Starting this winter, we will be constantly studying the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA)task. The source of questions is the Pool of Sample Topics available in the Official Guide to theGMAT.
First, we will be reading a question:
Question No. 4]
The following appeared in a report presented for discussion at a meeting of the directors of acompany that manufactures parts for heavy machinery:
"The falling revenues that the company is experiencing coincide with delays inmanufacturing. These delays, in turn, are due in large part to poor planning in purchasing metalsConsider further that the manager of the department that handles purchasing of raw materials hasan excellent background in general business, psychology, and sociology, but knows little about theproperties of metals. The company should, therefore, move the purchasing manager to the salesdepartment and bring in a scientist from the research division to be manager of the purchasingdepartment"
Teacher’s NOTE:
In the simple way, when we read the brief passage, in which there is an argument, we shouldanalyze the line of reasoning of the argument and should find a number of logic flaws. We shouldwrite an essay in an analytical manner and to discuss those points of doubt.
Since this may be our first time doing this task, we may take a moment before we start writingand focus on finding which part of the argument goes wrong and draw an outline of our essay.
We have quickly found a few points of doubt:
Point of Doubt 1
Point of Doubt 2
Knowing general business, psychology, and sociology may not be necessary expertise for theposition of sales manager. In other words, the knowledge in the three areas may not help thecurrent purchasing manager to successfully perform the role of sales manager.
Point of Doubt 3
The purchasing manager’s lack of knowledge about the properties of metals may remain as aweakness when he or she is in the position of sales manager, which may require the knowledge.
Point of Doubt 4
The scientist may know plenty about the properties of metals but lacks necessary expertise orskills in being a competent purchasing manager.
Note that although some of us have probably found more than four logic flaws, we are mostlikely to write about four of the many flaws, since the given time for the AWA section is 30 minutes.which is not enough for us to write about all of the flaws unless you are supersonically fast.
Now, two sample paragraphs are presented as follows to create a general idea of writing ananalytical text
Based on Point of Doubt 2
Knowing general business, psychology, and sociology may not be enough for the currentpurchasing manager to perform the role of sales manager. Since the argument provides noinformation that the current purchasing manager possesses negotiation skills -- the crucial part ofexpertise in make deals, the author cannot be sure that the current purchasing manager will beable to be a successful sales manager.
Based on Point of Doubt 3
The lack of knowledge about the properties of metals may render the current purchasingmanager incompetent in the position of sales manager. To make sales, it may be critical that themanager knows the use of the metals, which depends on the properties of them, in thecompany’s heavy machinery. As a result, knowing little about the properties of metals will remainas a disadvantage.
