuances of thelanguage that are virtually impossible to impart in a classroom setting.Familiaritywiththelandscape,thefood,andtheartsofacountryimpartadepthofunderstandingthatwouldbedifficulttoobtaininanyothermanner.Earningcredit while strolling on the Champs Elysees or reading a text book whileloungingontheRiveGaucheissimilartoearningabonusatwork.Asidyllicasthis seems, it is a hardship for some students, even those studying foreignlanguages.Collegeisanenormousfinancialcommitment,andmanycan’tdoitwithout holding down at least one jobwhile attending school. For thosewhowould have to forfeit a job for even a semester, this requirement would beonerous.Another segment of the college population that might derive a benefit fromstudying inanothercountry is thosewhoplan toenter theworldof financeoreconomics.Nocountrystandsaloneintheglobaleconomy.Goodsareproduced

andsoldacrossborderseveryday.Gonearethedaysofacountryproducingallof the consumables for its citizens. The American stock and commoditiesmarkets fluctuate hourly based on what is happening in markets around theworld.Forstudentsenteringthisarena,studyingothermarketsfirsthandwouldbemoreenlighteningthanreadingatextbookaboutit.Thesestudents,however,maygetthatopportunityafterobtainingajobinamultinationalorganizationandvisitothercountriesonsomeoneelse’sdime.Inaddition,suchopportunitiesarelimited, so some studentswould likely be placedwith a company that has norelationtotheirpreferredcareerpath.Colleges and universities must consider the nontraditional students on theircampuses. No longer are campuses populated only by 18 to 22-year-olds.Womenareenteringcollegeafterraisingtheirchildren;displacedadultworkersare returning to learn new skills; andveterans are taking advantageof collegetuitionearnedwhileservingtheircountry.Shouldschoolsrequirethesestudents,whohaveotherresponsibilities,toleaveeverythingbehindandspendasemesterinaforeigncountry?Finally, onemust ask if the emerging online universities should embrace thisrequirement.Online students are enrolled for the convenienceofbeingable tocompletecourseworkfromthecomfortof theirownhomes.Requiring themtostudy abroad for a semester seems contradictory to the philosophies of theseschools. Finishing the traditional course of study is enough of a challenge formoststudentswithout theadditionalburdenoflivingandstudyinginaforeigncountry.Universitiesshould,nonetheless,makeavailabletheoptiontospendatleastasemesterabroad,butthisshouldnotbeamandatoryrequirement.

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IssueTask22

TopicPeople'sbehaviorislargelydeterminedbyforcesnotoftheirownmaking.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewith theclaim. Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,be sure toaddressthemost compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to challengeyourposition.

StrategiesAssumptions:What are the assumptions in the claim?Thesewill be statements thatyoucaneitheraffirmorrefute.Assumption1:Behaviorisinfluencedbyoutsideforces.Assumption2:Peoplecanrationalizetheirbehavior.Assumption3:Thereareforcesbeyondone'scontrol.Assumption4:Peopledon'thavetotakeresponsibilityfortheirownactions.Assumption5:Bothgoodandbadbehaviorisaccidental.Assumption6:One'sbehaviorisnotdeliberate.

Opposingviewpoint:People’sbehaviorisnotdeterminedbyoutsideforces.Whataretheassumptionsinthisclaim?Asbefore,theywillbestatementsthatyoucaneitheraffirmorrefute.Assumption1:Peopleareresponsiblefortheirownbehavior.Assumption2:Peoplecanignoreoutsideforces.Assumption3:People'sbehaviorisinfluencedbysomethingotherthanoutsideforces.

Alternativeclaim:Insomecases,people'sbehaviorisdeterminedbyoutsideforces.Assumption1:People'sbehaviormaybeinfluencedbyoutsideforces.Assumption2:People'sbehaviorissometimesbeyondtheircontrol.

SampleEssayInthemid1970's,SanFranciscosupervisor,DanWhite,killedMayorMosconeandsupervisorHarveyMilk.Whitehadbecomedespondentovertheactionsofthemayor and thehomosexual activist,Milk, to change the lawspertaining tohomosexual rights in the city.White's lawyer claimed thatWhite's deepeningdepressionledhimtoeatfoodshighinsugar,whichaffectedhisbehavior.Oneof the reporters during White's trial coined the term, "the Twinkie defense",named for thewell-knownsnackcake.Thatphrase is resurrectedevery timeadefendantinaparticularlyheinouscrimeclaimsthatsomecircumstancebeyondhiscontrolmadehimbehavebadly.Historyprovidesshiningexamplesofwhencircumstancesdidnotreducehumanstouseexcusestobehavebadly.In1944,ateenagedElieWiesel,hisparentsandsisters,wereforcedfromtheirhome in Hungary and transported to the infamous concentration camp,Auschwitz. At the entrance to the camp, this Jewish boy and his father wereseparated from hismother and sisters. Elie was just fourteen years old at thetime, but another man in line told him to lie and say that he was sixteen;otherwise, he would be considered too young to work and would be sent toexterminationalongwithwomenandchildren.Duringtheensuingmonths,Elieandhisfatherenduredharshlivingandworkingconditionsandstarvation.Whenhisfatherbecameill,hetriedtoconvinceElietoeathisrationoffood,butElierefused to sacrifice his father to ensure his own survival. Even when theprisoners were ordered to abandon the camp ahead of the Allies imminentarrival, Elie did everything he could to see that his father would survive. Hewatchedasother fathersor sonsabandoned thosewhocouldno longerendurethe enforced race throughout the cold and snowy landscape but declined toforsakehisownhumanity.Historyhas recorded thedeedsofotherswho,during theHolocaust,chose thehighroadratherthantaketheeasywayout.MiepGies,atgreatrisktoherself,hid and supplied provisions to the family ofAnneFrankwhile they hid in anatticinAmsterdam.OskarSchindlermadeitpossibleforJewishworkersinhisfactory to escape the horrors of the Nazi regime. These heroes could have

succumbed to circumstances, and history would likely have excused them.People can be the masters of their own destinies. Neither Twinkies nor "thedevilsmademedoit"areacceptableexcusesforrelinquishingthatmastery.

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IssueTask23

TopicAlthough innovations suchas video, computers, and the Internet seem toofferschools improved methods for instructing students, these technologies all toooftendistractfromreallearning.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewith the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,youshouldconsiderwaysinwhichthestatement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerationsshapeyourposition.

StrategiesRestatetheIssue:Beginbyrestatingtheissue.Makethedependentclausethemainclauseofthesentence.Rearrangingtheclauseschangesthefocusandtheconnotationofeachclause.

Inotherwords:Althoughtechnologyalltoooftendistractsfromreallearning,innovationssuchas video, computers, and the Internet seem tooffer schools improvedmethodsforinstructingstudents.Determinethequestionbeingansweredbythestatement.Whateffecthastechnologyhadonteachingandlearning?The questionmay start you thinking about theway that youwould answer it.Your own position may be taking shape. The question should help developalternatepointsofview.Theoriginalissuestatementisonlyonewaytoanswerthequestion.Nowthinkaboutpartsoftheoriginalissuestatementthatprovideevidenceyoucanaffirmorrefute.

a) innovations – The root word, nova, means new. Innovations don't remaininnovative for long. At one time, cars, telephones, television, and typewriterswereinnovative.b)seem–Seemisnotadefinitiveword.It'snotanabsolute.c)tooffer–Onedoesnothavetoacceptanoffer.Anofferimplieschoice.d) improved –This implies better, thatwhat camebeforewas not as good insomeway.e)distract–This is theoppositeofattract.Distractmeans to leadawayfrom,whileattractmeanstoleadtoward.f) real learning – Real is the opposite of artificial or fake. Is any learningartificialorfake?

Opposingviewpoint:Innovations such as video, computer, and the Internet offer schools improvedmethodsforinstructingstudentsandpromotereallearning.Identify the parts of the opposing statement that provide evidence to refute oraffirm.a) promote– Promote means to move forward. Technology helps learning tomove forward. You may create a statement that qualifies the original oropposingviewpoint.

Alternativeviewpoint:Innovations such as video, computers, and the Internet have the potential toeitherofferschoolsimprovedmethodsforinstructingstudentsortodistractfromreallearning.Identifythepartsofthealternativeviewpointthatprovideevidencetorefuteoraffirm.a) potential – The root of potential is potent, which means having power.Technology has the power to offer school improved methods for instructingstudents,orithasthepowertodistractfromreallearning.

Position:With appropriate training, teachers and students can use technology such asvideos,computers,andtheInternettoenhanceteachingandlearning.

Examples:a)Recordkeeping– teacherscanuseweb-basedgradebookstokeeptrackofassignments and student progress. Schools can allow students and parents,access to thosegradebooks,placing responsibility forcompletingassignmentsandawarenessofproblemsonthestudentandparents.b)Communication–Schoolsand/orindividualteacherscancreatewebsitestocommunicatewithstudentsbyplacingassignments,specialdirections,etcontheInternet.Teachersand/orschoolscancommunicatewithstudentsandparentsviaemail.c)Google docs – web-based application that allows students to create officedocuments such as slide presentations, spread sheets and compositions. Thisallows students to submit assignments without printing them; students cancollaboratewitheachotherortheirteachers;andteacherscanleavecomments.d)Research – multiple students can research the same topic simultaneouslywithoutworryingaboutbooksalreadycheckedoutof thelibrary.Teacherscanuseantiplagiarismprograms.

SampleEssayIntheearlypartofthetwentiethcentury,peoplethoughtthecarwasafad;theywould never replace the trusty, hard-working horse. In the middle of thetwentieth century, people thought televisionwas a fad; itwould never replacetheradio.Inthemid1980's,peoplethoughtVCR'sandvideotapeswereafad;theywouldnever replace the experienceof going to themovies.Nowwe candrive inourcarsandwatchmoviesat thesame time.Virtuallyeverything thatmakes lifemore convenient will stay.Wemust accept that technology in theformofcomputersandtheInternetarepermanentlyentrenchedinsociety.Whatistheimpactonteachingandlearning?Teachingandlearninghasalwaysbeenbookandpaper intensive.Teachers ineverydisciplineassignedbooks totheir students and used paper to keep track ofwhich student hadwhich book.Students used paper to complete assignments associatedwith those books andhandedthemintotheirteachers,whocarriedthosepapershometogradethem.This process was repeated all over the country by millions of students andteachers every day for 36 -40 weeks a year. Technology has the potential toallowstudentstocompleteavarietyofworkandsubmititonline.

Mostnotableof theseapplications isGoogledocswhere studentscansetupafree account and create writing pieces, spreadsheets, and slide presentations.Alternatively, they can upload those same documents from their homecomputers. Students share their work with their teachers who can insertcomments,highlightelements,andassigngrades.Infact,astudentandteachercan work simultaneously on an assignment while "chatting" in a side bar.Another benefit of Google docs is the feature that saves a student's workinstantaneously and keeps it on the Web. This application enhances theeducationalprocessthroughitsaccessibilityandimmediacy.Whenteacherscanproviderapidfeedback,studentsbenefit.Technologyissdouble-edgedswordwhenitcomestoresearchprojects.Ononeside,informationonanytopicisavailableattheclickofamouse.Ontheotherside is the temptation for students to cut and paste information directly fromsources.Therehavealwaysbeenstudentswhoplagiarize.Technologycanmakeiteasier,butitalsoiseasierforteacherstouncoveritusingprogramsdesignedforthatpurposeorsimplyusingGoogle'ssearchfunction.ThankstotheInternet,gone are the days of creatingWorks Cited or References pages by hand andagonizing over alphabetizing and citing correctly. There are both free andsubscriptionservices thatcando that for students.Whenstudentsand teacherscanfocusonwhatthechildhastosayandhowhesaysit,reallearninghappens.The introduction of tablets is already revolutionizing learning. It is likely thatfuturestudentswillnotbecarryingbackpackscrammedwithbookandbinders.Rather, theywill glide from class to class carrying slim computer ontowhichtheyhavedownloadedtheirtextbooks,andwithwhichtheywillcompletetheirclasswork.As the accouterments of education become easier tomanage, therecan be a clearer focus on leveraging these new technologies to better educatestudents.Therefore,whiletechnologyhasthepotentialtodistractstudentsfromlearningifusedpoorly,itstruepotentialliesinitsabilitytostreamlineclassroomworkandhomework,givingstudentsmore time to learnabout topics thatmaynothavebeencoveredotherwise.

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IssueTask24

TopicThebestideasarisefromapassionateinterestincommonplacethings.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewith the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,youshouldconsiderwaysinwhichthestatement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerationsshapeyourposition.

StrategiesRestatetheIssue:Inthiscase,youmightinverttheorderoftheideas.

Inotherwords:Apassionateinterestincommonplacethingsgivesrisetothebestideas.Or:Itisnotaninterestintheuncommonthatgivesrisetothebestideas.Youmightdeterminewhatquestionisbeingansweredbytheissuestatement.Fromwhatdothebestideasarise?Or:Wheredothebestideascomefrom?Creatingaquestionmayhelpyou to formulateyourownpositionon the issueandhelpyoudecidehowstronglyyouagreeordisagreewithit.Now thinkabout thepartsof the statement thatprovideevidence thatyoucanaffirmorrefute.a)best–Thisisthesuperlativeformofgood.Itdoesn’tgetanybetter.b) ideas–Whynotproductsor inventions?Are ideas themselvesworthmuchunlesstheyarethebasisofausefulproductorinvention?c) passionate – This is a strong word. It carries more weight than a passinginterestwould.

d) commonplace –A synonym is everyday. Is it likely thatmost people takenoticeofeverydayorcommonplacethings?

Opposingviewpoint:Thebestideasarisefromapassionateinterestinunusualthings.Identify the parts of the opposing statement that provide evidence for you torefuteoraffirm.a)unusual–Thisistheoppositeofcommonplace.Unusualmeansnotusualorcommonoreveryday.

AlternativesIs there any other way to look at this issue? Perhaps it is not the thingsthemselvesthatinspire,buttheactionsofthethingsinconsideration.

Newviewpoint:Thebestideasarisefromapassionateinterestinthebehaviorofcommonplacethings.a)behavior–Thewaythingsactmaybetheinspirationfornewideas.

Examplesandreasonsa)Observingthechangesofthestarsinthenightskybeingusedfornavigation.b)Man’sdesiretoflylikebirds.

SampleEssayOnetendstothinkofvisionariesasmenandwomenwhocanseethingsthattheminds of mere mortals cannot even imagine. Modern conveniences like thetelephone and the television seem like miracles. How can a camera take amovingpictureontheothersideoftheworldandsendittothetelevisioninmylittlecorneroftheworld?Howisitpossiblethatmyvoicecantravelintospaceandberetrievedbymyfriendonherphoneinthemiddleofthecountry?Theseinventions are ultimately based on commonplace ideas and actions, such aslookingupatafullmoonasachildandwonderingwhatitwouldbeliketobethere.Manywondersofthemodernworlddohavetheirrootsinobjectsthatweobserveeveryday.Manhasalwaysenviedbirds.Thedesiretoflyhasgivenrisetomythsasoldastheabilityofmantospeak.Themostfamiliarofthesemythsispopulatedbythemaster craftsman, Daedalus and his son, Icarus. Icarus’ desire to fly led his

fathertocraftwingsmadeoffeatherandwax.Daedalus’copiedwhathecouldobserve of thewings of birds.His onlywarning to his sonwas not to fly tooclose to thesunlest thewaxmeltandcause thewings tobedestroyed. Icarus,enthralled by the freedom of flight, ignored his father’s warning and soaredhigherandhigheruntilhedidindeedflytooclosetothesun.Thewaxmelted,the wings fell apart, and Icarus’ plummeted to his death in the sea. In thefifteenthcentury,LeonardodaVincidrewplansforaflyingdevicethatbecametheinspirationforthemodernhelicopter.Someoftheearliestplanesattemptedto imitate themotion of birds'wings.Now thatman can actually fly not onlyaroundtheworldbutoutofit,onemustwonder,"Dothebirdsenvyman."Asthebirdsmoveintheskyaboveus,sodothesun, thestars,andthemoon.Formuchofthehistoryofman,thestarsandplanetsweresourcesofmythandinspired poets, artists andmusicians. The earliest ideas about the sun and thestarsmade theEarth the center of the universe. Later astronomers created theheliocentrictheoryofoursolarsystem.Thefirstpracticaluseofthestarswasfornavigation.The longer the scientists observed theheavenlybodies, thegreaterthedesiregrewtoreachthem.Whenitbecamepossibletomeasurethedistancesto the sun, the moon, and other planets, the idea of reaching them became apossibility.Nowmanhasbeentothemoon,andhassethissightsonMars.TheHubbletelescopecontinuestosendbackcrystal-clearpicturesofdeepspace,andman'sfascinationcontinuestogrow.Whenmanlooksup,hecannotavoidseeingthebirdsandtheheavenlybodies.Theyareubiquitous,andman'senvy,fascination,andeventualunderstandingofthemhavemade incredible journeys possible.The best ideas of the future arelikelytocomefromman'scontinuedpassionforcommonplacethings.

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IssueTask25

TopicTobeaneffectiveleader,apublicofficialmustmaintainthehighestethicalandmoralstandards.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewith theclaim. Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,be sure toaddressthemost compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to challengeyourposition.

StrategiesAssumptions:Whataretheassumptionsintheclaim?Assumption1:Ethicsandmoralsdetermineeffectiveness.Assumption2:Ethicalandmoralstandardsofleadersmustbehigherthanthoseofaveragepeople.Assumption3:Leadersareheldtoahigherstandardthattheaverageperson.Assumption 4: Ethical and moral standards are easily defined and constanteverywhere.Assumption5:Leadersoutsideofthepublicarenadonotneedtomeetthesamestandardsasthosewhoareinthepublicarena.Assumption 6: Ethics andmorals are essentially the same part of someone’scharacter.Canonebeethicalwhilebeingimmoral?

Opposingviewpoint:A public figure does not have to maintain the highest ethical and moralstandardstobeaneffectiveleader.Assumption 1: A leader’s effectiveness depends on elements other than highethicalandmoralstandards.

Alternativeclaim:Aslongasitdoesn’taffecthisservicetothepeople,apublicofficialshouldbeheldtostandardsnohigherthanthoseoftherestofsociety.Assumption 1: A public official’s private behavior should not necessarily beusedtojudgehiseffectivenessasaleader.Assumption2:Publicofficialscanseparatetheirprivatelivesfromtheirpublicones.

SupportforalternativeclaimExample:PresidentFranklinDelanoRooseveltkeptamistress.DidthisdetractfromhisabilitytoleadAmericanoutoftheGreatDepression?Example:AdolphHitlerwassupremelysuccessfulasaleaderdespitehislackofethicsandmorals.Example:J.EdgarHoover,directoroftheFBI,wasacrossdresser.

SampleEssayAremorals and ethics the same thing? Can one behave ethically in business,medicine, or politicswhile exhibiting immoral behavior in private?Numerousexamplesthroughouthistoryportraytheeffectivenessofleaderswhodisplayed,either publicly or privately, behaviors or beliefs that would be consideredunethical or immoral. If the constituencies of a public official are beingwell-served, do they care about the private behavior of those officials?When thepublic good is being served, the public is likely to be satisfied andwilling todisregardotherpartsofanofficial’slife.History has declared Franklin Delano Roosevelt to have been a supremelyeffectiveleaderoftheUnitedStatesofAmericanthroughsomeitsdarkestdaysdespitethefactthathehadalong-timemistress.UnprecedentedinthehistoryoftheUSisRoosevelt’selectiontofourconsecutivetermsintheWhiteHouse.Hemusthavebeendoingsomethingright.TakingofficeattheheightoftheGreatDepression,FDR,himselfachildofprivilege,begantodemandofCongressthattheyinstituteprogramsthatwouldleadtothenation’srecovery.TheNewDealwasborn and spawned suchprograms as theCivilianConservationCorps, theTennessee Valley Authority, and the Works Progress Administration. All oftheseprovided jobs forAmericanswhootherwisewouldhavespent theirdaysstandinginbreadlinesorsleepingonthestreets.OnSunday,December7,1941,

theJapaneseattackedtheAmericanmilitaryfleetatPearlHarbor,andFDRhadtomakethepainfuldecisiontodeclarewaragainstJapan.AlthoughFDRdidnotlivetoseetheatomicbombsdroppedonHiroshimaorNagasaki,theUSwastheeventual victor in thewar that he had declared.The fact that hewaswith hismistresswhenhediedinWarmSprings,Georgia,didnotstopAmericansfromlining up by the thousands to watch the train carrying his body back toWashington,D.C.Thecitizens’interestshadbeenservedandpreservedbythisgreatman,andthatwaswhatmatteredtothem.Despitehisobviouslackofmorals,AdolphHitlerisrecognizedasaneffectiveleader. A contemporary of FDR’s, he rose to power when Germany wassufferingeconomicallybecauseofthereparationslaidonthecountryafterWWI,as well as the Great Depression. Hitler’s promise to lift Germany out of theeconomicquagmireattractedthevotesoftheGermanpeople,andHitlerbecameChancellor of Germany. His efforts to recoup Germany’s losses includedinvadingnearbycountries.HealsosoughttopunishthosehefeltresponsibleforGermany’s downfall, namely Jewish bankers and businessmen, who, in hismind,hadfartoomuchcontrolofthefinancesofEurope.Becausetheirwelfarewas secure, the citizens of Germany lived and worked in towns next toconcentration camps in which Jews, Catholics, homosexuals and thementallyfeebleweresystematicallybeingexterminatedandclaimedthattheydidn’tknowwhatwas taking place.Using immoral and unethicalmeans,Hitler served theinterestsofasubsetoftheGermanpeople,andthatwaswhatmatteredtothem.Ithasbeensaidthatagroupeventuallygetstheleadershipitdeserves.Whetherthe leader is upright andmoral or unethical and immoralmay depend on thecharacterofthepeoplewhoelecthim/her.Itjustmaybethat,ifthestandardsaretoohigh,menandwomenwho,otherwise,wouldbeeffective leaders,willnotseektolead.

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IssueTask26

TopicCriticaljudgmentofworkinanygivenfieldhaslittlevalueunlessitcomesfromsomeonewhoisanexpertinthatfield.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewith theclaim. Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,be sure toaddressthemost compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to challengeyourposition.

StrategiesAssumptions:Identify the assumptions in the claim. These will be statements that you caneitheraffirmorrefute.Assumption1:Onlyexpertsinafieldarecompetenttocritiqueorjudgeworkinthatfield.Assumption2:Everyfieldhasanexpert.

Opposingviewpoint:Itispossibletoprovidecriticaljudgmentofworkinagivenfieldevenifoneisnotanexpertinthefield.Whataretheassumptionsinthisclaim?Assumption1:Allcriticaljudgmentisvaluable.Assumption2:Oneneednotbeanexperttojudgethevalueofworkinagivenfield.Is there anotherway of looking at this claim?Whymight someonemake thisclaim?Whatistheclaimtryingtoproveordisprove?Beginadependentclausewiththeword,although,andfollowitwiththeclaim.

Althoughconsumersoftechnologyexpressopinionsabouttheproducts,criticaljudgment.Thereareavarietyofchoices,butwhateveryouchoosecanhelpyouformulateyourpositionanddevelopyourresponse.

SampleEssayToclaimthattheonlyvalidjudgmentofaproductthatistheresultofworkinsomefieldcanarisefromanexpertinthatfieldneglectstheusersorconsumersof that product. The purpose of developing a new theory or designing a newobjectis,atitscore,tobeusedbyothers.Allworkrequiresfeedbacktobeeithervalidatedorimproved,andthisfeedbackshouldcomefrombothexpertsinthefieldandpeoplewhoseliveswillbeimpactedbyit.At the most esoteric level, the claim can refer to scientific or mathematicaltheory.Perhapstheonlyqualifiedcriticsareotherscientistsormathematicians.However,thepracticalapplicationofthetheoriesmayincludeproductsintendedfor use by laymen. The first product that comes to mind is the personalcomputer. That the computing devices we use today evolved from ENIAC, acomputer that filled two large rooms and could only complete mathematicalcomputations, is almost beyondbelief. It seemed for awhile that the computerwouldremaintheprovinceofscienceandmathematics,andanyimprovementsoradvancesincomputingwouldbeself-serving.Oncecomputersbecamesmallenough and reasonably priced, they became available to the average person.Consumerswereenthralled.Oncetheymasteredthefunctionspossibleonthoseearlymachines, theywanted-evendemanded-more.Theindustryresponded.The average consumermay not know how a computer works, but they knowwhat theywant it todo.Asbrilliantascomputerscientistsmaybe, theymightnot be able to imagine what the average Joe wants or needs. Even withoutcomputerscienceexpertise,aconsumerwhousestheircomputertoshoponlineorsearchforrecipeshashadanimpactontheindustry.At amore approachable level are contemporarywriters.When a newnovel ispublished,thephrase,criticallyacclaimed,shouldsignalsoaringsuccessfortheauthor.Someauthors,infact,aresatisfiedwithcriticalapprobation.Itmaynot,however, herald financial rewards. If the purpose ofwriting is to be read, theinexpertpublic'sopinionmaybemorevaluablethanthecritics'.IfStephenKing,probablythebest-sellingauthorinthelastfortyyears,hadlistenedtotheexpertsinhisfield,hewouldhavestoppedwritingafterCarriewaspublished.Instead,he listened to his own muse and turned out thrillers that have his readersclamoringformore.

Onanevenmoremundanelevelarethehouseholdappliancesthatareintendedtomake lifeeasier.Without the inputofconsumers, thewringerwashermightstillbethelatest technologyinlaundryhelp.Customerswouldstillbehangingrugsoutsideandusingapaddletobeatthedirtoutofthem.Theaveragepersonmay not understand the technology involved in designing time-savingappliances,buttheyareexpertsintheiruse.To say that critical judgment has little value unless the judgment comes fromexperts depends on the purpose of the work and the intended audience. Ifsomething is accomplished for purely scientific reasons, the only criticaljudgmentofvaluemaybethatofexpertsinthefield.Ifoneproducessomethingfor public consumption, he or she should not only expect, but welcome thepublic’sopinion.

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IssueTask27

TopicClaim: The surest indicator of a great nation is not the achievements of itsrulers,artists,orscientists.Reason:Thesurest indicatorofagreatnation isactually thewelfareofall itspeople.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewiththeclaimandthereasononwhichthatclaimisbased.NOTE:TheabovetopichaswordingsimilartoIssueTask4ofGREAnalyticalWriting Solution to the Real Essay Topics - Book 1. However, if you readcarefullyyouwillnoticethatthetaskinstructionsaredifferent.Hence,itisveryimportanttoreadthetopicaswellasitsinstructionscompletelybeforeyoustarttowriteyourresponse.

StrategiesRestatetheclaim:Combinetheclaimandreasonintoasinglestatement.

Inotherwords:The surest indicator of a great nation is actually thewelfare of all its peopleratherthantheachievementsofitsrulers,artists,orscientists.Whataretheassumptionsintheclaimandreason?Thesewillbestatementsthatyoucanwitheraffirmorrefuteinyourresponse.Assumption 1: The achievements of rulers, artists, or scientists are not anation’smostimportantachievements.Assumption2:Peoplejudgeanation’ssuccessbytheachievementofitsrulers,artists,orscientists.Assumption3:Thewelfareofitspeopleisthemostimportantaccomplishmentofanynation.

Assumption4:Theachievementsofanation’srulers,artists,orscientistsdonotcontributetothewelfareofitspeople.Next, create a statement that expresses the opposing point of view, usinglanguage similar to that in the original claim. In this case, the reason couldbecometheclaim,andtheclaimbecomesthereason.

Opposingviewpoint:Claim – The surest indicator of a great nation is not thewelfare of all of itspeople.Reason–Thesurestindicatorofagreatnationistheachievementsofitsrulers,artistsorscientists.Howdoesthisnewclaimandreasonaffecttheearlierassumptions?Assumption 1: The accomplishments of a nation’s rulers, artists, or scientistsdetermineanation’sgreatness.Assumption 2: The welfare of a country’s people does not determine thegreatnessofthatnation.Assumption3:Outsiders judge anationby the accomplishmentsof its rulers,artists,orscientists.

Alternativeclaim:Animportantindicatorofanation’sgreatnessistheachievementsofitsrulers,artists,orscientists.

Alternativereason:Thewelfareofanation’speopledependsonthoseachievements.Assumption1:Acountryisjudgedbytheachievementsofitsrulers,artists,orscientists.Assumption2:Theachievementsofanation’srulers,artists,orscientistsaffectthewelfareofitspeople.

Supportforalternativeclaimandreason:Example1:TheachievementsofAbrahamLincolnhadaprofoundeffectonthewelfareofallAmericans.TheCivilWarreunitedthestates.TheEmancipationProclamationfreedtheslaves.

Example2:TheHumanGenomeProjecthasenableddoctorsandscientists toisolategenesresponsiblefordeadlydiseases.Example 3: Adolph Hitler and Joseph Mengele performed atrocities uponspecificpopulationsinEuropeduringthe1930’sand1940’s.

SampleEssayItisnearlyimpossibletoseparatethewelfareofanation’spopulationfromtheachievementsof thatnation’s rulers, scientists,orartists.Whether thecitizens’welfare is enhanced or diminished depends on the type and scope of thoseachievements. History is replete with examples of rulers who made history-changing decisions, of scientists whose research and experiments altered thelivesofmillions,andofartistswhosewordsorimagesaffectedthethinkingofanation’s citizenry. As these two ideas are so thoroughly intertwined in eachother, the surest indicator of a great (or poor) nation is a combination of thewelfareofthepopulationandtheachievementsofitsleaders.ThewelfareofeveryAmericanwasaffectedbydecisionsthatAbrahamLincolnmade during his presidency in the nineteenth century.His belief that a nationdividedcannotstandledtothedecisiontodeclarewarontheConfederatestatesandaneventualreunificationofthestatesoftheUnitedStates.DuringtheCivilWar,LincolnissuedtheEmancipationProclamationintendedtofreetheslaves.That proclamation had both immediate and long-range effects. AlthoughdiscriminationstillexistsinAmerica,thedescendentsofthosefreedslaveshavemoreopportunitiesthantheirancestors.MartinLutherKing,Jr,inthemiddleofthe twentieth century, led the struggle to validate the meaning of theEmancipationProclamationandbroughtchangeforalldisenfranchisedgroupsinthecountry.Perhaps themost reviled leaderof the twentieth century isAdolphHitler.DerFuhrer’sachievementsledtotheneareradicationofanentirereligiousgroupineastern Europe. His insidious actions forced millions of Jews to leave theirhomes and businesses to live in ghettos and, eventually in relocation orconcentration campswhere theywere systematically killed through overwork,starvation,anddisease.Dr.JosephMengeleconductedmedicalexperimentsonthatsamegroupofpeoplewiththeostensiblegoalofservinghumanity.Nobody,apart from Megele himself, derived any benefit from his actions. The onlytangible artistic accomplishment during Hitler’s reign was the theft of greatworksofartfromthecountriesthatGermanyoccupied.

Intheworldofthepresent,theactionsofonenation’sruler,scientists,orartistscaninfluencethewelfareofpeopleinmanynations.Theworldhasgrownsmall.Thebutterfly effect canapply to anyaction. If a child inAfricadies from theAIDS virus, it is a signal to the entire world that effective treatment of thedisease is still notwidely available, and the cry goes out to governments anddrugcompaniestoact.IfaterroristinJapanreleasesdeadlySarininasubwaystation, the restof theworldgoesonalert. IfMuslimextremists flypassengerplanesintothetallestbuildingsintheUnitedStates,reprisalsagainstpeopleofMiddle Eastern descent are carried out in small towns and cities around theworld. Whether rulers make the decision to declare war on terrorism, orscientistsdevelopbetterantidotesfordeadlypoisons,orartistscreatedepictionsofthehorrorsofviolentdeath,thewelfareofpeopleinallcountriesisaffectedinwaysthatmaynotbedemonstratedforyearsordecades.Thewelfareofanation’scitizens is irrevocably tied to theachievementsof itsrulers, artists, and scientists. The standard of living, excellence of education,accessibilitytoqualityhealthcare,andfeelingsofsecurityinanynationreflectdecisions made by its rulers, advances accomplished by its scientists, andrepresentations of the culture depicted in the words and images of its artists.Historyservesasthefinaljudgeoftheerasinwhichthoseeventsoccurred.

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IssueTask28

TopicWhenoldbuildingsstandongroundthatmodernplanners feelcouldbebetterused for modern purposes, modern development should be given precedenceoverthepreservationofhistoricbuildings.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewith the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,youshouldconsiderwaysinwhichthestatement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerationsshapeyourposition.

StrategiesRestatetheIssue:Inthiscase,youmightreversetheorder inwhichthepartsof theissueappearanduseanegativephrase.

Inotherwords:Thepreservationofhistoricbuildingsshouldnotbegivenprecedenceoverusingthegroundtheystandonformodernpurposesthathaveabetteruse.Youcouldalsodeterminewhatquestionisbeingansweredbythestatement.Shouldthepreservationofhistoricbuildingsbegivenprecedenceovermoderndevelopment?Askingaquestionmayhelpyoutoformulateyourresponsetotheissue.Now thinkabout thepartsof the statement thatprovideevidence thatyoucanaffirmorrefute.a)old–Thisimpliesoutdatedorrundown.Newisbetter.b)betterused–betterisacomparativeword.Itismorethangoodbutlessthanbest.

c)modern purposes – Modern implies improved. It is the opposite of oldfashioned.d) development – This word also has a positive connotation. It impliesimprovement,evolution.e)precedence–Whateverisbeingproposedismoreimportantthanotherideas.Itshouldcomeaheadofotherplansorideas.f)preservation–Again,theconnotationispositive.Topreserveistosave.g) historic – Something historic is a representation of history. One generallythinksfavorablyofsomethingthatisdescribedasbeinghistoric.

Opposingviewpoint:Modern development should not be given precedence over the preservation ofhistoric buildings that stand on ground,whichmodern planners feel could bebetterusedformodernpurposes.Theonlynewevidenceintheopposingstatementisthewordnot,whichsimplyreversestheoriginalposition.

AlternativesIs there any other way to look at this issue? Can you qualify either of thestatements?Arethereanycaseswhereoneortheotherofthestatementsmightbetrueornottrue?

Newviewpoint:Whenthepreservationofhistoricbuildingsbecomesafinancialstruggleortheland on which they stand could be used for community betterment, moderndevelopmentshouldbegivenprecedenceoverthatpreservation.Identify parts of the newviewpoint that provide evidence for you to refute oraffirm.a) financial struggle –Surely communities and special interest groups cannotaffordtopreserveeverybuildingofanhistoricvalue.b) community betterment– This is subjective.What one feels is betterment,anothermightfeelisadetrimenttothecommunity.Whodecides?

Examples:

a)Auschwitziscrumbling.Thereisstrongdebateoverpreservingwhatremainsof the infamous Nazi concentration camp or the suitability of letting thebuildingscrumble.Isthereabetteruseforthisland?b)Urban renewal generally involves tearing down existing structures tomakeway for improved buildings to house new business or offices or to improvetrafficflow.

SampleEssayThevalueof anyobject is subjective.Nostalgia for the simpler lifeofbygonedays causes us to attachmorevalue than appropriate to objects from thepast.Historic buildings let us envision the peoplewho lived in them and the dailyactivities theypursued.However, theneedsofcommunitieshavechanged,andsentiment may need to be discarded to meet those needs. Due to this fact,historic buildings may need to be taken down or otherwise changed toaccommodatetheneedsofthecurrentpopulation.Somecitieshavefoundwaystopreservehistoricbuildingsbyerectingthenewones over them. Their front walls become part of the new facade. The cities'needsformoreofficespaceorapartmentshavebeenmetandarecordofthepasthas been saved for present and future generations. Many communities in theUnitedStateshavehistoricalsocietieswhoraisemoneyforhistoricpreservation,and,insomecases,oldbuildingscanbelistedintheRegisterofHistoricPlacesandaresupportedbypublicfunds.Thefutureofprojectslikethesedependsoncontinuedinterest,andemerginggenerationsmayhavedifferentpriorities.Howessentialareoldbuildings inmaintaining thecharacterofaplace?WhenonelooksatseveralcitiesinEurope,heseesacityscapeverydifferentfromtheone that existed prior toWWII when both Allies and Axis bombs destroyedancient structures.The citizens of those towns and cities hadno choicebut torebuild.Lifewenton.Currently,thereisdebateaboutthefutureofAuschwitz.WhatremainsofthenotoriousNaziconcentrationcampisindisrepair.Buildingsthatwerenotbuilt to last in the firstplacearecrumbling.Maintaining themiscostly.Althoughmanycountriesaroundtheworldhavedonatedmillionstothepreservationofthesite,somewonderifallowingthesitereturntoitspre-WWIIstate is a more fitting memorial to what happened there. Could the moneyneeded to restore the barracks, the crematoria and tomaintain themuseumbeusedinamoreappropriatewaytoteachfuturegenerationsaboutthedangersofhatredandprejudice?

Modern technologyhasmade the preservation of old buildings and landmarkspossible throughphotographsandvideo recordings. In fact, it ispossible,withthe click of a computer mouse, to take virtual tours of places one has neverphysically visited. These photos and videos live on the World Wide Webforever, and maintenance costs will be minimal. Access to these historicbuildingsisnolongerrestrictedtothosewhocanmakethetriptotheirphysicalsitesbutisavailabletoanyonewithanInternetconnection.Changefor thesakeofchange is frivolousandusuallyunnecessary,but townsand cities are challenged tomake the best use of the spaces they have. Theirneedshavechanged.Asmallcitymayneedassistedlivingquartersforitsseniorcitizensor recreational facilities for itsyoungpeople.Toaccomplish that, cityplannersmayhave tomakedifficult choices, someofwhichcould include therazingofoldbuildings.

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IssueTask29

TopicClaim:Knowingaboutthepastcannothelppeopletomakeimportantdecisionstoday.Reason:Theworld todayissignificantlymorecomplexthanitwasevenin therelativelyrecentpast.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewiththeclaimandthereasononwhichthatclaimisbased.NOTE:TheabovetopichaswordingsimilartoIssueTask14ofGREAnalyticalWriting Solution to the Real Essay Topics - Book 2. However, if you readcarefullyyouwillnoticethatthetaskinstructionsaredifferent.Hence,itisveryimportanttoreadthetopicaswellasitsinstructionscompletelybeforeyoustarttowriteyourresponse.

StrategiesCombinetheclaimandthereasonintoonestatementusingasubordinateclause.

Inotherwords:Because theworld today is significantlymorecomplex than itwaseven in therelatively recent past, knowing about the past cannot help people to makeimportantdecisionstoday.Whataretheassumptionsstatedorimpliedintheclaimandreason?Thesewillprovideevidencethatyoucanrefuteoraffirminyourargument.a) People cannot use their own or others' past experiences to help themmakedecisionstoday.b)Thecomplexityof today'sworldmakespasteventsand/oractionsirrelevantinthedecision-makingprocess.c) The complexity of today's society contributes to the difficulty of makingdecisions.

Opposingviewpoint:Claim: Knowing about the past does help people make important decisionstoday.Reason: The complexity of today's world is nomore challenging than that ofpreviouseras.Whataretheassumptionsstatedorimpliedintheclaimandreason?Thesewillprovideevidencethatyoucanrefuteoraffirminyourargument.

Assumptions:a)Thepastcaninformthepresent.b)Eachtimeperiodismorecomplexthantheonethatprecededit.c)Thedegreeofcomplexityisrelative.

SampleEssayTheworldtodaymaybemorecomplexthanthatofthepast,butpeople'sneedsandmotivations have not changed.Peoplemakedecisions that they thinkwillbenefit them in some way. According the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, allpeople desire the same things. Theywant their physiological needsmet; theyrequirefood,water,sex,andsleep.Theywanttofeellovedandsafe.Theydesireself esteem and the respect of others.Most humansmake decisions to satisfytheseneeds,andtheymakeuseoftheirownorothers’experiencestohelpthem.Thislackofchangerefutestheclaim,inthatitshowsthatthepastisnecessarytomake new decisions evenwith the fast pace of our current world, becausehistorycanbeusedtoinformcorrectdecisionsbasedonsimilarpastsituations.Mygrandparentsare in their lateeighties; theywereborn in the1920's. In theeighty-plus years since their births, they have seen enormous and increasinglyrapidchangesoccurinvirtuallyeveryaspectoflife.Theyhaveseentheadventof commercial flight, the construction of the interstate highway system, theinvention of television, and the dominance of the computer in twenty-firstcenturyliving.ThefirstchallengestheyfacedoccurredwhentheywerechildrenduringtheGreatDepression.Theyhaveusedthoseexperiencestoinformmostofthedecisionstheyhavemadethroughouttheirlives.Comingfromchildhoodsof financial struggle, they don't waste anything. My grandmother saves usedtinfoilandwashesandreusesZiplocbags.Mygrandfatherholdsontoeventhesmallestscrapoflumberfromaconstructionproject.Hewearshisclothesuntil

theyareentirelywornout.Whether theeconomyisgoodorbad, theymanagebecause their past experiences have taught them the lessons that help themsurvive and thrive. The complexity of today'sworld has little effect on them.Theymakedecisionsbasedontheirneedsandhabits.President Obama is facing some difficult choices concerning Syria's use ofchemicalweaponsagainstitsowncitizens.HehastemperedhisfirstinstincttoinitiateanairstrikebyconsideringhowAmericansfeelaboutenteringanotherconflict. When President George W. Bush reacted to the terrorist attack of9/11/01bysendingtroopsintoIraqandAfghanistan,hehadthesupportofmostAmericans.Twelveyearslater,Americansarewearyofthesewarsandthegreatmajority isnot infavorofanymoremilitaryaction.Basedon this twelve-yearhistoryofAmericantroopsintheMiddleEast,thePresidenthasdelayedanairstrike and is awaiting results of Russia's offer to help Syria dispose of itschemicalweapons.Becausetheworldismorecomplex,PresidentObamamustkeepinmindAmerica’srecentpastbeforemakingadecisionthatcanhavefar-reachingeffects.FailuretoactagainstSyriamaygiveotherhostilecountriestheimpetus to stockpile chemical weapons. Calling an air strike may causeretaliationagainstAmericantroopsabroad.HisprimaryconcernisthesafetyofAmericans,andheuseshisknowledgeofthepasttoinformhisdecisions.Lastfall,theeasternseaboardwashitbysuperstormSandy.LackingsufficientprotectionfromtheAtlanticOcean,seasideresortsandamusementparksinNewJersey were destroyed, and downtown New York City was flooded. Bothnumerous lives and livelihoods were lost. The island of Manhattan wasimmobilized as subway tunnels filled with seawater and electricity was lost.Historically, this region did not experience such severe storms, so one couldarguethatlookingtothepastforguidancewasunwise.However,basedonthisrecent event, city planners are considering the construction of some sort ofbarrier that would prevent the ocean from entering New York Harbor in theeventofanothercatastrophicstorm.Oceanbarriershavebeenusedwithsuccessin the low countries of Europe, and New York City planners can use thehistorical success of these countries to help them make important decisionstoday.The inherent complexityof living in today'sworldcreatesmorecomplexity inthedecision-makingprocess.However, itdoesnotprecludeusingthepastasareference for considering the consequences of those decisions. Theworld has

changed,butitsresidentshavethesameneedsasthoseindecadesandcenturiespast,makingthecriteriaforchoosingacourseofactionsimilartoanyinhistory.

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IssueTask30

TopicThe best way to understand the character of a society is to examine thecharacterofthemenandwomenthatthesocietychoosesasitsheroesoritsrolemodels.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscusstheextenttowhichyouagreeordisagreewith theclaim. Indevelopingandsupportingyourposition,be sure toaddressthemost compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to challengeyourposition.

StrategiesRestatetheIssue:Inthiscase,tryinvertingtheclauses.

Inotherwords:Examining thecharacterof themenandwomenthat thesocietychoosesas itsheroes or its role models is the best way to understand the character of thatsociety.You could also determine what question is being answered by the issuestatement.Whatisthebestwaytounderstandthecharacterofasociety?Or:Whatisrevealedaboutasocietybyexaminingthecharacterofthemenandwomenthatthesocietychoosesasitsheroesoritsrolemodels?Consideringhowyouwouldansweroneorbothofthequestionsmayhelpyoutodecidetowhatdegreeyouagreewiththeoriginalissuestatement.Now think about the part of the original statement that provides evidence thatyoucanaffirmorrefute.a)bestway –Best is the superlative form of good.Any otherwaywould beinferiororproduceunsatisfactoryresults.

b)understand–Tounderstanddoesnotmeantovalidateoragreewithanidea.Doesexaminationofthecharacterofanation’sheroesleadtounderstandingthesociety?Isthisinformationjustonepartofacountry’scharacter?c)characterofasociety–Characterimpliesthebreadthofmoralitydisplayedbyasociety.Itcanbenegativeorpositive,strongorweak.d) examine – An examination involves close scrutiny. It means holdingsomethingunder amicroscope to view its smallest parts and thendetermininghowthosepartsaffectorfitintothewhole.e) chooses – Choice implies free will. Does every society allow its men andwomentochoosetheirheroesandrolemodels?Whataboutcountriesthathavedictatorshipsorautocracies?f)heroesoritsrolemodels–Listingthemseparatelysuggeststhatrolemodelsarenotnecessarilyheroesandviceversa.Cansomeoneactheroicallyandstillhave attributes that would not make him or her suitable role model? Doesheroismdependonspecialcircumstances?

Opposingviewpoint:Examining thecharacterof themenandwomenthat thesocietychoosesas itsheroesoritsrolemodelsisnotthebestwaytounderstandthecharacterofthatsociety.Identify thepartsof theopposing statement thatprovideevidence to affirmorrefute.Inthiscase,theonlydifferenceistheword,not.a)not – This can be read in twoways.On one hand, it couldmean that oneshould avoid examining the character of themen andwomen that the societychoosesasitsheroesoritsrolemodels.Ontheotherhand,thestatementcouldimplythatthisisnotthebestwayortheonlywaytounderstandthecharacterofasociety.

AlternativesIs there any other way to look at this issue? Can you qualify the originalstatement insomeway?Is itpartially true?Doheroesandrolemodels remainconstant?Dotheycarryoverfromgenerationtogeneration?

Newviewpoint:Onewaytounderstandthecharacterofasocietyistoexaminethecharacterofthemenandwomenthatthesocietychoosesasitsheroesoritsrolemodels.

Or:Becauseheroesandrolemodelsare temporary, thecharacterofasocietybased on its choice of heroes and role models can only be understood for aspecificperiodinitshistory.Identify theparts of the alternateviewpoint that provide evidence to affirmorrefute.a) temporary – People are fickle.Whom they consider to be heroes and rolemodelstodaymaynotbethesameasthosetheyselecttomorrow.b) specific period in its history – Events conspire to create heroes and rolemodels.Astheeventschange,sodotheheroesandrolemodelsthatarisefromthem.

Position:Becauseheroesandrolemodelsaretemporary,thecharacterofasocietybasedon its choiceof heroesand rolemodels canonlybeunderstood for a specificperiodinitshistory.

ExamplesandReasonsa)PresidentObama–Hisstatureasaheroand/orrolemodelhaschangedsincehefirstdecidedtorunforoffice.b)CharlesBarkley–One-timebadboyoftheNBAwhosaid,“Iamnotarolemodel.”

SampleEssayCultures throughouthistoryhavebeenanalyzedbasedon theartifacts they leftbehind, including architecture, art, writing, household items, and clothing.Archeologists have been able to extrapolate information about a culture'sgovernment, scientific knowledge, standard of living, diet, and cosmology.Burialmounds,pyramids, andcavedrawings reveal the relative importanceofandreverenceaccordedtoindividualsintheculturesthatproducedthem.Whenhistorybegantoberecordedinamoresystematicmanner,writersleftrecordsofthose who became heroes and role models. Those heroes and role modelscertainly influenced their cultures, from fashion to morals. That influence,however, was fleeting, and it was not long before someone new became the"flavor of the month". In fact, it may have been the events in history thatinfluencedwhichmenandwomenwereelevatedtothestatusofheroesandrolemodels.Therapidpaceofchangetodaymakesitnearlyimpossibletoanalyzea

culture’scharacterbasedonwhoisselectedtorepresenttheidealfor,asAndyWarholiscreditedwithsaying,everyonewillenjoyfifteenminutesoffame.Charles Barkley, former NBA bad boy, said, “I am not a role model.”Professionalathleteshaveoftenbeenheldtohigherstandardsthanpeopleinthegeneralpopulationbecauseoftheirvisibilityandhighsalaries.Theparadigmforathletes has always been clean-cut, upstanding, and ethically superior. Beforemedia coverage of every athlete’s action became so pervasive, it is likely thatthose athletes did not always behavewell in private or in public, but nobodyknewabout theirbadacts.Parentheldathletesupasexamplesof thekindsofpeopletheywantedtheirchildrentobecome.Afterall,toreachtheranksofthepros,athleteshadtobededicatedtotheirsport.Childrenwereledtobelievethat,if theyadopted theworkethicandcharacterofprofessionalathletes, they, too,could become supremely successful. When Americans discovered thatprofessional athletes have feet of clay, there was a huge outcry. CharlesBarkley’s statementwas followed by his declaring that parents should be rolemodels for theirchildren.Thatworkswell forchildrenwhoseparentsdosetagood example, but towhom do the others turn for lessons in good character?Certainly, not to Tiger Woods, whose string of infidelities led to pain andembarrassmentforhisfamily,nortoRonArtest,whoengagedinabrawlwithafanduringabasketballgame.When the people of theUnited States became disenchantedwith the directionthatgovernmentwastakingduringthemostrecentBushadministration,ayoungsenatorfromIllinoistookupthechallengetoleadthiscountryusingthemantraof change. Barack Obama declared, “We can do it!” Since his election, theglobaleconomyhasbecomeprecarious,andpeople in theUSareunemployedand losing their homes to foreclosure. Citizens, once filled with hope for thefutureatthehandsofthisnewpresident,havebecomedisillusioned,andBarackObama is no longer seen as the hero they hoped he would be. Basing thecharacter of the United States on the promises made by its presidentialcandidates is therefore clearly a poormetric, as these candidates do not trulyknowwhatkindofchangetheywillbeabletoeffectasPresidentuntiltheyareelected into office.Additionally, candidates are likely to paint a picture of anidealizedsocietyduringtheircampaigns,whichmaynotreflectthecurrentstateofthesocietyatthetime.Whataremorelikelysubjectsofanalysistodeterminethecharacterofasocietyare those institutionsor ideas that aremorepermanent.Rather than lookingat

thepeoplewhohavetemporarilyheldthepositionofheroorrolemodel,lookattheformofgovernment thathasservedapopulation.Readitsconstitution.Dotheyallowthefairandequaltreatmentofanation’scitizenry?Arepunishmentand rewardmetedout in equalmeasure to citizensof all races, colors, creeds,and genders? The thread that runs through the history of a culture is a betterindicatorofthatculture’scharacter.

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AnalyzeanArgumentTask

In theAnalyze anArgument task, youwill take an approach that differs fromthatintheAnalyzeanIssuetask.Youwillnotbeaskedtodevelopanddefendapointofview.Youwillbeaskedtoanalyzeanargumentandtheevidenceandassumptionsonwhichitisbased.Youwillbepresentedbyabriefpassagethatmakes an argument either for taking some course of action, following arecommendation, or supporting a prediction. You should read the passagecarefullytoidentifyeitherstatedorunstatedassumptionsortodeterminethelineofreasoningusedbytheauthorofthepassage.Thedirectionswillinstructyouto approach your analysis in any of severalways.Youmay be asked to statewhatadditionalevidenceisneededtomaketheargumentsound,whatquestionswill need to be answered before accepting a recommendation, or whether apredictionbasedontheargumentisreasonable.As in theAnalyze an Issue task, there is no “right” answer or approach. It isimportanttostayontopic,usesoundreasoningandexamplesinyourresponse,andstrivetodevelopacoherent,cohesive,andfluentresponse.Rememberthatanalysis is theactofbreakingsomethingdownintoitscomponentstoseehowwell they relate to each other. The components of the argument may includefacts, statistics or other figures, andboth stated andunstated assumptions.Forexample, the owner ofGemma’s Jewelry storemay predict that, based on thepasttwoyears’sales,thestorewillseeanincreaseof10%innextyear’ssales.One of the unstated assumptions is that the demand for luxury goods willincreasedespitewhatever elsemayhappen to theeconomy.Gemma’s Jewelrydoesn’tsaywhatwillaccount for the increase insales.Will thestoreaddnewlines of merchandise? Will the store increase its advertising? Will the storeexpandinsize?Isa10%increasesignificant?Ifsaleswere$40,000lastyear,isanadditional$4,000dollarsinsalesmeaningful?Youwillnotneedknowledgeinanyspecificdisciplinetoanalyzeanargument.The topics are of general interest and are accessible to anyone regardless ofpreviouscoursework.TheGREessayreaderswillbelookingforyourabilitytoreason and organize your thoughts in a logical way. The scoring guide thatfollowsisreprintedfromthePracticeBookfortheGRERevisedGeneralTest,developedbyEducationalTestingService.

ScoringGuide

Score6Inaddressingthespecific taskdirections,a6responsepresentsacogent,well-articulatedanalysisoftheissueandconveysmeaningskillfully.Atypicalresponseinthiscategory:a)articulatesaclearandinsightfulpositionontheissueinaccordancewiththeassignedtaskb) develops the position fully with compelling reasons and/or persuasiveexamplesc)sustainsawell-focused,well-organizedanalysis,connectingideaslogicallyd)conveysideasfluentlyandprecisely,usingeffectivevocabularyandsentencevarietye) demonstrates facilitywith the conventions of standardwrittenEnglish (i.e.,grammar,usageandmechanics),butmayhaveminorerrors

Score5In addressing the specific task directions, a 5 response presents a generallythoughtful,well-developedanalysisoftheissueandconveysmeaningclearly.Atypicalresponseinthiscategory:a)presentsaclearandwell-consideredpositionontheissueinaccordancewiththeassignedtaskb) develops the position with logically sound reasons and/or well-chosenexamplesc)isfocusedandgenerallywellorganized,connectingideasappropriatelyd) conveys ideas clearly and well, using appropriate vocabulary and sentencevarietye) demonstrates facility with the conventions of standard written English butmayhaveminorerrors

Score4

In addressing the specific task directions, a 4 response presents a competentanalysisoftheissueandconveysmeaningwithacceptableclarity.Atypicalresponseinthiscategory:a)presentsaclearpositionontheissueinaccordancewiththeassignedtaskb)developsthepositionwithrelevantreasonsand/orexamplesc)isadequatelyfocusedandorganizedd)demonstratessufficientcontrolof language toexpress ideaswithreasonableclaritye)generallydemonstratescontroloftheconventionsofstandardwrittenEnglishbutmayhavesomeerrors

Score3Athreeresponsedemonstratessomecompetenceinaddressingthespecifictaskdirections, in analyzing the issue and in conveyingmeaning, but is obviouslyflawed.A typical response in this category exhibitsONEORMOREof the followingcharacteristics:a) is vague or limited in addressing the specific task directions and/or inpresentingordevelopingapositionontheissueb) is weak in the use of relevant reasons or examples or relies largely onunsupportedclaimsc)ispoorlyfocusedand/orpoorlyorganizedd)hasproblemsinlanguageandsentencestructurethatresultinalackofclaritye)containsoccasionalmajorerrorsorfrequentminorerrorsingrammar,usageormechanicsthatcaninterferewithmeaning

Score2A two response largely disregards the specific task directions and/ordemonstratesseriousweaknessesinanalyticalwriting.A typical response in this category exhibitsONEORMOREof the followingcharacteristics:a)isunclearorseriouslylimitedinaddressingthespecifictaskdirectionsand/orinpresentingordevelopingapositionontheissue

b)providesfew,ifany,relevantreasonsorexamplesinsupportofitsclaimsc)isunfocusedand/ordisorganizedd) has serious problems in language and sentence structure that frequentlyinterferewithmeaninge) contains serious errors in grammar, usage or mechanics that frequentlyobscuremeaning

Score1Aoneresponsedemonstratesfundamentaldeficienciesinanalyticalwriting.A typical response in this category exhibitsONEORMOREof the followingcharacteristics:a)provideslittleornoevidenceofunderstandingtheissueb)provideslittleevidenceoftheabilitytodevelopanorganizedresponse(i.e.,isextremelydisorganizedand/orextremelybrief)c) has severe problems in language and sentence structure that persistentlyinterferewithmeaningd) contains pervasive errors in grammar, usage or mechanics that result inincoherence

Score0Atypicalresponseinthiscategoryisofftopic(i.e.,providesnoevidenceofanattempttorespondtotheassignedtopic),isinaforeignlanguage,merelycopiesthetopic,consistsofonlykeystrokecharactersorisillegibleornonverbal.

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SolvedArgumentTaskswithStrategies

GeneralStrategies

ThebriefpassagesanddirectionsintheAnalyzeanArgumenttaskcontainsomecomplexity. In order to achieve a high score, you must understand theterminology. The following list is intended to help you clarify your writtenevaluationoftheargument.Although you do not need to know special analytical techniques andterminology, you shouldbe familiarwith thedirections for theArgument taskandwithcertainkeyconcepts,includingthefollowing:a) Is there an alternative explanation for the events in question that caninvalidate,eitherinwholeorinpart,theexplanationgiveninthepassage?b)How can I break the argument into its component parts to understand howtheycreatethewholeargument?c)CanIidentifythelineofreasoningusedtocreatetheargument?d)Whatdoestheauthoroftheargumentassumetobetruefortheargumenttobetrue?e)Doesthelineofreasoningvalidatetheconclusion?f)CanIimagineanexamplethatrefutesanyorseveralofthestatementsintheargument?g) Am I able to evaluate the argument based on the quality of the facts andreasonspresentedinit?Regardless of the approach you take, you must present a well-developedevaluationof theargument.Youshould takebriefnoteswhenyou identify thearguments claims, assumptions, and conclusion. Jot down asmany alternativeexplanations as you can alongwith additional evidence thatmight support orrefutetheclaimsintheargument.Finally,listthechangesintheargumentthatwouldmakethereasoningmoresolid.Itismoreimportanttobespecificthanitis to have a long list of evidence and examples. Use as many or as fewparagraphsasyouconsiderappropriateforyourargument,butyoushouldcreatea newparagraphwhen youmove on to a new idea or example of support foryourposition.TheGREreadersarenotlookingforaspecificnumberofideasor

paragraphs.Instead,theyarereadingtodeterminethelevelofunderstandingofthetopicandthecomplexitywithwhichyourespond.Youarefree toorganizeanddevelopyourresponse inanywayyouthinkwillenable you to effectively communicate your evaluation of the argument. Youmay recall writing strategies that you learned in high school or a writing-intensivecoursethatyoutookincollege,butitisnotnecessarytoemployanyofthosestrategies.Itisimportantthatyourideasfollowalogicalprogressionanddisplaystrongcriticalthinking

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ArgumentTask1

TopicWoven baskets characterized by a particular distinctive design pattern havepreviouslybeenfoundonlyintheimmediatevicinityoftheprehistoricvillageofPaleaandthereforewerebelievedtohavebeenmadeonlybythePaleanpeople.Recently,however,archaeologistsdiscoveredsucha“Palean”basketinLithos,an ancient village across the Brim River from Palea. The Brim River is verydeepandbroad,andsotheancientPaleanscouldhavecrosseditonlybyboat,andnoPaleanboatshavebeenfound.Thusitfollowsthattheso-calledPaleanbasketswerenotuniquelyPalean.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscussoneormorealternativeexplanationsthatcould rival the proposed explanation and explain how your explanation orexplanationscanplausiblyaccountforthefactspresentedintheargument.

StrategiesRegardless of the approach you take, you must present a well-developedevaluationof theargument.Youshould takebriefnoteswhenyou identify thearguments claims, assumptions, and conclusion. Jot down asmany alternativeexplanations as you can alongwith additional evidence thatmight support orrefutetheclaimsintheargument.Finally,listthechangesintheargumentthatwouldmakethereasoningmoresolid.Itismoreimportanttobespecificthanitistohavealonglistofevidenceandexamples.ThisargumentcitesrecentarchaeologicaldiscoveriesandgeologicalfeaturestosupporttheclaimthatthesebasketsweremadenotonlybythePaleanpeople.Indevelopingyour responseyouare asked todevelopalternative explanationsthat could rival the explanation in the argument and explain how yourexplanationcanaccountforthefactspresentedintheoriginalexplanation.Whatconclusionsandassumptionsareeitherexplicitor impliedintheoriginalexplanation?

FactsandAssumptions:a)TheBrimRiverisverydeepandbroad.The implication is that this has always been the case. The river may havechangedcourseorbecomelargerovertime.

b)Therivercouldonlyhavebeencrossedinboats.Therecanbeseveralwaystocrossawide,deepriver.

c)ThePaleanshadnoboats.Thisassumption isbasedon the fact thatnoevidenceof thePaleans’havingboatsexists.Thatisnottosaythatatsomepointinthefutureevidenceofboatswillnotbefound.

d)ThePaleanscouldnothavecrossedtheriver.Thisassumptionunderliestheclaimthatmayneedqualifying.

e)“Palean”basketshavebeendiscoveredinLithos.ThisfactunderliestheclaimthatthebasketsarenotuniquetoPalea.Theriveritselfcouldhavecarriedbasketsfromonesideoftherivertotheother.

f)ThebasketsarePaleaninorigin.ThisassumptionissupportedbythediscoveryofthebasketsinPaleapriortotheirbeingdiscoveredinLithos.

AlternativeExplanations:a)Geographyisalwayschanging.TheBrimRivermayhavefollowedadifferentcourse or been shallower or narrower at some point in time. Climate changesthroughouttheyearmayaffectthedepthandwidthoftheriver.Doestheriverbecomeshallowerandnarrowerasthespringrunoffrecedes?b) The Paleans may have been terrific swimmers. Depending on othergeographicalfeatures,thePaleansmayhaveworkedwiththeresidentsofLithostoconstructabridgeacrosstheriver.c) The materials that the Paleans used to construct their boats may havedisintegrated over time, leaving no evidence of their having existed. Asarchaeologistscontinuetheirwork,theymayuncoverevidenceofboats.d) It is difficult to imagine that any group of people would have let ageographicalfeature,likeariver,remainanobstacle.Iftherewereresourcesthat

the Paleans needed orwanted on the other side of the river, theywould havefoundaway to cross it.This is assuming that the river either existed at all orexistedinitscurrentstate.e)Becausethebasketshavebeendiscoveredonbothsidesoftheriverdoesnotmean that they were carried there by people. It is possible that, during someflood,thebasketswereliftedbythewateritselfandcarriedfromonebanktotheother.f) Because the baskets were discovered first in Palea, archaeologists assumedthattheyoriginatedthere.AftertheirdiscoveryinLithos,itmightbeascorrecttoassumethatthebasketsoriginatedthere.Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyour ideas.Useasmanyoras fewparagraphsasyouconsiderappropriateforyourargument,butyoushouldcreateanewparagraphwhenyoumoveontoanewideaorexampleofsupportforyourposition.TheGREreadersarenot looking for a specificnumberof ideasorparagraphs. Instead, theyarereadingtodeterminethelevelofunderstandingofthetopicandthecomplexitywithwhichyourespond.Youarefree toorganizeanddevelopyourresponse inanywayyouthinkwillenable you to effectively communicate your evaluation of the argument. Youmay recall writing strategies that you learned in high school or a writing-intensivecoursethatyoutookincollege,butitisnotnecessarytoemployanyofthosestrategies.Itisimportantthatyourideasfollowalogicalprogressionanddisplaystrongcriticalthinking.

SampleEssayRivers are not static geographical features. Spring rains and snowmelt swellrivers to theirmaximumwidthanddepth.Aswarmer,driermonthsarrive, thethirsty land absorbswater from the river, and evaporation takes its toll. IfweconsiderthemightyMississippiRiverthatmakesitswayfromitsheadwatersinMinnesota in the north to its terminus in theGulf ofMexico in the south,weknowthatspringfloodsareinevitablealongitsentirecourse.Atthosetimes,thewidth of the river and the speedof its currentsmake it difficult to cross evenwithaboat.Aftersummerarrives,theMississippibecomesnarrowerandslower,and both barges and pleasure craft ply its waters with ease. The explanationpresentedherefailstostateiftheBrimRiverisverydeepandwidethroughout

theyear.ItisjustaslikelythattheriverbehavesmuchliketheMississippiandthat travel across it is possible bymeans other than boats during thewarmer,drier months of the year. The Paleans would have taken advantage of thoseconditionsandusedtheiruniquebasketstocarrygoodstotradewiththepeopleofLithosontheoppositebank.To date no evidence exists to show that the Paleans had boats. Formillennia,therewasnoevidencethatNoahhadbuiltanark,either,untilwhatappearedtobe the outline of a large vessel was found on the side of Mt. Ararat.Archaeologicaldigsareongoingevents. Just as thebasketswere foundon theLithosian side of the Brim River in recent times, it may be that evidence ofPaleanboatswillbediscoveredasthestudyofthesitecontinues.Theboatswereprobablyconstructedofmaterialsthatwouldhavedisintegratedfairlyrapidlyifthey existed at all. The assumption that they had none is based on missingevidence.Evenassuming that theBrimRiverhasalwaysbeenwideanddeep,meansotherthanboatscouldhavebeenusedtocrossit.MaybethePaleanswereterrific swimmers.Maybe theybuilt rafts.Maybe they clung to logs andwerecarriedacrossbythecurrent.Itisvirtuallyimpossibletoproveordisproveanyofthesetheories.The fact that the baskets were found both in Palea and Lithos is open to anumberofinterpretations.Floodingoftheriveritselfmayberesponsibleforthemigrationofthebasketsfromonesidetotheother.Thebasketsmayhavebeenusedat the river’s edge to collect edibleplantsor fish, and somebasketsmayhavebeenforgottenthere.Asthewatersrose,thebasketswereliftedandcarriedtotheotherbank.Ashiftinthecourseoftherivermayhavedividedwhatwasonceonevillage, leavingwhatbecameknownasPaleaononeside,Lithosontheother,andthedistinctivebasketsonbothsides.Archaeologistswilllikelycontinuetostudythissite.Untilevidenceisfoundtothe contrary, their present conclusions may stand. That those conclusions arebasedonlackofevidenceisnotsufficienttoabandonthesearchforartifactsthatmayalterthem.

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ArgumentTask2

TopicTwentyyearsago,Dr.Field,anotedanthropologist,visitedtheislandofTertia.Using an observation-centered approach to studying Tertian culture, heconcludedfromhisobservationsthatchildreninTertiawererearedbyanentirevillage rather than by their own biological parents. Recently anotheranthropologist,Dr.Karp, visited thegroupof islands that includesTertiaandused the interview-centered method to study child-rearing practices. In theinterviewsthatDr.Karpconductedwithchildrenlivinginthisgroupofislands,the children spentmuchmore time talkingabout their biological parents thanaboutotheradults in thevillage.Dr.Karpdecided thatDr.Field'sconclusionaboutTertianvillageculturemustbeinvalid.Someanthropologistsrecommendthat to obtain accurate information on Tertian child-rearing practices, futureresearchonthesubjectshouldbeconductedviatheinterview-centeredmethod.Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to beanswered inorder todecidewhether therecommendationand theargumentonwhich it is based are reasonable.Be sure to explain how the answers to thesequestionswouldhelptoevaluatetherecommendation.

StrategiesRegardlessoftheapproachyoutake,considerthefollowingsteps:a) Is there an alternative explanation for the events in question that caninvalidate,eitherinwholeorinpart,theexplanationgiveninthepassage?b)How can I break the argument into its component parts to understand howtheycreatethewholeargument?c)CanIidentifythelineofreasoningusedtocreatetheargument?d)Whatdoestheauthoroftheargumentassumetobetruefortheargumenttobetrue?e)Doesthelineofreasoningvalidatetheconclusion?

f)CanIimagineanexamplethatrefutesanyorseveralofthestatementsintheargument?g) Am I able to evaluate the argument based on the quality of the facts andreasonspresentedinit?Basedonyour responses toallorsomeof thesequestions,youmustpresentawell-developed evaluation of the argument.You should take brief noteswhenyou identify the arguments claims, assumptions, and conclusion. Jot down asmany alternative explanations as you can along with additional evidence thatmight supportor refute theclaims in theargument.Finally, list thechanges intheargumentthatwouldmakethereasoningmoresolid.Itismoreimportanttobespecificthanitistohavealonglistofevidenceandexamples.Thisargumentcitestheresultsoftwostudiesconcerningchild-rearingpracticesontheislandofTertiaandthegroupofislandsthatincludesTertiaandmakesarecommendationaboutfurtherresearch.In developing your response, you are required to generate questions that willhelpyoudecideiftherecommendationandtheargumentonwhichitisbasedarereasonable and then explain how the answers to your questions would helpevaluatetherecommendation.Itmightbehelpfultoisolatetherecommendation.

Recommendation:ToobtainaccurateinformationonTertianchild-rearingpractices,futureresearchonthesubjectshouldbeconductedviatheinterview-centeredmethod.Next, identify the argument’s conclusions and the evidence that led to thoseconclusions.

Claimsandassumptions:a) Dr. Field's conclusion about Tertian village culture must be invalid. Thisassumption supports the recommendation to conduct further studies using theinterview-basedapproach.LaterstudiesseemtonegateField’sfindings.b)Theobservation–centeredapproachyields inaccurateresults.Thisunstatedassumption underlies the recommendation that, in order to obtain accurateresults,furtherstudiesshouldbeconductedusingtheinterview-basedapproach.c) The interview-centered method yields accurate results. The conclusions inKarp’s research seem to justify this conclusion. This assumption supports therecommendation.

d)Someanthropologistsrecommendtheinterview-centeredapproachforfutureresearch.e) You should now be able to generate some questions that could clarify orweakentheargument.

Questions:a) If the interview-centered approach had been used before the observation-centeredapproach,wouldthesecondresultshaveinvalidatedthosefirstresults?b)Whatkindsofquestionswereincludedintheinterviews?c)Whatoutsideinfluencesmayhaveariseninthetwentyyearsbetweenthetwostudies?Havethewomenintheislandsgoneoutsideofthehometowork?Havetelevisionand/ortheInternetbecomeavailable?Thinkaboutthewaysinwhichyourowncommunityhaschangedinthelasttwentyyears.d)Hasthefamilystructureundergoneanychangesinthetwentyyearsbetweenthetwostudies?Arefamilieshavingfewerchildren?e)What other islands were included in Dr. Karp’s study?Were child-rearingpracticessimilaronalloftheislands?f)Are theresultsofeachstudybothvalidandreliable?Did thestudies indeedmeasure what they were intended to measure? If the same study were doneagain,wouldtheresultsbethesame?g)DidDr.Fields’ studymake thepeopleofTertia reconsider theirmethodofchild-rearing?Hisquestionsmayhavecausedthemtoreflectuponthewaytheyperformthistask.Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyour ideas.Useasmanyoras fewparagraphsasyouconsiderappropriateforyourargument,butyoushouldcreateanewparagraphwhenyoumoveontoanewideaorexampleofsupportforyourposition.TheGREreadersarenot looking for a specificnumberof ideasorparagraphs. Instead, theyarereadingtodeterminethelevelofunderstandingofthetopicandthecomplexitywithwhichyourespond.Youarefree toorganizeanddevelopyourresponse inanywayyouthinkwillenable you to effectively communicate your evaluation of the argument. Youmay recall writing strategies that you learned in high school or a writing-

intensivecoursethatyoutookincollege,butitisnotnecessarytoemployanyofthosestrategies.Itisimportantthatyourideasfollowalogicalprogressionanddisplaystrongcriticalthinking.

SampleEssayChange in virtually every society around the world is occurring at almostlightningspeed.Tertiaandthegroupofislandstowhichitbelongsarenotlikelyto be immune to change. If we assume that Dr. Field’s conclusions wereappropriate twenty years ago, we must ask ourselves if events during theinterveningyearsmayhavechangedthechild-rearingpracticesthatheobserved.Exposuretootherpeoplevisitingtheisland,accesstotelevisionandtheInternet,andevenpeopleleavingtheislandwouldinfluencefuturestudiesoftheculture.Dr. Field’s study, alone, could have caused the residents ofTertia to questiontheir child-rearing practices and, as a result, modify them. Dr. Karp’s recentstudy,regardlessofthetechniqueheused,couldnotfailtoyielddifferentresultsthan theearlier study.Playingdevil’sadvocate foramoment, let’s reverse theorder of the studies. Assume that Dr. Karp completed his study using theinterview-centeredapproachandthat,twentyyearslaterDr.Fieldarrivedattheisland and used his observation-centered approach to complete his study. Theresultswouldmostcertainlystilldisagreewitheachother. In thiscase,doDr.Field’sresultsinvalidatethoseofDr.Karp?The scope of each study appears to be different, as well. Dr. Field allegedlystudiedonlythefamiliesontheislandofTertiawhileDr.KarpvisitedthegroupofislandsthatincludesTertia.Thefactthatthesubjectsweredifferentforeachevent is enough tonullifyone’s superiorityover theother. It alsoappears thatDr.FieldobservedthecultureofTertiaasawhole,whileKarpfocusedonchild-rearing practices. Having used two variants of research procedures, theanthropologistsweredestinedtoachieveunreliableresults.Weshouldtakeacloserlookattheapproachesthateachanthropologistadopted.As Field employed the observation-centered method to study the culture ofTertia, what did he observe in addition to child-rearing practices? One couldinferthatthosepracticeswereasmall,perhapsevenminor,portionofhisentireproject.Ontheotherhand,Karp’sproject,usinganinterview-centeredmethod,seems to have ignored other aspects of the culture. Why would a group ofscientistsusethesedisparatestudiesasabasisforfurtherresearch?

Overall, the results of these studies have toomuchdissimilarity and leave toomanyquestionsunansweredtousethemasjustificationformoreresearchusingeither one of the methods mentioned in the argument. The author of theargumentmayhavemore information thanhehas seen fit to reveal and, thus,may be qualified to sit in judgment of themethods and the results.However,basedonwhathasbeenrevealedhere, therecommendationisbasedonflawedreasoning.

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ArgumentTask3

TopicIn surveys Mason City residents rank water sports (swimming, boating, andfishing) among their favorite recreational activities. TheMasonRiver flowingthrough the city is rarely used for these pursuits, however, and the city parkdepartment devotes little of its budget to maintaining riverside recreationalfacilities.Foryearstherehavebeencomplaintsfromresidentsaboutthequalityof the river's water and the river's smell. In response, the state has recentlyannouncedplanstocleanupMasonRiver.Useoftheriverforwatersportsis,therefore, sure to increase.The citygovernment should for that reasondevotemoremoneyinthisyear'sbudgettoriversiderecreationalfacilities.Writearesponse inwhichyouexamine thestatedand/orunstatedassumptionsof the argument. Be sure to explain how the argument depends on theseassumptionsandwhat the implicationsare for theargument if theassumptionsproveunwarrantedon.

StrategiesThefirststep inperformingyouranalysisconsistsof identifyingthe texts’keypoint, recommendation, prediction or hypothesis. All the other arguments andassumptionsaredesigned to support thiscentral claim. In thiscase, theauthorattempts to argue that “The city government should devote more money toriversiderecreationalfacilities”.The next stepwould involve creating a statement that summarizes the text byincludingthecentralclaimanditssupportingarguments.Given theMasonCity surveys rankingwater sports as the favorite recreationactivityoftheresidentsandtheupcomingrivercleansingprojectthatisthoughttoeliminatethecauseforthelowriverusage,theauthorofthetextarguesforanincreaseinthisyear’sbudgetdevotedtoriversiderecreationalfacilities.Theeasiestwaytobreakdownanargumentintoimplicitassumptionsistolookat the ideas that support each core (explicit) assumption. Ideally, it would be

goodtohaveatleastthreeimplicitassumptionsforeveryexplicitone.However,keepinmindthatyoulikelywon’thavetimeenoughtoexpoundonalloftheminyouressay.Whenwritingyourargumentit’sgoodtolaydowntheideaslikein the format below – it will help you easily determine which explicitassumptions are undermined/strengthened by the implicit argument you areanalyzing.

AssumptionsExplicitAssumptioni)Surveyaccuratelyreflectspeople’sopinionsonwatersportsImplicitAssumptions:a)Therearenobiasedorleadingquestionsb) The survey demographics are representative of the city (city and surveydemographicsaresimilar)c)The studieshavea lowstandarddeviation (enoughpeopleparticipated, sothatasmallgroup’sopinioncannotskewtheresults)d)Peoplethatrankwatersportsashighwillalsoparticipateinthem

ExplicitAssumptionii)RiverpollutionisresponsibleforthelowusageofthecityriverImplicitAssumptions:a)Thecomplaintsarerepresentativeforthecityb)Riverpollutionistheonlyreasonwhypeopledonotusetheriver

ExplicitAssumption:iii)CleaninguptheriverwillincreaseusageforwatersportsImplicitAssumptions:a)Therearenootheroutletsforwatersportsinthecityb)Thesmelloftheriverisduetopollutionandnotanaturallyoccurringevent(sulphur)c)Thequalityofthewaterisduetopollutionandnotanaturaloccurringevent(mineraldeposits)d)Residentswouldliketousetheriverforwatersports

e)Theclean-upwillendpollution/isextensiveExplicitAssumption:iv) The increase in usage is sufficient to justify increasing the budget forriversiderecreationalfacilitiesImplicitAssumptions:a)Agreatpercentageofpeoplewillgototheriversideb)Thepeoplethatgototheriversideneedfacilitiesc)Riversidefacilitiesarededicatedtowatersports(andnototherpursuits)d)Currentriversidefacilitiesareinsufficiente) The clean-up of the river will happen in a short term (enough to justifymakingchangestothisyear’sbudget)

Afterhavingestablishedyourassumptionsyouneedto takecareof thesecondpart of your essay, namely the implications for the main claim should theassumptionsbeunwarranted.Agoodwaytogoaboutwritingthispartistothinkof examples of situations that may contradict each implicit assumption. Theexamples are not vital; you can still build a case by directly stating “ifassumption‘A’provestobeuntrue,then”.However,includingthecontradictingsituationswillhelpenrichyouressayandultimatelygetyouahigherscore.The next step would be to create a ‘logic tree’ to see how disproving anassumption will affect the other arguments down the line. The branch of thelogictreewillfollowthisline:implicitassumptionaffectsexplicitassumptionswhichinturnrelatetothemainargument.Forinstance,inourcase:ImplicitAssumptioni)RiverpollutionistheonlyreasonwhypeopledonotusetheriverContradictingSituations:a)Riveristoodistantb)VeryfastcurrentsEffectsonExplicitAssumption:a)Somewhatweakenordisprovetheassumption(peoplemightstillnotusetheriverafteritiscleaned)

EffectsonMainArgument:a) Building more facilities would become useless, if river usage will notincreaseb)Wasteofresources

ImplicitAssumptionii)ThesmelloftheriverisduetopollutionandnotanaturallyoccurringeventContradictingSituations:a)Sulfurb)Naturalgasleaks(CattaraugusCreek)EffectsonExplicitAssumptions:a)Cleaningtheriverwillnotremovetheodorb)CleaningtheriverwillnotincreaseriverusageEffectsonMainArgument:a) Building more facilities would become useless, if river usage will notincreaseb)Wasteofresources

ImplicitAssumptioniii)ThecomplaintsarerepresentativeforthecityContradictingSituations:a)Lowpercentageofpeoplecomplainingb)AnindividualfilingalargenumberofcomplaintsEffectsonExplicitAssumptions:a)Thecomplaintsdonotreflecttheresident’sopinionsabouttheriverb)RiverusagemightnotincreasebysolvingthecomplaintsEffectsonMainArgument:a) Building more facilities would become useless, if river usage will notincreaseb)Maincauseoflowriverusageremainsunknown

SampleEssay

Given theMason City surveys rankingwater sports as the favorite recreationactivityoftheresidentsandtheupcomingrivercleansingprojectthatisthoughttoeliminatethecauseforthelowriverusage,theauthorofthetextarguesforanincrease in this year’s budget devoted to riverside recreational facilities. Theauthor of the proposal makes suggestions that can prove to be very costlyespeciallyiftheassumptionsonwhichthecaserestsprovetobeunwarranted.When arguing for the increased revenue allocated to this year’s budget forriversidefacilities,theauthordrawsupondatafromsurveysconductedinMasonCity.Oneofthemainassumptionsthatthecaserestsonisthatthesurveysthatwere conducted accurately reflect people’s opinions onwater sports. In takingthisdataatfacevalue,theauthorfurtherassumesthatthesurveydemographicsare representative for the entirety of the city. The most essential part of anyresearchisthemethodology–inthiscase,ifthesurveytakersaskedonlypeoplethatlivenexttotheriveroronlycitizensofacertainage,thenthatcanverywellmeanthattherestofthecitizensdonotviewwatersportsasafavoriteactivity,inwhich case, regardless of the river cleaning actions, the actual usage of thewaterwaywillnotincrease.Another implicit assumption related to the idea that the surveys accuratelyreflect people’s opinions on water sports is the notion that the researchmethodologyissound,namelytherearenobiasedorleadingquestions.Phrasingsurvey questions is sometimes likened to an art – just like any activity thatrequires a considerable amount of skill and knowledge. Should the surveyscontainbadlyphrasedquestions, likeanoptiontochoosebetweenwatersportsorextremeactivities,thentheresultsofthesurveyswouldnolongerbereliable.In this example,most peoplewould choosewater sports because it is the lessextreme/unreasonableoptionandnotbecausetheywouldliketoactivelyengagein this typeofsportingactivity. In thiscase,abudgetary increase for riversidefacilities could prove to be a waste of money, since people’s interests lieelsewhere,andnotwithriverbasedactivities.Thesameconclusionwouldapplyifthequestionswerebiasedduetothepersonalinterestofthesurveyresearchers(a company providing water sports equipment can be unwittingly biased andskewertheresultsinfavorofwatersportsactivitiessimplybyplacingthefocusofthequestionnaireonsaidtypeofactivity).Anotherlineofreasoningthattheauthorusestosupporthisargumentistheideathatriverpollutionandodorareresponsibleforthelowusageofthecityriver.This argument is based on several other assumptions like the notion that the

complaintsreceivedaboutriverodorandpollutionarerepresentativeforthecityand the idea that there are no other possible explanations as towhy the riverusageislow.Itisentirelywithintherealmofpossibilitythattheoverallnumberofcomplaints,whenreportedtothetotalnumberofcitizens,isverylow.Or,ifthenumberof complaints is high, itmaywell be that only a small numberofpeople are responsible for them (in the sense that a single person files a largenumberofcomplaints).Inbothoftheseinstances,thecomplaintsprovenottoberepresentativefortheoverallopinionofthecitizens.Ifthatisthecase,andthisassumption is unwarranted, then the upcoming cleaning of the river will notaddress the main cause of the low river usage and the number of peopleengaginginsportingactivitiesonthewaterwaywillremainunaffected.Assuch,increasingthebudgetforriversidefacilitieswouldbepointless,not tomentioncostly.Theother assumption supporting the idea that the riverpollution andodor areresponsibleforthelowusageofthecityriveristhenotionthattherearenootherpossibleexplanationsastowhytheriverusageislow.Ifthereareotherreasonswhypeopledon’tliketousetheMasonCityriver,likethedistancetotheriveror the presenceof strong currents, then the cleaningof the riverwould fail toaddressthepeople’smainconcernswiththewaterway,andriverusagewillnotincrease.These lines of inquiry lead directly to anothermain assumption onwhich theauthor restshiscase for increasing theamountofmoneyallocated to riversidefacilities.Theauthorassumesthatcleaninguptheriverwillincreasetheriver’susage for water sports. When advocating for this line of thought, the authorassumes that the smell and quality of the water are due to pollution, and notnaturallyoccurringevents.Sulfurinthewatercangiveitarotteneggsmell,orthepresenceofnaturalgasintheriverbankscancreateafoulodor.Asforthewaterquality,mineraldepositsinthewateroranabundanceofunderwaterplantlifecangivetheriveranunappealinglook.Thesearejustsomeofthepossiblealternateexplanationfor the river’sodorandwaterquality. If therearenaturalcausesforthelookandodoroftheriver,thencleaningtheriverwillnotgetridofeitherproblem.Providedthatmostcitizensconsidertheriver’slookandodorto be the main deterrent against doing sporting activities on the Mason Cityriver, then river usage would not increase with the cleansing of the river. Assuch, the proposal to increase funds for riverside facilities would not besupportedbyariseinactualusageofthosefacilities.

When proposing to increase the money allocated to the riverside facilities inMasonCity, theauthorof theargumentassumes that therewillbea sufficientincrease in river usage to justify taking thesebudgetarymeasures.An implicitassumptionofthisargumentistheideathatagreatpercentageofpeoplewillgototheriverside.If,forinstance,therearealotofwatersportoutletsintown,duetotheriverbeingunappealingandtheresidentofMasonCitylovingwater-basedactivities, thenit’sentirelylikelythatevenafter theriver ismadeaccessible,agreatpercentageofthepopulationwillcontinuetousethoseoutlets(especiallysincetheyliketooffersubscriptions).Shouldthatbethecase,andthenumberofpeople that would go to the riverside would be low, then there would be nojustificationtoincreasethebudgetforriversidefacilities.All in all, when making the case for increasing the budget for the riversidefacilitiesinMasonCity,theauthoroftheproposalmakesaseriesofassumptionsthat are not backed by evidence and would require further investigation.Spending taxpayer money always needs good justification – without a morethoroughinvestigation,theauthorrisksofdrawinginaccurateconclusionswhichwillleadtomakingineffectiveorcostlysuggestions.

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ArgumentTask4

TopicTwoyearsago,radiostationWCQPinRockvilledecidedtoincreasethenumberof call-in advice programs that it broadcast; since that time, its share of theradioaudienceintheRockvillelisteningareahasincreasedsignificantly.GivenWCQP's recent success with call-in advice programming, and citing anationwide survey indicating that many radio listeners are quite interested insuchprograms,thestationmanagerofKICKinMedwayrecommendsthatKICKincludemore call-inadviceprograms inanattempt togaina largeraudienceshareinitslisteningarea.Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to beanswered inorder todecidewhether the recommendation is likely tohave thepredicted result.Be sure to explain how the answers to these questionswouldhelptoevaluatetherecommendation.

StrategiesThefirststep inperformingyouranalysisconsistsof identifyingthe texts’keypoint, recommendation, prediction or hypothesis. All the other arguments andassumptionsaredesigned to support thiscentral claim. In thiscase, theauthorattempts to demonstrate that “more call-in advice program will increase thestations’listenerratings”.The next stepwould involve creating a statement that summarizes the text byincludingthecentralclaimanditssupportingarguments.The station manager of KICK recommends increasing the number of call-inadviceprogramsthatarebeingbroadcastedinordertogainalargeraudience,giventhatasimilarstrategyhasworkedforaradiostationinanothertown,andanationalsurveyindicatesthatpeopleareinterestedinsuchprograms.Whenconsideringwhatquestionsareneededtoevaluatetheargumentsoutlinedin the text, it is important to keep in mind that arguments are based onassumptions–points that are taken tobe true,without need for proof.This is

whatyouneedtolookfor–explicitandimplicitassumptions,sincetheylacktheevidencerequiredtoprovetheirvalidity.

AssumptionsExplicitAssumptioni)WCQP’sincreaseinlistenersisduetotheadditionalcall-inadviceprogramsImplicitAssumptions:a)TherewerenootherinternalfactorsthatcouldhavecontributedtoWCQP’sincreaseinlistenerratingsb) There were no other external (economical) factors that could havecontributedtotheincreaseinlistenerratingsc)Theincreaseinlistenerratingsisforthecall-inadvicetimeslotd)Theincreaseinlistenerswassignificant

ExplicitAssumptionii) The national survey accurately reflects the preferences of Medway’spopulationImplicitAssumptions:a)DemographicsofbothMedwayandthesurveyarecompatibleb)Thesurveyfindingsareconclusive

ExplicitAssumptioniii)ThestrategyappliedinRockvilleisapplicableinMedwayImplicitAssumptions:a)RockvilleandMedwayhavesimilartargetb)WCQPandKICKhavesimilarmarketsituationsc)WCQPandKICKarecomparableintermsofsizeandpopularity

ExplicitAssumptioniv)KICK’saudiencewillincreasewithmorecall-inadviceprogramsImplicitAssumptions:a)Medway’sradio listenermarketsize isbigenoughtosupport thepotentialaudiencegrowth

b)Thereisaneedforcall-inadviceprogramsc)Theneedforcall-inadviceprogramswasnotmetelsewhere:

Afterhavingestablishedyourassumptions,youcan find thequestions that areneededtoevaluatetheargumentbyrephrasingeachimplicitassumption.

SampleEssayThe station manager of KICK recommends increasing the number of call-inadviceprograms that arebeingbroadcasted inorder togain a larger audience,giventhatasimilarstrategyhasworkedforaradiostationinanothertown,andanational survey indicates that people are interested in such programs. Like allchangestoabusiness’approach,therecommendationmadebyKICK’smanagercarries with it a risk of failure, and as such needs to be thoroughly analyzedbeforeanydecisionsofimplementingthesuggestedstrategyaremade.Inoutlininghisreasoningfortherecommendation,thestationmanagerofKICKrestshiscaseontheassumptionthatWCQP’sincreaseinlistenersisduetotheadditional call-in adviceprograms.The first question that comes intomind, inthiscase,isiftherewereanyotherinternalandexternalfactorsthatcouldhavecontributed to the increase in listeners, suchasashutdownofoneofWCQP’smajor competitors, the start of aWCQP promotional campaign or the stationacquiring a popular radio host. Having a great number of other plausibleexplanations forWCQP’s successwouldsignificantlyweaken thepremise thatmorecall-inadviceprogramswouldhavethedesiredeffectonKICK’slistenerbasis.However,shouldtheanswertothequestionprovethattheincreaseincall-in advice programs is the sole or major reason responsible for the listeneraudienceboostthenitbecomesplausiblethatWCQP’ssuccesscanbereplicatedbyKICK,givenadditionalcompatibilitypointslikemarketanalysisdata.The next inquiry point related to WCQP’s success would investigate duringwhich time slot theWCQP listener ratings increased and how significantwasthis increase. This data can serve to research whether the listener increase isstatistically relevant. A rise in listener ratings of 1%, while technically stillconsideredanincrease,wouldmeanthataddingmorecall-inadviceprogramsisa costly method with no substantial benefits and the station managers shouldconsider alternate means of bolstering listener ratings. From the otherperspective, should it turnout that the increase in audiencemarket shares is adramatic one, then KICK’s managers should give the WCQP’s strategy dueconsideration.

Whenmakinghiscaseforincreasingtheamountofcall-inadviceprogramsthestationmanagercitestheresultsofanationalsurveyascompellingevidencethatthere is a great desire for programs of this type.When handling surveys andstatisticdataitisalwaysimportanttolooknotonlyattheresultsbutalsoatthetheoretical frameworkandmethodologyof thestudybeingconducted, inordertobeable toascertainwhether the reasoning issound,or if thescientistshavemissed some crucial aspect ormitigating factor.As such, the stationmanagershould inquire as to how accurate are the study findings. Should themethodology be faulty, like having a small sample size with a big standarddeviation, or constructing the survey questions in a leading manner, then theresultswouldnolongerbeindicativeofthepeople’sdesireforlisteningtocall-in programs, and the stationmanagerwould have to find alternativemeans ofestimating the potential market size, lest his argument becomes significantlyweakened. A properly conducted survey can serve to strengthen the stationmanager’s recommendation–mostmarket analyses are basedon such typeofdirectinformationgathering.If the survey findings are accurate, then the next step would be to determinewhether these results are applicable to the population ofMedway.The stationmanager should ask himself if the survey and Medway’s demographics arecompatible. If this assumption holds true, then the manager has accuratelypinpointedacurrentneedoftheMedwaypopulationandtherecommendationtosatisfy said need by changing their programs would be more warranted. Butnational studiesdealwith averages; therefore it is possible thatwhatmight betrueforthegeneralpopulationisnotnecessarilytrueforaparticularsubgroup.Forinstance,anationalstudythatidentifiedthepreferredmusicalgenresasrockandoldiesmightnotbesoapplicabletospecificcases,liketownsfromthebiblebelt.Shouldthedemographicsnotbecomparable,thenthenationalsurveythatis at thecenterof the stationmanager’sargumentwouldnot accurately reflectthe preferences of the local population ofMedway. In order to strengthen hisargument,thestationmanagerwouldhavetolookatradiopreferenceindicatorsthatarespecifictoMedway.The station manager’s assumption that the strategy applied in Rockville isapplicable in Medway begets the question of how similar the Medway andRockvillemarketsandtargetaudiencesaretoeachother.Ifthetargetaudiencedemographicsandthemarketconditionslikethenumberofcompetitors,marketsize or degree of popularity are relatively similar, then implementing the

suggested strategy would be a very good course of action, given the highlikelihoodofreplicatingWCQP’ssuccess.Notonlythat,but thesimilaritycanmake the strategy very cost effective and provide KICK with a readymadeimplementationroadmapthathasahighprobabilityofincreasingthecompany’sprofits. However, if the market and target audiences of the two cities aredifferent,thentheassumptionthatthestrategyappliedinRockvilleisapplicableinMedway is significantly weakened, because there is a high likelihood thatWCQP’ssuccessstrategymightnotbesuitablefor thepopulationofMedway.Inordertodealwiththispossibility,thestationmanagerwouldhavetoadaptthefiner points of WCQP’s strategy to the needs of the Medway population, inwhich case his recommendation might still be valid. Current trendsettingstrategiesalsorelyheavilyonthereuseofsuccessfulstrategieswithadaptationsmadetosuiteachcompany’sspecificsituation.Allinall,beforearguingfortheimplementationofastrategyusedbyadifferentradio station, KICK’s station manager should consider whether the marketconditionsinthetwotownsaresimilarenoughtowarrantmakingthesuggestedchange. The manager should also consider how to adapt the strategies if themarkets prove to be too different, or completely reorient himself to otherstrategies,basedonmarketdemands.

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ArgumentTask5

TopicThefollowingisarecommendationfromthepersonneldirectortothepresidentofAcmePublishingCompany."Many other companies have recently stated that having their employees takethe Easy Read Speed-ReadingCourse has greatly improved productivity. Onegraduateof thecoursewasable to reada500-pagereport inonly twohours;another graduate rose from an assistant manager to vice president of thecompany in under a year. Obviously, the faster you can read, the moreinformation you canabsorb in a singleworkday.Moreover,EasyReadwouldcostAcmeonly$500peremployee-asmallpricetopaywhenyouconsiderthebenefits. Included in this fee is a three-week seminar in Spruce City and alifelongsubscription to theEasyReadnewsletter.Clearly,AcmewouldbenefitgreatlybyrequiringallofouremployeestotaketheEasyReadcourse."Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed toevaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken orstrengthentheargument.

StrategiesAgood place to start your analysis is by creating a statement that reveals themainideaoftheargument.Althoughthewriteriscreatinganargument,hemayultimately be stating a position, making a recommendation, or making aprediction.Itmaybehelpfulforyoutodeterminewhichoftheseformatsismostevidentintheargument.Based on examples from other companies, the personnel director at AcmePublishingCompanyisrecommendingtheEasyReadSpeed-ReadingcourseasameansofbenefitingAcmePublishingCompany.

Assumptions:a)EasyReadSpeed-ReadingCourseincreasesproductivityintheworkplace.

b)Graduatesofthecoursearemorelikelytobepromoted.c)Peoplewhoreadfasterabsorbmoreinformation.d)Benefitsoftakingthecourseoutweighthecost.e)ProductivityneedstobeimprovedatAcmePublishingCompany.

Evidenceneeded:a)TheabilityforemployeestoreadfasterisimportanttoproductivityatAcmePublishingCompany.b)Thepercentageofemployeeswhosejobsrequirethemtoreadrapidly.c)ThemannerinwhichemployeesarepromotedatAcmePublishingCompany.d)Thefocusofbusinessesthathaveseengreaterproductivityaftertheirworkerscompletedthespeedreadingcourse.e)ThecostoftravelforemployeesofAcmePublishingCompanytotravelandstayinSpruceCity.f) The effect onAcme Publishing Company of its employees' being gone forthreeweeks.g) Other factors in addition to speed reading that led to the employee'spromotionh)Readingfasterleadstogreaterknowledge.i)TheproductivityofAcmeworkers.After completing these steps, you should have enough material to write youranalysis.Remember that you are not creating a positionof your own; you areevaluating the strengths andweaknesses of the existing argument.Youdonothavetoincludeallofthepointsthatyouhavecreatedinyourprewriting.Infact,duringtheprocessofdraftingyouranalysis,otherideasmaycometomind,and,iftheystrengthenyouranalysis,youshouldincludethem.

SampleEssayCompanies are always looking for ways to improve the efficiency of theirworkers. Time is money, and the more that employees can accomplish in aworkday, themoremoney thecompany is likely tomake.Methods to increaseproductivity must be tailored to the type of work being done and the resultsdesiredbythecompany.AcmePublishingCompany'sownersneedevidenceof

the benefit to be derived from the speed reading course before investing bothtimeandmoney.The ability to speed read is important in some occupations. Students doingresearchcanbenefitfromquicklyreadingthroughdocumentsinordertoextractpertinentfacts.Lawyersfrequentlywadethroughvolumesofdocumentsorcaselaw,andtheabilitytospeedreadcansavethemalotoftime.AcmePublishingCompany should determine howmany of its employees actually need to readmorequicklyinordertoperformmoreefficiently.Thefocusofthebusinessmaynotincludevoluminousreading,sospendingthemoneyonthecourseforallofAcme'semployeeswouldnotbeawiseuseofresources.Committingtoathree-weekretreatforallemployeesmaybeunrealistic.Iftheretreatisscheduledforonly one three-week period, Acme Publishing Company would have to shutdown to send all of itsworkers, potentially leading to a loss of business. Thecompanymay decide that some of itsworkers could becomemore productiveaftertakingthespeed-readingcourseandattendingtheretreatwhichwouldcostmuchlesswhile,perhaps,makingthoseemployeesfeelmorepositiveabouttheirjobs.The personnel manager cites examples of employees at one or more othercompanieswhoincreasedtheirreadingspeedorgotpromotionsaftertakingthecourse. It would be helpful to know how rapidly the first employee read 500pagesbefore taking thecourseandwhetherornot readingfasterwas themainobjective of his job. Evidence should also be forthcoming that the assistantmanager’sreceivingapromotionwasadirectresultoftakingthespeed-readingcourse.Thatemployeemayhavebeeninlinetobecomevicepresidentanywaybased on his or her other qualifications. The president of Acme PublishingCompanyalsoneedsevidencethatthetwoemployeescitedworkforacompanywhosegoalsandobjectivesaresimilartothoseofAcme.If theothercompanyinvolves vastly different work or product than Acme Publishing, then theexamples are irrelevant. The ability to read rapidly may not be a factor inearning promotions at Acme Publishing. Evaluating the strength of thisargumentwouldbeeasierifthereaderknowsthecriteriathatAcmeuseswhenselectingcandidatesforhigherpositionsinthecompany.Before accepting this recommendation, the company president should ask forevidenceabouthisworkers'levelofproductivityatalltasksrequiredbyAcme.The evidencemay show that all of his workers meet established productivitylevels, making the speed-reading course unnecessary. He may find that

productivitylevelsaresubparinareaswheretheabilitytoreadquicklyisnotafactor.Ontheotherhand,hemayfindlowerproductivityindepartmentswherea course in speed-reading would help those workers perform better. Thisevidencecanhelp thepresidentdeterminewhichofhispersonnelcanhelp theCompanymoveforwardbycompletingtherecommendedcourse.ThepresidentofAcmePublishingneedsevidencethatspeedreadingleadstotheabsorption of more knowledge. Because more knowledge is important invirtuallyeveryindustry,thisevidencecouldprovethevalueofthecoursetothecompany and its employees. Lack of this evidence negates the personneldirector’sconclusionthatthemoneyspentonthespeedreadingcoursewouldbeawiseuseofcompanyresources.

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ArgumentTask6

TopicThefollowingappearedinamemorandumfromtheownerofMoviesGalore,achainofmovie-rentalstores."Inordertoreversetherecentdeclineinourprofits,wemustreduceoperatingexpenses atMoviesGalore's tenmovie-rental stores. Sincewe are famous forour special bargains, raisingour rental prices is not a viableway to improveprofits. Lastmonth our store in downtownMarston significantly decreased itsoperating expenses by closing at 6:00 p.m. rather than 9:00 p.m. and byreducingitsstockbyeliminatingallmoviesreleasedmorethanfiveyearsago.Therefore, in order to increaseprofitswithout jeopardizingour reputation foroffering great movies at low prices, we recommend implementing similarchangesinourothernineMoviesGalorestores."Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to beanswered inorder todecidewhether therecommendationand theargumentonwhich it is based are reasonable.Be sure to explain how the answers to thesequestionswouldhelptoevaluatetherecommendation.

StrategiesAgood place to start your analysis is by creating a statement that reveals themainideaoftheargument.Althoughthewriteriscreatinganargument,hemayultimately be stating a position, making a recommendation, or making aprediction.Itmaybehelpfulforyoutodeterminewhichoftheseformatsismostevidentintheargument.The owner ofMoviesGalore is recommending the same changes in all of hisstoresthathemadeinhisdowntownMarstonlocationasameansofreversingadeclineinprofits.

Assumptions:a)ReducingexpensesisthebestwayforMoviesGaloretoincreaseprofits.

b)ThechangesmadeatthedowntownMarstonlocationwillbesuccessfulattheotherstores.c)LowpricesarethemajorreasonpeoplepatronizeMoviesGalore.d) Movies older than five years attract fewer customers than other genres ornewerreleases.e)ThedowntownMarstonlocationisbusiestbetweenopeningand6:00pm.f)ThedowntownMarston location isnotbusyenoughbetween6:00and9:00pmtojustifystayingopenduringthosehours.

Questions:a)Haveprofitsdeclinedatallorjustsomeofthestores?b)HaveprofitsincreasedatthedowntownMarstonstore?c)Duringwhichhoursiseachstorebusiest?d)Hastheownertriedothermeansofreducingexpenses?e)WhydocustomerschooseMoviesGalore?f)Areoldervideosinhighdemandatanyofthelocations?g)Hastheownermadesomerecentchangesthathavehadanegativeimpactonprofits?After completing these steps, you should have enough material to write youranalysis.Remember that you are not creating a positionof your own; you areevaluating the strengths andweaknesses of the existing argument.Youdonothavetoincludeallofthepointsthatyouhavecreatedinyourprewriting.Infact,duringtheprocessofdraftingyouranalysis,otherideasmaycometomind,and,iftheystrengthenyouranalysis,youshouldincludethem.

SampleEssayTheownerofMoviesGalorehasmadeasweepingrecommendationwithaviewtoincreasingprofitsforhisbusiness.Beforeadoptingtherecommendationatallofhislocations,heorsheneedstoanswersomepointedquestions.Onesizemaynot fit all. Each location should be analyzed individually by examining theanswerstothequestions.First, he should ask if each store is experiencing a decline in profitability.Hemay find that onlyoneor twoof the stores are creating thedecline inprofits.Those which aremakingmoney for the company should likely be left alone.

Even though all of themmay be losingmoney, eachmay need an individual,specific adjustment to reverse the trend. This owner should also askwhat thesuccessfulstoresmaybedoingthattheothersarenot.Theanswermayleadhimtomakechangesdifferentfromtheonesintheargument.Shorteningthehoursofoperationandeliminatingsomeinventorywillcertainlyreduceexpenses,but thetacticdoesn'talwayscontributetogreaterprofits.Hasthe downtownMarston store generated higher profits since the changes weremade?Ifthatstorewasnothabituallybusybetweenthehoursof6:00and9:00,then the relativelyminor loss of revenuemay be offset by a fairly significantdecreaseinoperatingexpenses.Electricity,heat,andwagesforthreehourscanbesubstantialandareaspectsofabusinessoperationthatcanbecontrolled.Wasthere very little demand for older videos in that location as well? If so, thenmoneyspentoninventorycanbebetterusedtostockvideosingreaterdemandbycustomersinthisparticularstore.Assuming that the owner has made the correct business decisions for thedowntown location, itmightbe logical toapply the samechanges to theotherMoviesGalorestores.Doalloftheotherlocationsexperiencealackofbusinessafter 6:00? Any stores located in or near a mall may be busiest during theevening hours. Malls are generally open until 9:00 at night, and a store thatclosesat6:00willnotbeabletotakeadvantageoftrafficgeneratedbytheothershops.TheownerofMoviesGaloreassumesthatthelowpricesaccountforthestores'popularity, but is that really the reason that customers choose them?MoviesGaloremayhave the best selection of the videosmost in demand.The stores'locationsmaybeconvenientandhaveplentyoffreeparking.Theymayhaveagreatselectionofmoviesnacks.Thestaffmaybefriendlyandhelpful.Withoutsurveyinghiscustomers,theownercouldbeholdingontoanideathathaslittletosupportit.Has the owner attempted any other changes to improve profits? He couldincrease revenuesbyexpanding the selectionofmovie snacksand traininghisassociates tosuggestpatronsbuy themwithevery rental.CustomersmayhaveabandonedMoviesGalorebecausethevideosarenotorganizedlogically,ortheassociatesdeliver poor service.Has theownermade some recent changes thathaveledtoatemporarydeclineinprofits?Upgradingheatingsystemsorlightingfixtures, forexample,canbecostlyone-timeexpenditures thatcanaccount forthe current lack of profitability. The owner may have new employees or

managers that are undercharging for rentals orwhomay be stealing from thecompany.Are other, similar businesses in the area experiencing a similar decline inprofits? If so,Movies Galore's ownermay have to look at his problem in anentirely different light. The market may be over saturated with movie rentalbusinesses. People's rental habits may have changed in recent years by usingvideo-on-demand features through their television cable companies or bysubscribingtoserviceslikeNetflix.Whenheexaminestheanswerstoallofthequestions, the owner of Movies Galore will make better-informed decisionsabouthisbusiness.

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ArgumentTask7

TopicEvidencesuggests thatacademichonorcodes,whichcall forstudents toagreenottocheatintheiracademicendeavorsandtonotifyafacultymemberiftheysuspectthatothershavecheated,arefarmoresuccessfulthanareothermethodsatdeterringcheatingamongstudentsatcollegesanduniversities.Severalyearsago,GrovetonCollegeadoptedsuchacodeanddiscontinueditsold-fashionedsystem in which teachers closely monitored students. Under the old system,teachers reported an average of thirty cases of cheating per year. In the firstyear the honor code was in place, students reported twenty-one cases ofcheating; five years later, this figurehaddropped to fourteen.Moreover, in arecentsurvey,amajorityofGrovetonstudentssaidthattheywouldbelesslikelytocheatwithanhonorcodeinplacethanwithout.Writearesponseinwhichyoudiscussoneormorealternativeexplanationsthatcould rival the proposed explanation and explain howyour explanation(s) canplausiblyaccountforthefactspresentedintheargument.NOTE: The above topic has wording similar to Argument Task 15 of GREAnalyticalWritingSolutions to theRealEssayTopicsBook1.However, ifyoureadcarefullyyouwillnoticethatthetaskinstructionsaredifferent.Hence,itisveryimportanttoreadthetopicaswellasitsinstructionscompletelybeforeyoustarttowriteyourresponse.

StrategiesAgood place to start your analysis is by creating a statement that reveals themainideaoftheargument.Althoughthewriteriscreatinganargument,hemayultimately be stating a position, making a recommendation, or making aprediction.Itmaybehelpfulforyoutodeterminewhichoftheseformatsismostevidentintheargument.Theargumentstatesthepositionthatanhonorcodeisamoreeffectivemeansofcurtailing cheating than close supervision by professors, and evidence at

GrovetonCollegeappearstosupporttheauthor’sexplanation.

Assumptions:a)Instancesofcheatinghavedeclinedsinceinstitutinganhonorcode.b) Between years one and five under the honor code system, instances ofcheatingcontinuallydeclined.c)Enrollmentatthecollegehasremainedthesameduringthefiveyearsofthehonorcode.d)Studentsareaslikelytoreportcheatingasareprofessors.

Alternativeexplanations:a)Studentsarelesslikelytoreportontheirpeers,therebyreducingthenumberofrecordedcasesofcheating.b) The college increased the severity of consequences for cheating whenadoptingthehonorcode.c)Studentsmaynotrecognizesomeformsofcheating.d)Studentsdon’thavetheopportunitytoobservecheating.e)Theschoolmayhavechangeditsgradingsystem.f)Instructorsmayhaveadjustedtheircurriculumandassessments.After completing these steps, you should have enough material to write youranalysis.Remember that you are not creating a positionof your own; you areevaluating the strengths andweaknesses of the existing argument.Youdonothavetoincludeallofthepointsthatyouhavecreatedinyourprewriting.Infact,duringtheprocessofdraftingyouranalysis,otherideasmaycometomind,and,iftheystrengthenyouranalysis,youshouldincludethem.

SampleEssayThe argument promotes the effectiveness of using an honor code to preventcheatingandusessomescantevidencetojustifyitscontinueduse.Anapparentdecline in the number of cheating incidents leads the reader to agreewith theposition,butotherexplanationsmaybemorerealistic.Studentsarenotas likely toobserve, recognize,or reportcheatingasare theirprofessors. In a testing situation, for example, studentsmay be so focused ontheirownperformanceandcompletingthetestontimethattheyareunawareofothers around them. Given the opportunity to look at other students in the

classroom, theymight not recognize that a fellow test-taker is cheating.Manywho cheat have developed techniques that make their dishonest behaviorinvisible to the casual or inexperienced observer. Students who do see andrecognizeanother'scheatingarefacedwithamoraldilemma.Ononehand,theyhaveagreedtohonorthecodeestablishedbythecollege.Ontheotherhand,theymay risk losing a friendor causing the failure of anotherwisehonest student.They may empathize with a classmate who chooses cheating as a means ofpassingadifficultcourse.Ofcourse,cheatingona test isnot theonlyformofacademic dishonesty. Plagiarism rears its ugly head when students are undersomepressure tomeet a deadline for a research paper.The temptation to cut-and-paste and take credit for another's words or ideas is strong for collegestudentswhohaverunoutofideasbeforerunningoutoftime.Otherstudentsarenotlikelytoseethistypeofworkdonebyclassmatesand,therefore,cannotbeexpectedtoreportit.Theprofessorswhodoreadandrecognizetheplagiarizedwritingarenolongercompelledtoreportit.Theymaysimplyassignagradeofzero. These limitations can help to explain the lower number of reportedincidentsofcheatingatGrovetonCollege.The adoption of the honor code by itself may not fully explain the apparentdecline in cheating. School officials may have added new consequences orstrengthened those thatalreadyexisted if studentsarecaughtcheating in somemanner.Fearof failureor expulsionwouldhavecreatedagreater incentive toremainacademicallyhonestatGrovetonCollege.Inadditiontoinstitutinganhonorcode,GrovetonCollegemayhavechangeditsgrading system.Theymayhave replaced a traditional 4-pointmeasurement ofexcellencetopass/fail,forexample.Relievedofthepressuretoachievebasedonrigid guidelines, studentswould feel less compelled to cheat in order tomeetgrading expectations. In addition, professors may have changed the nature oftheir assessments. Instead of administering tests in a pressurized classroomunder time constraints, theymayhave given take-home tests that students cancompleteinthecomfortoftheirownresidences,usingnotesandotherresources.They may have eliminated tests altogether, relying on measurements ofknowledgethatarelesslikelytocreateopportunitiesforcheating.Perhaps the simplest explanation for a reduction in the number of reportedinstances of cheating would be a decline in student population at GrovetonCollege. In fact, the collegemay have instituted the apparently popular honorcodeinanefforttoattractmorestudentstoitscampus.Dependingonthesizeof

thestudentbody,areductioninthenumberofreportedcasesofcheatingcouldbeanincreaseinthepercentageofstudentscaughtcheating.Groveton’suseof the survey results inwhich amajorityof students said theywouldbelesslikelytocheatifanhonorcodeexistsmaybeshort-sighted.Thesurveymaynothaveincludedotherincentivestocurtailcheating.Ifthesurveylistedonlyanhonorcodeasachoice,theconclusionisflawedandisnotlikelytoexplaintheapparentreductioninreportedcheatingcases.IfanyofthesealternateexplanationssufficientlyaccountforthelowernumberofreportedcasesofcheatingatGrovetonCollege,theschoolmustrelinquishitsbelief that the honor code is an effective change in its academic philosophy.Further investigationbycollege administrators canuncover the real reason foranincreaseinacademicintegrity.

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ArgumentTask8

TopicThefollowingwaswrittenasapartofanapplicationforasmall-businessloanbyagroupofdevelopersinthecityofMonroe."A jazzmusic club inMonroewould be a tremendously profitable enterprise.Currently, thenearest jazzclub is65milesaway; thus, theproposednew jazzclubinMonroe,theC-Note,wouldhavethelocalmarketalltoitself.Plus,jazzisextremelypopularinMonroe:over100,000peopleattendedMonroe'sannualjazzfestivallastsummer;severalwell-knownjazzmusiciansliveinMonroe;andthe highest-rated radio program inMonroe is 'JazzNightly,'which airs everyweeknightat7P.M.Finally,anationwide study indicates that the typical jazzfanspendscloseto$1,000peryearonjazzentertainment."Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed toevaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken orstrengthentheargument.NOTE: The above topic has wording similar to Argument Task 28 of GREAnalyticalWritingSolutiontotheRealEssayTopics-Book2.However,ifyoureadcarefullyyouwillnoticethatthetaskinstructionsaredifferent.Hence,itisveryimportanttoreadthetopicaswellasitsinstructionscompletelybeforeyoustarttowriteyourresponse.

StrategiesThefirststep inperformingyouranalysisconsistsof identifyingthe texts’keypoint, recommendation, prediction or hypothesis. All the other arguments andassumptionsaredesigned to support thiscentral claim. In thiscase, theauthorattemptstodemonstratethat“AjazzclubinMonroewouldbeprofitable”.The next stepwould involve creating a statement that summarizes the text byincludingthecentralclaimanditssupportingarguments.

TheauthorsoftheloanapplicationarguethatajazzclubinMonroewouldbeprofitable because the town boasts a big jazz fan base and the nearestcompetitorislocatedveryfaraway.When considering the evidence that is necessary to support the argumentsoutlinedinthetext,itisimportanttokeepinmindthatargumentsarebasedonassumptions–points that are taken tobe true,without need for proof.This iswhatyouneedtolookfor–explicitandimplicitassumptions,sincetheyrequireevidencethatisnotalreadylistedinthetext.Explicitassumptionscanbebrokendownintoorsupportedbyimplicitassumptions.

Assumptionsi)ExplicitAssumption:AjazzclubinMonroewouldbeprofitableImplicitAssumptions:a)Thejazzmarketisprofitableb)Theclubwillmakeasubstantialprofitc)Themarketsizeissufficienttosupporttheclub

ii) ExplicitAssumption:A jazz club inMonroewould have themarket all toitselfImplicitAssumptions:a)ThemaincompetitoristoodistanttoattracttheMonroepopulationb)TheMonroeinhabitantsthataregoingtothedistantjazzclubwillchooseC-Notebasedonproximityc)Therearenoothercompetingjazzvenues(cafes,barsetc.)

iii)ExplicitAssumption:ThereisabigjazzfanbaseinMonroeImplicitAssumptions:a)ThenumberoffestivalattendantsaccuratelyreflectsthesizeofthemarketinMonroeb) The rating of Jazz Nightly accurately reflects the popularity of jazz inMonroec)Nationalsurveyreflectslocalpreferences

iv)ExplicitAssumption:JazzfanswillbewillingtospendmoneyontheclubImplicitAssumptions:

a)Agreatsizeoftheaveragesumsfansspendonjazzduringtheyearwillgointoclubbingb)Monroe’sinhabitantscanaffordtheclubprices

After having established your assumptions, you can find the evidence that isneeded to evaluate the argument by considering what proof is necessary tovalidateeachimplicitassumption.

Evidencea)Nationaljazzmarketstatisticsb) C-Note’s revenue and cash flow estimations compared with the costs offundingandoperatingtheclub.c)ComparisonoftheminimumviablepopulationnecessarytosupporttheclubwiththeMonroepopulation(jazzmarketsize)d) Number of Monroe jazz fans frequenting the club situated 65 miles awayfromMonroe,reportedtothesizeofthelocaljazzmarkete)Numberofjazzvenuesintheareaf)ThepercentagefromthefestivalattendantsthatresideinMonroeg)JazzNightly’saudienceratingscomparedtoMonroe’spopulationsizeh)Thejazzradio’sratingscomparedtothoseofthecompetingstationsi)Thepercentageofmoneyspentonclubbingfromtheestimated1000$thattheaveragejazzfanspendsperyearonjazzentertainmentj)Monroe’sincomestatisticsreportedtoC-Note’sticketpricesk)ComparisonofthesurveydemographicswithMonroe’sdemographics

SampleEssayTheauthorsof the loanapplicationargue thata jazzclub inMonroewouldbeprofitablebecausethetownboastsabigjazzfanbaseandthenearestcompetitoris located very far away.Before submitting the loan application, the group ofdevelopers would need to consider additional information, such asdemographics,thecompetitor’sprices,therealsizeoftheMonroejazzaudience,andtheirwillingnesstospendmoneyonjazzclubentrance.Suchanassessmentwould allow them to evaluate whether the business idea is viable in the firstplace.

Thefirstbitsofevidencethatarelackingintheloanapplicationarepopulationstatisticsandtheircorrelationwiththeclub’sfundingandmaintenancecost.Theauthorsneedtodevisewhataretheminimumrunningcostsandoutlineexpectedprofit margins and couple those with the potential size of the jazz market inMonroe. This data should outline whether Monroe’s jazz market size issufficienttosupporttheclub.IfMonroe’spopulationisnotgreatenoughtomeetthe minimum viable population criteria, then the claim that a jazz club inMonroewouldbeprofitableisnotsustainable.Shouldthepopulationcriteriabemet,therecommendationofbuildingajazzclubinMonroewouldgarnersomemerit,butfurtherdatawouldbeneededtoestablishtheprofitabilityoftheclub.Forthispurpose,thegroupofdevelopersshouldcompareC-Note’srevenueandcash flow estimations with the costs of funding and operating the club. Thiswouldhelp to establish the theoretical financial viabilityof the Jazz club.Thedevelopers should keep inmind that in addition to these types of estimations,profitabilityisalsohighlydependentontheoverallstateofthemarket.Assuch,nationaljazzmarketstatisticswillshowcasepeople’sinterestandwillingnesstospend money on jazz entertainment and paraphernalia. If the jazz market isunderdecline,asaNationalEndowmentfortheArtsstudyhasdiscovered,ajazzclubinMonroemightnotbeprofitableinthelongrun.Ontheotherhand,ifthemarketshowssignsofimprovement,thenthedeveloper’spropositionswouldbegreatlystrengthenedbythisfact.Thegroupofdevelopersbases theirbusiness ideaonMonroehavingabigfanbase for jazz.They justify their assumptionsbyproviding a local jazz festivalattendancerateandthepopularityofthelocaljazzradiostation.Theinformationtheyprovideisincomplete–theinvestorsevaluatingthisapplicationwillnotbeabletoseewhatpercentageofthejazzfestivalattendantswerelocals.ThisdatawouldhelpbettershowcasethesizeofMonroe’sjazzmarket.Ifagreatnumberoftheattendantswerelocalresidents,thentheassumptionofabigjazzfanbaseinMonroe would be validated. If the data should reveal a low percentage oflocalresidentsfromthetotalnumberoffestivalparticipants,thentheclaimofalargejazzfanbaseinMonroewouldbeweakened,whichinturnwillaffecttheexpected profitability of the club. The group of developers brings anotherargumentinfavorofthepopularityofjazzinMonroe,namelytheratingsofthelocaljazzradiostation.ToverifyiftheratingofJazzNightlyaccuratelyreflectsthepopularityofjazzinMonroe,thedeveloperswouldfirstneedtoreportthoseratings to the population of the town. This data would help them identifywhetherasignificantpartoftheMonroepopulationlistenstojazz,inwhichcase

theirclaimswouldbesubstantiated,orwhether theradio listeningpeopleformjustasmallpartof thepopulation, inwhichcase, thehighradioratingswouldnotbeindicativeoftheentirepopulation’spreferences.Whenmakingtheirargument, thegroupofdevelopersalsoassumesthatajazzclubinMonroewillhavethemarketalltoitselfbecausethenearestcompetitorislocatedatagreatdistance.Tobeabletoestablishwhetherthisisthecase,theloan applicantswould have to compareC-Note and their competitor based ontheir prices, accessibility and reputation. By assessing what percentage ofMonroe’sjazzfanbasefrequentstheclubsituated65milesawaytheinvestorscan ascertain what part of the market already belongs to the competitor. Inaddition to this evidence, the developers should also provide data about thenumberofjazzvenuesintheareasuchasjazzcafesorbars,beforeconcludingthat themarketwouldbelongsolely to theC-Noteclub. If indeed therearenoother competitors in the area, C-note can enjoy market monopoly and theassumption that the clubwill be profitable becomesmore plausible.However,should different jazz venues exist in the area, the developers would need toadjust their estimations and consider what size of the market belongs to thecompetitors and develop competitive strategies to be able tomake the desiredprofits.AnotherargumentbroughtintosupporttheprofitabilityofopeningajazzclubinMonroeisanationalsurveythatindicatestheamountsofmoneytheaveragejazzfaniswillingtospendonjazzentertainmenteachyear.TobeabletoassesshowthisinformationisrelatedtotheMonroeaudience,theauthorwouldneedtocomparethesurveydemographicstothoseoftheMonroepopulation.Thisdatashouldbeabletorevealwhetherthepeopleofthesurveyareindicativeforthejazz club’s intended target audience, a fact which would make the surveyfindingsapplicable,orwhetherthetwogroupsofpeopleareradicallydifferent,inwhich case the surveywould have no bearing on how the jazz fan base ofMonroewouldspend theirmoney.Additionally, theauthors should investigatewhatpercentageofthatmoneyisspentforclubbingactivities.Shoulditbecomeevident that jazz fans like to spenda lotonclubs then that informationwouldbodewellforthefutureofC-Note.However,ifthejazzfansinthestudyprefertospendtheirmoneyondifferenttypeofjazzeventsandparaphernalia,thenthedeveloperswould need to provide additional data thatwould demonstrate thatthe people of Monroe would be willing to attend C-Note and develop goodmarketandpricingstrategiestobolsterattendance.

All inall, thegroupofdevelopers that argue for theprofitabilityofopeningajazz club in Monroe stands a better chance of supporting their claim byprovidingathoroughmarketanalysiscoupledwithafinancialplan.Theywouldstand a better chance at gaining a loanbyproviding a complete business planand developing competitive strategies thatwould show that they can not onlyidentifybusinessopportunitiesbutalsoknowhowtomakethebestofthem.

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ArgumentTask9

TopicNature's Way, a chain of stores selling health food and other health-relatedproducts, is opening its next franchise in the town of Plainsville. The storeshould prove to be very successful: Nature's Way franchises tend to be mostprofitableinareaswhereresidentsleadhealthylives,andclearlyPlainsvilleissuch an area. Plainsville merchants report that sales of running shoes andexerciseclothingareatall-timehighs.Thelocalhealthclubhasmoremembersthanever,andtheweighttrainingandaerobicsclassesarealwaysfull.Finally,Plainsville'sschoolchildrenrepresentanewgenerationofpotentialcustomers:these schoolchildren are required to participate in a fitness-for-life program,whichemphasizesthebenefitsofregularexerciseatanearlyage.Writearesponse inwhichyouexamine thestatedand/orunstatedassumptionsof the argument. Be sure to explain how the argument depends on theseassumptionsandwhat the implicationsare for theargument if theassumptionsproveunwarranted.

StrategiesArgument:The argument uses information about healthful activities in Plainsville tosupportNature'sWay'sopeningitsnextfranchiseinPlainsville.Indevelopingyourresponsetothetopic,youmustidentifyandexamineboththestatedandunstatedassumptionsoftheargumenttodeterminehowtheargumentdepends on those assumptions and how the argument fails if the assumptionsprovetobeincorrect.

Assumptions:a)Nature'sWayshouldbeverysuccessfulinPlainsville.Thewriterassumesthatthe residents of Plainsville will purchase products from Nature's Way. ThisunderliestheclaimthatNature'sWaywillbesuccessfulinPlainsville.Sincethe

residents are already health conscious, they may be buying health foodsomewhereelse.IsthereanotherhealthfoodstoreinPlainsville?b) Nature’sWay franchises tend to be profitable in areas where the residentslead healthy lives. “Tend” is a qualifying word; it is not absolute. Are someNature’sWaystoresnotprofitable inareaswhere residents leadhealthy lives?Whatmightcausethatlackofsuccess?c) The assumption that the children of Plainsvillewill be future customers ofNature's Way underlies the claim that Plainsville citizens lead healthy lives.There is no evidence that the children eat healthy food, just that they mustparticipate in an exercise program. How many of these children will live inPlainsvilleasadults?d) The residents of Plainsville lead healthy lives. The writer uses health clubmemberships and sales of running shoes and exercise clothing to support thisassumption.Itwouldbehelpfultoknowhowmanyofthoseclubmembershipsarenewandhowmanyarerenewals.Howmanytimesperweekdothemembersgo to the club to work out? What time of year is it? After the New Year’sholiday, people make resolutions to lose weight, eat healthier, and exercise.Thoseresolutions rarelystick.Thestoresmaybehavingafter-Christmassales,andthereducedpriceshavepromptedthecitizenstoreplacewornoutsneakersandclothing.Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyourideas.

SampleEssayThe writer of the passage has listed facts about the lifestyle of Plainsvilleresidents that support the likely success of a Nature’s Way franchise that isopeninginthattown.Onthesurface,thislitanyofhealthybehaviorsappearstobesufficienttobolsterthepositionintheargument.Anygoodsalesmanwoulduseasimilarpitchtopromotehisproduct.However,severalquestionsarisethatcouldunderminetheassumptionsinthispassage.The first questions surround the reported increases in gym memberships andsalesofsneakersandexerciseclothing.Itisnomysterythatgymmembershipsincreaseat thebeginningofeachyear.AdultsmakeNewYear’sresolutions tolose weight, eat healthier food, and exercise more, resulting in upticks in thepurchases of gym memberships, increased traffic at healthy food stores, and

increasedpurchases of fitness clothing.After-holiday salesmight also accountfor the increase insalesofsneakersandexerciseclothing.Afterall, thosenewgymmembersneedsomethingtowear.TheargumentalsopositsthatfuturesalesatNature’sWayareguaranteedasthechildren become healthier in Plainsville. They are required to participate in aprogram that emphasized the benefits of regular exercise at an early age.However, it is unclear whether this program requires them to exercise or eathealthyfood,orhowthismightbeenforced.Participationin theprogramdoesnotguaranteeparticipationinhealthyactivities.Theirparents’foodandexercisehabits are more likely than a school program to influence the children’sbehavior. How many of those children will remain in Plainsville as adults?Merchantsinotherpartsofthestateorcountryareapttobenefitfromthebuyinghabitsofthesechildrenwhentheybecomeproductiveadults.Theassumption thatanynewbusinesswillbesuccessful inany town is risky.EvenWal-Martlocationshavefailedinareaswheretheresidentshavenoneedto shop there. What is the median income in Plainsville? Are the residentscollege-educated? Specialty health-food stores cater to a relatively highsocioeconomicgroup. Is there alreadyahealth-food store inPlainsville?WhatdoesNature’sWayhavethatwillsetitapartfrombusinessesthatalreadyexist?Are the prices at Nature’sWay low enough to attract a large customer base?Unless thestoreprovidessuperiorproductorservice,ora lowerpricepoint, itwillnotstandoutinanyappreciableway.Finally,theauthor’suseofthewordtendshouldleadthereadertoquestionthesoundness of the assumptions in the passage.What happens to Nature’sWaywhen it turns out that Plainsville residents don’t stick to their resolutions tobecome healthier? Theywill find good excuses to skip going to the gym thisweek,and they’ll rationalize theirway throughapanofbrownies.Whenall issaid and done, the author’s statement thatNature’sWay should be successfulmay be correct. If the people of Plainsville are serious about leading healthylives,theyshouldshopatNature’sWay.Thatdoesn’tmeanthattheywill.

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ArgumentTask10

TopicFifteen years ago, Omega University implemented a new procedure thatencouraged students to evaluate the teaching effectiveness of all theirprofessors. Since that time, Omega professors have begun to assign highergradesintheirclasses,andoverallstudentgradeaveragesatOmegahaverisenby 30 percent. Potential employers, looking at this dramatic rise in grades,believethatgradesatOmegaareinflatedanddonotaccuratelyreflectstudentachievement; as a result, Omega graduates have not been as successful atgetting jobs as have graduates from nearby Alpha University. To enable itsgraduates to secure better jobs, Omega University should terminate studentevaluationofprofessors.Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed toevaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken orstrengthentheargument.

StrategiesArgument:ThisargumentusesOmegagraduates'difficultyobtainingjobsasarationaleforeliminatingstudentevaluationofprofessors.Indevelopingyourresponse,youmustidentifywhatspecificevidenceisneededtoevaluate thewriter'spositionandhow thatevidenceweakensor strengthensthatposition.What conclusions and assumptions are either explicit or implied in theargument?

FactsandAssumptions:a)Studentgradeaverageshave risenby30percentatOmegaUniversity.Thisfactleadstotheassumptionthatprofessorshaveinflatedtheirstudents'grades.Overthecourseof15years,anumberofchangescouldhaveoccurredthatcan

account for higher student grades. Has the school changed its admissions'policy?Has the school becomemore selective, admitting studentswith highertestscoresandhighschoolGPAs?Itmaybethatprofessorshaveimprovedtheirinstructionalpracticesand/ormaterialinresponsetotheevaluations,andthathasledtohigherachievement.b)OmegagraduateshavehadlesssuccessgettingjobsthangraduatesofnearbyAlpha University. The assumption that follows this fact is that the inflatedgrades have created a negative impression about Omega students' realachievement.What courses of studydoes each school include?PerhapsAlphaUniversitystudentshavemoredesirableormarketableskills.c) Omega University instituted student evaluation of professors fifteen yearsago. This fact led to the assumption that professors began inflating grades,ostensiblytoreceivebetterevaluationsfromstudents.WhydidOmegaUinitiatethis policy? Who evaluated the professors prior to this? What effect onprofessorsdo the survey resultshave?Do the resultsaffect tenure?Retention?Remediation?Whatisthecontentoftheevaluations?d) Omega University grades have risen by 30 percent, which has led to theassumptionthatprofessorshaveinflatedstudentgrades.Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyourideas.

SampleEssayEmployershaveinterpretedtheriseingradesforOmegaUniversitygraduatesasan indication that professors are awarding higher marks in response to theinstitution'suseofstudentevaluation.Asaresult,Omegagraduateshavemoredifficulty finding jobs than do the graduates of nearby Alpha University. Inresponse to this unfortunate consequence, the writer posits that OmegaUniversity should terminate student evaluation of professors. If there issubstantiveevidenceforthischange,ithasnotbeenrevealedinthepassage.Employers assume that professors have inflated grades to receive favorableevaluations from their students. Employers might benefit from knowing whataspects of the professors' pedagogy are evaluated. It may be that, over thefifteen-year period that student evaluations have existed, professors haverespondedbyimprovingtheirinstructionaltechniquesandcurriculummaterials.In consequence, students have found the classesmore relevant and accessible

andhavehadgreatersuccess thanpreviousstudents. It isalsounclearwhethertheevaluationsoftheprofessorshaveimprovedwiththeincreaseingrades.Ifithasnot,thisargumentisinvalid.Anotherassumptionthatneedstobeexaminedisthatthequalityofstudentshasremained steady while grades have risen. Can evidence be uncovered thatreveals a change in Omega University’s admissions policy? The school mayhave institutedmore stringent admissions requirements.ThecohortsmayhaveachievedhigherscoresontheSATortakenAdvancedPlacementcoursesinhighschool. Omega University's increased selectivity could account for a rise ingrades. Itmight be helpful to know if the student evaluation process replacedanothertypeofevaluation.Itcouldbethattheprofessors,themselves,requestedthestudentevaluationtohelpthemcritiquetheirowneffectiveness.Finally,wemustlookatthe30percentriseingrades.Thereadermayinterpretthis tomean that allofOmegaUniversity studentshave raised theirGPA’sortheir actual numerical averages by 30 percent.Assuming that a studentwouldneed at least a 70 percent average to remain in school, a 30 percent increasewould mean that every student has a minimum average of 91 percent. Thatwould, indeed,be remarkableanda likelycause forskepticismon thepartsofemployers.However, if the statisticmeans that 30 percent ofOmega studentshaveincreasedtheirgradeaverages,itmaynotbeacauseforconcern.IfOmegaUniversityhas1,000students,thenroughly300ofthemhaveraisedtheirgrades,amore realistic improvement. Employers should notwrite off these graduateswithoutunderstandingthebasisofthepurportedelevationofgrades.OmegaUniversitygraduates'inabilitytosecureemploymentmaybedue,inpart,tosuspicionabouttheiractualachievement,butotherfactorsmaycontributetothe dearth of jobs for them.AlphaUniversitymay offermajors in courses ofstudythataremoremarketableintoday'seconomy.

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ArgumentTask11

TopicThe council of Maple County, concerned about the county’s becomingoverdeveloped, is debating a proposed measure that would prevent thedevelopment of existing farmland in the county. But the council is alsoconcernedthatsucharestriction,by limitingthesupplyofnewhousing,couldleadtosignificantincreasesinthepriceofhousinginthecounty.ProponentsofthemeasurenotethatChestnutCountyestablishedasimilarmeasuretenyearsago and its housing prices have increased only modestly since. However,opponents of the measure note that Pine County adopted restrictions on thedevelopmentofnewresidentialhousingfifteenyearsago,anditshousingpriceshavesincemorethandoubled.Thecouncilcurrentlypredictsthattheproposedmeasure, if passed, will result in a significant increase in housing prices inMapleCounty.Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to beansweredinordertodecidewhetherthepredictionandtheargumentonwhichitisbasedare reasonable.Besure toexplainhowtheanswers to thesequestionswouldhelptoevaluatetheprediction.

StrategiesPrediction:Limiting the development of existing farmland will result in a significantincreaseinhousingpricesinMapleCounty.

Argument:Proponents point to a similar measure's being adopted in Chestnut Countyresulting in only a modest increase in housing prices. Opponents point to asimilar measure's being adopted in Pine County resulting in housing pricesmorethandoubling.

Questions:

a) What is the median income in each of the other counties? How do theycomparetothemedianincomeinMapleCounty?b)Howdotheschoolsystemsinthethreecountiescompare?c) What was the housing inventory in the other two counties prior todevelopment? What is the housing inventory in Maple County? This wouldinclude apartments, condominiums, town houses, as well as detached single-familyhomes.d)Whatincentiveisthereforpeopletomovetoanyofthethreecounties?Thecountiesmayprovidedifferentservicesandfacilitiesthatmakeonecountymoredesirablethantheothers.e)Isoneofthecountieshometoalargecity?Developmentaroundalargeurbanareamaydemandhigherprices.f) What is the demographic of each county? It could be that Pine Countyresidentsaremarriedcoupleswithtwoincomesandgrowingfamilieswhoneedlargerhomes.ChestnutCountyresidentsmayberetireeswhoaredownsizing.g)IsthereanythinginherentlywrongwithincreasedpricesforhomesinMapleCounty?The residentsofMapleCountymaybenefit froma rise in real estateprices.Thecouncilmay fear thathigherhousingpriceswilldiscouragepeoplefrommovingtotheircounty.Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyourideas.

SampleEssayIn a backlash against urban sprawl, counties have created restrictions andparameters for development that requires expanding their infrastructure andbroadening thescopeof theirservices.Whenadeveloperpresentsaplanforanewresidentialsubdivision,hereliesonthecommunitytoextenditswaterandsewer lines and lay down new streets. There are more structures for the firedepartmenttocover,moreareaforpolicecruiserstopatrol,andmoreroadwaysforplowstoclearinwinter.Iffamilieswithchildrenmoveintothenewhomes,the schoolsmaybecomeovercrowded.Theexpansionof the taxbasemaynotoffsetincreasedcoststothecity.Despitetheseadditionaldemands,anexpandedhousing inventory tends to keep prices affordable and encourages people to

move to the area. The council of Maple County would be wise to considerseveralquestionsbeforedecidingeithercourseofactionregardingdevelopment.Themainobjectiontorestrictingdevelopmentappearstobeafearthathousingpriceswillincreasedramatically.ThisisalikelyconsequenceonlyifconditionsthatexistinMapleCountyaresimilartothoseinPineCounty.WhydidhousingpricesmorethandoubleinPineCounty?ItmaybethatPineCountyisamoredesirable place to live, and there is a greater demand for homes there. Supplyanddemandalwaysinfluencethepriceofanycommodity.PineCountymaybehome to a large city that provides great career opportunities and culturalactivities that make its suburbs attractive to upper middle-class citizens. PineCountymayhaveaward-winningschools thatattractyoungfamiliesdesiringahigh-quality education for their children. If PineCounty does, indeed, possesstheseattributes,alackofhousinginventorywouldinflatethepricesofexistinghomes.Incontrast,ChestnutCountymaylackthedesirablecharacteristicsthatmakeanarea attractive to people seeking a new place to live. Why did the prices ofhomes inChestnutCountyexperienceonlyamoderate increasewhenofficialslimiteddevelopmentthere?Thiscountymayberuralinnature,withsignificantdistances between homes, eliminating the neighborhood structure that familiesfindappealing.ItmaybethatChestnutCountylacksopportunitiesforshopping,recreation,andculturalactivitiesthatattractwell-educated,affluentfamilies.Itsschools may not be stellar, discouraging families with children from settlingthere.EventhoughChestnutCountyhaslimitedhousinginventory,thedemandfor the homes that do exist simply isn’t as high as it is in PineCounty.As aresult,anyincreasesinpricestherearelikelyduetoinflation.How does Maple County settle the argument about restricting development?Members of the council should complete a thorough analysis of the threecountiestodeterminehowMapleCountyissimilartoordifferentfromtheothertwo.IfMapleCountyhasmoreincommonwithPineCounty,theymaywanttolift restrictions on development and allow more homes to be built to keephousing prices affordable. On the other hand, if Maple County has more incommonwithChestnutCounty,restrictingdevelopmentforthetimebeingmaybe the wisest course. They will not have expended county funds to expandinfrastructure and services for a county that is not likely to attract sufficientnumbersofnewresidentstooffsetthecostofsuchimprovement.

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ArgumentTask12

TopicThe followingappeared inamemorandum from themanagerofWWACradiostation."Toreverseadeclineinlistenernumbers,ourownershavedecidedthatWWACmust change from its current rock-music format. The decline has occurreddespite population growth in our listening area, but that growth has resultedmainlyfrompeoplemovinghereaftertheirretirement.Wemustmakelistenersofthesenewresidents.Wecouldswitchtoamusicformattailoredtotheirtastes,but a continuing decline in local sales of recorded music suggests limitedinterestinmusic.Insteadweshouldchangetoanewsandtalkformat,aformofradiothatisincreasinglypopularinourarea."Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed toevaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken orstrengthentheargument.NOTE: The above topic has wording similar to Argument Task 26 of GREAnalyticalWritingSolutiontotheRealEssayTopics-Book2.However,ifyoureadcarefullyyouwillnoticethatthetaskinstructionsaredifferent.Hence,itisveryimportanttoreadthetopicaswellasitsinstructionscompletelybeforeyoustarttowriteyourresponse.

StrategiesArgument:Thisargumentusesadecline in listenernumbersas justification for changingtheradiostation'sformat.Indevelopingyourresponse,youareaskedtoidentifywhatspecificevidenceisneeded to evaluate the strengthof the argument andexplainhow the evidencesupportsornegatestheargument.

FactsandAssumptions:

a)Thefactisthattherehasbeenadeclineinlistenernumbers.Thisleadstotheassumption that the stationneeds to revise its format.Whichdemographichascaused thisdecline? Is thedeclinesudden,orhas ithappenedoveraperiodofyears?Areotherstationsintheareaexperiencingasimilardeclineinlisteners?b) Local sales of recordedmusic have declined causing the station owners toassumethatthereislimitedinterestinmusic.Whyhasthesaleofrecordmusicdeclined?Doesthelocalstoremaintainsufficientinventorythatincludesawidevarietyofgenres?Hasadip in thegeneraleconomyof theareacontributed tothe lack of sales? Has the radio station surveyed the local population todeterminewhattypeofmusic,ifany,itisinterestedin?HasthegrowthofMP3playersaffectedthesalesofrecordedmusic?Satelliteradiohaschangedthewaypeoplelistentomusic.c)Thedeclineinlistenernumbershasledtheownerstoassumethatanewsandtalkformatwouldattractnewlisteners.Havetheownersconductedasurveytodetermineifthisisthecase?Ifotherstationsareusingthisformat,isthemarketsaturated?d)Thestationownershaveassumedthat,sincetherock-musicformathaslostitspopularity,noothermusicgenreshouldtakeitsplace.Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyourideas.

SampleEssayThestationmanagerhasassumedthatadeclineinlistenernumbersshouldleadtoachangeinformatatWWAC.Thisisanexecutivedecisionbasedonlackofconcrete evidence. He or shemust find out why listeners are abandoning thestationbeforemakinganydrasticchangesthatcouldfurtheralienatelisteners.Thestationmanagercontradictstheimpactofthepopulationgrowthinthearea.On one hand, he implies that population growth should createmore listeners,but, on the other hand, implies that, because most of the new residents areretirees, he doesn't expect them to become fans of the current format anyway.Despite that, he wants to make listeners of them and feels that changing theformat will do the trick. This could very well alienate the station’s faithfullisteners.

Thismanager associates the low sales of recordedmusicwith a decline inhisstation’s listeners. He further assumes that people have a limited interest inmusicoverall.ThepopularityofMP3playerscontradicts thisassumption.Oneonlyhastowalkdownthehallsofanyhighschoolorthestreetsofanycitytoobservethisphenomenon.Peoplearegoingabouttheirdailyroutineswithwirestrailingfromearbudsthatkeepthemtunedin.Theonlinemusicstore,iTunes,isdoingabriskbusiness,andonecanpreviewandbuymusicfromthecomfortofhome.Satellite radiohascorneredaportionof the listeners,aswell.Newcarscomeequippedwithsatellitereceivers,andsatellitedishesattachedtohomesinevery neighborhood bring every genre ofmusic imaginable into homes acrossthecountry.Thosesatelliteconnectionsandcabletelevisionmaydeliverseveralstationsdevotedtonewsandtalkshows.Localbrick-and-mortarradiostationsfacemanychallenges.They,indeed,mayhavetomakesomeformatadjustments,notonlytoattractnewlisteners,buttokeeptheonesthattheyhave.Thismanagershoulddiscoverthedemographicofthe area. Does one particular culture dominate? Does a large portion of thepopulationspeakSpanishorFrench?Arethereanumberofdevoteesofoperaorclassical music? It could be that the station doesn’t offer enough variety.Switching to a talk formatwould stillmakeWWACaone-note station. If themanager is basing his decision on the popularity of talk shows already beingbroadcast in the area, is hemoving into amarket that is already saturated? Itcertainlywon’tmakeWWACstandoutamongitscompetitors.WWAC’smanagermayneed to revisitwhat hasworked for the station in thepast.Whenwereitslistenernumbersthegreatest?Whatwasthestationdoingatthattime?Wasitrunningapromotion?Werelistenersabletocallinandmakerequestsforspecialsongs?Whendidlistenernumbersbegintodecline?Hasthedecline been gradual or sudden? Are other stations experiencing the samephenomenon?Attheveryleast,thestationmanagershouldconductasurveyofresident’s in the station’s broadcast range to find out their ages, interests, andtastesinmusic.Ifhetuneshislistenersout,theywon’ttuneintoWWAC.

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ArgumentTask13

TopicThe following is a memorandum from the business manager of a televisionstation."Overthepastyear,ourlate-nightnewsprogramhasdevotedincreasedtimetonationalnewsandlesstimetoweatherandlocalnews.Duringthisperiod,mostof the complaints received from viewers were concerned with our station'scoverageofweatherand localnews. Inaddition, localbusinesses thatused toadvertise during our late-night news program have canceled their advertisingcontracts with us. Therefore, in order to attract more viewers to our newsprograms and to avoid losing any further advertising revenues, we shouldexpandourcoverageofweatherandlocalnewsonallournewsprograms."Writearesponse inwhichyouexamine thestatedand/orunstatedassumptionsof the argument. Be sure to explain how the argument depends on theseassumptionsandwhat the implicationsare for theargument if theassumptionsproveunwarranted.NOTE: The above topic has wording similar to Argument Task 8 of GREAnalyticalWritingSolutiontotheRealEssayTopics-Book2.However,ifyoureadcarefullyyouwillnoticethatthetaskinstructionsaredifferent.Hence,itisveryimportanttoreadthetopicaswellasitsinstructionscompletelybeforeyoustarttowriteyourresponse.

StrategiesArgument:Based on a decline in listener numbers, the business manager of a televisionstationhasrecommendedexpandingcoverageofweatherandlocalnewsonallofitsnewsprograms.In developing your response, you must examine the stated and/or unstatedassumptionsof theargumentandhowthesoundnessof theargument relieson

them.

FactsandAssumptions:a)Over the past year, the station has devoted increased time to national newsandlesstimetoweatherandlocalnews.Theassumptionisthatthestationwasrespondingtoviewerdemand.Anadditionalassumptionmightbethatit'seasiertohookuptoanationalnewsfeedthantoproducealocalnewsbroadcast.b) During that time, customers complained about the station's coverage ofweatherandlocalnews.Basedonthepreviousstatement,onemightassumethatcustomerswantmorecoverage.However,customersmaybeunhappywith thetimeslotdevotedtolocalnews.Customersmaysimplynotlikethenewscasters.Theyalsomaybecomplainingabout lackofaccuracy in theweather forecast.Most of the complaints are about news and weather. What are the othercomplaints?c)Localbusinesseshavecanceledadvertisingcontracts for the late-nightnewsbroadcast. It would be easy to assume that advertisers are expressing theirdispleasurewith the late-night news show.On the other hand, theymay haveshiftedtheiradvertisingdollarstoothertimeslots.Theymayhavehadtomakesomeeconomicdecisionsaboutadvertisingdollars.d)Expandinglocalnewsandweatheronallofthestation'snewsprogramswillprevent the lossof furtheradvertising revenues.Thebusinessmanagermaybeincorrectlyassumingthatthisistheonlypointofdissatisfactionwiththestation.Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyourideas.

SampleEssayTelevisionisfacingstiffercompetitionthaneverbeforeinitshistory.Newcablestations are popping up seemingly every day. In consequence, businesses arefaced with deciding how to spend their advertising dollars. Do theymaintaintheirfocusonlocalstationsorspreadthemoneyaroundonthecablenetworksthat their customers alsowatch?Themanagerof the local television station isundertheillusionthatcomplaintsaboutlocalnewsandweathercoveragearehisonly problem. Maintaining that illusion could lead him to make some fataldecisions.

Attracting more viewers may attract more advertising dollars. However, theassumption that increasing weather and local news coverage is the means toattracttheseviewersitmaybeerroneous.Hasthebusinessmanagerspokenwithhis advertisers to find out why they cancelled their contracts? They could belookingforabetterpriceordesireexclusivityintheirtimeslot.Theadvertisersmaynot like thesoundorgraphics that thestationuses in theirads.Therearemanyotherpotentialreasonswhythesecontractswerecancelledthathavelittletodowiththestation’sapproachtonewscoverage.A second assumption arises from viewer complaints. Since most of thecomplaintsareaboutweatherandlocalnewscoverage,themanagerhasdecidedto increase coverage of both on all of the station's news shows. The viewersmightdislikethenewscastersordesiremoreaccuracyintheweatherreport.Thetelevisionmightbe in themiddleof farmcountrywhereaccurateandfrequentweatherreportshaveasignificantimpactonplantingandharvestingschedules.The business manager needs more details about the full nature of the viewercomplaints. Those viewers may not be concerned about the amount of newscoveragebutbythecontent.Theymightappreciatemorehuman-intereststoriesorsegmentsabouthealthorhighschoolsports.Thebusinessmanager'sthinkingmaybe toonarrow in scope.The economyof the areamaybe experiencing adownturn. Advertisers' canceling contracts may have nothing to do withprogrammingandeverythingtodowiththeirownbottomlines.Hasthestationmanager considered discounting the advertising rates in an effort entice thedeserterstoreturn?Theeconomymaybecontributingtothenumberofviewercomplaints.More residentsmaybeunemployedandwatchingmore television.Asaresult, theyaremoreawareofwhat ishappeningontheir local televisionstation.The business manager may mistakenly assume that he can do anything toremedythesituationhefindshimselfin.Thenetworkthatthestationbroadcastsmayhaveanunpopularlineupofshows,andstationsaffiliatedwiththatnetworkaround the county are in the same position. This is beyond the businessmanager'scontrolunlesshecanconvincetheownerstoapplytoanothermajornetwork.

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ArgumentTask14

TopicThefollowingappearedinanarticlewrittenbyDr.Karp,ananthropologist."Twentyyearsago,Dr.Field,anotedanthropologist,visitedtheislandofTertiaandconcludedfromhisobservationsthatchildreninTertiawererearedbyanentirevillagerather thanby theirownbiologicalparents.However,myrecentinterviewswithchildrenlivinginthegroupofislandsthatincludesTertiashowthatthesechildrenspendmuchmoretimetalkingabouttheirbiologicalparentsthan 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 theobservation-centered approach to studying cultures is invalid as well. Theinterview-centeredmethodthatmyteamofgraduatestudentsiscurrentlyusingin Tertia will establish a muchmore accurate understanding of child-rearingtraditionsthereandinotherislandcultures."Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed toevaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken orstrengthentheargument.

StrategiesArgument:Theinterview-centeredmethodwillestablishamoreaccurateunderstandingofchild-rearingtraditionsinTertiarythandidtheobservation-centeredapproach.Indevelopingyourresponse,youareaskedtoidentifyspecificevidencethatDr.Karpneedstosustainthevalidityofhisposition.

FactsandAssumptions:a)Twentyyearsago,Dr.FieldobservedthatchildreninTertiawererearedbyanentirevillageratherthanbytheirownbiologicalparents.

b)Recently,Dr.KarpvisitedthegroupofislandsthatincludesTertiaandusedthe interview-centeredmethod to study child-rearingpractices.Readers of thispassage might assume that he interviewed residents of Tertia to comparepracticesfromtwentyyearsagotothoseoftoday.c) The children interviewed by Dr. Karp spent more time talking about theirbiologicalparentsthanotheradultsinthevillage.Theassumptionisthatchild-rearingpracticesmayhavechangedoverthelasttwentyyearsorthatDr.Field'sconclusionswereincorrect.d) Dr. Karp did conclude that Dr. Field’s conclusions must be invalid. TheassumptionisthatDr.Karp'smethodsyieldmoreaccurateresults.

Questions:a)WhydidDr.Fieldchoosetheobservation-centermethodtostudythepeopleofTertia?Didhehavegoodresultswiththatmethodinpreviousstudies?b)WhatpromptedDr.Karptovisit thisgroupofislands?DidheactuallyvisitandinterviewtheresidentsofTertia?c)What typesofquestionsdidDr.Karpusewith thechildrenhe interviewed?Didheaskthemaboutalladults,ordidherestricthisquestionstothoseabouttheirparents?d) Have child-rearing practices changed in the twenty years between the twovisits?Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyourideas.

SampleEssayEversinceMargaretMeadjourneyedtostudytheSamoansin theearlypartofthe twentieth century, anthropologists have continued to investigate the socialmoresofremotegroupsaroundtheworld.Eachanthropologistisboundtohaveapreferredmethodforconfutingresearch,andtheymayalternatethosemethodsdependingonwhataspectoftheculturetheyareinvestigating.ToevaluateDr.Karp'srecommendation,thereaderrequiresevidencethathisinterview-centeredmethodissuperiortoDr.Field'sobservation-centeredapproach.The first piece of evidence should reveal the purpose of each anthropologist'svisittotheareaofTertia.ItisnotevenclearthatDr.KarpactuallyvisitedTertia

itself. The passage implies that each of them purposely studied child-rearingpractices since nomention ismadeof other results.However, it could be thatthoseresultsareancillarytotherealpurposeofeachvisit.Thestudiesmayhavehad a broader scope than is revealed in this passage. In addition, if Dr. KarppursuedthisstudyinreactiontothedatahesawfromDr.Field’swork,hemayhave made assumptions about the study’s conclusions that would bias hisexperimentaldesign.Dr. Karp currently has a team of graduate students using the interview-basedmethod to study child-rearing practices in Tertia. The content of an interviewcanbedesigned toelicit specific typesof responses.Do thequestions lead thechildren of Tertia to talk about their parents rather than other adults on theisland?There isaworldofdifferencebetweenasking, "Whendoyourparentsfeedyou?"and"Whendoyoueatyourmeals?"Arethegraduatestudentsusingquestions developed by Dr. Karp, or have they created their own questions?Grad students may not have enough experience to write questions that areobjective.TwentyyearshavepassedsinceDr.FieldvisitedandobservedtheresidentsofTertia.Isthereevidenceofanyoutsideinfluencesonvillagelifesincehisvisit?Therapidgrowthoftechnologyhascreatedtheglobalvillage,anditisdifficulttoimaginethatTertiahasnotbeen,atleasttangentially,affected.Satelliteshavemade access to theWorldWideWebpossible fromvirtually anywhereon theglobe.Cellular phones areubiquitous. It is evenpossible thatDr.Field's visit,itself,influencedthebehavioroftheTertians.Infact,itwouldbeunrealistictobelievethatchild-rearingpracticeshaveremainedstaticanywhere.Theonepieceof evidence that is clear is thatDr.Karpwrote the article. It isdoubtfulthatthisanthropologisthasmaintainedanobjectivepointofviewwhilecontrasting the tworesearchmethods.Anopiniondeliveredbyascientistwithnovestedinterestintheoutcomemightbethestrongestevidenceforevaluatingthestrengthoftheargument.

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ArgumentTask15

TopicAccordingtoarecentreport,cheatingamongcollegeanduniversitystudentsison the rise. However, Groveton College has successfully reduced studentcheating by adopting an honor code, which calls for students to agree not tocheatintheiracademicendeavorsandtonotifyafacultymemberiftheysuspectthat others have cheated. Groveton's honor code replaced a system in whichteachers closely monitored students; under that system, teachers reported anaverageofthirtycasesofcheatingperyear.Inthefirstyearthehonorcodewasin place, students reported twenty-one cases of cheating; five years later, thisfigure had dropped to fourteen. Moreover, in a recent survey, a majority ofGrovetonstudentssaidthattheywouldbelesslikelytocheatwithanhonorcodein place than without. Thus, all colleges and universities should adopt honorcodessimilartoGroveton'sinordertodecreasecheatingamongstudents.Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to beanswered inorder todecidewhether therecommendationand theargumentonwhich it is based are reasonable.Be sure to explain how the answers to thesequestionswouldhelptoevaluatetherecommendation.NOTE: The above topic has wording similar to Argument Task 7 of GREAnalyticalWritingSolutiontotheRealEssayTopics-Book1.However,ifyoureadcarefullyyouwillnoticethatthetaskinstructionsaredifferent.Hence,itisveryimportanttoreadthetopicaswellasitsinstructionscompletelybeforeyoustarttowriteyourresponse.

StrategiesArgument:Thewriter recommends thatall collegesanduniversitiesadoptanhonorcodesimilartoGroveton's.Indevelopingyourresponse,youaredirectedtodiscusswhatquestionsneedtobeansweredbeforeothercollegesacceptthisrecommendation.

Beginbyidentifyingthefactsandassumptionsinthepassage.

FactsandAssumptions:a)Cheatingamongcollegestudentsisincreasing.Thisreportedfactshouldleadcollegestotakesomeactiontocurtailcheating.TheassumptionaccompanyingthisfactisthatGroveton'spolicyprovidesthemeanstoachievethis.b)Grovetonhassuccessfullyreducedcheating.Thewriterassumesthatthisisaresultofthehonorcode.c)Thecurrenthonorcode replaced teachermonitoringof students.The readermight assume that teachermonitoring became ineffective or burdensome. Theadministrationmay havewanted students to takemore responsibility for theirownlearning.d)Undertheoldsystem,professorsreportedanaverageof30casesofcheatingperyear.Thereadershouldassumethatinsomeyearsthereweremorecasesofcheating,and,inotheryears,therewerefewerthanthirtycases.e) In the firstyearof thenewerpolicy,students reported21casesofcheating.Theassumptionis that therewaslesscheatingimmediatelyfollowingadoptionofthenewpolicy.Itisbetterthanthepreviouspractice.f)Fiveyearsafteradoptingthenewpolicy,therewere14casesofcheating.Theassumption is that there has been a steady decline in the number of cheatingcases.Thisassumptionsupportstheadministration'sadoptionofthenewpolicy.g)Studentsreportthattheyarelesslikelytocheatwithanhonorcodeinplace.Thereaderassumesthatanhonorcodeisthebestwaytopreventordecreasetheincidenceofcheating.

Questions:a)Whydocollegestudentscheat?Whichstudentscheat?Somestudentmayfeelgreaterpressuretoachieveatahighlevelatsomecolleges.Studentsmayhaveheavy, challengingcourse loads thatprevent them fromcompleting theirworkunlesstheycheat.b)WhydidGrovetonadoptanhonorcodetoreplaceteachermonitoring?Whoseideawasit?Wasthechangebasedonresearch?c) How many cases of cheating were there every year that the teachersmonitoredthestudents?Whatwasthelownumber?Thehighnumber?

d)Howmanycasesof cheatingwere reported inyears2,3, and4of thenewsystem?Theremayhavebeenenoughcasestocreateanaveragesimilartothatoftheoldsystem.e)Whydostudentssaytheyarelesslikelytocheatwithanhonorcodeinplace?Whatquestionsweretheyasked?Weretheyaskediftheypreferanhonorcodetoteachermonitoring?Consideringhow thesequestionsmight be answeredwill help you to evaluatethesoundnessoftherecommendation.Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyourideas.

SampleEssayWhy do students cheat? They do it at every level: elementary school throughcollegeand from themostgifted to themostchallengedstudents.Howdoesaschoolpreventcheatingonthepartofitsstudents?GrovetonCollegeclaimstohavecreatedatoolthatdecreasesthenumberofcheatingincidentsbystudentsonitscampus.AtGrovetonCollege,studentsessentiallymonitorthemselvesbyadheringtoarecentlyinstitutedhonorcode.Underthissystem,studentsagreetoavoid cheating and to report suspected cases of cheating to a facultymember.BeforeanothercollegeadoptsGroveton’spolicy, theadministrationshouldaskwhy Groveton changed from its former practice of having teachers closelymonitortheirstudents.Istheresomeacademicresearchthatprovestheefficacyof honor codes and peer reporting? Has Groveton responded to a petition byeitherorbothitsteachersandstudents?The reported decline in the number of reported cheating incidents seemsimpressiveonthesurface.Anothercollegelookingatthesestatisticsmayagreethatanhonorcodeisthepolicytocreateonitsowncampus.Thatschoolwouldbeadvisedtolookfurtherintothenumbers.Thereportcitedrevealsanaveragenumberof cases reportedwhen teachersweremonitoring students but omits ayearlyaveragefortheyearssincethehonorcodehasbeeninplace.Duringthefirst year of the new practice, students reported twenty-one cases of cheating,andinthemostrecentyearonlyfourteencases.ItwouldbeeasytoassumethattherehasbeenasteadydeclineincheatingatGrovetonCollege.Whatwerethenumbersduring the interveningyears? It is possible that thosenumbers,when

added to the first and last years’ totals could average thirty, the same yearlyaverageundertheoldsystemofmonitoring.Groveton has taken the additional step of surveying its students about theeffectivenessofthenewhonorcode.Studentsreportthattheyarelesslikelytocheatwithanhonorcodeinplacethanwithout.Didthesurveyaskaboutotherpractices used to curtail cheating? Is an honor code preferable because theconsequences are less severe? Did Groveton change the consequences forcheatingwhenitallowedstudentstoselfreport?It isentirelypossiblethatthisresponse isbiasedbya fearofnegativeconsequences resulting fromcheating,makingstudentsunwillingtoadmittheirtruepropensitytodoso.Colleges and universities agonize over the amount of cheating on theircampuses.Inresponsetothereportthatsayscheatingisontherise,acollegeoruniversity may be willing to try anything that appears to have some success.Reportingincidentsofcheatingissimilartoclosingthebarndoorafterthehorsehas escaped. The cheating has already occurred. Any institution of higherlearning might be better served by discovering why students cheat. Are thecourse loads and work requirements too cumbersome? Is there too muchpressuretosucceedatahighlevel?Istheretoomuchcompetitiontobeadmittedto graduate school or to get a good job? Society itself may have created anenvironmentconducive tocheatingbydemanding that its collegegraduatesbethebestandthebrightest.Before accepting the recommendation to adopt Groveton’s honor code, othercolleges and universities should demand more information and scrutinize thepractices that theyhave inplace.Perhaps thebest courseofaction is stoppingcheatingbeforeitoccurs.Anounceofpreventionisworthapoundofcure.

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ArgumentTask16

TopicThefollowingappearedinamemorandumfromtheplanningdepartmentofanelectricpowercompany."Several recent surveys indicate that home owners are increasingly eager toconserve energy. At the same time, manufacturers are now marketing manyhome appliances, such as refrigerators and air conditioners, that are almosttwiceasenergyefficientasthosesoldadecadeago.Also,newtechnologiesforbetterhomeinsulationandpassivesolarheatingarereadilyavailabletoreducetheenergyneededforhomeheating.Therefore,thetotaldemandforelectricityinourareawillnotincrease-andmaydeclineslightly.Sinceourthreeelectricgenerating plants in operation for the past twenty years have alwaysmet ourneeds,constructionofnewgeneratingplantswillnotbenecessary.Writearesponse inwhichyouexamine thestatedand/orunstatedassumptionsof the argument. Be sure to explain how the argument depends on theseassumptionsandwhat the implicationsare for theargument if theassumptionsproveunwarranted.

StrategiesArgument:Becauseoftheavailabilityofenergy-savingappliancesandnewtechnologyforbetterhomeinsulationandheating,thecurrentpowerplantswillnotneedtobereplaced.Indevelopingyourresponse,youareasked toexamine thestatedandunstatedassumptions in the argument and explain how the arguments depend on theassumptions’soundnesstosustaintheargument.

FactsandAssumptions:a) Surveys show that homeowners are increasingly eager to conserve energy.The assumption derived from this fact is that the home owners will conserve

energyandwilltakestepstomakethatpossible.b)Manymanufacturersareproducinghomeappliancesthatarealmosttwiceasenergy-efficientasthosesoldadecadeago.Thewriterassumesthatconsumers,inanefforttoreducetheirenergyconsumption,willbuythesenewappliances.Appliancesareabigexpense.Howlongwillittakethehomeownerstorecoupthe cost of the appliances through energy savings? Homeowners are likely tokeep a new appliance formore than ten years, so if they bought their currentinefficientappliancesjustbeforemanufacturerschangedtheirdesigns,theymaynotbereadyfornewones.c)Newtechnologiesexistforbetterhomeinsulationandpassivesolarheating.Again,thewriterassumesthathomeownersaregoingtoinstallnewinsulationorpassivesolarheatingdevices.Thecost/returnfactormaycomeintoplayhere,aswell.d)The total demand for electricity in the areawill not increase.This assumesthat nonew factorieswill be built and that nonew residentswillmove to thearea.Every existing conditionwould have to remain the same for demand forelectricitytoremainthesame.e) The current three electricity-generating plants have served the needs of theareafor twentyyearsandwillnothave tobereplaced.Theassumptionhere isthatthesetwenty-year-oldplantshavetechnologythatwillcontinuetoproduceelectricityefficiently.Again,thisassumptionisbasedonzero-populationgrowthandindustryandbusinessremainingwhatitistoday.Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyourideas.

SampleEssayThismemorandumclaimsthatthereisnoneedtoconstructmoreelectricplantsdue to an increased interest from the local population in energy conservation.Theclaimsinthismemorandumrelyonseveralassumptionsbeingcorrect,andthe writer uses some facts about energy use in the area to support theseassumptions. This writer is also relying on the behavior of others to make arecommendation for the future of the electric company. In reality, the onlybehavioronecanpredictishisown.

Building a new electricity-generating plant is expensive and time-consuming.Most companies would rather avoid having to do so. The writer in this caseappears to have done some research to support his proposition that the threeexisting plants will be sufficient into the future. The first fact derives from asurvey that reports home owners’ desires to conserve energy. Thewriter doesnot sayhowhomeowners plan to accomplish that, nor does it reveal inwhichareas they want to save that energy. Do they want to reduce their electricityusage, or cut back on the amount of heating fuel they consume? They maydecideto installawoodorpelletstovetoheat theirhomesinsteadofreducingtheirelectricityuse.Thewritergoesontocitethemoveonthepartsofmanufacturestoproduceandmarketmoreenergy-efficientappliancesasarationaleformaintainingthestatusquo.Itisprobablytrueineverycase,that,whenconsumerstodayshopfornewappliances,theylookfortheenergystarandnodwithsatisfactionwhenbuyingarefrigerator thatusesonly$60.00worthof electricity eachyear. In calculatingtheirsavings,theymustdeterminehowmanyyearsitwilltaketorecoupthecostofthatnewrefrigerator,which,inmostcases,willcostupwardsof$1000.Ifthebenefitisn’tgreatenough,theymaypostponethatpurchase.Thosebuildingnewhomesmay opt for those new appliances, but the planning department wouldneed to know how much of their total energy usage is demanded by newconstruction. In addition, new technologies in the insulation and passive solarheatingsectorhaveencouragedtheplanningdepartmenttoestimatelessorstaticenergy demand from their current generators.Retrofitting older homes to takeadvantage of these new technologies is expensive, and homeownerswill onceagaincalculatethecost/savingsratiobeforemakingthosechanges.Passivesolartechnologyisonlyeffectiveinanareawithsufficientsunlight.Isthattrueoftheareawherethisenergycompanyoperates?After considering the availability of appliances and technologies available toconsumers who want to reduce their energy use, the planning committee hasconcludedthatenergyusewillnotincreaseandmayevendeclineinthefuture.This conclusion precludes any type of growth in the area. For energy use toremainstatic,nonewfactoriesorhomescouldbebuilt.Incontradictiontothisidea is the likelihood that local town and city planners are recruiting newbusinessesandfamiliestomovetotheircommunities.The final solutionproposedby theplanningdepartment is to foregoanyplansfor a new power plant and to remain with the three existing plants that have

served them well for the past twenty years. This proposal relies on theassumptions’having sound foundationsand the lackofgrowth in thearea.Topresume that twenty-year-oldmachinerywill not need upgrading or replacingcouldleadtounsoundfinancialdecisiononthepartofthepowercompany.Thecharge thiswriter shouldbemaking to thepower company is to actprudentlyandplanforfuturegrowth.

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ArgumentTask17

TopicThevicepresidentofhumanresourcesatClimpsonIndustriessentthefollowingrecommendationtothecompany'spresident."In an effort to improve our employees' productivity, we should implementelectronic monitoring of employees' Internet use from their workstations.EmployeeswhousetheInternetfromtheirworkstationsneedtobeidentifiedandpunished if we are to reduce the number of work hours spent on personal orrecreational activities, such as shopping or playing games. By installingsoftware to detect employees' Internet use on company computers, we canprevent employees fromwasting time, foster a better work ethic at Climpson,andimproveouroverallprofits."Writearesponse inwhichyouexamine thestatedand/orunstatedassumptionsof the argument. Be sure to explain how the argument depends on theseassumptionsandwhat the implicationsare for theargument if theassumptionsproveunwarranted.

StrategiesArgument:Monitoring employees’ Internet usewill improveproductivity by keeping themfrom wasting time on personal and recreational activities. The result will beincreasedcompanyprofits.

Assumptions:a)ClimpsonIndustrieshasassumedthatitsemployeesareusingtheInternetforpersonal business. How did this suspicion arise? Has Climpson heard thiscomplaintfromotherbusinesses?b) They have also assumed that personal Internet use has caused a loss inproductivity. If employees are not as productive as the company would like,

theremaybereasonsotherthanInternetuse.Doesthecompanyprovideongoingtraining?Incentivesforincreasedproductivity?c)MonitoringInternetusewillimprovecompanyprofits.d)Employeesarewastingtime.Istheresufficientmeaningfulworktokeepthembusythroughouttheworkday?e) Employees have a poor work ethic. Has this been demonstrated byemployees’ arriving late forwork or leaving early?Do they call in sick on aregularbasis?f) Punishment will increase productivity. This is rarely the case. Positivereinforcementorincentivesaremorelikelytoincreaseproductivity.Employeesneed to know what’s in it for them. Punishment is generally a short-termsolution.Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyourideas.

SampleEssayClimpson Industries, to improve its overall profits, is proposing tomonitor itsemployees'Internetuse.Althoughthereappearstobenoconcreteevidence,thecompany assumes that its employees are wasting time on the Internet forpersonal and recreational activities during work hours. The vice president ofhumanresources is suggestingaBigBrotherapproach toensure thatcompanyemployeesaredoingwhatthey’resupposedtobedoingintheworkplace.ThecompanyassumesthatitsemployeesareusingtheInternetforpersonalandrecreationalactivities.Simplyasking theemployeesabout Internetusemaybemoreefficaciousthanassumingtheworst?Doneinarespectfulandprofessionalmanner,aninterviewwitheachemployeemayconfirmorbelaythecompany’ssuspicions. A lack of productivity would result in deadlines being missed ororders being left unfilled. Is that happening at Climpson? If not, then currentproductivityisnotinquestion.Ifthecompanyseekstoimproveproductivity,itwoulddosoinresponsetoanincreaseddemandforitsproductsorservices.Inconjunctionwiththeassumedlackofproductivityisthebeliefthatemployeesarewasting time.Do theemployeeshaveenoughmeaningfulwork to fill theirdays? If current quotas are being met, the employees must be workingefficiently. If they have time towaste, it is because their time is not filled by

employerdemands.Theadditionalassumptionofapoorworkethicwouldalsobereflectedinworkgoingundone.Employeeswithapoorworkethicareapttocallinsick,arrivelatetowork,takeextendedlunchbreaks,and/orleaveearlyattheendof theday. If suchbehaviorexistsatClimpson Industries, itwouldbeblatantlyobviousandeasytocheckbyreviewingtimecards.Thedesire topunishtheslackersonthecompanypayroll iscounterproductive.What form would the punishment take that would not have deleteriousconsequences for the company itself? It would, in the long term, causediscontentanddissatisfactionwiththemanagers.Knowledgeableandprofitableemployers know that incentives are a more effective means of increasingproductivity and employee loyalty. In turn, company profits are likely toincrease.The changes in technology over the past couple of decades have created newchallengesforbusiness.Aproactiveapproachwouldbetoadoptpoliciesbeforeimplementing changes. Does Climpson Industries have a policy manual thatoutlineswhatareandarenotacceptableactivitiesregardingInternetuse?Whenthe rules are clear, employees will generally have no trouble obeying them.RatherthantakingontheroleofBigBrother,themanagementwouldbebetterserved by acting as coaches and leading their employees and, concomitantly,theircompanytogreatersuccess.

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ArgumentTask18

TopicThefollowingappearedinamemorandumfromtheownerofMoviesGalore,achainofmovie-rentalstores."Because of declining profits, we must reduce operating expenses at MoviesGalore's tenmovie-rentalstores.Raisingprices isnotagoodoption,sincewearefamousforourlowprices.Instead,weshouldreduceouroperatinghours.LastmonthourstoreindowntownMarstonreduceditshoursbyclosingat6:00p.m. rather than 9:00 p.m. and reduced its overall inventory by no longerstocking anyDVD releasedmore than five years ago. Sincewehave receivedvery few customer complaints about these new policies,we should now adoptthem at all other Movies Galore stores as our best strategies for improvingprofits."Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed toevaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken orstrengthentheargument.

StrategiesAgood place to start your analysis is by creating a statement that reveals themainideaoftheargument.Althoughthewriteriscreatinganargument,hemayultimately be stating a position, making a recommendation, or making aprediction.Itmaybehelpfulforyoutodeterminewhichoftheseformatsismostevidentintheargument.The owner of Movies Galore predicts that cost-saving measures taken at thedowntownMarston locationwill prove successful in his other stores and seesreducinghoursaspreferabletoincreasingtheirfamouslylowprices.

Assumptions:a)Reducingoperatingexpenseswillincreaseprofits.b)RaisingpriceswillhaveanegativeeffectonMovieGalore'sreputation.

c)What has worked for the downtownMarston store will work in the otherlocations.d)MeasurestakeninthedowntownMarstonstorehaveincreasedprofits.e)Customershaveadaptedtothechangesinthedowntownstore.f)CustomerschooseMoviesGalorebecauseofitslowprice.g)Theownercanmakechangesthatwillaffectthestores'profitability.

Evidenceneededtoevaluatetheargument:a)Howotheroperatingexpenseshave increasedordecreased in theyears thatMoviesGalorehasbeeninoperation?b)HowMovieGalore'spricescomparetothoseofothersimilarbusinesses?c)WhypeopleshopatMoviesGalore?d) How the changes at the downtown Marston store have affected itsprofitability?e)CustomercountbeforeandafterthechangesindowntownMarstonstore.f)Whattimesofthedayarebusiest?g) How services such as Netflix or Red Box and the availability of cable orsatellitestationsaffectmoviesGalore?After completing these steps, you should have enough material to write youranalysis.Remember that you are not creating a positionof your own; you areevaluating the strengths andweaknesses of the existing argument.Youdonothavetoincludeallofthepointsthatyouhavecreatedinyourprewriting.Infact,duringtheprocessofdraftingyouranalysis,otherideasmaycometomind,and,iftheystrengthenyouranalysis,youshouldincludethem.

SampleEssayDeclining profits are a concern for any business, and Movies Galore is noexception. The owner of this chain of stores has taken some steps in thedowntown Marston location that he believes should be applied at the otherlocations to reduce expenses and increaseprofits.Before rushing to judgment,thisownershouldevaluateseveralfactors.Withoutsufficientevidence,heorshemaymakeafatalmistake.Itmaybethatthetypeofinventoryandlengthofthebusinessdaycontributetothe lackof profitability, but other operating expensesmust not be overlooked.

The ownermust examine fixed expenses such as utilities, insurance, rent, andcontributionstoretirementaccountsandcomparethecostofeachtotheircostinprevious years. The fixed expensesmay have increased. A business owner ispowerlesswhenitcomestoelectricityratesorthecostofheatingfuel.Heorsheshould also consider anyunexpected, one-time cashoutlays that have affectedthebottomline.Oneof thestoresmayhaveneededanewheatingsystemoranew roof. Perhaps the stores needed to build ramps to comply with theAmericanswithDisabilitiesAct.Withoutacomprehensivefinancialpicture,theownermaymakechangesthatcouldleadtofurtherfinancialdeclineforMoviesGalore.The owner assumes that Movies Galore's low prices are a big draw for thebusiness.Thatmaybe true,but it is justas likely that theconvenienthoursofoperationmake his business popular. It should be simple to determine whichhours of operation are the busiest in each location.The downtown location inMarstonmaythrivebyclosingatsix,butmallorsuburbanlocationsmaybenefitfrom staying open later. Keeping low prices and cutting back hours may becounterproductive.Howdohispricescomparewiththoseofhiscompetitors?Hemay be able to raise his prices and keep them lower than theirs. Withoutoperating hours that are convenient for each location, this businessmay see adecline in patronage. In some cases, hemay be able to open later rather thanclose earlier. In addition, the owner has changed the stores' inventory byeliminatingDVDsthatwerereleasedmorethanfiveyearsago.ChancesarethatthoseolderDVDscostlesstopurchasethannewreleases,enablingtheownertochargelessforthem.Insomeofthechain'slocations,oldermoviesmaybeverypopular,and,byeliminatingthem,thestorescouldlosecustomers.There are several reasons for the owner of Movies Galore to re-evaluate hisdecisiontolimitstockedfilmsandstorehours.Whileachangeinthecompany’sbusinessmodelmaybeneeded,thischangeshouldreflecttheneedsanddesiresofthelocalcustomers.Bydisregardingtheseneeds,theownerriskssendinghiscompanyintofurtherfinancialruin.

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ArgumentTask19

TopicThefollowingappearedinalettertotheeditorofalocalnewspaper."Commuters complain that increased rush-hour traffic on Blue Highwaybetweenthesuburbsandthecitycenterhasdoubledtheircommutingtime.Thefavored proposal of the motorists' lobby is to widen the highway, adding anadditionallaneoftraffic.Butlastyear'sadditionofalanetothenearbyGreenHighwaywasfollowedbyaworseningoftrafficjamsonit.Abetteralternativeis to add a bicycle lane to Blue Highway. Many area residents are keenbicyclists.Abicyclelanewouldencouragethemtousebicyclestocommute,andsowouldreducerush-hourtrafficratherthanfosteringanincrease."Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed toevaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken orstrengthentheargument.

StrategiesArgument:Based on the results of adding an additional lane to theGreenHighway, thewriterarguesthataddingabikelanetotheBlueHighwayisabetteralternativetoanadditionaltrafficlane.

ClaimsandAssumptions:a)ThewriterclaimsthatcommutingtimebetweenthesuburbsandthecityhavedoubledontheBlueHighway.Theassumptionisthatthehighwaydoesnothavesufficient lanes to handle the volume of traffic.Another assumptionmight bethatmorevehiclesthanbeforearetravelingonthisroadduringrushhours.Thereaderneedstoknowwhythereisanapparentincreaseintraffic.Hastherebeenaninterruptioninpublictransportation?Arefewercommuterscarpooling?DidaParkandRideclose?Isalloftherush-hourtrafficattributedtopeoplegoingtoandfromwork?Hasanattemptbeenmadetoactuallycountthecars?

b) The writer also claims that, since the addition of a lane on the GreenHighway,therehavebeenworseningtrafficjams.Theassumptionhereisthatanadditionallanemayhavebeenthecauseofthetrafficjams.Oneislefttowonderwhy there appears to be increased traffic difficulties on both highways. DotrafficjamscontinuetobeaproblemonGreenHighway?c)Manyarearesidentsarebicycleenthusiasts.Thewriterassumesthat,iftherewere a bike lane,many of those cyclistswould ride their bikes towork. Cancommuterstravelinthismanneryear-round?Willtheybiketoworkintherain?Whataboutwhenthedaysareshorterandtheymusttravelinthedark?Arethereenough places to store or park bikes safely during thework day?Which arearesidentsarekeenbicyclists?Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyourideas.

SampleEssayThe writer of this editorial is expressing his opinion about a way to relieveapparenttrafficjamsonBlueHighway.Eitherthewriterorpeoplehehasspokento complain that commuting time between the suburbs and the city center hasdoubled.Themotorists’ lobby proposes adding a lane to the highway, but thewriter,citingtroubleonGreenHighwaysinceitaddedalaneforcars,suggeststhat a bike lanewould be a better solution to the problem onBlueHighway.Decision makers need more evidence about the traffic situation on bothhighwaysbeforeoptingforeitherchoice.Thereaderassumesthatadoublingofcommutingtimemustmeanadoublingofthe number of cars traveling onBlueHighway.An increase in the number ofvehicles may be partially responsible, but it could be that the highwaydepartment reduced the speed on the highway as well.Where have the extravehicles come from? The decision makers may discover that another trafficarteryispartiallyorcompletedclosedforconstruction,andtheincreasedtrafficmaybetemporary.Comparing Blue Highway’s problems to those of Green Highway inunproductive.The two roads carry traffic fromdifferent areas and,maybe, fordifferentpurposes.Tosupporttheadditionofabikelane,thewritermustpresentevidence that bike lanes effectively reduce automobile traffic in cities where

there is a large volume of commuters. That should be a simple matter ofcontactingotherurbanareasthathavebikelanesusedbycommuters.Forcommuters toagree thatbiking isasuitablealternative todriving towork,theywillneedevidenceofsecurityfortheirbikesinthecity.Aretherenoworwill therebe in thefuturefacilitieswherebicyclistscansafelypark theirbikesduring theworkday.Theyalsomightneedsomeincentive toridebikesratherthandrivecarstoworkeachday.Whathaveothercitiesdoneifanything?Afterall, these cyclists are helping to reduce pollution and rush-hour traffic jams.Shouldn’ttherebesomereward?Hastheauthorsurveyedcycliststodeterminetheir number and their willingness to commute by bike? Has he checked ameteorological survey to discover how many days a year, on average, aresuitablefortravelingbybike?Can this writer provide evidence that the city can save construction costs byaddingbikelanesratherthananotherlaneforvehicles?Onemightimaginethatthespecifications forabike lanewouldbe lessonerous than that fora laneoftraffic expected to carry thousands of passenger cars and heavy commercialvehicles.Becausebikes travel in the samedirectionasmotorizedvehicles, thecitywouldneed tobuilda laneoneachsideof thehighway. Is there roomonbothsidesofthehighwayforabikelane?Inaculturethathasacontinuingloveaffairwiththeautomobile,theauthorwillneed a raft of evidence to support the building of bike lanes rather than anadditional lane for cars and trucks. He also needs evidence to show how anadditional lane for vehicles is not the answer to alleviating the commuterdilemmasonBlueHighway.

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ArgumentTask20

TopicThefollowingappearedinamemofromthevicepresidentofafooddistributioncompanywithfoodstoragewarehousesinseveralcities."Recently, we signed a contract with the Fly-Away Pest Control Company toprovidepestcontrolservicesatour fast-foodwarehouse inPalmCity,but lastmonthwediscoveredthatover$20,000worthoffoodtherehadbeendestroyedbypestdamage.Meanwhile,theBuzzoffPestControlCompany,whichwehaveusedformanyyears,continuedtoserviceourwarehouseinWintervale,andlastmonthonly$10,000worthof the foodstored therehadbeendestroyedbypestdamage.EventhoughthepricechargedbyFly-Awayisconsiderablylower,ourbest means of saving money is to return to Buzzoff for all our pest controlservices."Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed toevaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken orstrengthentheargument.

StrategiesAgood place to start your analysis is by creating a statement that reveals themainideaoftheargument.Althoughthewriteriscreatinganargument,hemayultimately be stating a position, making a recommendation, or making aprediction.Itmaybehelpfulforyoutodeterminewhichoftheseformatsismostevidentintheargument.AsaresultoffoodspoilageinthePalmCitywarehouse,thevicepresidentofthecompanyrecommendsareturntousingBuzzoffpestcontrolservices.

Assumptions:a)Conditionsatbothwarehousesareidentical.b)Thesametypeofpestispresentatbothwarehouses.c)Thefoodstoredinbothwarehousesisequallyattractivetopests.

d) Both warehouses are the same size and require the same amount of pest-controlproduct.e) The higher cost of Buzzoff services will be offset by a reduction in foodspoilage.f)Theamountofthelossisgreaterthaninpreviousyears.

Evidenceneededtoevaluatetheargument:a)Thetypesoffoodstoredateachfacilityb)Thetypesofpestspresentateachfacilityc)Otherconditionsthatmayhaveresultedinspoilaged)WhythecompanydecidedtouseadifferentcompanyforitsfacilityinPalmCitye)Howmuchfoodisstoredateachwarehouse?f)ThepercentageofthefoodthatwasspoiledateachwarehouseAfter completing these steps, you should have enough material to write youranalysis.Remember that you are not creating a positionof your own; you areevaluating the strengths andweaknesses of the existing argument.Youdonothavetoincludeallofthepointsthatyouhavecreatedinyourprewriting.Infact,duringtheprocessofdraftingyouranalysis,otherideasmaycometomind,and,iftheystrengthenyouranalysis,youshouldincludethem.

SampleEssayFoodisperishable.Itmustbestoredatcorrecttemperaturesandhumidity.Evenwhenthoseconditionsaremanagedcorrectly,pestsarestillathreat.Somemayarrivewiththefoodfromitscountryoforigin,whileothersinvadeatitsarrivalpoint. This company has hired two companies to control the pests at itswarehouses,and,accordingtothemanager,onehasbeenmoresuccessful thantheother.BeforetheownersofthecompanytakethesuggestiontoreturnallofthepestcontroltoBuzzoff,theyneedmoreevidenceofFlyAway'sinabilitytokeeptheirproductsfreefrompests.First, the owners should knowwhat prompted the switch to FlyAway. TheremightbeevidencethatBuzzoffhadnotbeenassuccessfulinPalmCityastheyhad been in previous years or in the company's other locations. BuzzoffmayhavebeentoobusytocontinueservicingthePalmCitywarehouseandmaynotevenbeabletodosoifaskedinthefuture.Ontheotherhand,FlyAwaymay

haveapproachedthefoodcompanyandmadepromisesthattheycouldnotkeep.Ifthatisthecase,thecompanyisjustifiedinreturningtoBuzzoff.Some foods are more susceptible to invasions of pests. The strength of therecommendationmayrestonknowingthetypesoffoodateachlocation.PalmCitystoresfastfood,buttheargumentdoesnotrevealwhattypeoffastfood.Infact,ifthiswarehouseprovidesstorageforgroundbeef,temperature,ratherthanpestswouldbethelikelyculpritforspoilage.FlyAwaymayhavebeeneffectiveineliminatingpests,butarefrigerationproblemwouldcausethebacteriaalreadypresentingroundmeattocauseitsbreakdown.ThewarehouseinPalmCitymayhavesomestructuraldamagethatcouldallowpestslikeratsorraccoonstogetintothebuildingandfeastontheproductwithin.FlyAwaymaynothavebeeninstructed to poison or trap these critters. The warehouse in Wintervale maystorefrozenfoodexclusively,sopestsarenotabigproblem.The$10,000losscouldhaveresultedfromamalfunctioninaunitorevenanissuewithadeliverytruck.On the other hand, bothwarehousesmay be perfectlymaintained, storethesametypeoffood,andFlyAwaydidaninferiorjobatpestcontrolinPalmCity.Itwouldbeimportanttoknowhowmuchfoodisstoredateachwarehouse.The argument provides the dollar amount of loss at each location, but not thepercentage of total inventory lost to pests. It appears that the $10,000 loss inWintervaleisnotasalarmingasthe$20,000lossinPalmCity.If,however,thePalm City warehouse stores $200,000 worth of product, and the Wintervalewarehousestores$100,000worthofproduct,thepercentageoflossisthesame.Companies that deal with perishable merchandise usually have some level ofacceptableloss,butthatinformationisnotpresentintheargument.Infact,theymayhavehadbiggerlosseslastyear.Thisyear'slosstopestsmightbeaverage.Environmental anomalies could account for Fly Away's apparent failure toprotect the food stored in the Palm City warehouse. Temperatures may havebeenmuchhigherorlowerthanusual.Theremayhavebeensignificantlymorerain or humidity. Some insect populations are cyclical. Fly Away may havecontracted to do the job for a specific price that was suitable for averageconditions. If the conditions were extraordinary in some way, any companywould have found it difficult or impossible to prevent the loss. Additionally,conditionsinWintervalemayhavebeenmorefavorablethannormal,helpingtomakethelosstheresignificantlysmaller.The loss of product in either or both warehouses may have been beyond thecompany's control regardless of which pest service it used. The pest problem

may have originatedwith the company's suppliers. The vice president doesn'trevealifheoroneofhismanagersdecidedtobuyproductfromanewsupplier.Ifthelosstopeststhisyearisunacceptable,thecompanyneedsclearerevidencethatFlyAwayratherthansomeothercontingencyisthecause.ItmayturnoutthatFlyAwayisanexcellentchoiceforpestcontrol,andtheeasiestwaytosavemoneyistousethemforallthecompany'swarehouses.

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ArgumentTask21

TopicThe following appeared as a recommendation by a committee planning a ten-yearbudgetforthecityofCalatrava."Thebirthrateinourcityisdeclining:infact,lastyear'sbirthratewasonlyone-half thatof fiveyearsago.Thus thenumberof studentsenrolled inourpublicschools will soon decrease dramatically, and we can safely reduce the fundsbudgetedforeducationduringthenextdecade.Atthesametime,wecanreducefunding forathleticplaying fieldsandotherrecreational facilities.Asaresult,wewillhavesufficientmoneytofundcityfacilitiesandprogramsusedprimarilybyadults,sincewecanexpecttheadultpopulationofthecitytoincrease."Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed toevaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken orstrengthentheargument.

StrategiesArgument:Because of declining birthrates, the city can redirect funds it has habituallyspentonfacilitiesforyoungpeopletoprogramsforadults.In developing your response, youmust determinewhat evidence the planningcommitteeneedstouncoverbeforemakingitsfinalbudgetdecisionsforthenextten-yearcycle.

FactsandAssumptions:a)Lastyear'sbirthratewashalfofthatfiveyearsago.Theassumptionisthatthebirthratehasbeendecliningsteadily.Islastyear'sbirthrateananomaly?Whatwasthebirthrateintheinterveningyears?Howmanybirthswerethere5yearsago?Iftherewereonly4births,forexample,thenhalfofthatisnotahugedrop.Iftherewere100births5yearsago,thenhalfofthatiscauseforconcern.

b) The committee assumes that the lower birth rate predicts a smaller schoolpopulation. The committee reasons that the school budget can, therefore, bereduced.Does the committee have any figures on the number of families thatmayhavemovedtothetown?c)Thecommitteeusesitsassumptionofasmallerschoolpopulationtosuggestthat less money be spent on athletic playing fields and other recreationalfacilities.Even if thenumberofyoungpeopledeclines,won't those remainingstillplaysportsandusetherecreationalfacilities?Mightresidentsbewillingtopaytousethefacilitiestooffsetthecostofmaintainingthem?Arethefacilitiesusedonlybychildren?d)Thecommitteesuggestsdivertingfundspreviouslyusedonyouthfacilitiestofundfacilitiesandprogramsusedprimarilybyadults.Theassumptionisthattheadult population will increase as the youth population decreases. If there is adeclineinthebirthrate,won'ttherebeacorrespondingdeclineinthenumberofpeoplewhobecomeadults?Haveothertownshadsuccessdoingthis?Howdoesthetownattractnewresidentsifithasletitsfacilitiesforyoungpeopledeclineinquality?Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyourideas.

SampleEssayUnlessoneisplanningaretirementcommunity,cateringtotheneedsofadultsattheexpenseofthechildrenisanunwisechoice.Itissometimeseasytorelegatechildren to the background whenmaking budgetary decisions. Children don’tvoteorpaytaxes.Whenthereisanapparentdeclineinthenumberofchildrenrequiringservicestraditionallyreservedfortheminatown,itbecomeseasiertodivert funds for their benefit to programs and facilities that focus on adults.Thosevotersandtaxpayerswhoseownchildrenhavegrownarenowfocusedontheirownneedsandmayseedecisionsthatbenefitthemasthecorrectones.Citystakeholders must take a closer look at the facts presented by the planningcommitteebeforemakinganylong-termdecisionsforthecommunity.Theapparentlydrasticdecline in thebirthrateseems to justify thecommittee’srecommendation.Whencitizensaretoldthatthebirthratelastyearwasjusthalfofwhatiswasfiveyearsago,visionsofemptyclassroomsandplayingfieldsfilltheirheads.Itwouldbelogicaltoassumethatfewertaxdollarswillbeneededto

educateandentertaintheyoungpeopleofCalatrava.Whattheseresidentsmustdofirstistomorecloselyexaminethisstatistic.HowmanychildrenwereborninCalatrava five years ago, and howmanywere born last year?A decline offifty percent is alarming.However, if therewere only four births inCalatravafiveyearsago, thenlastyear’sbirths totaledtwo.Twofewerbirths ishardlyacausetofireteachers,closeschools,orletplayingfieldsbecomedecrepit.Uponfurtherinvestigation,thecommitteemaydiscoverthat,fiveyearsago,Calatravarecordedfiftybirthsandlastyearonlytwenty-fivebirths.Twenty-fivechildrenrepresentanaverageclassroompopulation.Thatfiguremightjustifyeliminatinganelementaryschool teachingposition.Thecommitteeshouldalso lookat theinterveningyears.Islastyear’sbirthrateafluke?Wasthebirthrateoffiveyearsagorepeatedor,even,surpassedintheyearsthatfollowed?Inadditiontobirths,thepopulationofchildrenisaffectedbyfamiliesmovinginandoutofCalatrava.Theplanningcommitteecanaccessinformationabouthomesalesandhowmanyfamilieshavemovedintooroutofthecitytogetanaccuratepictureofthecity’sdemographics.Forestallingmaintenanceof athletic fields and recreational facilitiesmay seemlike a prudent move if, indeed, the population of children has declinedsignificantly.Thefactremainsthatthechildrenofthetownwillstillparticipatein school athletics and recreational activities. If the fields and facilitiesdeteriorate, other townsmay be reluctant to bring their teams to Calatrava tocompete.Calatravateamswillhaveto travelmorefrequently tocomplete theirathletic schedules, and thiswould be an expense thatmight offset the savingsgained by ignoring the fields at home.Do adults in the community use thesefacilities?Doesthetownhaveanadultsoftballleaguethatplaysitsgamesontheschool athletic fields? Do adults as well as children use the communityswimmingpool?Calatrava’s planning committeemust digmore deeply into the facts that theyhave used to make their preliminary recommendations. The taxpayers shoulddemandtoknowthattheirtaxdollarsarebeingspentinawaythatbenefitsthegreatestnumberofresidents.

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ArgumentTask22

TopicThe following appeared in a letter to the editor of Parson City's localnewspaper."InourregionofTrillura,themajorityofmoneyspentontheschoolsthatmoststudents attend - the city-runpublic schools - comes from taxes that each citygovernmentcollects.Theregion'scitiesdiffer,however,inthebudgetaryprioritytheygive topubliceducation.Forexample,bothasaproportionof itsoveralltaxrevenuesandinabsoluteterms,ParsonCityhasrecentlyspentalmosttwiceasmuchperyearasBlueCityhasforitspublicschools-eventhoughbothcitieshaveaboutthesamenumberofresidents.Clearly,ParsonCityresidentsplaceahigher value on providing a good education in public schools than Blue Cityresidentsdo."Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed toevaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken orstrengthentheargument.

StrategiesArgument:BecauseParsonCityhasspenttwiceasmuchofitstaxrevenueasBlueCityhasoneducation,ParsonCityplacesagreatervalueonprovidingagoodeducationasdoesBlueCity.In developing your response, youmust determinewhat evidence the planningcommitteeneedstouncoverbeforemakingitsfinalbudgetdecisionsforitsCityspends on its public school students demonstrates that it placemore value oneducationthanBlueCitydoes.

FactsandAssumptions:a)ThemajorityofmoneyspentonpublicschoolsinTrilluracomesfromcitytaxrevenue.

b)ParsonCityhasrecentlyspentalmosttwiceasmuchperyearasBlueCityhasfor its public schools. The logical assumption that follows is that ParsonCityspendstwiceasmuchperstudentasBlueCitydoes.BlueCitymayhavemorestudentsonprivateschools.ParsonCitymayhaverecentlyhadtoreplaceoneofits schools, adding a significant amount to its yearly school budget.Thewordrecentlyisaqualifier.DidBlueCityspendmorethanParsonCityinthepast?c)ParsonCityandBlueCityhaveaboutthesamenumberofresidents.Thismaylead to the assumption that each city has the same number of public schoolstudents.Infact,BlueCitymayhaveaverydifferentdemographicthanParsonCity.Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyourideas.

SampleEssayIn this letter to the editor, the writer has taken the position that Parson CityplacesahighervalueoneducatingitschildrenthandoesBlueCity.Thewritercitesbudget figures fromthe twocities tosupporthisposition.Since letters totheeditorexpressanopinion, the reader shouldalwaysaccept the factswithagooddealofskepticism.Acknowledgingthatthewriter'spurposeistopersuade,thereadershoulddemandsomeconcreteevidencebeforeacceptingthatopinionasfact.The author's first statement is likely true. It is the case in most communitieseverywhere that local schools are supported, in large part, by local tax dollarsand that the largest part of a community's budget is expended on its schools.However, to suggest that the amount ofmoney that a community spends is areflectionofthevalueitplacesoneducationismisleading.Anumberoffactorsinfluencehowmuchofacity'sbudget,bothinrealdollarsandpercentageofthetotalbudget,isallocatedforpublicschools.Thereadershouldseekevidenceofthe existence of any extenuating circumstances that would account for thegreateramountspentinParsonCity.Consider the demographic of each community. The author states that bothcommunities have about the same number of residents, a statement easilyverifiedby lookingat census results.Thecompositionof eachcity's totalmayvary. Again, by scrutinizing census records, one can discover how manyresidentscompriseeachagegroup.IfParsonCityhasconsiderablymoreschool-

age children than Blue City does, the reason for the greater expenditure onpublicschoolsbecomespatentlyobvious.BlueCity,infact,maybehometoanagingpopulation.Alargeportionofthatcity'sbudgetmaygotoservicesfortheelderly.In addition, Parson City may have had to replace an aging school building,leakingroofsorwindows,oranantiquatedheatingsystem.Anyofthosecapitalimprovements would influence the school budget for a few years. The writeruses the word recently when comparing the two communities' public schoolexpenditures.Isthereevidencethat,atsomeperiodintherecentpast,BlueCityspent more than Parson City on its schools? Blue City may have recentlyfinishedpayingforcapitalimprovementstoitsschoolsand,asaresult,hasbeenabletoreduceitsschoolbudget.A final assumption is that spending more money on education makes thateducationbetter.Moremoneycanbuymorebooksandthelatesttechnology;itcanbuildbeautifulschoolsandreduceclassroomsize.However,onlytheschooldistrict’s philosophy can create good education. Many schools deliver anexcellent education to its students while operating on a shoestring. Goodeducation is measured by the achievement of students, not by the size of thebudget.Initscurrentform,thislettertotheeditorprovidestoomanyvaguestatementsandtoolittleevidenceforthereadertoacceptthatParsonCityplacesmorevalueoneducationthandoesBlueCity.OnlyiffactsareuncoveredtosupporttheideathatParsonCityisspendingmoreperpupilthanBlueCityiscantheresidentsofParsonCityfeelasenseofsuperiorityregardingeducationinitspublicschools.

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ArgumentTask23

TopicThe following appeared in a memo from a vice president of QuiotManufacturing."During the past year, Quiot Manufacturing had 30 percent more on-the-jobaccidentsthanatthenearbyPanoplyIndustriesplant,wheretheworkshiftsareonehourshorter thanours.Expertssay thatsignificantcontributing factors inmany on-the-job accidents are fatigue and sleep deprivation among workers.Therefore, to reduce the number of on-the-job accidents atQuiot and therebyincrease productivity,we should shorten each of our threework shifts by onehoursothatemployeeswillgetadequateamountsofsleep."Writearesponse inwhichyouexamine thestatedand/orunstatedassumptionsof the argument. Be sure to explain how the argument depends on theseassumptionsandwhat the implicationsare for theargument if theassumptionsproveunwarranted.

StrategiesArgument:Shortening each shift at Quiot Manufacturing will reduce the number ofworkplaceaccidents.

Assumptions:a)TheworkersatQuiotManufacturingare fatigued.Are theemployees foundsleepingonthejob?b) The workers at Quiot Manufacturing suffer from sleep deprivation. Havestudiesbeendonetoconfirmthis?c) Fatigue and/or sleep deprivation are the cause of on-the- job accidents atQuiot Manufacturing. Is the work environment safe? Do employees followappropriatesafetymeasures?

d)PanoplyIndustrieshasfeweraccidentsbecausetheirworkersarebetterrested.DoworkersthereperformthesamekindoftasksastheworkersatQuiot?e)Ifworkshiftsareshortened,workerswillgetmoresleep.Workersarejustaslikelytousetheextratimetogoshopping,socialize,orwatchtelevision.Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyourideas.

SampleEssayQuiot Manufacturing's vice president has used faulty reasoning to reach theconclusion that shortening work shifts will reduce the number of on-the-jobaccidentsat theplant.Fatigueandsleepdeprivationcertainlycancontribute toworkplaceaccidents,butsocanseveralotherfactors.Beforedecidingtoshortentheworkshifts,themanagersshouldconsideralltheconditionsthataffectsafetyatQuiotManufacturing.The vice president of the company assumes that worker fatigue is the culpritbehind the high number of on-the-job accidents. Is there evidence of fatigue?Are workers falling asleep on the job? Are they coming to work late? Hasanyone surveyed the employees? Without answers to these questions, hisassumptionmaybeerroneous.HemaybebasinghisassumptiononthefactthatPanoplyIndustries,withitsshorterworkshifts,hasfewerworkplaceaccidents.The writer should examine the reasons behind Panoply’s lower incidence ofaccidentsatitsfacility.If it turns out to be true that the workers at Quiot Manufacturing are sleepdeprived,whatisthecause?Mostworkdaysareeighthours,andthatislikelythelengthofeachshiftatthecompany.IfQuiotworkersarenotspendingmoretimethantheaverageworkeronthe job, the lengthof theworkdayisnot themostlogicalcauseoftheirfatigue.Thenatureoftheworkmaybetiring.Isitarduous,physically taxing,or is itmonotonousandboring?Regularly scheduledbreaksmaysolvethat.QuiotManufacturingshouldexamineitsownculpabilityforcreatinganunsafeworkplace.Hasthecompanyinstalledsafetyequipmentthatreducesaccidents?Have theworkers been trained to follow appropriate safety procedures? If themanagers at Quiot were to question Panoply Industries, they may find thatPanoply has recently reduced the number of accidents occurring at its plant.They may have installed safety features and instituted employee training that

accountforthelowerincidenceofaccidents.Ontheotherhand,safetyfeaturesandtrainingmaybeidenticalatbothbusinessesandtheshortershiftshaveledtoareductioninaccidents.This writer must discover the actual figures behind the 30 percent moreaccidents at Quiot Manufacturing. How many accidents did each companyreport? If Panoply reported 3 on-the-job accidents, and Quiot had 30 percentmorethanthat, thenQuiotreported4accidents.Thisishardlyanumberworthchangingthestructureofworkshiftsattheplant.Ontheotherhand,ifPanoplyIndustries reported30accidents, thenQuiotManufacturingwouldhavehad39accidents. An additional 9 accidents would be cause for concern, and thecompanyshouldinvestigatethecause.Shortershiftsmaynotimproveeitherworkplacesafetyorproductivity.Thevicepresidentassumesthatworkerswillrestmoreiftheyworkless.Theworkersarejust as likely to use the extra time to go shopping, socialize with friends, orwatch television. Introspection may be a better approach than innovation toensureworkersafetyandincreasedproductivity.

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ArgumentTask24

TopicThefollowingreportappearedinthenewsletteroftheWestMeriaPublicHealthCouncil."Aninnovativetreatmenthascometoourattentionthatpromisestosignificantlyreduce absenteeism in our schools and workplaces. A study reports that innearbyEastMeria,wherefishconsumptionisveryhigh,peoplevisitthedoctoronly once or twice per year for the treatment of colds. Clearly, eating asubstantial amount of fish can prevent colds. Since colds represent the mostfrequentlygivenreasonforabsencesfromschoolandwork,werecommendthedailyuseofIchthaid-anutritionalsupplementderivedfromfishoil-asagoodwaytopreventcoldsandlowerabsenteeism."Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed toevaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken orstrengthentheargument.NOTE: The above topic has wording similar to Argument Task 15 of GREAnalyticalWritingSolutiontotheRealEssayTopics-Book2.However,ifyoureadcarefullyyouwillnoticethatthetaskinstructionsaredifferent.Hence,itisveryimportanttoreadthetopicaswellasitsinstructionscompletelybeforeyoustarttowriteyourresponse.

StrategiesArgument:ThedailyuseofIchthaidwillpreventcoldsandlowerabsenteeism.Indevelopingyourresponse,youmustdemonstratewhatevidenceisneededtosupport the recommendation that citizens ofWestMeria take the supplement,Ichthaid.

FactsandAssumptions:

a) People in East Meria visit the doctor only once or twice per year for thetreatmentofcolds.Thewriterassumesthatthisnumberislowerthanelsewhere.Thereadermaywonderiftheresidentshavecoldsthattheydon'tseektreatmentfor.b)Fish consumption is high inEastMeria.Thewriter hasmade a connectionbetweenhighfishconsumptionandapresumedlowincidenceofcolds.Aretheresidentstakingsomeotherpreventivemeasuretoreducethenumberofcolds?AretheyeatingadietrichinvitaminCortakingEchinaceasupplements?Theymaybeeatingfishwithlotsoflemon,afruithighinvitaminC.Doeseveryoneeatfish?Docoldsafflictnon-fisheatersmorethanthosewhodoeatfish?c)Colds represent themost frequently given reason for absences from schooland work. The writer assumes that the workers and students have reportedtruthfully.Becausecoldsare socommon, theymakeaconvenientexcuse.Thewriter assumes that reducing the number of colds that people get, the lessabsenteeismtherewillbe.d)Ichthaidisanutritionalsupplementderivedfromfishoil.Thewriterassumesthatthissupplementwillhavethesamesupposedhealthfuleffectaseatingfish.Canthecommunityforceitsresidentstotakethissupplement?Willthecostofthesupplementpreventsomefromtakingit?Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyourideas.

SampleEssayThe author of this newsletter has combined two ostensibly unrelated facts toformaconclusionthatisnotsupportedbyevidence.Inaddition,thewriterhasmadeasweepingrecommendationbasedontheoriginalfaultyassumptions.TheresidentsofWestMeriashouldscrutinizethesestatementsbeforeacceptingthewriter'srecommendationtotakethedietarysupplement,Ichthaid.Accordingtothenewsletter,thecitizensofEastMeriabotheatalotoffishandmakefewvisitstothedoctorforthetreatmentofcolds.Thewriterassumesthatthis is an example of cause-and-effect.What evidence exists to support this?First, the readershouldask toknowifEastMeria's residentsvisitadoctor fortreatmentofeverycold.Itislikelythatmanypeopletreattheircoldsthemselves;afterall,thereisnocure.Next,theyshouldaskhowmanyofthosecoldsufferersarehabitualfisheaters.

If East Merians do, in fact, contract fewer colds than average, they may betakingotherpreventivemeasures.Is thereevidencethat theytakevitaminCorEchinacea?Theymaybe eating largequantitiesof fresh fruits andvegetables,mostofwhicharerichinvitaminCandothernutrientsthatcontributetogoodhealth.Theymayevenbeeatingtheirfishwithlotsoflemon,afruitknowntobehighinvitaminC.Thewriter is probably accuratewhen he informs the reader that colds are themostoftenusedexcuseforabsencefromschoolandwork.Sincethecoldissocommon, it isaconvenientexcuseforanyoneneedingadayoff fromworkorschool. However, it is also common for students to avoid attending class byfalsely claiming to be sick. Howmany students actually have colds? Even ifcoldscanbepreventedbytakingthesupplement,Ichthaid,canthesamebesaidforabsenteeism?Nutritional supplements are popular and a seemingly harmlessway to remedydeficits in one's diet. The citizens of West Meria should probably look forevidence of studies done on Ichthaid before accepting the recommendation inthis newsletter. Supplements are neither always harmless nor effective. Theexpenseandpossiblenegativesideeffectsshouldmakethemthinktwice,or,toparaphraseMarieAntoinette,“Letthemeatfish.”

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ArgumentTask25

TopicThefollowingappearedinarecommendation fromtheplanningdepartmentofthecityofTransopolis."Tenyearsago,aspartofacomprehensiveurbanrenewalprogram,thecityofTransopolis adapted for industrial use a large area of severely substandardhousing near the freeway. Subsequently, several factories were constructedthere,crimeratesintheareadeclined,andpropertytaxrevenuesfortheentirecityincreased.Tofurtherrevitalizethecity,weshouldnowtakesimilaractioninadecliningresidentialareaontheoppositesideofthecity.Sincesomehousesand apartments in existing nearby neighborhoods are currently unoccupied,alternatehousingforthosedisplacedbythisactionwillbereadilyavailable."Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed toevaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken orstrengthentheargument.

StrategiesArgument:To further revitalize Transopolis, the city should extend its urban renewalprogramtoanotherdecliningresidentialareaofthecity.Indevelopingyourresponse,youareaskedtoidentifyevidencethatTransopolisneedstocarryoutitsurbanrenewalplan.

FactsandAssumptions:a)SinceTransopolis replaced substandardhousingwithan industrial complex,crimeratesintheareahavedeclined.Thewriterassumesthatoneactionhasledto the other. It is just as likely that an area with fewer people will have lesscrime.Hascrimeincreasedinotherpartsofthecity?

b)Taxrevenueshaveincreasedfortheentirecity.Didthecityhavetoexpendany of its revenues to either buy out or relocate the former residents of thesubstandard housing? The new tax revenues may limply offset previousexpenses. Will the city have to use its funds to develop the new proposedlocation?c) There is demand for more development in Transopolis. This assumptionunderlies the recommendation to removeaneighborhood indeclineand repeatthedevelopmentalreadycompletedontheothersideoftown.d) Some housing is available close to the proposed development for residentswhowillbedisplaced.e) The assumption that it makes more economic sense to relocate people toemptyhousesandapartmentsratherthanlocatethedevelopmentthereandleavetheresidentswheretheyare.Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyourideas.

SampleEssayBefore moving forward with plans to develop an additional part of the city,planners should consider the real benefits of doing so. They should look forevidence to support the claims of reduced crime and increased tax revenuesalongwithevidenceofaneedformoredevelopment.Thecurrentownersofthelandandbuildingsor the contractorswhocomplete theworkmaybe theonlybeneficiaries.The planning committee reports a reduction in crime because of the previousurbanrenewalproject.Thatmightbeexpectedinanareathatisnowdevotedtofactories.Thecommitteeneedsevidencethatcrimehasnotsimplybeenmovedtoanotherpartof thecityalongwith the residents.Simplydisplacingcrime isnotajustificationforfurtherdevelopment.Isthereevidenceofsignificantcrimein the location proposed for the newdevelopment? If not, that rationalewon'tfly.Movingcrimetoadifferentpartofthecitydoesnotmakesresidentssaferorsavethecityanymoney.TheplannersmaybelivingwithafieldofDreamsmentality:ifwebuildit,theywillcome.DoesthecityhavemanufacturersclamoringforspaceinTransopolis?Ifthecitybuysouttheresidentsoftheareaanderectsbuildingsonspeculation,

itmayfinditselfalandlordofemptybuildingswithasizablebudgetdeficit.Thetaxpayers should demand to know that there is a guaranteed return on theirinvestment.Otherwise,thisdevelopmentcouldwipeoutanyextrarevenuesfromthepreviousurbanrenewal.Evidenceisneededtosupportthechoiceoflocationfor thenewrevitalizationeffort.Theplannerproposesmoving residentsof thedeclining neighborhood to nearby neighborhoods where some houses andapartments areunoccupied.Further researchmaydemonstrate that itwouldbemore fiscally and humanely sound to place the new development whereresidencesarealreadyunoccupied.Thereistoolittleevidenceinthispassagetoshowthatonelocationhasadvantagesovertheother.Thecityneedsevidenceofeasyaccesstotheproposedlocation.Theoriginalsiteisnearthefreeway,providingameansforworkersandcommercialvehiclestogetthere.Locatedontheoppositesideofthecity,theproposedsitemayrequirebuilding new or widening existing roads. The result could be additionaldisplacementofTransopoliscitizensand/orareductioninpropertyvalues.Allstakeholdersofthecityshouldcompletemoreinvestigationofthisproposaloftheplanningdepartmentbeforegivingagreensignal.Itwouldbeeasytogeton board with the planning department considering the previous successes.However, Transopolis may have completed all the development that it canpresentlyhandleorneeds.

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ArgumentTask26

TopicThefollowingappearedinamemofromthenewvicepresidentofSartorian,acompanythatmanufacturesmen'sclothing."Fiveyearsago,atatimewhenwehaddifficultiesinobtainingreliablesuppliesofhighqualitywoolfabric,wediscontinuedproductionofouralpacaovercoat.Nowthatwehaveanewfabricsupplier,weshouldresumeproduction.Thiscoatshouldsellverywell:sincewehavenotofferedanalpacaovercoatforfiveyearsandsinceourmajorcompetitornolongermakesanalpacaovercoat,therewillbepent-upcustomerdemand.Also,sincethepriceofmosttypesofclothinghasincreased in each of the past five years, customers should be willing to paysignificantlyhigherpricesforalpacaovercoatsthantheydidfiveyearsago,andourcompanyprofitswillincrease."Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed toevaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken orstrengthentheargument.

StrategiesArgument:Basedontheabilitytoobtainhighqualityfabricandanopportunitytocornerthemarket,Sartorianwillreintroduceitsalpacaovercoat.Indevelopingyourresponse,revealthespecificevidencethatSartorianneedstodecidewhetherornotreintroducingitsalpacacoatisasoundidea.

FactsandAssumptions:a) Five years ago, Sartorian discontinued production of its alpaca overcoatbecause it lacked a reliable supplyof highqualitywool fabric.Theremust beveryfewsuppliersofalpacawoolfabric.

b)Sartorianhasanewsupplieroffabric.AnewproducerhascomeaboutorthequalityofaprevioussupplierhasimprovedenoughtosatisfySartorian.c)Sartorianhasnotofferedanalpacacoatforfiveyears.Thecompanyassumesthatitcustomersareeagerforthecompany'snewcoat.d)Sartorian'smajorcompetitorno longermakesanalpacacoat.Sartorianmayassume that the competitor's coat did notmeasure up, and customers stoppedbuyingit.Sartorianneedstoconsiderthatthecompetitor'scoatmayhavebeenlovely,butdemandforalpacacoatsorthecostofproductionmadeitunwisetocontinueproducingthem.e) The price of most types of clothing has increased in each of the past fiveyears.Theassumptionisthatcustomershavebecomeusedtohigherpricesandwill be agreeable to higher prices for the alpaca coat. Sartorian believes thathigherpricesforitscoatwillincreasecompanyprofits.Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyourideas.

SampleEssaySartorianappearseagertojumpbackintothealpacacoatmarketafterafive-yearabsence.Thecompanymusthaveastrongemotionalattachmenttothecoattheyusedtomakeandsellwithsomesuccess.Oneislefttowonderifdiscontinuingthecoatleftagapintheirclothinglinethatithasbeenunabletofillwithanothergarment. The lack of competition in the alpaca coat market seems a furtherincentivetoresumeproduction.Sartorianhasdrawnsomeconclusionsthatbearfurtherscrutinybeforetakingwhatisprobablyanexpensivestep.The clothing manufacturer assumes that its customer loyalty guarantees thesuccess of its alpaca coat. The stores who formerly sold the coat may havereplaced itwith other outer garmentswithwhich they are very satisfied.As aresult, those stores may not have the money to stock the new alpaca coats.Sartorianshouldsurveythebuyersforretailoutletsthatsoldtheirpreviouscoataswellasanynewstores.Themanufacturermaydiscoverthatitcannotgeneratesalessufficienttojustifyreintroducingthealpacacoat.Sartorianseemsencouragedbythelackofcompetitioninthealpacacoatmarket.Its only competitor has ceased production of its own coat. Sartorianwould bewell-advised to interview the other manufacturer to uncover the reason for

stoppingproduction.Thetruthofthemattermaybethatalpacacoatshavefallencompletely out of favor. The pent-up customer demand that Sartorian isanticipatingmaynotexist.The final justification that Sartorian cites is the overall increase in clothingpricesover thepast fiveyears.Thecompanyassumes that theywillbeable todemandhigherpricesforitsalpacacoat,whichwillhelpthecompany'sbottomline.The truthmaybe that individualclothingbudgetsmaybestrainedby therise inprices,and there isnomoney leftoverwithwhich tobuyanexpensivealpacacoat.Sartorian'svicepresidenthassomeresearchtodobeforejumpingbackintothealpaca coatmarket.He needs evidence of continuing demand for the product.Corneringthemarketforaclothingitemthatwon'tsellwouldnotbeafeatherinthisvicepresident'shat.

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ArgumentTask27

TopicA recent sales study indicates that consumption of seafood dishes inBayCityrestaurantshasincreasedby30percentduringthepastfiveyears.Yetthereareno currently operating city restaurants whose specialty is seafood.Moreover,themajorityof families inBayCityaretwo-incomefamilies,andanationwidestudy has shown that such families eat significantly fewer home-cookedmealsthan they did a decade ago but at the same time expressmore concern abouthealthfuleating.Therefore,thenewCaptainSeafoodrestaurantthatspecializesinseafoodshouldbequitepopularandprofitable.Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed toevaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken orstrengthentheargument.NOTE: The above topic has wording similar to Argument Task 17 of GREAnalyticalWritingSolutiontotheRealEssayTopics-Book2.However,ifyoureadcarefullyyouwillnoticethatthetaskinstructionsaredifferent.Hence,itisveryimportanttoreadthetopicaswellasitsinstructionscompletelybeforeyoustarttowriteyourresponse.

StrategiesArgument:Basedon the apparent popularity of seafooddishes, the newCaptain SeafoodrestaurantshouldbepopularandprofitableinBayCity.Indevelopingyourresponse,youmustidentifywhatevidenceisneededtoshowthatthenewrestaurantwillindeedbebothpopularandprofitable.

FactsandAssumptions:a)TheconsumptionofseafooddishesinBayCityrestaurantshasincreasedby30percentduringthepastfiveyears.Theassumptionisthattheconsumptionofseafood dishes is very high. The truth of that depends on the level of

consumption five years ago. Sales of these dishes have increased by roughlyone-third, soany restaurant thatused to sell3 seafooddisheseachday isnowselling4.b)Therearecurrentlynooperatingrestaurantsthatspecializeinseafood.Werethereseafoodrestaurantsinthepast?Whathappenedtothem?c)BayCityhasa largenumberof two-incomefamilies,andstudies show thatthis typeoffamilyeatssignificantlyfewerhome-cookedmeals thantheydidadecadeago.Theassumption is that these families eatout frequently.Theyarejustaslikelytobuypreparedfoodatthegrocerystore.Whatdoessignificantlymean?Again, the reader needs to know the level of home-cookedmeals thatthesefamiliesateadecadeago.d) These same families express more concern about healthful eating. Oneassumption implied by this statement is that those families actually are eatingmorehealthymeals.Anotherassumptionisthattheseafooddishesbeingservedinrestaurantsarehealthy.Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyourideas.

SampleEssayThewriteroffers the reader somestatistics thatpresume toprovea significantincreaseinthepopularityofseafooddishesinBayCity'srestaurantseventhoughnoneofthoseeateriesspecializeinseafood.Somemightmistakenlyunderstandthatseafoodentreescomprise30percentofrestaurantsales,andthatwouldbeimpressive.Inactuality,thesaleofsuchdisheshasincreasedby30percent,orroughly1/3,overthepastfiveyears.IfweknowthatrestaurantAsold6seafooddishes eachday fiveyears ago, thenwecan calculate that the same restaurantsells 8 per day now. An increase of two dishes per day is not cause forcelebration. Should we discover, however, that restaurant A sold 30 seafooddisheseverydayfiveyearsago,a30percentincreasewouldnowbe40dishesperday.Dependingontherestaurant'soverallvolume,anadditional10seafooddishesmightbemeaningful.Another statistic employed by the writer relates to the domestic habits of thetwo-income families that comprisemost ofBayCity's population.Nationwidestudies show that families in this demographic eat significantly fewer home-cookedmealsthantheydidadecadeago.Significantisasubjectiveterm.What

is significant for one familymay be trifling for another. The readerwould bewisetoapplythelogicfromthepreviousparagraphtothisfact.Inaddition,thefact that they eat fewer home-cooked meals does not lead inevitably to theconclusion that they are not eating at home.These familiesmay verywell bepurchasingpreparedorfrozenmealsatthelocalsupermarket.Countingontheirpatronagetoensurethepopularityandprofitabilityofanewrestaurantwouldbeamistakewithoutfurtherevidenceabouttheirdininghabits.Thesamestudycitedinthepreviousparagraphrevealsthattwo-incomefamiliesexpressmoreconcernabouthealthyeating.Expressingconcernandtakingsomeactionaretwowidelydifferentconcepts.Manypeopleareconcernedaboutheartdiseasebutcontinue tosmoke. In thecontextof thispassage, thewriterwouldlead the reader to assume that seafood entrees are more healthful than otherdishes.Afilletofhaddocksmotheredinbutteredbreadcrumbsorservedwithacreamsauceisnohealthierforadinnerthanaleanpieceofbeefcookedonthegrill.Thewriter should examine themenus at the restaurants to determine theingredientsandcookingmethodsusedfortheseafooddishes.Iftheentreesarebaked, steamed, or poached and servedwith lemon and fresh vegetables, theycouldbeconsideredmorehealthfulthandishesthatnaturallyhavemoreanimalfatandcholesterol.Finally, the writer claims that the current lack of a restaurant specializing inseafoodinBayCityiscertaintoensurethesuccessofthenewCaptainSeafoodrestaurant.Was therea seafood restaurant inBayCityatone time? If so,whydid itclose? Ifaseafoodrestaurantclosed in thecity,whichcouldaccount,atleastinpart,fortheincreaseinseafoodentrees'popularityintheothereateries.A closer examination of some of the facts and assumptions in the passagerevealsthatthepopularityandprofitabilityofCaptainSeafoodisnotaforegoneconclusion. It relies on evidence that easily could be obtained to support thewriter’sclaim.

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ArgumentTask28

TopicMilkanddairyproductsarerichinvitaminDandcalcium-substancesessentialforbuildingandmaintainingbones.Manypeoplethereforesaythatadietrichindairyproductscanhelppreventosteoporosis,adiseasethatislinkedtobothenvironmental and genetic factors and that causes the bones to weakensignificantlywithage.Butalong-termstudyofalargenumberofpeoplefoundthatthosewhoconsistentlyconsumeddairyproductsthroughouttheyearsofthestudy have a higher rate of bone fractures than any other participants in thestudy. Since bone fractures are symptomatic of osteoporosis, this study resultshows that a diet rich in dairy products may actually increase, rather thandecrease,theriskofosteoporosis.Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed toevaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken orstrengthentheargument.

StrategiesArgument:Theresultsofalong-termstudydemonstratethatadiethighindairyproductsincreasestheriskofosteoporosis.Indevelopingyourresponse,discussthespecificevidenceneededtosupportthewriter'sposition.

FactsandAssumptions:a)VitaminDandcalciumareessentialforbuildingandmaintainingbones,anddairyproducts are rich in these substances.Thenatural assumption is thatonemusteat these foods todevelopandmaintainstrongbones.Manyfoods in theplantfamilyarealsogoodsourcesofcalciumandvitaminD.b) Osteoporosis is linked to both environmental and genetic factors. Did anystudyparticipantshavegeneticmarkersforosteoporosis?Didanyofthemlivein

areaswithenvironmentalconditionsthatcouldhavepromotedthedevelopmentof osteoporosis?These areas could include parts of theworldwhere there arelongperiodsoflittlesunshineordaylight.c) A long-term study revealed that participants who consumed dairy productsmore consistently than other participants suffered more bone fractures. Theassumptionisthatthedairyproductscontributedtothistendency.Itwouldservethe readerwell to know if those participants are oneswith geneticmarkers orwhomayhavelivedinthenorthernlatitudeswherelong,sunnydaysarefew.d) Bone fractures are symptomatic of osteoporosis. A correlate might be thatosteoporosisisthechiefcauseofbonefractures.Lifestyleisagreatcontributortobonefractures.Thosewhoareactiveand/orrisktakersareapttosuffermorefracturesthanthosewholivemoresedately.Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyourideas.

SampleEssayThere isnodoubt thatsufficient levelsofcalciumandvitaminDcontribute tobonehealthinhumans.Manyfoodsaregoodsourcesofthesenutrients,buttheonesthatcomemostreadilytomindaremilkandotherdairyproducts.RegularexposuretosunlightisalsorequiredtoenablethebodytosynthesizevitaminD.Thestudycitedinthispassagesuggeststhatconsumingmilkanddairyproductsis detrimental to bone health and may contribute to osteoporosis. The authormakessomeleapsfromtheincidenceofbonefracturestoconclusionsaboutthedeleteriouseffectsofmilkanddairyproducts.Assumptionsarenotsufficienttoestablishaposition.Thiswriterneedsevidencetosupporttheargument.Generalitiesinthepassageneedmorespecificity.Along-termstudywithalargesamplesizedoesn'ttellthereadermuch.Overhowlongaperiodwasthestudyconducted?Howmany subjects participated in the study?Whatwere the agesand geographic locations of the subjects? These details are important fordeterminingtheveracityoftheclaimsinthepassage.Thepassagedoesn'tevenmakeclearthatthestudywasabouttheeffectofeatingdairyproductsonbonestrength.Thewriter shoulddiscoverwhichparticipants in the studyconsumeddairy products on a regular basis. If theywere young people, it could help toexplain thehighrateofbonefracturesasyoungpeople tend tobemoreactivethan older subjects. On the other hand, if the sample population was largely

made up of senior citizens, their propensities for osteoporosis may result inhigherfracturerates.Assumingthatresearcherswerestudyingtheeffectsofadiaryrichinmilkanddairy products, the reader should ask to knowhowmuch of each participant'sdietconsistedofdairyproductsandwhichdairyproductstheywereencouragedtoconsume.Maybetheytooktohearttherecentcampaignthatstates,"Milk:itdoesabodygood"anddranklotsofthatbeverage.Weretheirdietsrepletewithcheeses,sourcream,and/oryogurt?Thesubjectsmayalsohaveconsumedfoodordrinkthathasnegativeeffectsoncalciumabsorption.Carbonatedbeverageshavebeenshownto leachcalciumfrombones,making themweakerandmoresusceptible to fractures and osteoporosis. The author cites the fact thatdeveloping osteoporosis is linked to either or both genetic and environmentalfactors.Somesubjectsinthestudymaylivewherepollutantsintheairorwateraffect calcium absorption.Othersmay live in the northern latitudeswhere thesunshinenecessaryfor thesynthesisofvitaminDisabsent for longperiodsofthe year. Somemay be genetically destined to develop osteoporosis. Lifestylechangesmaypostponetheonsetofsomechronicconditions,but,chancesare,ifthesubjects’parentshadosteoporosis,sowillthey.Overall, those who conducted this study need to seek and reveal moreinformationabouttheirsubjects.Thefinaland,perhaps,mosttellingstatisticisthe age of the participants.At the very least, theywere considerably youngerwhenthestudybeganthanwhenitended.Addthistoenvironmentalandgeneticfactorsandyouhavearationaleforthedevelopmentofosteoporosis,notforthecondemnationofmilkanddairyproductsaspartofadietaryregime.

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ArgumentTask29

TopicThe followingappeared ina letter to theeditorofa journalonenvironmentalissues."Over the past year, the Crust Copper Company (CCC) has purchased over10,000 square miles of land in the tropical nation of West Fredonia. Miningcopperonthislandwillinevitablyresultinpollutionand,sinceWestFredoniaisthehomeofseveralendangeredanimalspecies, inenvironmentaldisaster.Butsuchdisasterscanbepreventedifconsumerssimplyrefusetopurchaseproductsthat are made with CCC's copper unless the company abandons its miningplans."Writearesponse inwhichyouexamine thestatedand/orunstatedassumptionsof the argument. Be sure to explain how the argument depends on theseassumptionsandwhat the implicationsare for theargument if theassumptionsproveunwarranted.

StrategiesArgument:The writer exhorts the readers to boycott Crust Copper Company until thecompanyabandonsitsminingplansinWestFredonia.In developing your response, you must identify both the stated and impliedassumptions in the argument and explain how the veracity of the assumptionsaffectstheargument.

FactsandAssumptions:a)CCChaspurchasedover10,000squaremilesoflandinWestFredonia.Thewriterassumes that,becauseCCC isaminingcompany, itwillopenaminingoperationonthisland.ThereisnodirectstatementinthepassagethatCCCdoeshaveplansforamine.

b)Miningon this landwillcausepollution.Again, there isnoevidence in thepassagetosupportthisconclusion.HasCCCbeenguiltyofpollutioninthepast?Even if thecompanydoesopenamine, itmayhavemeasure inplace toabatethepollutionthatresults.c) West Fredonia is home to several endangered animal species. The writerassumesthatanyminingactivityonthepartofCCCwillfurtherendangerthosespecies.d) The environmental disasters can be prevented if the readers boycott CCCproductsuntilthecompanyabandonsitsplans.TheassumptionthatCCCplansto mine on this piece of land is not proven in the passage. There is also theassumptionthatconsumersknowwhichproductsaremadewithCCCcopper.Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyourideas.

SampleEssayTheauthorofthislettertotheeditorhasusedpathosinthehopethatthereaderswilloverlooktheglaringlackofsupportforhisassumptions.Hot-buttonwordslike pollution and endangered species are almost guaranteed to get a desiredreactionfromtheaudience.Visionsofburningrainforestsanddeadanimalsfilltheirbrains,and theyare ready todowhatever it takes tostop thisdestructionand carnage. Although fired up and ready to go, readers must look for theomissionsinreasoningcreatedbytheauthorbeforetakingactionthatcouldhaveacatastrophiceffectonaminingcompany.Theauthorofthisletterhaschosenhisaudiencecarefullybysubmittingittoajournal on environmental issues. The readers may take his assumptions to befacts.ItisafactthatCrustCopperCompanyhasrecentlypurchasedover10,000squaremilesof land in the tropicalnationofWestFredonia. It isaneasy leapfrom there to assume that the company will open a mining operation at thatlocation.Ifthateventualitycomestopass,anenvironmentaldisasterwillensue.Thewriterproposesthatpollutionisinevitable.CCCmayhaveadoptedminingpracticesthatreduceoreliminateharmfulpollution.The author also implies that CCC's purchase of land inWest Fredonia is animminentthreattoseveralendangeredspeciesthatmaketheirhomethere.Thisisalargetractofland.IfCCCopensaminingoperation,itmaybenowherenearany endangered animals. It is even possible that CCC has purchased this

particulartractoflandtoestablishananimalpreserve.Theauthorhaspurposelyleftoutinformationthatdoesnotservehisintention.Finally,wehavetheauthor'calltoaction.Itisalwaysthegoalofpersuasiontogettheaudiencetobelieveinacertainwayortotakesomeaction.Inthiscase,thereadersareencouragedtoboycottgoodsmadewithCCC'scopperunlessthecompany abandons itsmining plans. The problemwith this exhortation is theassumption thatCCChas plans tomine this tract of land.Theother difficultymight be identifying the products that contain the company's copper. It isunlikelythatacopperminingcompanymanufacturesanythingatall.ThewriterofthisletterhasprovidedjustenoughinformationtoletthereaderscreatetheirownassumptionsaboutCCC'sintentionsinWestFredonia.

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ArgumentTask30

TopicThe following is part of a memorandum from the president of HumanaUniversity."Last year the number of students who enrolled in online degree programsoffered by nearbyOmniUniversity increased by 50 percent.During the sameyear,Omnishowedasignificantdecrease fromprioryears inexpenditures fordormitory and classroom space, most likely because instruction in the onlineprograms takes place via the Internet. In contrast, over the past three years,enrollmentatHumanaUniversityhasfailedtogrow,andthecostofmaintainingbuildings has increased along with our budget deficit. To address theseproblems, Humana University will begin immediately to create and activelypromoteonlinedegreeprogramslikethoseatOmni.Wepredictthatinstitutingthese online degree programs will help Humana both increase its totalenrollmentandsolveitsbudgetproblems."Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to beansweredinordertodecidewhetherthepredictionandtheargumentonwhichitisbasedare reasonable.Besure toexplainhowtheanswers to thesequestionswouldhelptoevaluatetheprediction.

StrategiesPrediction:Humana's offering online degree programswill result in increased enrollmentandsolveitsbudgetprograms.

FactsandAssumptions:a)OmniUniversityhada50percentincreaseinthenumberofstudentsenrolledin its online programs over last year. The assumption is that this is a largenumberofstudents.

b) Omni showed a significant decrease in expenditures for dormitory andclassroomspace.Theydon'tneeddormandclassroomspacebecauseinstructiontakesplaceviatheInternet.c)EnrollmentatHumanaUniversityhasfailedtogrowoverthepastthreeyears.One assumption is that Humana's offerings aren't attractive to prospectivestudents.OnemightassumethatstudentsfindHumanatooexpensive.Humanamighthavethecapacityfornomorestudents.d) The cost of buildingmaintenance has grown alongwith its budget deficit.PerhapsthelackofgrowthhasmadeitdifficultforHumanaUniversitytomeetitsmaintenancescheduleandfinancialobligations.

Questions:a) How many students did Omni University have prior to the 50 percentincrease? If that number were relatively small, a 50 percent increase isn'timpressive.b)WhywereOmni'sexpendituresfordormsandclassroomssomuchlessthaninpreviousyears?Theuniversitymayhaveupgradedthosefacilitiesafewyearsagoandhavenothadtodosointhepastfewyears.c)WhydidOmnibeginofferingonlineprograms?Theschoolmayhavebeenatcapacityoncampusandbeganofferingonlinecoursestomeetthedemand.d)WhyhasHumanaUniversityfailedtogrow?Itsdegreeprogramsmaynotbeasrelevantastheyusedtobe.e)WhyhasthecostofmaintainingbuildingsincreasedatHumana?Thesecostsmay be cyclical. Maybe it has been several years since they have performedsignificantmaintenanceonthebuildings.f)Whathascausedthebudgetdeficit?Thecostofdoingbusinesshasincreasedwhileenrollmenthasremainedflat.g)WhatevidencedoesHumanahavethatonlinedegreeprogramswillincreaseits enrollment? If Humana's programs were in high demand, its enrollmentwouldnotbeflat.h) How will online programs reduce the budget deficit? There are expensesassociated with developing online programs. They will need to offer high-demandprogramstoattractsufficientstudentstomakeadentinthedeficit.

Yournotesdonothavetobeexhaustive.Asyoubegintowriteyouressay,yourbrainwillgeneratenewideas.Makecertainthatyoukeepthedirectionsinmindasyoudevelopyourideas.

SampleEssayHumanaUniversityseesonlinedegreeprogramsasthesilverlininginitscloudoffinancialchallenges.ThepresidentcitestheapparentsuccessofnearbyOmniUniversity's foray into thatmarket as justification forhis recommendationandprediction.Thepresidentwouldbewell-advised to look at some specifics andaskthehardquestionsbeforemovingforward.Humana'spresidentshouldfirst investigateOmniUniversity'sapparentsuccesswith its online degree programs. Is a 50 percent increase in enrollmentimpressive? That depends on the original number of students. If Omni beganwith 10 students, a 50 percent increase would be 5 students, which is aninsufficientnumberonwhichtobaseanewventure.Ontheotherhand,ifOmnibeganwith 200 students and increased its enrollment to 300, thatwould be arationaleforwantingtoreplicatethatsuccess.Next, the president should ask why Omni University decided to offer onlineprograms in the firstplace. Itmaybeacaseof supplyanddemand. ItmaybethatmorestudentshavedemandedOmniprogramsthantheschoolcanmeetinitscampuslocation.Onlineofferingswouldbealogicalsolutiontothatenviableproblem. If Humana University hasn't seen that same level of interest in itsprograms, it may be a prudent move for Humana's president to investigatefurtherbeforejumpingintothatmarket.AnotherreasonthatHumana'spresidentproposesfortakingonthechallengeofonline education is the recent maintenance costs of campus buildings. Heassumes that Omni's reduction in those expenses is the reduced need fordormitory and classroom space on its campus. It could just as easily be thatOmnicompletedrepairsandmaintenanceafewyearsagoandhasnotneededtorepeattheminthelastfewyears.Extensiverenovationprojectsarelikelytobecyclical,andHumanafindsitselfneedingtocompletethosenow.WhyhasHumana's enrollment remained flat?The schoolmaynot beofferingprogramsthatreflectcurrenttrendsinthejobmarket.This,indeed,maybethecrux of the problem at Humana. With more high school graduates than everbeforegoingontosomeformofhighereducation,Humana'senrollmentshouldbe increasing. Should Humana proceed with plans to offer online degree

programs, itmayfind thatstudentswhoenroll in thoseprogramswillbe thosewho,otherwise,mayhavecome to its campus.Humanamaywellbe leftwithflat enrollment along with the expense of maintaining its dormitories andclassroombuildings.Thepresident'spredictionof financial solvencymaybeapipedream.

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Someofthefollowingtitlesmightalsobehandy:1.VerbalInsightsontherevisedGREGeneralTest(ISBN:978-1-946383-36-5)2.GREAnalyticalWriting:SolutionstotheRealEssayTopics-Book1(ISBN:978-1-949395-00-6)3.GREAnalyticalWriting:SolutionstotheRealEssayTopics-Book2(ISBN:978-1-949395-01-3)4.AnalyticalWritingInsightsontherevisedGREGeneralTest(ISBN:978-1-946383-68-6)5.GREQuantitativeReasoning:520PracticeQuestions(ISBN:978-1-946383-88-4)6.GREReadingComprehension:Detailed Solutions to 325Questions (ISBN:978-1-946383-30-3)7.GRETextCompletionandSentenceEquivalencePracticeQuestions(ISBN:978-1-946383-32-7)8.6PracticeTestsfortheGRE(ISBN:978-1-946383-34-1)9.GREWordList:491EssentialWords(ISBN:978-1-946383-40-2)10. GRE Master Word List: 1535 Words for Verbal Mastery (ISBN: 978-1-946383-41-9)11.GREWordsinContext:List1(ISBN:978-1-946383-42-6)12.GREWordsinContext:List2(ISBN:978-1-946383-43-3)13.GREWordsinContext:ChallengingList(ISBN:978-1-946383-44-0)14.ConquertheGRE:StressManagement&APerfectStudyPlan(ISBN:978-1-479216-95-6)

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TableofContents

IntroductiontotheAnalyticalWritingMeasureAnalyzeanIssueTaskScoringGuideSolvedIssueTaskswithStrategiesGeneralStrategiesIssueTask1–InfluencedbypastachievementsIssueTask2–FormaleducationIssueTask3–ImportantcontributionsIssueTask4–Indicatorofagreatnation-generalwelfareIssueTask5–MoreknowledgeIssueTask6–CharacteristicsofasocietyIssueTask7–FinancialsupportformajorcitiesIssueTask8–EffectivepoliticalleadersIssueTask9–BestwaytoteachIssueTask10–Teachers'salariesIssueTask11–ChoiceoffieldofstudyIssueTask12–RapidpaceoflifeIssueTask13–TakevarietyofcoursesIssueTask14–MeanstakentoattainagoalIssueTask15–Tobecomewell–roundedindividualsIssueTask16–PoliticiansshouldpursueIssueTask17–UndertakeriskyactionIssueTask18–LeaderscreatedbydemandsIssueTask19–ContemporarycultureIssueTask20–ParentsshouldvolunteertimeIssueTask21–StudyinginaforeigncountryIssueTask22–People'sbehaviorIssueTask23–InnovationsdistractfromlearningIssueTask24–PassionateinterestIssueTask25–EthicalandmoralstandardsIssueTask26–CriticaljudgementofworkIssueTask27–IndicatorofagreatnationIssueTask28–ModerndevelopmentIssueTask29–MakeimportantdecisionsIssueTask30–Characterofasociety

AnalyzeanArgumentTaskSolvedArgumentTaskswithStrategiesArgumentTask1–PaleanbasketArgumentTask2–IslandofTertiaArgumentTask3–MasonCityresidentsArgumentTask4–WCQPinRockvilleArgumentTask5–AcmePublishingCompanyArgumentTask6–MoviesGaloreArgumentTask7–CheatingamongstudentsArgumentTask8–JazzmusicclubArgumentTask9–Nature'sWayArgumentTask10–OmegauniversityArgumentTask11–MapleCountyArgumentTask12–WWACradiostationArgumentTask13–TelevisionstationArgumentTask14–Dr.KarpArgumentTask15–GrovetonCollegeArgumentTask16–ElectricpowercompanyArgumentTask17–ClimpsonIndustriesArgumentTask18–MoviesGaloreArgumentTask19–BlueHighwayArgumentTask20–FoodstoragewarehouseArgumentTask21–CalatravaArgumentTask22–ParsonCityArgumentTask23–QuiotManufacturingArgumentTask24–WestMeriaArgumentTask25–TransopolisArgumentTask26–SartorianArgumentTask27–BayCityArgumentTask28–OsteoporosisArgumentTask29–CrustCopperCompanyArgumentTask30–HumanaUniversity