縱觀美國的各項入學考試，從SAT到GRE和GMAT，我們能夠很清晰的看到作文考題的設計思路。從中學開始的教材和作文考試就重在培養(yǎng)學生的思辨能力，而邏輯思維能力是必不可少的考察內容，甚至可以說是最重要的部分——GRE和GMAT的考題充分體現(xiàn)了這一點。西方的邏輯方式從最基本來分可分為演繹邏輯(deductive reasoning)，歸納邏輯(inductive reasoning)，非形式推理(informal reasoning/logic)，其中argument的重點在于考查學生的非形式推理的能力。
其實各種GMAT寫作指導書的理論部分不外就是把邏輯基礎教材的informal reasoning部分修飾一番搬過來，主要就是講解informal reasoning常見的錯誤，根據(jù)不同的書的篇幅和詳細程度，一般有7-13種，因字數(shù)原因，在此不一一詳述。因此考生第一步需要熟悉常見的非形式推理錯誤，因為考題基本上都是根據(jù)這些錯誤設計的。有些題看上去甚至有點傻，不大會出現(xiàn)在現(xiàn)實生活中，因為是特意為考試編寫出來的。另外，由于需要適應考試環(huán)境的緣故，考題會稍顯程式化，形式上比較接近三段式(syllogism)，反而方便了考生尋找premises和conclusion。比如下面一道例題：
The following appeared in a memorandum issued by the human-resources department of Capital Bank:
"Capital Bank has always required that its employees wear suits at all times while at work．Last month, Capital’s employee absenteeism and attrition rates both reached all-time highs．In order to reverse these trends, Capital should adopt a company-wide "casual Friday" policy, under which all employees would be permitted, and even encouraged, to dress casually for work every Friday．After all, most companies in the software industry allow their workers to dress casually for work anytime they want; and those workers often remark that this policy enhances their job satisfaction．Moreover, most software firms experience lower rates of employee absenteeism and attrition than companies in other industries, including banking."
Discuss how logically convincing you find this argument．In your discussion, you should analyze the argument's line of reasoning and use of evidence．It may be appropriate in your critique to call into question certain assumptions underlying the argument and/or to indicate what evidence might weaken or strengthen the argument．It may also be appropriate to discuss how you would alter the argument to make it more convincing and/or discuss what additional evidence, if any, would aid in evaluating the argument.
一般來說，一個argument里頭至少有3個錯誤，有些時候甚至還有5-6個，而找出來這些問題，作文可以說完成了差不多一半了。由于時間限制，建議找最主要的問題寫3個，如還有時間，可以繼續(xù)寫。
第一步，需要把相應的前提和結論找出來：
Conclusion：
Capital should adopt a company-wide "casual Friday" policy, under which all employees would be permitted, and even encouraged, to dress casually for work every Friday.
Premises：
1．Capital Bank has always required that its employees wear suits at all times while at work．Last month, Capital’s employee absenteeism and attrition rates both reached all-time highs.
2．most companies in the software industry allow their workers to dress casually for work anytime they want; and those workers often remark that this policy enhances their job satisfaction.
3．most software firms experience lower rates of employee absenteeism and attrition than companies in other industries, including banking."
注意，這里并非是三個并列的前提推出最后一個結論，前提中間仍然包含小的結論，因此畫一個路線圖就是：
Premise 1(premise) Capital bank requires suits ——> (conclusion) high rates
Premise 2 (premise)software companies casual wear ——> (conclusion)1.employee satisfaction and ——>2．low rates————> final conclusion Bank’s casual Friday policy
