Transcription
AWA GuidelineGMAT
Tackling the Argument::Time Management Copyright Graduate Management Admission Council
Suggested timelines- Read the given argument thoroughly (2 minutes)- Find 3 distinct flaws. Don’t be tempted to findmore! (5 minutes)- Make a rough outline (3 minutes)- Write (15 minutes)- Revise and refine (5 minutes) Copyright Graduate Management Admission Council
Tackling the Argument::Finding the flaws Copyright Graduate Management Admission Council
Keyword/SituationREPORTED / FILEDCOMPLAINT / DIDNOT COMPLAINWrong comparison(only similar thingscan be compared)Improper conclusionExampleOur research indicates that over thepast six years no incidents ofemployee theft have been reportedwithin 10 of the companies thathave been our clients.In color film processing, the cost ofa 3-by-5-inch print fell from 50 centsfor five-day service in 1970 to 20cents for one-day service in 1984.Flaw in reasoningThere are probably thefts thatwere not reported. We cannotassume that all the thefts werereported.50 cents for 5-day periodmeans 10 cents per day (in1970), which is less than 20cents per day (in 1984). So, theprice did not fall – it actuallyincreased.People who use the artificialSome people may use artificialsweetener aspartame are better off sweeteners for reasons otherconsuming sugar, since aspartamethan weight-loss (diabetes,can actually contribute to weightallergies, etc.) These peoplegain rather than weight loss.will not be “better off” by usingsugar. Copyright Graduate Management Admission Council
Keyword/SituationRESPONDED TOSURVEY/ REPLIEDTO QUESTIONNAIRE/ PARTICIPATED INPOLL, etc.ExampleFlaw in reasoningImproved communicationsbetween employees andmanagement was consistentlyranked as the issue of highestimportance by the employeeswho responded to the survey.Unless there is dataabout what % of peopleresponded to the survey,this data is inconclusive.If survey was doneamong 1000 people andonly 10 peopleresponded, then noconclusion can be drawnbased on the result ofthat survey. Copyright Graduate Management Admission Council
ce/intelligence/competence,etc. cannot be treatedas permanent/fixed.On average, middle-aged consumersdevote 39 percent of their retailexpenditure to department storeproducts and services, while foryounger consumers the average isonly 25 percent. Since the numberof middle-aged people will increasedramatically within the next decade,department stores can expect retailsales to increase significantly duringthat period. Furthermore, to takeadvantage of the trend, these storesshould begin to replace some ofthose products intended to attractthe younger consumer withproducts intended to attract themiddle-aged consumer. Copyright Graduate Management Admission CouncilFlaw in reasoningThere is no guaranteethat in 10 years’ timepeople’s preference willnot change.
Keyword/SituationSTUDIESREVEAL ./RESEARCHSHOWS .ExampleStudies suggest that an average coffee drinker’s consumptionof coffee increases with age, from age 10 through age 60.Flaw in reasoningQuestion theauthenticity of thestudies, research, etc.Was the samplerepresentative?When was it carriedout – is it stillrelevant?Conclusions We believe that improved customer service is the best way for -No data to supportdrawnus to differentiate ourselves from competitors and attract new that these are thewithoutcustomers. We can offer our customers better service bythings that theirdatareducing waiting time in teller lines from an average of sixcustomers want.minutes to an average of three. By opening for business at-No data to support8:30 instead of 9:00, and by remaining open for an additional that theirhour beyond our current closing time, we will be better ablecompetitors don’tto accommodate the busy schedules of our customers. These offer these samechanges will enhance our bank’s image as the most customer- things.friendly bank in town and give us the edge over ourcompetition. Copyright Graduate Management Admission Council
Keyword/SituationMOST/MANY/FEW/ALOT , etc. (notconcrete data)PROVEN METHOD/SUREST WAY/ENSURE/ GUARANTEE(without supportingdata)ExampleFlaw inreasoningIn response to petitions from the manyfarmers and rural landowners throughout ourregion, the legislature has spent valuable timeand effort enacting severe laws to determotorists from picking fruit off the trees,trampling through the fields, and stealingsamples of foliage.The surest way for architects and builders toprove that they have met the minimumrequirements established by these codes is toconstruct buildings by using the samematerials and methods that are currentlyallowed.“Many” is what% of totalfarmers andrurallandowners ofthat region? Copyright Graduate Management Admission CouncilNo data tosupport thisclaim.
Keyword/ SituationExampleAfter X was done,Y happened/Since Xhappened, Yshould be done/Since Xhappened, Yhappened (one ofthe mostcommonsituations thatappear inArguments.)-After opening the new swimming pool earlylast summer, Take Heart saw a 12 percentincrease in the use of thecenter by its members.-Farmers who switched from synthetic toorganic farming last year have seen their cropyields decline.-Since a competing lower-priced newspaper,The Bugle, was started five years ago, TheMercury’s circulation hasdeclined by 10,000 readers.-Since our company started manufacturing andmarketing a deluxe air filter six months ago,sales of our economy filter—and companyprofits—have decreased significantly. Copyright Graduate Management Admission CouncilFlaw inreasoningIt is notnecessary that Yhappenedbecause of X!There can beother reasons forY happening.There may not bea direct corelation betweenX and Y.
Keyword/SituationExampleFlaw in reasoningPERCENT(when onlythepercentage isgiven andnot theabsolutenumber)-Waiters report that onlyabout 2 percent of thecustomers havecomplained, and thatcustomers who wantrefills typically ask for‘more tea.’-In a recent citywide poll,15 percent more residentssaid that they watchtelevision programs aboutthe visual artsthan was the case in a pollconducted five years ago.Percentages are tricky – when the absolutenumbers are not given. Consider thisstatement – the price of Car A increased by50% while the price of Car B increased onlyby 10%. This statement makes it sound as ifCar A has become very expensive. But theprice of Car A could have increased to 15000 from 10000 while price of Car Bcould have become 22000 from 20000.Similarly, 2% customers can mean 2customers if total customers are 100 or it caneven mean 2000 if the total customers are100000 – and the significance of the 2% willbe different in each case. Copyright Graduate Management Admission Council
Tackling the Argument::Outline Copyright Graduate Management Admission Council
OUTLINEFirst Paragraph: Introduction- Restate/summarize the argument in 2-3 sentences- End the paragraph with a sentence stating that you do not agree with thelogic of the given argument. Examples:- However, there are major gaps in this line of reasoning.- The argument is rather unconvincing, given the obvious flaws in logic.Second Paragraph: First flaw- Start with – First, Firstly, etc.- State the flaw with easy-to-understand example or a similar day-to-dayoccurrence.Third Paragraph: Second flaw- Start with – Second, Secondly, Moreover, Additionally, In addition, Also, etc.- State the flaw with easy-to-understand example or a similar day-to-dayoccurrence.Fourth Paragraph: Third flaw- Start with – Third, Thirdly, Moreover, Additionally, In addition, Also, Last butnot the least, etc.- State the flaw with easy-to-understand example or a similar day-to-dayoccurrence. Copyright Graduate Management Admission Council
OUTLINE (contd.)Last Paragraph: Conclusion- Start with a sentence indicating that the flaw in argument has beendemonstrated in the previous paragraphs. Examples::- In summary, the given argument falls short in many aspects.- Thus, there are several glaring logical discrepancies in the given argument.- Include one or two pieces of information or data, which if included, would havemade the argument logically sound. So, the last paragraph may look like::- In summary, the given argument falls short in many aspects. The argument did startwith a sound premise. However, it lacked the necessary data to strengthen thatpremise. For instance, if the argument included the raw number of participantsinstead of just the percentage or if there had been some indication about theconditions prevalent in X county prior to the installation of the power plant, theauthor’s thought process in progressing from the premise to the stated conclusionwould not have been so abrupt and jarring. Further, the inclusion of data comparingthe ABC of X in 2000 with that in 2001 would have helped the author drive home hispoint in a far more convincing manner and establish his position without a shred ofdoubt. But, in the absence of these, the argument remains flawed. Copyright Graduate Management Admission Council
Tackling the Argument::Writing Tips Copyright Graduate Management Admission Council
-The essay should neither be too long nor too short. 400-600 words will be enough.- The flow from one paragraph to another should be seamless.- Use simple words, unless the context demands a difficult one. Words such as‘augur’ are best avoided and so too are very formal words like “therein.”- Subject names ought to be in upper/lower, like, Physics. Please avoid the use ofsingle and double inverted commas, e.g. I presented a paper on Punctuation andthe Art of Good Writing, rather than “Punctuation and the Art of Good Writing”.Follow this style for names of papers, books, films etc.- Generally any number less than 10 is spelt out (e.g. eight), while those over tenare put in numerals (e.g. 14).- Humor doesn't travel: What seems funny to you may be offensive to someoneelse. Remember, humor doesn't travel well. Jokes about religion, sports, politicalfigures, and women may come across as tasteless and should be avoided at allcosts. Copyright Graduate Management Admission Council
- A hit or miss effort with spellings does not help. If you are not sure of aword’s spelling, don’t use that word.- Write right!: Good grammar is very important. A correctly framedsentence, with proper punctuation in place, is what you should aim at. Bevery careful with commas, especially, as they change the meaning of asentence. A good example would be:Wrong: All foreign tea, tree, oils are free from duty.Correct: All foreign tea tree oils are free from duty.If you are not very confident of your writing skills, stick to short and simplesentences.- Follow American English style. Therefore, use “center” rather than“centre” and “counseling” rather than “counselling.” Copyright Graduate Management Admission Council
Tackling the Argument::Revise and Refine Copyright Graduate Management Admission Council
-Revise your essay thoroughly.- Look out for typos, spelling errors and missed words.- Look out for common replacement errors such as writing“their” instead of “there”, “accept” instead of “except”, etc.-Refine your essay ONLY AFTER completing one roundof revision.- Do not start to rewrite. Remember an AWA essay is notexpected to be an award-winning literary piece! Copyright Graduate Management Admission Council
5 steps to writing a6-out-of-6 GMATAWA essay Copyright Graduate Management Admission Council
STEP 1: Practice STEP 2: Practice STEP 3: Practice STEP 4: Practice STEP 5: Practice ! Writing one essay every week right from the beginningof your GMAT preparation is more than enough.* And, remember, you need a 4.5 in the AWA section tomeet the cut-offs of B Schools. Copyright Graduate Management Admission Council
On the day of the GMAT exam,do not over-think the AWA essay.Remember, it’s the first section onyour GMAT exam. You still haveTHREE more sections to go!ALL THE BEST! Copyright Graduate Management Admission Council
On the day of the GMAT exam, do not over-think the AWA essay. Remember, it’s the first section on your GMAT exam. You still have THREE more sections to go! ALL TH
