Chapter 5:
The Real Essay Questions
How to see all the real AWA questions beforehand
here are sample issue essays:
http://www.gre.org/issuetop.html
here are sample argument essays:
http://www.gre.org/argutop.html
Sample answers to essay issue questions.
1. "Reform is seldom brought about by people ....."
Bringing reform to existing systems is a complicated task that requires strength and conviction. If an individual were overly concerned with how they were viewed by the public, it would be difficult to remain committed in their quest. If an individual is truly interested in reforming a government, educational system or any other institution they have to acquire a thick skin and not be overly concerned with their reputation and social standing. There will always be those who disagree about the need for change, and an individual who wants to change the system will have to stay committed despite this fact.
Reforming an existing system is no easy job, especially considering that change is usually accompanied by resistance. In most school board, government or any other type of institutional meeting conflict arises when people disagree on if or how a change should be implemented. If a person were to want to change an existing system, and they were confronted with the inevitable resistance, they would need to stay committed to their quest. Excessive concern for their reputation and social standing could cause them to back down to appease everyone, or to give up and find other less controversial issues to become involved with. Reforming a system requires a degree of selflessness that an individual who is overly concerned with how they appear to other people would not possess.
People involved in changing existing systems must be willing to be viewed with disdain by the world. Entering into a public position and taking a leadership role come with the additional burden of having lots of people watching your every move. When you take a stand for a cause you believe in, there will most likely be people who become angry with you. If you are leading a cause, you must enter into it with this knowledge and choose to take the role despite the possible hostilities.
Martin Luther King Jr. is an example of a courageous leader who was not overly concerned with how he appeared to the public. Had Martin Luther King been overly concerned with how he appeared to other people, he would have had to pick some cause other than civil rights to fight for. Martin Luther King risked his reputation and social standing and was successful at igniting a social movement towards racial equality. He was not well liked by everybody, a fact that is all to clear considering the fact that he was murdered. MLK embodied the selflessness and lack of concern for how he appeared to everyone else that is necessary to change existing systems.
If an individual wants to change an existing system they must acquire bravery and thick skin to counteract the resistance they will inevitably face. Excessive concern for their reputation and social standing will cripple themselves in their fight for their cause. Those who have succeeded at changing social systems have only done so by conjuring up courage and discarding their cares for how people view them.
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2. "Many people believe that a few individuals or ... "
The issue of whether we are shaped mostly by a few individuals or by the larger society is a complex one. On the one hand, we are influenced by the larger cultural values. On the other hand, we spend most of our time with family and friends and are greatly influenced by our role models and mentors. Although this issue is complex, I would have to disagree with the prompt and argue that our attitudes and values are defined by the few individuals in our lives that we spend the most time with.
The first point that supports my argument is that we spend a great deal of time with a handful of important people in our lives. We are usually brought up by our parents and surrounded by family members. Our families shape us in crucial ways, and model and enforce their value system on us. From the time we are little, we are taught by our family what is right and wrong, and what is important, which is based solely on their personal values. And then we take on those values as our own, because they are what we consider “right”. We also spend a great deal of time with our friends who become consultants to us on every day issues. The simple ! fact that we spend the majority of our time with our family, friends, teachers and mentors, means that the majority of influence comes from those closest to us.
Another important factor is that we often have important people in our lives that we remember for a lifetime. I still remember various mentors in my life whose words and way of being impacted me greatly and affected how I see the world. For others, it may be a teacher, mentor, celebrity, family member, or a friend, and they may have had a positive or a negative effect. But, whoever it is, we can usually pinpoint someone who changed our lives in such a way that we will never be the same. We might have found ourselves talking or acting like them, or they may have become the voice in our heads that we think of when we are making decisions. However they influenced us, they most likely helped shape our idea of what is “normal”, which has an enormous impact on our values.
Although some might argue that society is the larger influence that shapes the individuals that impact us, I would argue that people within any given society will differ vastly in their attitudes and values. And the values and attitudes an individual takes on depends largely on the small group of people that the individual is influenced by. The larger culture may have a certain set of values, but that does not necessarily mean that an individual family will value those same things. An individual usually takes on the values of their family and friends and mentors.
In conclusion, the issue of whether the individuals closest to us in our lives or the larger society has a bigger effect on our attitudes is complex. However, those individuals that we are closest to have a much more significant impact on our attitudes than the larger society. The simple fact that we spend more time and are brought up surrounded by our family, friends, teachers and mentors means that they will have more time to influence us than the larger society. In addition, each person usually remembers the individuals that shaped the course of their lives, which illustrates that an individual aspires to be like those closest to them. For these reasons, I argue that the few individuals rather than the larger society have the most significant impact on a person's att! itudes and way of being.
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3. "Contemporary technology makes ..."
Contemporary technology has affected everyone's lives immensely. Now we can turn on our computer and have access to a whole body of knowledge on the internet. We see the morning paper, listen to the radio and watch tv where we are bombarded by all types of information. With more access to information, it has become common to only hear small bits of information that can be taken out of context, or easily misunderstood. Access to information, though it has been an amazingly positive technological advance can also be problematic when people become influenced by small facts and do not understand the larger issue.
One way that we are bombarded with small bits of factual information is by hearing sound bites. Sound bites are small quotes from a larger body of a speech. We see politicians using sound bites all the time to benefit their campaign. For example, we hear on the news that senator freckles said that the sky is falling. We think, senator freckles sounds crazy, I don't want to vote for him. If we were to hear the larger context that the sound bite came from we would find that what senator freckles said was that many Americans feel so scared they feel as if they sky is falling. When you listen to the larger context, the Sound bites appear out! of context and misrepresentative of the original statement. Every day people are bombarded by small sound bites that distort the actual information.
Another way that we see small bits of factual information is on the internet. The internet is a window to a wealth of information. Many students use the internet as references for research papers. A problem with internet information is that again, there are so many random facts that it is hard to understand the larger picture. We are bombarded with messages of all types and much of the information is fragmented and lacks the larger picture.
Overall, we come across small bits of factual information daily. Such information is fragmented and often incomplete. Sound bites can be used effectively to provide a summary of a larger concept, but often do not and end up taking a fact out of context. We are also bombarded by the internet that has information on every topic you could imagine. Such information, while being beneficial in many aspects can lack the complete picture.
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4. "People in positions of power are most ...."
Being in a position of power is something that must be taken very seriously. An individual in power often has a number of responsibilities, and decisions to make that affect the lives of many. Using caution and restraint are some of the ways that someone in power can become more effective.
Usually those in power, for example politicians or school board members have a great deal of influence over many people's lives. Their policies or decisions can affect the well-being, and resources available to a number of people. That kind of power is something that must be taken seriously and any decision made must be done with care. Whether they are making decisions about how tax money should be spent, how prisoners should be treated, or how kids should be educated, using caution and restraint can be useful tools to make sure that the greatest good will come of their decisions.
Exercising caution and restraint when in a position of power allows time for reflection on the decisions one will be making. Instead of rushing to a solution, those who use restraint are better able to research and decide if their ideas are most effective. If one moves impulsively on decisions, later they may find they wished they had made a different decision. If a leader uses caution and restraint from the beginning, they will more likely be able to make good decisions the first time around and thus be a more effective leader.
Overall, it is best if leaders use caution and restraint when exerting their power. Careful thought and consideration for how they will be impacting people's lives is crucial. Effective leadership happens when leaders are willing to thoroughly think through their decisions so that they make the best decision the first time around.
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5. "Anyone can make things bigger and ..."
The issue of whether it is more desirable to have things simple or complex is a complicated one. On the one hand, many things can appear very complex and difficult to simplify. However, simplicity is important in order to make things accessible to everyone. I believe it does take great effort and courage to simplify complex ideas and resist the temptation to make things more confusing than they need to be.
It has become a trend in the scientific community to use technical jargon and wordy explanations. Such language has become more respected in our society, almost as if the more complex it sounds, the smarter it must be. The truth is that it takes a lot of courage to whittle your theory down to language that is understandable to most people, not just a small group of people schooled in a discipline. It takes courage to have enough of a grasp on what you are trying to say that you could say it in very few sentences with simple language. Such simple language makes bodies of work understandable to a much wider audience.
When ideas are stated simply they are understood by a much larger audience. Simple and parsimonious ideas are more transparent. More people can understand them, and when more people can understand, that puts the ideas at risk for being scrutinized. Some might find this very threatening. It takes bravery to put one's ideas out there in a simplicity that is accessible to most people.
Carl Rogers is an example in the psychology world of someone who bucked the longstanding trend of writing complicated theories that were so complex that they were difficult to understand. Carl Rogers' simply written, transparent ideas were highly controversial when they came to challenge the psychoanalytic theories that had dominated the psychology world for many years. His idea that the human person was fundamentally good and required empathy, unconditional positive regard and genuineness to grow into a happy, healthy human being were laughed at until the research started to prove his techniques were much more effective than those of psychoanalytic theories. His bravery at proposing a more simple understanding of the human person forever changed the world of psychology. The example of Carl Rogers is further evidence that complexity does not mean a theory or idea is superior to one that is far more simple.
It is very tempting in our society to give more respect to the ideas that sound complicated. We think, oh, it sounds complex, that person must be smart, it is so complicated I don't even understand what they are saying. But such logic is false. Simple ideas can have a great deal of wisdom. Those who are courageous enough to propose ideas in simple, transparent terms do the world justice by allowing their ideas to be scrutinized.
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6. "Most people would agree that buildings ... "
The issue of whether to preserve, or destroy historic buildings is complex. Many feel that it is most important for a society to stay current, even if that comes at the expense of destroying historic landmarks. Others feel that history is not something you can rebuild once a building is destroyed, and that we must preserve or physical history at all costs. I feel that it is most important to preserve historic landmarks, and that there are many ways that the desire for modernization and for preserving historic landmarks can coexist.
Historic buildings represent the life and culture of a society. They are records, and memories of times past. Historic buildings allow people to feel connected to a time past, and serve a valuable tool in teaching about history. When we have historic buildings to visit, we can teach our children about the history of an area, thus connecting future generations to their past.
Historic buildings cannot be replaced. We can build replicas, but we cannot replace a historic building once it has been torn down. When such buildings give us a connection to our past and where we came from, it is tragic to destroy such relics. Memories can exist without buildings, but fade away even further when there is no physical reminder. And when there is no physical reminder, we have nothing for future generations to see.
It is also tragic to destroy historic relics when old historic buildings can serve two purposes at once. There are probably a number of instances where historic buildings are altered slightly to serve modern purposes. An old run down theatre could be fixed up to look like it used to, but the seating could be changed to be more comfortable to people. There are a number of other examples of how old historic buildings could be altered to provide both modern and historic purposes.
There are a number of reasons that preserving history is more important than becoming more modern. Historic buildings are a reminder of where we came from, which in itself is very valuable. They provide culture and a sense of connection to times that have passed. Once a historic building is torn down, we no longer have that link to the past. Such an outcome is unnecessary, especially considering that there may be acceptable compromises that involve slightly altering existing structures to accommodate for modern purposes.
7. No one can possibly achieve success....."
The question of whether success is best achieved by conforming to or rebelling from conventional ways of thinking is complex. Rebelling from convention, though often disproved of initially can be the pathway to innovative ideas that can bring much success. However, I do not think that the only way to achieve success is by rejecting conventional practices and ways of thinking.
Firstly, it is important to note that our very definition of success is culturally defined. If an individual were to attempt to measure success, they would probably look for happiness, wealth, fame, or academic achievement. Our society values striving for success very highly, I would even go as far as to say it is conventional to strive for success. With such a culturally defined concept, it would be difficult to argue that success could not be achieved by following convention.
Secondly, when an individual in striving success chooses a method to begin, they look to convention to guide them to start. They look for common ways to achieve that goal, ways that other's have already tried. They do well in their job, they go to college or graduate school, they start their own business, all of which are conventional practices.
Surely there are people who have broken from conventional practices and achieved success. An example is Bill Gates, and individual very few in our society would refute is successful. He has achieved fame, and he broke the rules in order to do so. He developed a whole new way of operating computers that changed the world and gathered a great deal of wealth along the way. However Bill Gates is just one example of an individual who has achieved success. There are countless more individuals who we all run into every day that are successful. They live next door to us, down the street, they may even be us. They feel good about what they are doing with their life, they make a lot of money! , they are happy and they are well respected by their community. And most of them followed convention. For example, most teachers, professors and presidents of universities went to college, and graduate school, got good grades and followed all of the conventions they were taught and they became successful.
Some would argue that the only way to achieve success is by rebelling from conventional practices. However, when considering that success is culturally defined and valued highly, it is clear that rebelling from convention is not the only way. There are some who have defied convention and developed innovative ways of thinking that have greatly impacted our society. However, that is more of the exception than the norm. There are many people who have followed conventions, and achieved success that is recognized in their families, communities, and world.
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8. "Students should memorize facts only ... ."
Students in most school settings are asked to memorize a wide array of facts. Many tests ask us about the minute details and bare facts to either regurgitate, or discern on multiple choice tests. While facts can be important bits of information to learn, it is detrimental for students to only learn the facts and not understand the overall concepts, ideas and trends that help explain those facts. Students do not learn very much when they focus on the small details and neglect the larger ideas.
It is not simply the facts, but the overarching concepts that organize those facts that are important. Facts are important to learn, but should not be taught at the expense of the larger concepts, ideas and trends. A simple fact by itself does not explain a phenomenon. When you look at the bigger picture, you have a much greater understanding of the idea.
When students are taught to memorize facts, they shut off their capacity to think critically. They become so preoccupied learning the facts that they forget to ask how this fact came to be. When students don't learn the overarching structure that supports the fact, they become unequipped to use their creativity and question the existing systems. We need critically thinking people in the world. If Galileo had simply memorized the facts of his time, that the earth was flat, we would never have developed a greater understanding of the universe. Galileo looked at the bigger organizing structure, and was able to develop new ideas, ideas that we now accept as fact.
All innovative thinkers must question the existing paradigms in order to bring new knowledge to the forefront. If students are preoccupied with memorizing the facts, they will fail to look at the larger structures that explain these facts. They will take facts as a given, and fail to advance our society's knowledge. If students are instead taught to understand the concepts and ideas that explain the facts, they will be able to contribute to our society.
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9. "Public figures such as actors, politicians, and athletes ....."
Our society is obsessed with famous people. Whether actors, politicians or athletes, those who rise to fame become fascinating to the average citizen. We wonder, who are they dating? What do they like to do? What were they caught doing? Whether this is positive or negative is highly questionable. But the fact remains that those in the spotlight will be of interest to the public. It may be surprising for an individual to gain fame and consequently lose privacy, however it is something a rising star will inevitably experience. If someone wants to become famous, they must expect and prepare for l! osing some of their privacy.
Those in the public eye are of great interest to the general population. Actors and athletes in particular become role models for children and adults. People have a natural curiosity for how those in the spotlight live their lives, especially those with a lot of money and fame. Actors, athletes and politicians appear invincible and powerful, as we see them at their best, made up, excelling at their sport, or giving a polished speech. We see an image of perfection and wonder how we are measuring up. We also want to find out about their personal lives, and wonder what they are like when they are not at their best. Whether society's obsession with the rich is positive or negative, it ! is inevitable, and something a rising star must prepare for.
It is also understandable to wonder about the personal lives of those in the spotlight, especially considering the power that they hold. Politicians are in charge of decisions that affect everyone's lives, and therefore, the public deserves to know if they live up to their values in their personal lives. People that hold so much power deserve to be checked by the public. Those that rise to fame should expect that being in such a position of power comes with a lack of privacy regarding their personal life.
Some would say that the public is overly concerned with star's personal lives. The paparazzi is constantly harassing stars, watching their every move, waiting to report their findings to the public and stir up controversy. I can't say I would personally enjoy being followed by the paparazzi. But the question of whether it is negative or positive is irrelevant when considering if a star should expect to have people interested in their personal lives. For years, this has been the case. Those in the public eye should surely expect to have the public interested in their personal lives, as it simply is an aspect of being famous.
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10. "The primary goal of technological ..."
The question of what the goal of technological advancement is is complex. Some would argue that the goal is to become more efficient so that everyone has more leisure time. While more leisure time may be a desirable outcome of technological advancement, it is not necessarily the goal that is or should be primary. There are more important goals for technological advances that should be primary such as advancing medical technology and improving the quality of people's lives.
One primary goal of technology should be to better medical technology, a goal that is being fulfilled daily. With medical advancements, people are able to live longer and with a much higher quality of life. With medical advancements, we are able to treat and cure diseases we never thought we would be able to treat. Medical advancements also make it so that more generic drugs and low cost alternatives to expensive procedures and treatments are created that can trickle down to affect all people in the world, not just those in the first world.
Another goal of technology should be to improve the quality of people's lives in other aspects. We in the first world take for granted the technology of irrigation systems, and the knowledge that germs spread diseases. We take for granted that most of us will be able to afford the drugs we need when we are sick. Technology allows us to find lower cost alternatives that can spread to all of the people of the world, not just those that can afford it.
Social responsibility and improving the lives of all of the citizens of the world should be the goal of technology. While leisure time is important, it should not be the primary goal. Our world is affected by so many other problems that leisure time should be lower down the list. Instead improving the quality of life of members of the planet should be paramount. We should focus our efforts on making health care more accessible and affordable and improving the quality of everyone's life.
