就OG里的范文和Reader commentary 谈谈我对AW的理解
首先，AW到底考什么。先看范文的reader commentary：
Issue:
score 6: The author of this essay stakes out a clear and insightful position on the issue and follows the specific instructions by presenting reasons to support that position. The essay cogently argues that technology does not decrease our ability to think for ourselves, but merely provides "additional time for people to live more efficiently." In fact, the problems that have developed alongside the growth of technology (pollution, political unrest in oil-producing nations) actually call for more creative thinking, not less.
In further examples, the essay shows how technology allows for the linking of ideas that may never have been connected in the past (like medicine and economic models), pushing people to think in new ways. Examples are persuasive and fully developed; reasoning is logically sound and well supported.
Ideas in the essay are connected logically, with effective transitions used both between paragraphs ("However" or "In contrast to the statement") and within paragraphs. Sentence structure is varied and complex and the essay clearly demonstrates facility with the "conventions of standard written English (i.e., grammar, usage and mechanics)," with only minor errors appearing. Thus, this essay meets all the requirements for receiving a top score, a 6.
score 4:It is useful to compare this essay to the level-3 essay presented next. Though both essays entail some surface-level discussion and often fail to probe deeply into the issue, this writer does take the analysis a step further.
score 3:This essay never moves beyond a superficial discussion of the issue. The writer attempts to develop two points: that advancements in technology have progressed our knowledge in many fields and that supplementing rather than relying on technology is "surely a way for technology to solve problems while continually advancing the human race." Each point, then, is developed with relevant but insufficient evidence. In discussing the potential of technology to advance knowledge in many fields (a broad subject, rife with possible examples), the writer uses only one limited and very brief example from a specific field (medicine and stem-cell research).
相信大家已经明白我想要说什么了，issue考的是你的分析、论证的深度，而不是很多同学花大力气去钻研的开头结尾，结构句式，复杂词。当然不是说这些元素不重要，但相对你的分析和论证，这些只是起到辅助作用。很明显评语里开头就讲这篇文章是insightful还是superficial，而不是说语言结构多好多好。特别是3分论文的评语，相信很多自认文字功底不错但最后落得个3的同学看了就明白了，之所以只得3是因为你的论证肤浅，无论语言写的多漂亮，满足不了analytical的深度，顶多到3.5.
再看A的评语：
score 6第一句话：This insightful response identifies important assumptions and thoroughly examines their implications
再次重申我的观点，AW 之所以叫analytical writing 而不是 grammar writing，structure writing，sentence writing， 是因为强调分析论证，文章结构和句式只是为你的思维能力服务，切不可本末倒置，为了研究开头结尾、长难句和大词绞尽脑汁最后写一篇看上去很美却内容空洞的文章。
那么，如何应考？
首先我认为A的难度远远低于issue， 因为A的assumptions就在题目里，你只要把它们找出来加以攻击和分析就行，无需你自己的大量原创。而issue需要你自己构思一个具有深度且逻辑严密的蓝图，这是何其的高难度！所以我主要谈谈我对issue的看法。
issue考验你的知识量、思维能力、辩证能力，因此长期的积累是有必要的，对政治经济教育社会科学历史艺术等等都得有一定的知识储备，才不至于胸无点墨，无物可写。我觉得芮成钢专访XX这个栏目不错，嘉宾是各个领域的翘楚，涉及很多社会问题，是拓宽思路和知识的优秀节目。
然后就是材料，essayjudge和一本叫writing analytically的书是不错的选择，看过后你大概有个分析性写作的准确概念。
习作的话一定不要限时，每篇文章要仔细推敲，查查例子里的事件名、人名地名等，先把自己的写作完善，然后考前限时写两篇热热手绝对足够了。
最后我想说一下字数问题，很多考生上去考场狂敲500+最后落得个3，原因已经由上文分析过了。那么多少字数才够？看看范文，issue 5分和4分的范文都不到400词，A的4分范文的字数更是让人大跌眼镜，区区260字！260字4分的作文让500+ 3分的同学捶胸顿足了吧?发泄是要发泄，但该面对还是要面对，我认为字数不应超过450，只要你打字速度正常，在考场上花10分钟的时间构思提纲都是应该的！一篇内容充实的400词论文拿4.5分是不成问题的，一篇结构华丽500+单词却内容肤浅的文章是不会高于3.5的。 在论坛里看过一哥们儿说issue他就写了三个主题段，无头无尾，300词，最后4分。想必他一定是在构思上花足了时间，内容上最大限度的充实，才会以一篇300词无头无尾的文章拿到4分。
大概就说这么多吧，我也是个AW渣，都不知道自己还有没有勇气再战还是会一直逃避下去。大牛们如果有别的补充或者修正，欢迎。 本帖最后由 panmingming2008 于 2013-1-18 13:15 编辑
issue考验你的知识量、思维能力...，因此长期的积累是有必要的，对政治经济教育社会科学历史艺术等等都得有一定的知识储备，才不至于胸无点墨，无物可写。
I agree.
印象中以前回答过你的问题～～
vngogher，你能有这样的理解，你的AW经历带给你的思维改进足以帮助到你的学习和生活。。。
不管是否再战，都要快乐奋斗噢，just ENJOY it.
btw, 俺从GRE备考和研究，尤其是AW中的critical thinking和research 技能训练，获益很多。
BEN 勇气要有~ 其实就是个考试嘛╮(╯▽╰)╭
本身作文这东西要看那么多资料 了解那么多东西 一直是个学习完善的过程
无论如何 能看到更多的idea了解到更宽广的世界 都是个好事~
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