Gre analytical Writing issue essay Topic 101

GRE Analytical Writing ISSUE Essay Topic - 113 
"Scholars and researchers should not be concerned with whether their work makes a contribution 
to the larger society. It is more important that they pursue their individual interests, however 
unusual or idiosyncratic those interests may seem." 
GRE AWA Analytical Writing ISSUE Essay Sample 
Solution - 113 
Each society needs leaders to guide, inspire and lead it. They come in the forms of social 
reformers, researchers, scholars, artists, politicians etc. These people certainly influence the 
society, either directly or indirectly, even if they continue with their pursuits in isolation. They 
influence the society and steer changes in the way it thinks and functions. Though I agree with 
the author when he says that scholars and researchers should pursue their individual interests 
without weighing its influence over society, I disagree with his idea of pursuing extremely 
unusual and idiosyncratic interests. 
The relation between a society and its elements is mutual. Each individual of a society 
contributes towards the beliefs, customs, strengths, weaknesses, ideas, rituals etc of the society. 
With the advent of technology and the world's becoming closer than ever before, people have 
more opportunity to influence others, even if their thoughts are radical and idiosyncratic. Even if 
a person isolates himself from the world, his individuality cannot be disregarded. 
Scholars and researchers are people who think differently. They are unique in their own right 
owing to their capabilities to think differently from others and deeply enough to give us new 
discoveries, inventions, literature, studies, theories, philosophies, scholarly works etc. Through 
their works, they contribute towards the development of society. Even if there is no direct 
consequence of their works, they inspire people to think differently by triggering the thought 
process in the minds of people. They cannot be isolated from the society. In fact, a person is 
branded a scholar or a researcher only if he makes any significant contribution and earns a name 
for himself in society. 
It takes extensive research to develop anything new. Research is merely the first step towards 
any development. A research in itself is always fruitful, it depends on the society how it benefits 
from the research. For instance, the thought of exploiting nuclear energy for solving the energy 
crises in contrast to using it for warfare is completely the choice of people. The thought process 
behind it is not to be blamed for the decision that the society takes. 
Take the instances in which scholarly works come under extreme criticism by society. Such 
situations also contribute in some way or the other towards the development of society. They 
help to trigger the thought process of people. If the research on cloning was criticized by people, 
it also gave people a preview of the times to come, where cloning could be practiced by some 
with unscrupulous intensions. This way we are guarding against such practices and the research 

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is ultimately helping us. Moreover, cloning could be a good option for protecting endangered 
species. 
A creative mind cannot think to its fullest capacity until it is free from restrictions. If people start 
thinking of consequences even before they achieve some results of research, they cannot hope to 
create any such thing that shall not be criticized. Every research is criticized to some extent or 
the other. Some go against environment, while others go against health. If the fear of criticism 
cripples the minds of scholars and researchers, they cannot hope to make any remarkable 
breakthrough. A creative and intelligent mind has to think independently in order to think to its 
complete potential. Nonetheless, extreme indifference towards the society is not agreeable. One 
has to keep in mind the long-term social consequences of his thoughts and research. There are 
restrictions put by different governments for safeguarding against this, but scholars and 
researchers should also keep a check on themselves. 

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