jennyp

Hi, I just took my GRE test and I'm selling off my study guides. This is what I have: 1. A professionally photocopied version of the Big Book in good condition (no writing or marking on the pages, slight fraying on the binding of one out of two). Comes in two books with all 17 tests. $85 2. Kaplan 5th Edition (2003) with CD $5 3. Princeton Review Cracking the GRE 2002 Edition with CD and Princeton Review Verbal Workout for the GRE $5 4. Arco GMAT CAT 2001 Edition $5 5. ETS GRE Practice Guide 9th Edition with 7 practice tests $5 All the books are in good condition -- they are used and do show some wear, but none of them have been marked or written in. I bought these books as a group and ended up using chiefly Kaplan and the Big Book, although I did use the Princeton Review to round out my vocabulary. I'm an arts major and scored 750V and 670Q: I attribute my high quant score (I know, but it's high for an arts major, especially one who's useless at math!) to practicing the tests in the Big Book. I will sell these together ($100) or separately (for prices listed), buyer to pay shipping (calculate on UPS web site from zip code 97739 at aproximately 3lbs per book). Cheers, jennyp

Is anyone else having trouble accessing this file? I was able to access it for a while after it was posted, but on my last two attempts I've been sent into a loop. The link takes me to the Test Magic login page (http://www.www.urch.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1484&d=1131938193) even if I'm already signed in. After I sign in, it just returns me to the login page ad nauseum. Help! jennyp ps it's an awesome resource, thanks a lot Grace!

I see, That totally helps! Thanks a ton, Raghuveer.

Hey, I just did a couple of fun quizzes the BBC has up on their magazine Website. They're not as challenging as the ones put out by the folks at ETS, but they're a fun diversion from Power Prep. Math: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4263590.stm English: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4246472.stm By the way, the one question I got wrong on the maths was 18. It has something to do with statistics, but I had no idea how to approach it...anyone know what's going on here? Cheers, jennyp

Hey everyone, I'm reading Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner right now and it's a great resource for understanding the Arguments section of the AWA. Throughout the book, the authors go through several arguments for many different things and then effectively break them down and show where they're wrong (because of misconstrued data, bad assumptions, etc., etc.: all the stuff you need to be able to spot on this GRE section). I've found it really helpful and not only that, it's a really interesting book and a great read. I got it out of my local library, so it shouldn't be too hard to find (in the U.S. anyway ;)). Cheers, jennyp

Hey guys, I just did these two little tests the BBC has on their magazine Web site. They're not as challenging as what the folks at ETS put out, but they're fun and a nice diversion from Power Prep! Math: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4263590.stm English: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4246472.stm By the way, the one math question I missed was 18; it has something to do with statistics, but I had no clue...anyone know what's going on with it? Cheers, jennyp

Oh no, Chris is a big baby...he cried way too much! My favourite was when the two got fired at the same time and had to share the cab (I can't remember the names now, they all blur together). He was pretty okay about it, but you could tell she just wanted to KILL him. Now that's great TV! Are you going to watch Martha Stewart's version? I figure I'll give the first episode a chance...

It sounds like you're having more trouble with inspiration than with structure...maybe go through some of the essays people have posted for critiquing...there are a lot of good ideas in there.

Working through these themes, if I can find a focus or opinion for the general themes and then 2-3 examples to support or refute each one (depending on which specific question comes up) then the outline is pretty much there: Intro (tell the reader what you're going to tell them, ie your argument) Example 1 to support argument Example 2 to support argument Example 3 to support argument Conclusion (tell the reader again what you've just told them) That's kinda the golden rule with essays: tell them what you're going to tell them, then tell them, then tell them again. You can use this theory in each example paragraph also. Tell them what your example is going to be (opening or topic sentence). Give your example (the body of the paragraph). Then tell them again what you just told them (last sentence). It sounds very repetitive and it is, but that's how you can be sure the reader knows what you're saying. It sounds really simple and it is. Of course, you don't want to make it soo obvious, just work on your style and work on blending it together. But being clear and concise like this (instead of trying to get fancy or grand) will make your writing more effective and get you a better score (I'm betting!)

yeah, it was a pretty big chore, but I think my subconscious made me do it so it wouldn't have to deal with math...stupid math, urghhh!:)

Ahh, the Apprentice...it's the incredibly cheesy show where young hopefuls compete to be Donald Trump's next lackey. He's a big, rich American entrepreneur with really bad hair. It sounds horrible and it is...horribly addictive! Oh, sweet Apprentice, when will your next season begin????

Hey all, I've noticed a lot of people seeking advice on how best to prepare for the AWA section. While there are several good outlines for the Argument section, not much has been said on Issues other than work on your writing skills. In order to prepare for the Issues essay, I've broken down the list into categories based on topics. This categorization is pretty loose as the themes are so broad and there is the inevitable overlap (anyone who'd like to help sharpen them up is welcome to throw in their two cents worth!) By doing this, I'll be able to work through the 12 categories (and 40 sub-categories, ugh) and develop general points of view and supporting evidence for the topics they encompass. Then, when I take the exam I'll (hopefully) be able to begin writing almost immediately, without having to take a lot of time thinking about what I want to say, developing an argument, and thinking up examples. Education: general education – 128, 102, 92, 104, 223 teaching – 32, 50, 228, 229, 181, 233, 236, 86, 154 knowledge – 232, 117, 14, 183, 201, 90, 153, 171, 191, 179 training – 179, 222, 214, 210, 34, 230, 191, 179 requirements – 5, 67, 80, 94, 106, 158, 214 images vs words – 7, 38, 57, 74, 108, 155, 215, 237 Academics: arts vs sciences – 243, 176, 41, 131, 80, 158 old guard vs new wave – 168, 68, 84, 87, 4, 153, 165, 213, 227 specialization vs generalization – 9, 23, 75, 132, 220, 231 criticism – 18, 52, 96, 143, 144, 146, 168, 218, 240, 241 Convention and Innovation: thinking outside the box – 25, 27, 40, 76, 21, 164, 175, 238, 198, 4, 216, 118 creativity boxed in – 141, 128, 244, 219 people prefer the box – 230, 234 Culture and Society: culture and society – 6, 72, 104, 170, 203, 207, 208, 131, 105, 10, 142, 15, 19, 163 differences and similarities – 63, 65, 225, 111 globalization – 11, 111, 116, 150, 197, 205, 237 Technology: helpful or harmful – 129, 196, 58, 30, 166, 124, stunting our brains – 66, 107, 219, 23, 151, 233, 159 effect on society – 88, 135, 114, 133 Progress: progress vs preservation – 13, 26, 121, 149, 189, 242 societal progress – 81, 21, 137, 140, 147 measuring progress – 115, 118, 137, 138, 115, 216 Growth and Success: self-knowledge – 71, 223, 200, 62, 236, 112, 22, 77, 113 education vs experience – 117, 204, 153, 39 measuring personal success – 126, 188, 192, 99, 64, 61 Choice and Character: choice – 12, 47, 91, 93, 112, 130, 136, 156, 162, 210 character – 12, 145, 35, 59, 22, 162, 134, 212, 16, 89, 148, 163, 235 Government and Laws: leadership – 8, 24, 43, 45, 70, 79, 89, 160, 167, 169, 195, 202 laws and ethics – 17, 39, 174, 178, 180, 212, 224, 152, 182 today's problems vs tomorrow's – 56, 97, 211 Funding: societal – 3, 20, 10, 190, 83, 149 arts and sciences – 119, 31, 44, 69, 82, 85, 101 education – 32, 53 Individuals in Society: individuals vs groups – 19, 48, 77, 113, 198, 199, 171, 78, 42, 51 public image – 21, 33, 29, 59, 60, 109, 123, 161 competition vs cooperation – 2, 122, 198, 209, 37, 1, 46, 55, 100, 194, 213, 95, 42 History: judging the past – 36, 76, 241, 48 facts vs stories – 49, 110, 127, 239 usefulness to us – 54, 81, 103, 120, 189, 125, 221, 226 I've counted 283 numbers listed here (there are 244 topics given), but that's due to overlap (ie some of the topics fit in two or more categories) so if anyone notices a number missing, please let me know. Hope this is helpful!

Lucky by Alice Sebold. I haven't read this one yet, but I did just read Sebold's The Lovely Bones which is amazing. I just finished a book called The Wanton Troopers by Alden Nowlan. He's a poet from the Atlantic provinces of Canada. It's probably hard to find elsewhere, but I highly recommend it. Favourite authors: Joseph Conrad, Graham Greene, Paul Auster, E. Annie Proulx, Jane Smiley, Ian Banks, Hunter S. Thompson, Agatha Christie, Alexander McCall Smith, Leonard Cohen. I also really enjoy reading nonfiction. Anything by Jon Krakauer (esp. Into the Wild), and anything about the sea. I haven't read Moby **** yet, but I read a great book on the true story it was based on called In the Heart of the Sea.

BBC for news, docs, and comedies; HBO for truely awesome shows (6 feet under, deadwood, sex and the city); the generics for a couple of dirty little secrets...I can't live without The Amazing Race and the Apprentice! I'm a little bummed that I don't have cable right now...I'd really like to see a show on Discovery called The Deadliest Catch...has anyone caught it? ha ha...okay, sorry about that one, bad, bad, bad. jennyp

I was obsessed with the Godfather movies when I was in high school. I actually rented all three and watched them nonstop once. I felt kinda woozy afterwards, that's a lot of movie! Now I'm obsessed with Wes Anderson (The Life Aquatic is my favourite movie so far this year, Bulletproof, Rushmore) and I love anything with Ewan McGregor in it. As for Westerns, my fiance has introduced me to the glories of the early Clint Eastwood movies: A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, Hang 'Em High, The Good the Bad, and the Ugly, Two Mules for Sister Susan...I can't get enough! Ish, you'd probably like them too; they're similar to the Godfather movies in theme and style. Oh yeah, and that young Coppolla seems to be doing pretty well...Lost in Translation is beautiful. I could go on and on, but I'll stop...for now! jennyp