一、考试指南
GMAT作文考两篇作文，一篇是一个是非问题分析（Analysis of an Issue）; 另一篇作文
是一个逻辑问题分析（Analysis of an Argument）。两篇作文各考30分钟，加起来共一个
小时。简单地说，第一篇作文是立论，第二篇作文是驳论。

1. 逻辑问题分析例文
The following appeared in a memorandum from the Director of Human Resources 
to the executive officers of Company X.
“Last year, we surveyed our employees on improvements needed at Company X 
by having them rank, in order of importance, the issues presented in a list 
of possible improvements. Improved communications between employees and 
management was consistently ranked as the issue of highest importance by 
the employees who responded to the survey. As you know, we have since 
instituted regular communications sessions conducted by high-level 
management, which the employees can attend on a voluntary basis. Therefore, 
it is likely that most employees at Company X now feel that the improvement 
most needed at the company has been made.”

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.

2. 是非问题分析例文
“Employees should keep their private lives and personal activities as 
separate as possible from the workplace.”
Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated 
above. Support your views with reasons and/or examples from your own 
experience, observations, or reading.

GMAT作文题库是怎么回事

GMAT作文的评分标准

GMAT作文如何阅卷和评分

二、课程安排
1. 教学内容
Part One: Analysis of an Argument
Case Study 1
Case Study 2
Case Study 3
Case Study 4
Part Two: Analysis of an Issue
Case Study 1
Case Study 2
Case Study 3
Case Study 4
Part Three: Summary
1. Language Skills
2. Prep Tips

2. 教学方法
(1)案例分析
逻辑分析(4个)
是非分析(4个)
(2)作文的结构和模式
(3)论证方法
(4)语言问题
Part One
三、逻辑问题例文分析
Case Study 1：
The following appeared as part of an article in a daily newspaper.
“The computerized onboard warning system that will be installed in 
commercial airliners will virtually solve the problem of midair plane 
collisions. One plane’s warning system can receive signals from another’s 
transponder--a radio set that signals a plane’s course--in order to 
determine the likelihood of a collision and recommend evasive action.”

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.

2分作文:
This argument has no information about air collisions. I think most cases 
happen is new airports because the air traffic is heavy. In this case sound 
airport control could solve the problem.
I think this argument is logically reasonable. Its assumption is that plane 
collisions are caused by planes that don’t know each others positions. So 
pilots can do nothing, if they know each other’s position through the 
system it will solve the problem. If it can provide evidence the problem is 
lack of knowledge of each other’s positions, it will be more sound and 
persuasive.
More information about air collisions is helpful, (the reason for air 
collisions)
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4分作文
The argument is not logically convincing. It does not state whether all 
planes can receive signals from each other. It does not state whether 
planes constantly receive signals. If they only receive signals once every 
certain time interval, collisions will not definitely be prevented. Further 
if they receive a signal right before they are about to crash, they cannot 
avoid each other.
The main flaw in the argument is that it assumes that the two planes, upon 
receiving each other’s signals, will know which evasive action to take. 
For example, the two planes could be going towards each other and then 
receive the signals. If one turns at an angle to the left and the other 
turns at an angle to the right, the two planes will still crash. Even if 
they receive an updated signal, they will not have time, to avoid each 
other.
The following argument would be more sound and persuasive. The new warning 
system will solve the problem of midair plane collisions. Each plane will 
receive constant, continual signals from each other. If the two planes are 
headed in a direction where they will crash, the system will coordinate the 
signals and tell one plane to go one way, and the other plane to go another 
way. The new system will ensure that the two planes will turn in different 
directions so they don’t crash by trying to prevent the original crash. In 
addition, the planes will be able to see themselves and the other on a 
computer screen, to aid in the evasive action.

6分作文：
The argument that this warning system will virtually solve the problem of 
midair plane collisions omits some important concerns that be addressed to 
substantiate the argument. The statement that follows the des cription of 
what this warning system will do simply describes the system and how it 
operates. This alone does not constitute a logical argument in favor of the 
warning system, and it certainly does not provide support or proof of the 
main argument.
Most conspicuously, the argument does not address the cause of the problem 
of air plane collisions, the use of the system by pilots and flight 
specialists, or who is involved in the midair plane collisions. First, the 
argument assumes that the cause of the problem is that the planes’ 
courses, the likelihood of collisions, and actions to avoid collisions are 
unknown or inaccurate. But if the cause of the problem of midair plane 
collisions is that pilots are not paying attention to their computer 
systems or flight operations, the warning system will not solve the 
collision problem. Second, the argument never addresses the interface 
between individuals and the system and how this will affect the warning 
system’s objective of obliterating the problem of collisions. If the pilot 
or flight specialist does not conform to what the warning system suggests, 
air collisions will not be avoided. Finally, if planes other than 
commercial airliners are involved in the collisions, the problem of these 
collisions cannot be solved by a warning system that will not be installed 
on non-commercial airliners. The argument also does not address what would 
happen in the event that the warning system collapsed, falls, or does not 
work properly.
Because the argument leaves out several key issues, it is not sound or 
persuasive. If it included the items discussed above instead of solely 
explaining what the system supposedly does, the argument would have been 
more thorough and convincing.

Case Study 2：

The following appeared in an Avia Airlines departmental memorandum: “On 
average, 9 out of every 1000 passengers who traveled on Avia Airlines in 
1993 filed a complaint about our luggage-handing procedures. This means 
that although some 1 percent of our passengers were unhappy with those 
procedures, the overwhelming majority were quite satisfied with them; thus 
it would appear that a review of the procedures is not important to our 
goal of maintaining or increasing the number of Avia's passengers.”
Discuss how logically convincing you find this argument. In explaining your 
point of view, be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of 
evidence in the argument. Also discuss what, if anything, would make the 
argument more sound and persuasive, or would help you to better evaluate 
its conclusion.

Student Essay
In Avia Airlines's survey, nearly 1 present of its passengers were unhappy 
with its baggage-handling procedures. The result sounds good. But the small 
pool of samples in regard with all passengers, the weakness of procedure of 
complaint, and other reasons below will weaken the result, or draw to an 
opposite conclusion .
Avia Airlines can only survive by transporting hundreds of thousands of 
passengers each years. Many passengers who were not satisfied with its 
baggage-handling procedures maybe did not write down a complaint. Assuming 
that only one percent of those unsatisfied passengers complained in written 
forms, the number of unsatisfied would be 900 out of every 1000 passenger. 
It is a horrible ratio. Avia Airlines could be murdered by the remaining 
899 unsatisfied ones.
To 1000, 9 seems a very small ratio. But if the first of the nine 
unsatisfied passengers is President Clinton, the story is attactive to most 
reporters. In some hours or days, Avia Arline will exist in newspapers, 
magazines, TV sports, reports and Internet. This kind of free advertisement 
will surely bomb AA to sky.
Avia Airlines has too many competitors in and out of USA. Clients of other 
Airlines, for instance, Singapore. Airlines or Japan Airlines may have no 
complaints about baggage-handling procedures. AA may gradually loose more 
and more of its passengers and die out. 
So AA' s conclusion would. be absurd through reasoning. Unsatisfied 
passengers who did not complain, the famous persons who complained, and 
competitors with no unsatisfied passengers all will make disastrous result 
for the Avia Airlines. So a review of the procedure is very important to 
its goal of maintaining or increasing the number of passengers.

Revised Essay
In this argument, the arguer concludes that a review of Avia Airline's 
baggage-handling procedures will not further its goal of maintaining or 
increasing the number of Avia passengers. To support this conclusion, the 
arguer points out that only one percent of passengers who traveled on Avia 
last year filed a complaint. In addition, the arguer reasons that the great 
majority of Avia passengers are happy with baggage handling at the airline. 
This argument suffers from two critical flaws. 
In the first place, the argument turns on the assumption that the 99 
percent of Avia passengers who did not complain were happy with the 
airline's baggage-handling procedures. However, the arguer provides no 
evidence to support this assumption. The fact that, on average, 9 out of 
1000 passengers took the time and effort to formally complain indicates 
nothing about the experiences or attitudes of the remaining 991. It is 
possible that many passengers were displeased but too busy to formally 
complain, while others had no opinion at all. Lacking more complete 
information about passengers' attitudes, we cannot assume that the great 
majority of passengers who did not complain were happy. 
In the second place, in the absence of information about the number of 
passengers per flight and about the complaint records of competing 
airlines, the statistics presented in the memorandum might distort the 
seriousness of the problem. Given that most modern aircrafts carry as many 
as 300 to 500 passengers, it is possible that Avia received as many as 4 or 
5 complaints per flight. The arguer unfairly trivializes this record. 
Moreover, the arguer fails to compare Avia's record with those of its 
competitors. It is possible that a particular competitor received virtually 
no baggage-handling complaints last year. If so, Avia's one percent 
complaint rate might be significant enough to motivate customers to switch 
to another airline.
In conclusion, the arguer fails to demonstrate that a review of the baggage-
handling procedures at Avia Airlines is not needed to maintain or increase 
the number of Avia's passengers. To strengthen the argument, the author 
would have to provide evidence that most Avia passengers last year were 
indeed happy with baggage-handling procedures. To better evaluate the 
argument, we would need more information about the numbers of Avia 
passengers per flight last year and about the baggage-handling records of 
Avia's competitors.
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四、Argument开头段模式训练
.写作的开头尤其重要 
.事先准备一个开头模式
.进行适当调整 
.已经提出的模式：
第一段（4句话）：
第一句归纳原论证结论(In this argument, the arguer concludes that) 
第二句话指出原论证一个方面的论据(To support this conclusion, the arguer 
points out that) 
第三句话指出另一个方面论据(In addition, the arguer reasons that) 
第四句话表明对论述的基本判断（此判断有逻辑方面的缺陷） 
Sample 1:
Argument Question : 
The following appeared as part of an article in a trade magazine for 
breweries.
"Magic Hat Brewery recently released the results of a survey of visitors to 
its tasting room last year. Magic Hat reports that the majority of visitors 
asked to taste its low-calorie beers. To boost sales, other small breweries 
should brew low-calorie beers as well."

开头段:
In this argument, the arguer concludes that all small breweries should brew 
low-calorie beers in order to increase sales. To support this conclusion, 
the arguer points out that most visitors to the tasting room of Magic Hat 
Brewery showed interest in its low-calorie beers. In addition, the arguer 
reasons that since most visitors like to taste the low-calorie beers of 
Magic Hat Brewery, most customers of other small breweries would also like 
to buy low-calorie beers. A careful examination of this argument would 
reveal how groundless it is.

Sample 2:
Argument Question : 
The following appeared as part of an article in the book section on a 
newspaper.
"Currently more and more books are becoming available in electronic form-
either free-of-charge on the Internet or for a very low price-per-book in 
compact disc.* Thus literary classics are likely to be read more widely 
than ever before. People who couldn't have purchased these works at 
bookstore prices will now be able to read them for little or no money; 
similarly, people who find it inconvenient to visit libraries and wait for 
books to be returned by other patrons will now have access to whatever 
classic they choose from their home or work computers. This increase in 
access to literary classics will radically affect the public taste in 
reading, creating a far more sophisticated and learned reading audience 
than has ever existed before."

*A compact disc is a small portable disc capable of storing relatively 
large amounts of data that can be read by a computer.

开头段:
In this argument, the arguer concludes that the increasing availability of 
books in electronic form will automatically bring about a far more 
sophisticated and learned reading audience. To support this conclusion, the 
arguer points out that the Internet and compact discs have made it more 
convenient for readers to find, buy or read books. In addition, the arguer 
reasons that since more people have easier access to literary classics, 
tasteful readers will emerge in large numbers. This argument is flawed in 
two major aspects.

五、逻辑问题例文分析
Case Study 3：
The following appeared in the editorial section of a newspaper.
“As public concern over drug abuse has increased, authorities have become 
more vigilant in their effort to prevent illegal drugs from entering the 
country. Many drug traffickers have consequently switched from marijuana, 
which is bulky, or heroin, which has a market too small to justify the risk 
of severe punishment, to cocaine. Thus enforcement efforts have ironically 
resulted in an observed increase in the illegal use of cocaine.”

Student Essay
The argument that enforcement effort over illegal drag trade, incurred by 
the increase of public concern over drug abuse, resulted in an observed 
increase in the illegal use of cocaine sound reasonable at first. But the 
fact that movement against drag abuse is the venture of all human being and 
all the responsibility of all governments, and other reasons below will 
weak the result, or draw to an opposite conclusion.
Drug abuse brings us human being nothing but a disaster, mental aberration, 
debilitated health, career desolation, family breakage and people’s 
totally out of control. No doubt, however small the result will be, every 
government should take some action against drug abuse, make people way from 
illegal drugs and bring a steady and health society.
All kinds of illegal drugs, not only cocaine, endangers our lives. 
Considering the enforcement effort over illegal drugs, we should view the 
efforts over the total amount of marijuana, heroin, cocaine and other 
illegal drugs. Since many drug traffickers have consequently switched from 
marijuana and heroin to cocaine because of government’s action, We can not 
tell the change on the total amount of drugs if, with the dramatic decrease 
of marijuana and heroin, this total amount decreased as the result of 
enforcement. We can claim that opposite the argument, the enforcement of 
effort do overawe the drug traffickers.
The argument also tells us that government’s efforts to prevent illegal 
drugs from entering the country had effectively made drug traffickers 
switched form marijuana and heroin to cocaine, which means with the 
decrease on marijuana and heroin, the government can focus their effort on 
cocaine. We can see the bright future that authorities will effectively 
beat the cocaine traffickers just as they beat the marijuana and heroin 
traffickers.
So the argument’s conclusion would absurd though reasoning. The 
authorities action did some efforts to the illegal drug abuse they should 
continue the enforcement against drug abuse, with efficiency.

Revised Essay

In this argument, the arguer concludes that the government’s efforts to 
prevent illegal drugs from entering the country have resulted in an obvious 
increase in the illegal use of cocaine. To support this conclusion, the 
arguer points out that the authorities’ more vigilant efforts to thwart 
the illegal drug traffic in the country have forced drug traffickers to 
switch from marijuana and heroin to cocaine. In addition, the arguer 
reasons that the increase in the supply of cocaine has resulted in its 
increasing use. This argument commits two critical fallacies.
In the first place, this argument commits a fallacy of causal 
oversimplification. The arguer assumes that an increase in the supply of 
cocaine is sufficient to bring about an increase in its use. While the 
supply of cocaine may be one of the contributing factors to its use, it is 
insufficient. The presumption required to substantiate this view is that 
drug users are not particular about which drugs they use, so that if 
marijuana and heroin are not available, they will switch to whatever drug 
is available--cocaine in this case. This assumption is not reasonable. 
Marijuana, heroin, and cocaine are not alike in their effects on users; nor 
are they alike in the manner in which they are ingested or in their 
addictive properties. The view that drug users’ choice of drugs is simply 
a function of supply overlooks these important differences. Besides, the 
argument is self-contradictory. If it were true, as stated by the arguer, 
that cocaine trafficking is both safer than the bulky marijuana and more 
profitable than heroin that has a small market, this fact alone would have 
motivated the drug traffickers to switch to cocaine. In this case, the 
government enforcement effort should not be held accountable for the rise 
in the use of cocaine. 
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In the second place, the arguer fails to provide the necessary information 
based on which we can evaluate the comprehensive effect of the government's 
action. The background of the incident is that the drug abuse has now 
become ever more serious a social problem than anytime in the past. And 
this is what motivated the government actions against drug trafficking in 
the first place. We, therefore, can reasonably assume that before the 
government took actions the abuse of all major popular drugs had been on 
the trend of increase, including the use of cocaine. The newspaper 
editorial, however, only mentions the observed increase in the use of 
cocaine while failing to provide any information to specify the current 
increase and that before the government strengthened its drug contraction 
efforts. We thus cannot compare the patterns of change in this aspect 
before and after the government actions in order to reach any valid 
conclusion about the impact of the government actions on the use of 
cocaine. 
If the trend of increase in cocaine abuse has been slowed down, or if the 
total amount of illegal drugs in the market has been significantly reduced, 
even though the absolute use of cocaine is still increasing, we would say 
that the government efforts in apprehending drug traffickers are somehow 
effective.
In conclusion, the arguer oversimplifies the cause-and-effect relationship 
between government's increased efforts and the observed increase in the 
illegal use of cocaine. To strengthen the argument, the arguer would have 
to provide evidence that the government's enforcement efforts have directly 
led to the increased supply and use of cocaine. To better evaluate the 
argument, we would need more information about the trend of increase in the 
use of cocaine and other drugs before and after the government's actions.

六、Argument典型逻辑错误
1. 调查类逻辑错误
抽样的程序是否具有随机性
样品是否足够大
Example 1:
The following appeared as part of an article in a trade magazine for 
breweries.
“Magic Hat Brewery recently released the results of a survey of visitors 
to its tasting room last year. Magic Hat reports that the majority of 
visitors asked to taste its low-calorie beers. To boost sales, other small 
breweries should brew low-calorie beers as well.”

Example 2:
The following appeared in a memorandum from a member of a financial 
management and consulting firm.
“We have learned from an employee of Witful Ltd. that is accounting 
department by checking about 10% of the last month purchasing invoices for 
errors any inconsistencies saved the company some $10,000 in over-payments. 
In order to help our clients increase the net gains, we should advise each 
of them to institute a policy of checking all purchasing invoices for 
errors. Such recommendation could also help us get the Witful account by 
demonstrating to Witful the regressness of our methods."

A. The source of the news is not dependable.
B. The sample cannot reflect the general condition.

2. 错误类比
Example:
The following appeared in a memorandum from the owner of Carlo's Clothing 
to the staff.
"Since Disc Depot, the music store on the next block, began a new radio 
advertising campaign last year, its business has grown dramatically, as 
evidenced by the large increase in foot traffic into the store. While the 
Disc Depot's owners have apparently become wealthy enough to retire, 
profits at Carlo's Clothing have remained stagnant for the past three 
years. In order to boost our sales and profits, we should therefore switch 
from newspaper advertising to frequent radio advertisements like those for 
Disc Depot."

A. First, the argument rests on a fallacy of post hoc, ergo proper hoc. 
B. Another problem with this argument is that it suffers from a false 
analogy.

3. 证据遗失类逻辑错误
Example:
The following appeared in the editorial section of a local paper.
"Applications for advertising spots on KMTV, our local cable television 
channel, decreased last year. Meanwhile a neighboring town's local channel, 
KOOP, changed its focus to farming issues and reported an increase in 
advertising applications for the year. To increase applications for 
advertisement its spots, KMTV should focus its programming on farming 
issues as well."

A. The argument is based on a false analogy.
B. In addition, the arguer ignores other ways to increase the applications 
for advertising spots on KMTV.

七、逻辑问题例文分析
Case Study 4:

The following appeared in the editorial section of a corporate newsletter: 
“The common notion that workers are generally apathetic about management 
issues is false, or at least outdated: a recently published survey 
indicates that 79 percent of the nearly 1,200 workers who responded to 
survey questionnaires expressed a high level of interest in the topics of 
corporate restructuring and redesign of benefits programs.”

Student Essay
First, the argument does not address how the nearly 1200 workers were 
selected, so the representativeness of the sample is doubtful. If the 
workers were selected by voluntary participation, then there is possibility 
that these voluntary workers tended to care more about management issues.
Second, the argument does not prove the credibility of the answers of the 
workers. It leaves open the possibility that workers who actually did not 
care about management issues may in a survey gave positive answers for 
various reasons.
Third, the argument only confines to such management issues as corporate 
restructuring and redesign of benefits programs, which happen to have close 
and main influence on workers.

Revised Essay 
Based upon a survey among workers that indicates a high level of interest 
in the topics of corporate restructuring and redesigning of benefits 
programs, the arguer concludes that workers are not apathetic about 
management issues. Specifically, the arguer assumes that since 79 percent 
of the 1200 workers who responded to the survey expressed interest in these 
topics, the notion that workers are generally apathetic about management 
issues is incorrect. The reasoning in this argument is problematic in 
several respects.
First, the survey itself is open to question. The argument does not 
indicate how the nearly 1200 workers were selected. If the workers were 
selected by voluntary participation instead of random sampling, then there 
is the possibility that these voluntary workers tended to care more about 
management issues. In this case, the representiveness of the sample is 
problematic. In addition, the statistics cited in the editorial may be 
misleading because the total number of workers employed by the corporation 
is not specified. For example, if the corporation employs 2000 workers, the 
fact that 79 percent of the nearly 1200 respondents showed interest in 
these topics provides strong support for the conclusion. On the other hand, 
if the corporation employs 200,000 workers, the conclusion would be much 
weaker. Furthermore, the survey does not involve workers of other companies 
throughout the country.
Another problem with the argument is that it makes a hasty generalization 
about the types of issues that workers are interested in. It accords with 
common sense that workers would be interested in corporate restructuring 
and redesigning of benefits programs, since these issues affect workers 
very directly. However, it is unfair to assume that workers would be 
similarly interested in other management issues, ones that do not affect 
them or affect them less directly.
In conclusion, this argument is not convincing as it stands. To strengthen 
it, the arguer would have to show that the respondents account for a 
significant and representative portion of all workers. Additionally, the 
arguer must provide evidence to prove that workers do have general interest 
in other management topics--not just those that affect them directly.