When writing the GRE issue essay, you'll want to compose at least a handful of well-structured paragraphs. The general layout of an essay includes an introduction paragraph, several body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph. As the names imply, in the introduction and conclusion paragraphs, you should briefly introduce the topic, and need to provide a concise summary, respectively. In the body paragraphs of your essay, you'll want to provide ample evidence to support your view on the selected issue.

In the introductory paragraph, you must, in the least, provide a brief summary of the issue topic, and allude to your specific view. Although it is not required, you may want to include in the introduction paragraph a brief summary of both sides of the issue. An essay in which you clearly present your case is surely a good essay, but an even better essay is one where you not only can clearly express your own opinion, but where you can also anticipate any objections that may be raised by somebody with differing views.

In the closing paragraph, you'll want to briefly restate the main points from your introductory and body paragraph, being sure to cite both sides of the argument. However, in the closing paragraph, only a sentence or two at the most is needed to effectively address the opposing view. In the final paragraph, you should focus on your argument and reiterate the evidence that you have presented.

In addition to clearly having solid introductory and closing paragraphs, you'll also want to provide ample evidence to support your stance. In fact, evidence is a very crucial component of the issue essay -- but not just any evidence. The issue essay topic questions that you will encounter on the GRE are broad questions which can be effectively addressed in many ways. However, you'll want to choose your evidence wisely.

First, plan to have at least two, if not three, pieces of evidence in support of your view. By evidence we mean pieces of outside knowledge that help strengthen, support, and validate your stance. For example, if you are arguing on the importance of science fiction and how it helps shape future scientific research, you may want to include information on authors, on the idea of how the opinions of readers influence authors, which in turn influences how authors write, which in turn causes authors to write books which future children will one day read, some of whom will become scientists and researchers. Here, then, you'll notice that in order to have an effective issue essay, you'll need to have evidence in favor of your opinion on the issue. Thus, when you are selecting from among the two possible issue topics, you'll want to pick that topic that you are most familiar with and for which you can right away come up with examples to help strengthen your view.

You'll want to include at least one body paragraph where you discuss any arguments which may be raised by a contrary view. This is an important part of your essay because it demonstrates to the essay graders that you are not only aware of your own hypothesis, but that you are cognizant of an opposing view.