What experts say about this book!

GMAT Analytical Writing: Solutions to the Real Argument Topics is the only test prep
for the GMAT essay that you will need. The arguments, strategies, assumptions, and
sample essays really help the student understand how to write a persuasive essay. The
book even describes the sections and time limits of the test. Excellent way to prepare!

– Carlene Morrison,
Independence County Library
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TM

TEST PREP SERIES

GMAT
®

ANALYTICAL WRITING:
SOLUTIONS TO THE REAL ARGUMENT TOPICS

2023
60 Solved Argument
topics

Detailed Strategies by
Experts to tackle the task

Overview of Analytical
Writing Assessment

Scoring Guide

Sixth Edition
 ®
GMAT ANALYTICAL WRITING:
Solutions to the Real Argument Topics
Sixth Edition

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 Table of Contents
1 Analytical Writing Assessment 1
Strategies 2
Scoring Guide 4
Conclusion 5

2 Solved Argument Tasks with Strategies 7

Argument Task 1 – The Mercury 9
Argument Task 2 – Apogee company 12
Argument Task 3 – Financial magazine 15
Argument Task 4 – Health club managers 18
Argument Task 5 – Cerberus dog food 21
Argument Task 6 – Environmental protection 24
Argument Task 7 – Big Boards Inc. 27
Argument Task 8 – Speedee Airlines 30
Argument Task 9 – Corporate newsletter 33
Argument Task 10 – Company that makes shampoo 36
Argument Task 11 – Olympic Foods 39
Argument Task 12 – Large city’s council on the arts 42
Argument Task 13 – Company manufacturing parts for heavy machinery 45
Argument Task 14 – Magazine on trends and lifestyles 49
Argument Task 15 – Waymarsh students 52
Argument Task 16 – Daily Gazette 55
Argument Task 17 – Advertisement for Adams 58
Argument Task 18 – Acid-Ease and Pepticaid 61
Argument Task 19 – Restaurant industry in Spiessa 64
Argument Task 20 – Automobile manufacturing company 67
Argument Task 21 – Drug absue 70
Argument Task 22 – City L 73
Argument Task 23 – Board to censor movies 76
Argument Task 24 – Synthetic Farm Products 79
Argument Task 25 – Coffee and cola 82
Argument Task 26 – Perks Company 85
Argument Task 27 – Fern Valley University 88
Argument Task 28 – Professor Taylor 91
Argument Task 29 – Avia Airlines 94
Argument Task 30 – University hospitals vs community hospitals 97
Argument Task 31 – Robin Good 100
Argument Task 32 – Recycling of newspaper 103
Argument Task 33 – Information technology department of advertising firm 106
Argument Task 34 – Excelsior Company 109
Argument Task 35 – Government funding of environmental regulatory agencies 112
Argument Task 36 – Safer workplace 115
Argument Task 37 – West Cambria 118
Argument Task 38 – Prime-time television programs 121
Argument Task 39 – How to Write a Screenplay for a Movie 124
Argument Task 40 – ElectroWares Company 127
Argument Task 41 – Tartfish industry 130
Argument Task 42 – Advertising spots on KMTV 133
Argument Task 43 – Plateau College 136
Argument Task 44 – Saluda Consolidated High School 139
Argument Task 45 – Books in electronic form 142
Argument Task 46 – Take Heart Fitness Center 145
Argument Task 47 – Bayview High School 148
Argument Task 48 – Store selling gourmet food items 151
Argument Task 49 – Ready-to-Ware 154
Argument Task 50 – Omnilixir 157
Argument Task 51 – Amusement parks 160
Argument Task 52 – The Clarion 163
Argument Task 53 – Capital Idea - Irongate district 166
Argument Task 54 – HuggyBunny 169
Argument Task 55 – Exeunt Theater Company 172
Argument Task 56 – Capital Idea investment firm - tartfish 175
Argument Task 57 – Avia Airlines - commuter route 178
Argument Task 58 – GBS Company 181
Argument Task 59 – Excel Meats 184
Argument Task 60 – Improving services for the city 187
Dear Student,

Thank you for purchasing GMAT® Analytical Writing: Solutions to the Real Argument Topics. We are
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Introduction to the GMAT

T
he GMAT is the standardized test required by more than 7,000 programs and 2300 graduate
schools as part of the application package to their business or management programs. Along with
your undergraduate transcript, recommendations, work experience, etc., your GMAT scores will
determine which college programs will grant you admission. Colleges consider these scores important for
two main reasons. First, undergraduate courses and curricula vary from school to school, and second, in the
same way that the SAT predicts success in college, the GMAT predicts a student's success in the challenging
courses of graduate business and management programs. The higher the score you earn, the more likely you
will gain admission to competitive programs at colleges around the country. The top business schools will
expect to see a score of 5.5 or 6 from their applicants- but other schools might be willing to accept a score of
5 or even a little less. You can check the websites of desired programs to see the range of scores they consider
acceptable as well as the weight they assign to those scores.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) started offering
the GMAT Online option from April 2020 onwards. The GMAT Online has now become a permanent fixture
as announced in May, 2021. The format of the Online GMAT, in terms of number of sections, number of
questions per section, total test time, and scoring is exactly the same as the In-Center GMAT Test. However,
you have to meet certain technology and set-up requirements before you can opt for the GMAT Online. For
more details, check the official GMAT website: https://www.mba.com/exams/gmat

The GMAT is composed of four parts: Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative
Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning. The test will begin with a 30-minute Analytical Writing Assessment,
followed by the 30-minute, 12-question Integrated Reasoning section. Next is the Quantitative Reasoning
section, made up of 31 questions that you must answer in 62 minutes, and the Verbal Reasoning section, made
up of 36 questions that must be answered in 65 minutes.

Even though the test is used for admission to business or management programs, no specific knowledge
in these areas is needed to successfully complete the test. All of the information you will need to answer
any individual question appears in the question and the answers. The test is computer-adaptive. The degree
of difficulty of the questions will change based on your answer history. You will never get many questions
that are either too difficult or too easy for you. Your success will derive from your ability to read and follow
directions and carefully scrutinize the information in the question or prompt. You will need to read and
write in English and have basic math and English skills. The test is delivered in English on a computer, but
no special computer skills are needed to complete the test. Basic word processing skills are necessary for
composing the essay.

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 Because the results are important, you should spend some time practicing for the GMAT. At the very
least, familiarize yourself with the question formats. Taking one or more practice tests will be most helpful
in ensuring a high score. Remember that the actual test is timed, so you should time yourself throughout one
practice test.

The following strategies will help you complete the GMAT in a timely manner and ensure that you get the
highest score possible.

‰ Pace yourself; use the allotted time wisely. An on-screen clock will keep track of the time remaining
and warn you when 5 minutes remain.

‰ Never skim the questions and answers. You may miss important information.

‰ You must confirm the answer you have selected before you can move on to the next question. As long
as all of the answers appear on the screen, you can change your answer, but you cannot return to a
question you have previously answered.

‰ You cannot skip a question, so, if you are not sure of the answer, eliminate the choices that you can and
select the best answer from the choices remaining.

‰ Attempt to finish all of the questions, as leaving several unanswered can have a seriously negative
effect on your score.

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 Chapter 1
Analytical Writing Assessment
2 GMAT Analytical Writing: Solutions to the Real Argument Topics

T
he AWA is the first of four parts of the GMAT, and you will have 30 minutes to plan and type your
essay. You will begin by reading a brief argument in which the author may state a position, make
a recommendation, or make a prediction. You may agree or disagree with the author’s position,
but refrain from stating your own opinion. Your task is to determine how sufficiently the writer has made
his case and clearly communicate your critique of the argument in writing. Until 1999, two independent
readers would assign a score between 1 to 6 and if their scores were not exact or adjacent, a third reader
would evaluate your writing. Now, the essays are graded by a person and a computer called an “E-rater.”
The computer program scans the essay and rates it according to certain parameters. If the person and the
computer vary in score by more than one point, a third person is called in to resolve the differences.

The readers, who are college professors from a variety of disciplines, will use the following criteria to
score your analysis: the overall quality of your ideas; your ability to organize, develop, and express your
ideas; your including relevant supporting reasons and examples; and your control of the elements of standard
written English.

The following directions appear after each argument, and you should read them carefully.

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of
reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable
assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken
the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what
changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better
evaluate its conclusion.

Strategies

While planning your response, focus on the suggestions in the directions. Use the erasable notepad to take
notes to help you organize your analysis. Begin by identifying the audience for the argument. The author
may have tailored the information in the argument to this audience, thereby creating some inherent biases.
For example, a company's report to its stockholders may include information that makes a company seem
more profitable than it really is and omit information that makes stockholders question their investment.
A political endorsement will enumerate positive changes that the incumbent has facilitated and point out
how his opponent disagrees with that incumbent's policies. An editorial, by its nature, expresses an opinion.
Understanding how the audience may influence the type of information included in the argument will help
you to single out the questionable assumptions in the argument. The author may have a vested interest in
the point of view expressed in the argument. He or she may be a department head in a large company, and
provide only positive information about his department's performance designed to ensure job security or
expansion of his department. Acknowledging hidden agendas will help you evaluate the argument.

Consider the source of the information presented in the argument. The author may cite polls or surveys.
Although the survey or poll information may be accurate, it may not actually support the argument. The
author may be using survey results to create an analogy, a conclusion drawn by arguing that there are clear

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Analytical Writing Assessment 3

similarities between two different events. Be wary of general descriptors like several, some, many, or recent.
You should ask, "How many? How recent?"

Next, list the assumptions. Keep in mind that an assumption is not a fact, but it may be based on what
appear to be facts in the argument. For example, the writer may say that over the last few years, gold chain
sales at Jennie's Jewelry have declined by 20%. A recent survey shows that a significant number of women
prefer sterling silver over gold, so Jennie should increase her sterling silver chain inventory to raise her
profits. One questionable assumption implied in this statement is that Jennie's sales of gold chain were so
high that a 20% reduction has had a big impact on her profits. Another is that Jennie can sell enough sterling
silver to compensate for the reduction in gold sales. You might also assume that Jennie has taken no steps to
compensate for the reduction in gold sales. The survey results cited here may also lead you to conclude that
investing in more sterling silver is a good decision.

The directions tell you to consider alternative explanations or counterexamples for the assumptions
in the argument. In the case of Jennie’s Jewelry, you might think of reasons to explain the 20% decline in
gold sales. A new jewelry store may have opened in town. The price of gold may be so high that Jennie
bought less of it, and a smaller selection forced customers to shop elsewhere. The higher price may have
discouraged customers from purchasing it. Jennie's Jewelry may have experienced an even greater reduction
in sterling silver sales. A manufacturer may have closed its plant in Jennie's town, eliminating a significant
number of jobs, so all businesses in her town may have suffered losses. If any of these conditions are true,
the assumption is faulty. You might be able to draw on your own experience to develop an alternative
explanation. It is likely that you live in a town whose independently-owned, small businesses have been
affected by the opening of a new mall or big box store, and you can relate the impact of that in your analysis.

What additional information would help you to better evaluate the assumptions? The following pieces of
information may help you: the portion of Jennie's total sales that can be attributed to gold jewelry; changes
in the price of gold over the last few years; changes in the local economy; what is selling well at Jennie's
Jewelry. If you know this information, you can determine if the author's recommendation is reasonable. Try
manipulating some numbers that make a 20% decline in gold sales seem either significant or of little concern.
For example, consider that gold sales account for 80% of Jennie's total sales. Losing one-fifth of those sales
would result in gold sales equaling only 66% of total sales, a significant loss. Sales of other merchandise
would have to increase from 20% of the total to 34% of the total. On the other hand, if the sale of gold jewelry
accounts for only 10% of total sales for the store, a 20% decline, which would reduce the contribution to 8% of
total sales, would be almost negligible.

Making separate lists for the assumptions and/or claims, alternative explanations or counterexamples, and
missing information will provide a visual aid to assist you in developing your evaluation of any argument.
Now, you are prepared to begin composing your evaluation of the argument. You will be able to perform
basic word processing functions like cut and paste, so feel free to begin writing about your ideas in any
way that is comfortable for you. Some writers complete the introduction before moving on to the body
paragraphs, while others prefer to write the introduction after developing their ideas in the body paragraphs.
Whatever style suits you, keep in mind the following strategies.

‰ Read the argument carefully; reread it as you write to ensure that you maintain your focus.

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4 GMAT Analytical Writing: Solutions to the Real Argument Topics

‰ Refer to your notes, lists, or outline as you write, but do not hesitate to include ideas that come to you
as you write. Your prewriting is just a guide.

‰ Fully develop your examples; do not simply list them.

‰ In your discussion of alternative explanations or counterexamples, feel free to draw on your own
experiences, observations, or readings.

‰ Be sure to use a narrative format for your evaluation.

‰ Leave some time to reread your response and make any necessary revisions.

‰ Keep in mind that you are critiquing the argument, and you may point out both strengths and
weaknesses.

Complete enough practice essays to become comfortable with the format. Take as much time as you
need with the first few responses, but, eventually, you should complete some practice analyses while
timing yourself. Ask someone whose opinion you respect to read some of your analyses and ask him or her
to provide constructive feedback. Share the scoring criteria with that person, so he or she can phrase the
feedback in the language of the scoring guide.

Scoring Guide

Your goal, after completing practice essays, is to use what you have learned to get the highest score
possible on your analysis. In order to earn a score of 6- the highest score possible- your analysis must be
Outstanding. At this level, you will have created a response that demonstrates an insightful analysis of the
argument after clearly identifying its important features. Your ideas will be organized logically and connected
with clear transitions to create a cogent response as you provide effective support for your points. Use a
variety of sentence structures and apt and accurate vocabulary. Although your writing may have some minor
flaws, you should strive for control of the conventions of standard written English, including grammar,
usage, and mechanics.

Analyses at score point 5 are described as Strong. You have demonstrated the ability to identify the
important features of the arguments and analyze them thoughtfully. Your analyses are not formulaic. Your
analysis proceeds logically with appropriate transitions between ideas. You demonstrate control of language
with sentence variety and appropriate vocabulary. Your response may contain occasional flaws in usage,
grammar, and mechanics.

A score point of 4 is for analyses that are considered Adequate. You have delivered a competent critique
of the argument. You are able to identify and analyze the important features of the argument. You may omit
transitions between satisfactorily developed and well-organized ideas. You provide adequate support for the
main points in your critique and demonstrate reasonable clarity and sufficient control of language. Although
your analysis may have some flaws, your writing generally follows the conventions of standard written
English..

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Analytical Writing Assessment 5

Papers that are given a score of 3 are considered to be Limited. Although you demonstrate some ability to
provide a written analysis of an argument, your flaws are evident. You have failed to identify or analyze most
of the important points in the argument. Although some analysis is present, it addresses only tangential or
irrelevant matters. Your reasoning is weak. The development of ideas lacks substance, and the organization
lacks logic. The analysis may contain either occasional major errors or frequent minor errors in grammar,
usage, and mechanics. There is little variety in sentence structure, and sometimes vocabulary is weak or
inappropriate.

An analysis assigned a score of 2 is Seriously Flawed due to serious weaknesses in analytical writing
skills. At this level, your response may state your own opinion on the subject of the argument. If you attempt
a critique, you do not develop your ideas or provide relevant support for them. Your response is poorly
organized and has serious and frequent errors in sentence structure. Numerous errors in grammar, usage,
and mechanics interfere with meaning and coherence.

A Fundamentally Deficient analysis earns a score of 1. This paper lacks even the basic skills of analytical
writing. Your writing demonstrates the inability to understand the argument, thereby preventing you from
identifying important ideas. Any response at this score level has severe and persistent errors in language and
sentence structure. The response is virtually incoherent as a result of pervasive errors in grammar, usage, and
mechanics.

The final two scoring options are No Score and NR. Your response will earn a No Score if you simply
attempt to copy the prompt, write off-topic, write in a language other than English, or write using only
keystroke characters. NR is assigned to blank responses.

Conclusion

The Analytical Writing Assessment does not measure the extent of your knowledge about any specific
topic or academic content. The argument topics may be about business or any area of general interest. Use
your familiarity with the scoring criteria and your practice writing analyses to approach the argument in a
manner that displays your ability to think critically about the content of the argument and write your analysis
in a thorough and well-developed manner. Express your ideas in an original manner, avoiding formulaic
phrases and comparisons.

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 Chapter 2
Solved Argument Tasks with Strategies
8 GMAT Analytical Writing: Solutions to the Real Argument Topics

T
he following essays and prewriting activities are designed to help the test taker successfully
complete the Analytical Writing Assessment portion of the GMAT. To obtain a good score, first
determine what the directions are asking you to do. Basically, you must evaluate the strength of
an argument. You are not being asked to create an argument or take a position but to analyze the credibility
of a position that someone else has taken on an issue. Develop points for your critique by following the
suggestions in the directions. Identify any claims and/or assumptions in the argument. This will enable you
to create alternative explanations for the conditions that exist in the argument. The argument may need more
information to strengthen the author’s position. Make a list of additional information that would help you to
better evaluate the argument. This list might include questions that you have. As you read the essays, refer to
the lists the author has made and notice how development of points in them either weakens or strengthens
the argument presented. In the time allotted to craft your essay during the exam, you will not be able to
develop each point. Notice that the authors of these essays have selected some points while omitting others.
Some essays may include points that do not appear in the prewriting lists. Ideas may come to you as you
write, and you should feel free to include them. Just as these authors have done, evaluate how the audience
for each argument may affect the content of the argument and the biases inherent in some of them. Use
the pattern created here or one that works better for you. However you decide to approach the arguments,
practicing will make your essay more coherent and eligible for a high score.

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Argument Task 1 9

1
Argument Task 1

The following appeared in an announcement issued by the publisher of The Mercury, a weekly
newspaper:

“Since a competing lower-priced newspaper, The Bugle, was started five years ago, The Mercury’s
circulation has declined by 10,000 readers. The best way to get more people to read The Mercury is
to reduce its price below that of The Bugle, at least until circulation increases to former levels. The
increased circulation of The Mercury will attract more businesses to buy advertising space in the
paper.”
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line
of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider
what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or
counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would
strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically
sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.

Strategies
A good place to start your analysis is by creating a statement that reveals the main idea of the
argument. Although the writer is creating an argument, he may ultimately be stating a position, making a
recommendation, or making a prediction. It may be helpful for you to determine which of these formats is
most evident in the argument.

Recommendation

The publisher should lower the price of The Mercury to increase readership and attract more advertisers.

The directions for crafting your response include suggesting that you identify any questionable
assumptions that may underlie or support the writer’s conclusion. The assumptions may be stated or
implied.

Claims and/or Assumptions

‹ The 10,000 readers who no longer read The Mercury now read The Bugle

‹ The Bugle’s circulation is greater than that of The Mercury

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 10 GMAT Analytical Writing: Solutions to the Real Argument Topics

1 ‹ Readers choose their newspaper based on the price of the paper and will choose the cheapest paper

‹ Businesses choose to advertise in papers with circulations higher than that of The Mercury

‹ Other than price, there is no difference between The Bugle and The Mercury

The author of the argument may have omitted some information to make his position appear stronger.
What information would help you decide if the argument has validity or what should the writer’s
audience know in order to make an informed decision?

Additional information needed to analyze the argument

‹ The circulation data for both The Mercury and The Bugle

‹ The difference in price between The Mercury and The Bugle

‹ The cost for advertising in both The Mercury and The Bugle

‹ Information to track the decrease in The Mercury’s circulation (when did it begin? Is it still
declining?)

‹ Information about The Bugle’s circulation. (Is it increasing? Decreasing?)

‹ Information about the content of both papers.

‹ Information about when The Bugle is published. Is it weekly? Daily?

Sample Essay
The author of this recommendation has identified a problem; that the circulation of the weekly newspaper,
The Mercury, has declined over the last five years. The author claims that this decline is the direct result of
the introduction of a lower-priced paper, The Bugle, five years ago. He recommends lowering the price of The
Mercury so that it is less than that of The Bugle, which, he believes, will increase readership and attract more
advertisers. It may be that the author has accurately identified the cause of The Mercury’s decline. However,
he has made assumptions and omitted key information to support his recommendation.

At the outset, the author assumes that The Bugle’s readership is greater than that of The Mercury, and that
the 10,000 readers who no longer buy The Mercury now spend their money on The Bugle. This may be the
case, however, the author has not provided circulation data or other information that would identify why
readers are no longer interested in reading The Mercury or to prove that The Bugle’s readership is increasing
in correlation to The Mercury’s decrease. Without this information, there is no way to know what has become
of the lost readers of The Mercury. They may have moved from the city in a mass exodus due to housing or
employment issues. They may now read their news online or rely on television news sources, and see no

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Argument Task 1 11

reason for the additional expense of a newspaper, and it could be that the circulation of both papers is on the 1
decline. If the reason for the loss of readers is anything other than readers choosing a less expensive paper,
lowering the price will decrease the company’s revenues without increasing circulation.

The author also assumes that other than price, the two newspapers are identical. If The Bugle is a daily
paper, it may be that readers prefer news that is more current than the weekly paper, The Mercury, can
provide. If that is the case, reducing the price of The Mercury will have no impact, as readers will continue to
avoid the stale weekly news in The Mercury. It may also be the case that the two papers do not cover the same
type of news. Perhaps The Bugle is staffed by experienced journalists who provide in-depth reporting of issues
that are of great concern for citizens, while The Mercury focuses on human interest stories and publishing
births, deaths, and anniversaries. If that is the case, those interested in learning more about the issues facing
the community will not purchase The Mercury now that a hard newspaper is available.

Finally, the author asserts a causal chain: lowering the price of the paper will increase circulation,
which will then attract advertisers. He suggests that advertisers are motivated primarily by a newspaper’s
circulation. If advertisers are motivated by other factors, the potential for increased circulation will not result
in additional advertisement sales. The author has not compared advertising rates or presentation between the
two papers. Perhaps The Bugle’s advertising rates are similar to those of The Mercury, but ads are presented
in full color, or, perhaps, The Bugle’s rates are less than those of The Mercury. Or, perhaps, advertising in
newspapers is universally declining and neither paper should expect to increase advertising revenues, as
advertisers turn to other media, such as radio and internet marketing.

The publishers of The Mercury should review the assumptions made in this memorandum very carefully
before taking action. The base assumptions, that The Bugle has a greater circulation than The Mercury, and that
the difference is the direct result of the price difference between the two papers are not evident, and the other
claims and recommendations presented fail to make the author’s case for lowering the price of The Mercury.

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 12 GMAT Analytical Writing: Solutions to the Real Argument Topics

2
Argument Task 2

The following appeared in a memorandum from the business department of the Apogee Company:

“When the Apogee Company had all its operations in one location, it was more profitable than
it is today. Therefore, the Apogee Company should close down its field offices and conduct all its
operations from a single location. Such centralization would improve profitability by cutting costs
and helping the company maintain better supervision of all employees.”

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line
of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider
what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or
counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence
would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it
more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.

Strategies
A good place to start your analysis is by creating a statement that reveals the main idea of the
argument. Although the writer is creating an argument, he may ultimately be stating a position, making a
recommendation, or making a prediction. It may be helpful for you to determine which of these formats is
most evident in the argument.

Recommendation

The company should close all field offices and conduct all business from one location.

The directions for crafting your response include suggesting that you identify any questionable
assumptions that may underlie or support the writer’s conclusion. The assumptions may be stated or
implied.

Claims and/or Assumptions

‹ The profitability of the company is directly related to the number of locations the company has.

‹ Having multiple locations costs more than having a single location.

‹ Having multiple locations makes it difficult to effectively supervise employees.

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Argument Task 2 13

‹ Lack of appropriate supervision of employees has reduced profitability.

‹ The company is less profitable now than in the past because of increased expenses, rather than 2
decreased income.

The author of the argument may have omitted some information to make his position appear stronger.
What information would help you decide if the argument has validity or what should the writer’s
audience know in order to make an informed decision?

Additional information needed to analyze the argument

‹ For how long have the company’s profits been in decline.

‹ When did the company initially open additional locations?

‹ Information about the company’s revenue over the same period (from when there was one location
to when there were multiple locations)

‹ Information about the company’s expenses over the same period (from when there was one location
to when there were multiple locations).

‹ Information about revenue generated by field offices.

‹ Overall market conditions for the company’s products.

Sample Essay
The author of this recommendation has identified a problem, that the company is currently less profitable
than it was at a time in the past, when it operated from a single office location. The author recommends
closing all field offices, which he believes will improve profitability and provide the opportunity for better
supervision of employees. It may be that the company is currently less profitable because of increased
expenses related to maintaining field offices and decreased efficiency among poorly supervised employees.
However, he has made assumptions and omitted key information necessary to support his assertion.

The crux of this argument is that the expense of the field offices is the cause of the decrease in profitability.
However, this assumption does not consider the revenue generated by each field office, and the author has
not evaluated the relative revenues and expenses of individual offices. It may be that some field offices are not
generating enough revenue to offset the expense of maintaining the location. However, it may be that some,
if not all field offices, generate significant revenue, above and beyond the cost of the office. Some field offices
may be located in areas where it would be impossible to do business without a local branch of the company.
Others may be located where it is easy to hire and retain highly specialized and skilled employees who are
not easily hired near the company’s central location. If either scenario were true, closing these successful field

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 14 GMAT Analytical Writing: Solutions to the Real Argument Topics

offices could decrease company revenue overall and have a negative impact on the company’s profitability. In
order to establish the veracity of his argument the author needs to provide more detailed information about
2
the company’s profits over time, correlated to the opening of each field office. In addition, he should provide
information about individual field offices, noting which are profitable in their own right.

The author further suggests that employees in the field offices are not as well supervised as they might
be in a central location. It may be that the author is suggesting that employees who do not receive as much
supervision are, as a result, less efficient in completing their work. However, he has not made that point
explicitly. It may be that employees in the field offices do receive less supervision, but that they are more
motivated to complete their work because they appreciate the autonomy they are afforded, and, it may be
that employees in a central location, who are closely supervised, resent being micromanaged, and, knowing
that their work will be checked and rechecked, are less meticulous about the work they produce. The author
should provide more information about the effects of different levels of supervision on employee productivity
and the quality of work produced. Without this information, the comment about supervision is not relevant
to the argument he is making.

Finally, there may be market factors that are affecting the company’s profitability. It may be that the cost
of raw materials has increased, that market conditions have required a price drop, or that recent competition
has made the company’s products less attractive to customers. The author of this recommendation writes
from a position of considering only one possible cause of the decline, and if that decline is not at all related to
the expenses of field offices, closing those offices could eliminate opportunities to reach new customers and
increase revenue.

The executives of Apogee Company should review this recommendation and consider other data before
moving forward. Jumping to the same conclusions as the author, and rushing to centralize the company’s
operations may increase profitability, but without additional information, there is no way to know if that will
be the case.

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Argument Task 3 15

Argument Task 3
3

The following appeared in the opinion column of a financial magazine:

“On average, middle-aged consumers devote 39 percent of their retail expenditure to department
store products and services, while for younger consumers the average is only 25 percent. Since the
number of middle-aged people will increase dramatically within the next decade, department stores
can expect retail sales to increase significantly during that period. Furthermore, to take advantage
of the trend, these stores should begin to replace some of those products intended to attract the
younger consumer with products intended to attract the middle-aged consumer.”

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line
of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider
what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or
counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would
strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically
sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.

Strategies
A good place to start your analysis is by creating a statement that reveals the main idea of the
argument. Although the writer is creating an argument, he may ultimately be stating a position, making a
recommendation, or making a prediction. It may be helpful for you to determine which of these formats is
most evident in the argument.

Recommendation

Department stores should anticipate the growing population of middle-aged shoppers by replacing
products intended for younger consumers with those that will attract middle-aged consumers.

The directions for crafting your response include suggesting that you identify any questionable
assumptions that may underlie or support the writer’s conclusion. The assumptions may be stated or
implied.

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 16 GMAT Analytical Writing: Solutions to the Real Argument Topics

Claims and/or Assumptions

‹ Total retail expenditures of middle aged and younger consumers are equal so that 39% of middle
3
aged retail expenditures is greater than 25% of younger consumer expenditures.

‹ The percentage of retail spending done in department stores will remain static into the future, so
that consumers will continue to spend money in the next decade as they currently do.

‹ There is a significant difference in the types of products of interest to middle-aged and younger
consumers.

‹ By replacing products that attract younger consumers with those that attract middle aged
consumers now, department stores will appeal to older consumers in the next decade.

The author of the argument may have omitted some information to make his position appear stronger.
What information would help you decide if the argument has validity or what should the writer’s
audience know in order to make an informed decision?

Additional information needed to analyze the argument

‹ Average total amount of money spent on retail expenditures by middle-aged consumers

‹ Average total amount of money spent on retail expenditures by younger consumers

‹ Information on spending trends currently, such as what retail venues might be experiencing a trend
of increased expenditures over time.

‹ Information to show that retail expenditures in department stores have either remained steady or
increased in the last ten years.

‹ Information about the types of products that appeal to middle aged consumers

‹ Information about the types of products that appeal to younger consumers

Sample Essay
Based on data measuring population trends and information about the retail expenditures of people of
different ages, the author proposes re-evaluating inventory of department stores to better accommodate the
unique tastes of middle-aged shoppers, whom, he claims will spend more money than younger consumers
in the next ten years. It may be that middle-aged shoppers will become the most active department-store
spenders in the next decade, and that this recommendation is insightful of future trends. However, the
author has made potentially flawed assumptions about the information he has, and, as a result, has made a

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Argument Task 3 17

recommendation based on predictions that may not be accurate.

First, the author begins by comparing the retail expenditures of middle-aged and younger consumers
To support his recommendation the author assumes that both groups of shoppers allot the same amount of
3
money toward retail expenditures, so that 39 % of middle aged expenditures is greater than 25% of younger
shopper’s expenditures. However, that may not be the case. For example, it may be that younger shoppers,
who may live with their parents or with roommates, and who are attracted to trends and fads, may allot
up to $1000 per month toward retail expenditures. Middle-aged shoppers, on the other hand, may have
other expenses, such as home mortgages, college tuition, and health insurance, and therefore choose to allot
just $100 per month to retail expenditures. In this scenario, younger shoppers would, on average, spend
$250 per month in department stores, while middle aged shoppers would spend just $39. To bolster his
recommendation, the author should include data on the average dollar amount spent on retail expenditures
by each age group.

Further, the author’s recommendation is dependent on the idea that as the population of middle-aged
people increases, the percent of their retail expenditures spent in department stores will remain unchanged.
If, as the population ages, new and more convenient forms of commerce emerge, such as more robust online
shopping experiences, or if an economic downturn within the next ten years limits the disposable incomes
of people in this population group, the author’s claim will not hold true, as they may spend less money in
department stores than people of similar age did ten years earlier.

Another point that is crucial to the author’s claim is the notion that middle-aged shoppers and younger
shoppers seek vastly different products, so that a department store that caters primarily to younger shoppers
will have little to offer those who are middle aged. Without information about the types of products most
often purchased in department. stores, this point does not hold true. For example, it could be that department
stores are the primary shopping venue for those of any age seeking wardrobe staples, such as athletic shoes,
underwear, or basics such as white shirts and khaki pants. If most shoppers choose department stores for
these, regardless of age, the ageing population may not change types of products shoppers buy in department
stores.

Finally, the author recommends changing store inventory now to accommodate older shoppers that may
purchase from department stores in the future. If department stores are currently profiting from selling
products to younger customers, and, if the growth in old shoppers does hold true, it will not be for several
years. Changing the inventory may result in decreasing expenditures from younger shoppers and result in no
change in purchases from those who are middle-aged.

While the author’s recommendations may hold true, the author has not provided enough data to support
his opinion, and action taken based on this passage may not yield the desired results. If department stores
follow this advice without further information, they may risk seeing a decline in sales currently and in years
to come.

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 18 GMAT Analytical Writing: Solutions to the Real Argument Topics

Argument Task 4

4 The following appeared as part of an article in a health club trade publication:

“After experiencing a decline in usage by its members, Healthy Heart fitness center built an indoor
pool. Since usage did not increase significantly, it appears that health club managers should adopt
another approach - lowering membership fees rather than installing expensive new features.”

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line
of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider
what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or
counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence
would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it
more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.

Strategies
A good place to start your analysis is by creating a statement that reveals the main idea of the
argument. Although the writer is creating an argument, he may ultimately be stating a position, making a
recommendation, or making a prediction. It may be helpful for you to determine which of these formats is
most evident in the argument.

Recommendation

Fitness centers should not spend money on swimming pools or other expensive new features, but, rather,
should lower membership fees to attract members.

The directions for crafting your response include suggesting that you identify any questionable
assumptions that may underlie or support the writer’s conclusion. The assumptions may be stated or
implied.

Claims and/or Assumptions

‹ The number of members who joined Healthy Heart fitness because of the pool was less than those
who might join if there were no pool but the cost was lower.

‹ Those who joined Healthy Heart after the pool installation were not specifically motivated to do so
by the pool.

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Argument Task 4 19

‹ All fitness centers are similar to Healthy Heart

‹ All potential fitness center members are similar to those who considered Healthy Heart

‹ The decline in Healthy Heart membership prior to the installation of the pool had nothing to do
with the availability of an indoor pool.
4
‹ If Healthy Heart and other fitness centers decrease membership fees, membership will increase.

The author of the argument may have omitted some information to make his position appear stronger.
What information would help you decide if the argument has validity or what should the writer’s
audience know in order to make an informed decision?

Additional information needed to analyze the argument

‹ Information from exit surveys to show why Healthy Heart members left the fitness club.

‹ Information about new customers who joined after the installation of the Healthy Heart pool,
indicating why new members joined.

‹ Information about other health clubs, including features, membership fees, and membership.

‹ Healthy Heart’s marketing efforts, including awareness in the community of its features.

‹ The actual increase of membership that followed the installation of the pool.

Sample Essay
Based on the membership trends of one health club, Healthy Heart fitness center, the author of this trade
article argues that all health clubs should consider lower membership fees, in lieu of adding expensive
features. Specifically, he argues that lowering membership fees will result in a greater increase in membership
than adding new, expensive features such as indoor swimming pools. While there may be some validity to
the notion that potential health club members consider fees when choosing a health club, this claim makes
several assumptions not supported with evidence.

The article begins with flawed analysis of a series of events. Healthy Heart health club experienced a
decline in membership. To reverse this trend the club installed an indoor pool. The resulting increase in
membership, according to the author, was insignificant. First, it is not clear what the author means when he
says the increase in membership was insignificant. It could mean that it was not enough to offset the cost
of the pool, that the increase was not equal to the decline that preceded it, or that it did not meet the target
increase set prior to the pool installation. It is also not clear what caused the initial decline. Did members
leave for newer, better equipped clubs? Was there an economic downturn in the area that made any health
club membership too expensive? Was there a recent sale on home-based exercise equipment that encouraged

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 20 GMAT Analytical Writing: Solutions to the Real Argument Topics

people to begin exercising at home? Without specific information about the initial decline and the resulting
increase, there is no way for the reader to determine the relevance of this information to the argument made
by the author.

Second, the author assumes that since there has not been significant growth in membership following the
4 installation of the pool, potential members are not interested in any expensive features in health clubs and can
only be enticed to join by lower membership fees. It may be that potential members are not interested in an
indoor pool, but that is not evidence that other features will not encourage them to join. For example, some
members may be interested in spin classes, featuring state of the art stationary bicycles, and will only consider
clubs that offer this equipment. It may be that the pool Healthy Heart installed was small, not heated, or
not conducive to the types of exercise potential clients were interested in. Without more information there
is no evidence to show that a lack of interest in the club’s pool equates to a lack of interest in all expensive
equipment installations.

The author also makes the assumption that the experience of Healthy Heart health club can be extended
to all health clubs. This assumption is the basis of his argument. While it might be the case that the expensive
indoor pool did little to increase membership at Healthy Heart, there is no way to extrapolate this data to
suggest similar results can be applied universally. It may be that Healthy Heart is located in a warm part
of the country where many people have their own pools or have year-round access to a beach. Landlocked
regions in colder climates might be more likely to experience an uptick in membership as potential customers
would see the pool as a benefit they could not find elsewhere. More information is needed about the location,
climate, and general customer base of Healthy Heart, and then, perhaps the results could be extended to
apply to other similar clubs in similar locations.

Finally, the author makes the claim that since the pool installation did little to increase membership,
the only other option is to decrease membership fees. This claim is based on the idea that an indoor pool is
somehow representative of all expensive health club features, and that if one is not a draw for customers, no
other feature will be either. There is no information about Healthy Heart’s current membership fees and how
they compare to those of other health clubs in the region. If Healthy Heart’s fees are significantly more, then
price may be a factor in membership recruitment. However, if Healthy Heart’s fees are similar to or lower
than those of other, more popular clubs, lowering fees is unlikely to have any effect. Applying this approach
to all clubs is unlikely to yield membership increases, as there is no information about the average fees
correlated to membership. In order to make this claim the author must provide more data about health club
fee structures and how they are correlated to overall membership.

The author of this article obviously intended to provide a strategy for struggling health clubs to increase
membership. However, because of the flawed assumptions made and the lack of required data, this
recommendation should not be followed as there is no indication it will lead to membership growth.

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