Each “Analyze an Argument” essay is going to be scored on a 6-point scale that is holistic to your criteria below.

A single combined score is reported because it is more reliable than either task score alone although the GRE ® Analytical Writing measure contains two discrete analytical writing tasks. The score reported will represent the common of this scores for the two tasks.

Score of 6 Outstanding

A 6 paper presents a cogent, well-articulated critique associated with the argument and conveys meaning skillfully.

A paper that is typical this category:

• clearly identifies important options that come with the argument and analyzes them insightfully
• develops ideas cogently, organizes them logically and connects them with clear transitions
• effectively supports the primary points regarding the critique
• demonstrates control of language, including word that is appropriate and sentence variety
• demonstrates facility aided by the conventions (for example., grammar, usage and mechanics) of standard written English but may have errors that are minor

Score of 5 Strong

A 5 paper presents a generally thoughtful, well-developed critique of the argument and conveys meaning clearly.

A paper that is typical this category:

• clearly identifies important top features of the argument and analyzes them in a way that is generally perceptive
• develops ideas clearly, organizes them logically and connects these with appropriate transitions
• sensibly supports the main points for the critique
• demonstrates control of language, including appropriate word choice and sentence variety
• demonstrates facility utilizing the conventions of standard written English, but could have errors that are minor

Score of 4 Adequate

A 4 paper presents a critique that is competent of argument and conveys meaning adequately.

A paper that is typical this category:

• identifies and analyzes important features of the argument
• develops and organizes ideas satisfactorily, but may not connect them with transitions
• supports the primary points for the critique
• Demonstrates control that is sufficient of to express ideas with reasonable clarity
• generally demonstrates control of the conventions of standard written English, but may have some errors

Score of 3 Limited

A 3 paper demonstrates some competence in its critique associated with argument plus in conveying meaning, but is obviously flawed.

A paper that is typical this category exhibits one or more associated with the following characteristics:

• will not identify or analyze most of the important attributes of the argument, while some analysis regarding the argument is present
• mainly analyzes tangential or irrelevant matters, or reasons poorly
• is restricted when you look at the logical development and organization of ideas
• Offers support of little value and relevance for points associated with critique
• lacks clarity in expressing ideas
• contains occasional errors that are major frequent minor errors in grammar, usage or mechanics that will interfere with meaning

Score of 2 Seriously Flawed

A 2 paper demonstrates serious weaknesses in analytical writing.

A paper that is typical this category exhibits one or more of the following characteristics:

• does not present a critique according to logical analysis, but may instead present the writer’s own views about them
• Does not develop ideas or is illogical and disorganized
• provides little if any relevant or reasonable support
• has serious problems in the usage language as well as in sentence structure that frequently interfere with meaning
• contains serious errors in grammar, usage or mechanics that frequently meaning that is obscure

Score of 1 Fundamentally Deficient

A 1 paper demonstrates deficiencies that are fundamental analytical writing.

A typical paper in this category exhibits a number of for the following characteristics:

• provides little if any proof of the capability to understand and analyze the argument
• provides little if any evidence of the capability to develop an organized response
• has severe problems in language and sentence structure that persistently interfere with meaning
• Contains errors that are pervasive grammar, usage or mechanics that bring about incoherence