Argument Analysis Essay Flashcards
6 cards from real GRE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Argument Analysis Essay flashcards as text
The 'slippery slope' fallacy assumes that:
Answer: One step will inevitably lead to a chain of extreme consequences
The slippery slope fallacy claims that a small initial action will unavoidably lead to extreme or disastrous outcomes without sufficient justification.
Which of the following best strengthens rather than weakens an argument's survey data?
Answer: Confirmation that survey respondents were randomly and broadly selected
Random and broad selection strengthens a sample's representativeness, directly addressing the common flaw of unrepresentative data.
Which of these is NOT an appropriate approach in a GRE Argument Analysis essay?
Answer: Expressing whether you personally agree with the conclusion
The 'Analyze an Argument' task requires logical critique, not personal opinion — stating your own view is off-task and lowers your score.
In the GRE Argument task, what does the prompt instruction to 'discuss' direct you to do?
Answer: Analyze specific logical flaws as directed by the prompt instructions
GRE Argument prompts use 'discuss' to direct you to analyze specific aspects of the argument's logic, such as its assumptions, evidence, or alternative explanations.
What is the approximate target length for a high-scoring GRE Argument Analysis essay?
Answer: 500–600 words
Most high-scoring GRE Argument Analysis essays are approximately 500–600 words, demonstrating thorough analysis without unnecessary padding.
When an argument assumes that what works in one context will work in a completely different context, this flaw is called:
Answer: False analogy
A false analogy assumes two situations are comparable when they differ in key ways that affect the outcome.