TestMagic

psychicle

I attended a writing workshop with a Putlizer-Prize-winning journalist who, during it, gave me one of the most insightful adages to live by: good writing is good thinking.

Here's a great read on this topic: Touchstone Magazine - Mere Comments: Postlude to the Morning of an Editor

Be clear on your position. Understand its implications. When you expand an idea, ensure that you explain exactly why your train of thought is relevant.

I am not sure what it usually takes to get a 6 on the AWA, but I think being genuinely curious helps. Honestly. Being widely read in English and keeping abreast of news in several areas means that you have more ideas to draw from when the time comes to issue forth an opinion.

Also, editing, writing and publishing in English has been a part of my professional experience, which really helps as it means I've had a lot of practice in negotiating the subtleties of this particular language.

psychicle

i2000s, not quite sure what you mean by techniques of analysis... like what different turns of phrase mean? I don't think I have anything like that. However I did research logical fallacies for the argument prompt.

Nima81

Hi Psychicle, I was not be able to download the excel file. Could you please send that to me by email.
Many thanks

i2000s

By employing the phrase of "techniques of analysis", I mean how do you analyze the topic of Issue in order to propose insight viewpoints and to raise complex supporting arguments? And what structure you think is the most efficient organization of an article?...

I think you must have some powerful weapons on them. show us por favor, El Señor...

i2000s

I don't know why I cannot open the last link given by psychicle. Anyone come across the same trouble?

matilda99

hi psychicle,
can u send me the excel sheet?i couldn't download it from the link.
thank you..

psychicle

Not sure why the link's not working - I just tested it and it seems the site still has it up. If you still have troubles please PM me with your e-mail address. Thanks!

psychicle

i2000s - sorry for the late reply on "techniques of analysis". I hope this is still useful to you.

Most importantly, I think the key thing to do is to really understand and "attack" the prompt. Ask yourself all the 5Ws and 1Hs constantly as you write, and answer them in your writing:

- Who does this involve?
- What are the implications for all the people involved? What would they say?
- Where and when would their positions be applicable?
- Why would those positions be "good" or "bad" (i.e., defensible or not defensible)?
- How would you make those positions better or worse?

In terms of organisation, I think this formula is a favourite:

Intro (thesis)
Claim 1 (supported by grounds and warrant, tied back into thesis)
Claim 2 (supported by grounds and warrant, tied back into thesis)
Claim 3 (supported by grounds and warrant, tied back into thesis)
Refutation (supported by grounds and warrant, tied back into thesis)
Conclusion (restatement of thesis)

Finally, a general tip: read a lot, and find writers whose style you admire. Note the phrases they use, how they apply them, how they link them. Then try to replicate these phrases in your own writing.

By no means am I any expert - just some things that I focused on during my preparations that helped me. I hope you will find them useful too

i2000s

Hi, psychicle~

Although I have attended my AWA test around one week ago, your kind helps definitely do me a great favor in the preparation of it. Any way, since such a logical analysis and writing will be an indispensable part of my live in the future, I think your penetrating suggestion just proposed will merit me as well in a wide aspect.

Wishes more people can learn adequate skills from your essay.

Thanks a lot.

frankjiangcompton

hello psychic, I am frank jiang, a lot of people say that when i write, I digress off topic. Can you give me any advice on fixing this problem por favor, El Señor. Plus i really admire your essays