The GRE Analytical Writing Templates

When it comes to GRE essays, most test takers tend to forget that not all that you write on your test day has to
be 100% prompt or topic specific. There are parts of the essay that can be written prior to your exam and used
as-is or with slight adjustments. We call this smart writing. Isnt it smart, eh?
Why should you do this? Because theres a huge upside in doing it this way you can save precious time by
writing the essay even before you brainstorm for ideas, without having to think and vet it all in those 30 minutes
of time.
Alright! Ready to write an essay using a pre-written template that will save you valuable time on test
day?
Lets dive into the template below to get started.

Plan Your Essay

Take a few minutes to plan out what you want to write about so that you can stay on topic and answer the
prompt accurately.

Step 1: Create an Outline

The typical GRE essay consists of:

An introduction: Sets the stage for what you plan to address in through your essay.
A body: Discusses at least 3-4 arguments/flaws with examples in a logical order each with an
explanation.
A conclusion: Wraps up your essay with a brief statement that's reflective of what your essay says.

Ask yourself this question: what are all the points you need to cover to introduce your essay, explain each
point, and remind the grader of what they just read?

Fill in the Essay Template

This exercise is going to be a hands-on experience for you. We have given the templates below for both
argument and issue essays, and there is a text box at the end of each instruction. To practice writing AWA
essays, all you need to do is:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Pick a random AWA question from the pool of essays. (check Resources at end of this guide)
Read each of the following steps carefully.
Copy the text on the right side of the table and paste it in the text box below.
Change the text in the {parenthesis} and replace it with your own sentences specific to the chosen
topic.
5. Now you have an essay that gets you a 6.0 on the AWA.

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Step 2: Write the Introduction

When writing your introduction, you want to keep one question top of mind: How can I establish credibility and
get the grader to care about the topic I am about to discuss?
INTRODUCTION FOR ISSUE ESSAY:
Steps to Writing Your
Introduction
1) Write a compelling
opening that
empathizes with
the grader on the
given topic
2) Explain the issue
in further detail.
3) Explain how youll
refute it
4) Transition into the
body where youll
explain your point
further

Example With Italicized Green Text that Can Be Replaced with

Topic Specific Text
This topic raises the controversial issue of whether {main issue}.

Indisputably, {admit some value in the opposite opinion}.

Nevertheless, {provide evidence to refute the opposite opinion}.
Thus, I generally disagree with the opinion that {opposite opinion},
and would argue that {main assertion}.

INTRODUCTION FOR ARGUMENT ESSAY:

Steps to Writing Your
Introduction
1) Restate the
argument
2) State your stand
on the topic

Example With Italicized Green Text that Can Be Replaced with

Topic Specific Text
The author argues/concludes/claims here that {main argument}.
Stated in this way, the argument
1. fails to mention several key factors, on the basis of which it
could be evaluated
2. reveals several instances of poor reasoning and ill-defined
terminology
3. distorts the view of the situation by manipulating facts and by
providing weak examples/evidences.
[Use any one of the above, or make a sentence on your own, that
reflects a similar tone and meaning.]

3) State the main

flaw/assumption

4) State your
conclusive
remarks on the
argument
2

To justify/support (OR: In support of) this

conclusion/recommendation/argument, the author reasons/notes
that. However, careful scrutiny of the evidence reveals that it
provides little credible support for the authors
recommendation/conclusion
Hence the argument can be considered incomplete or
unsubstantiated.

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Now its your turn! Start crafting an introduction in the box provided below.

Step 3: Write the Body

Remember, the body follows through on what you promised in the introduction. Your body should be written in
paragraphs one paragraph for each point. You can make use of whichever format is easiest for you though.
Just be cognizant of this question: What are all the pieces of information I need to explain in order to avoid
confusion with the issue/argument at hand?
BODY OF THE ISSUE ESSAY:
Steps to Writing Your
Body
1) Continue from
one example to
the other while
using several
transition words
all through
2) Second paragraph

3) Third paragraph
and the transition
into the
conclusion.

Example With Italicized Green Text that Can Be Replaced with

Topic Specific Text
First of all, {assert a positive viewpoint}. I would like to point out that
the {main support to the position}. To illustrate, let us look at the
example of {an example}. In this circumstance, obviously {some
observation}. Consequently, it is pretty obvious that {main assertion}.
Furthermore, {refute the opposite side, e.g. if .. not true, then ..}.
Specifically, {look into one area to discuss the effect}. Both common
sense and personal experience have told us that .... Hence, all the
evidence above demonstrates that ...
Admittedly, {opposite opinion}. This is true especially when it comes
to {specific areas or applications}. In addition, {further provide some
support}. However, the above argument does not constitute a
sufficient support to claim that {opposite opinion}. Because {some
reason}, {main refutation}.

BODY OF THE ARGUMENT ESSAY:

Steps to Writing Your
Body
1) Continue from
one example to
the other while
using several
transition words
all through
2) Second paragraph

Example With Italicized Green Text that Can Be Replaced with

Topic Specific Text
First of all, the argument readily assumes that {first/biggest
assumption}
This is merely an assumption made without much solid ground.
For example.. {provide examples or ask questions} Hence the
argument would have been much more convincing if it explicitly stated
that .
The argument readily claims that/the author also points out that
/cites that {second assumption}
This again is a weak and unsupported claim as it does not
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3) Third paragraph
and the transition
into the
conclusion.

demonstrate any clear correlation between {A and B}. To illustrate

further, {provide examples or ask questions}
If the argument had provided evidence that.....then it would have been
a lot more convincing to the reader.
Finally, the author/someone cites/notes that {third/final assumption}
However, careful scrutiny of the evidence reveals that it provides little
credible support for the authors conclusion in several critical
respects, and raises several skeptical questions. For example, {ask
three to four questions}. Without convincing answers to these
questions, the reader is left with the impression that the claims made
by the author are more of a wishful thinking rather than substantive
evidence.

Now its your turn! Start crafting the body paragraphs in the box provided below.

Step 8: Write the Conclusion

Your conclusion is where youll paraphrase the main point you outlined earlier in the brainstorming stages
CONCLUSION FOR THE ISSUE TASK:
Steps to Writing Your
Conclusion
1) Restate the main
point your essay is
trying to say

Example With Italicized Green Text that Can Be Replaced with

Topic Specific Text
In conclusion, although {the opposite side}, {refute the opposite
and give main support}. As long as some measurements are
performed, or some areas are involved, {main conclusion still
holds}. In fact, {extend the topic to broader/more abstract areas}.

CONCLUSION FOR THE ARGUMENT TASK:

Steps to Writing Your
Conclusion
1) Recap of thesis
statement and
summarize the
essay

Example With Italicized Green Text that Can Be Replaced with

Topic Specific Text
In conclusion, the authors argument is unpersuasive as it stands.
To bolster it further, the author must provide clear/better/more
concrete evidence, perhaps by way of a reliable survey/a detailed
analysis of {the main topic}. Finally, to better assess/evaluate the
argument/survey, it would be necessary to know more information
about why/what/how {the main assumption}

Now its your turn! Start crafting the conclusion in the box provided below.

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GRE AWA Resources:

Here are links to some very important GRE AWA resources. Ctrl+Click to open a link.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

CrunchPreps Advanced Guide to GRE Analytical Writing

21 Killer GRE Essay Quotes You Should Use
Why is the AWA Section So Important?
ETS Argument Essay Question Pool
ETS Issue Essay Question Pool

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