Guidelines: Issue Writing Task in GRE

The issue task in GRE tests designed to test your ability to present a position on an issue effectively and persuasively. Your task is to analyze the issue presented, considering various perspectives, and to develop your own position on the issue. In scoring your Issue essay, GRE readers will consider the following things:

• How effectively you recognize and deal with the complexities and implications of the issue
• How effectively you organize, develop, and express your ideas
• How effectively you support your ideas (with reasons and examples)
• How effectively you control the elements of standard written English (grammar, syntax, and usage)

10 Things you must know about the Issue Writing task:

• Your time limit is 45 minutes
• Writing on any topic other than the one presented is unacceptable
• The topic will appear as a brief statement on an issue of general interest
• You are free to accept, reject, or qualify the statement
• You should support your perspective with reasons and/or examples from such sources as your experience, observation, reading, and academic studies
• You should take a few minutes to plan your response before you begin writing
• You should leave time to reread your response and make any versions you think are needed
• There is no correct response to any issue
• There is no prescribed or correct length for an issue essay
• Scratch paper and pencils are provided
• The systems basic word processor has a simple cut-and-paste function, but no spell checking or grammar checking functions.

How to approach the Issue Writing Task

Here is a 6-step plan (with suggested time for each step) to help you budget your time so that you can accomplish all the tasks listed above within the 45-minutes time limit.

Step-1: Brainstorm, and get your pencil moving: Try to come up with a few reasons both for and against the stated opinion, as well as a few examples supporting each side of the issue. Don’t waste time mulling over the choice. Neither is necessarily “easier’’ than the other.

Step-2: Adopt a position, and organize your ideas: Decide on the basic point of view (either “pro” or “con”) that you want to take up in your essay. Once you have decided, pick the three or four ideas from your notes that best support your chosen viewpoint.

Step-3: Compose a brief Introductory Paragraph: Now it is time to compose your essay. You begin with introductory paragraph in which you need to accomplish the following:

• Demonstrate that you understand the issue the statement raises
• Let the reader know that you have a clear viewpoint on the issue
• Anticipate the ideas you intend to present in the body of your essay

Step-4: Compose the body of your essay: In this step, your chief ambition is to get your main points- as well as any supporting reasons and examples – from your brain and scratch paper on the computer screen.

Keep your points in mind as you compose the body of the essay:

• Be sure the first sentence of each paragraph begins a distinct train of thought and clearly conveys the essence of the paragraph
• Arrange your paragraphs so your essay flows logically and persuasively from one point to the next.
• Don’t worry if you don’t have time to include every point from your outline, the GRE readers can understand this.

Step-5: Write a brief concluding paragraph: unless your essay has a clear end, the reader might think you didn’t finish in time; so be sure to make time to wrap up your essay.

Step-6: Proofread for mechanical problems: Here are some suggestions for what you should and – just as importantly, should not try to accomplish during this final step:

• Find and rework awkward sentences, especially ones in which the point you’re trying to make is unclear.
• Correct spelling errors only when they might prevent the reader from understanding the point at hand
• Check your introductory and concluding paragraphs to make sure they are consistent with each other and with the topic.

Try to start and implement the above steps when you practice, so that it will become easy for you while taking the real exam

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