Analyze an Issue：
　　Sample Response with a Score of 6
　　This essay is thoughful andrational．Thewriter presents an argument against consensus and offers a variety of examples．The counterargument for consensus is accepted in certain cases，but its flaws are clearly stated．There areno significant errors in grammar or mechanics．
　　Anyone who has ever served on acommittee has felt the tension between the goal of consensus and the realities ofthe members differing beliefs and attitudes．Consensus is an admirable goal，but sometimes maj ority rule ls simply more practical．
　　The possibility of consensusseems likely to get smaller as the group gets bigger．Imagine if the UnitedStates Senate required universal consensus for all maj or decisions．You would be askin9 10 0 people who represent vastly differentconstituencies to agree on a single course of action．Theodds of that happening are minute．
　　The possibility of consensus isgreatest when the group is small，is goal oriented，and represents ahomogeneous population．For exampie，it is probably fairly easy for a club composed of 20 eighth gradersto come to a consensus onthe theme of a dance．The morepeople involved，the longerthe decision will take．The less clear the goal and the more diverse the group，the less likely the group is to reach agreement in a timely manner．Consensus may be preferable when the point of the exercise is toshow the outside world a united front．For exampIe，it is always best when parents reach consensus on the rules of ahousehold．It is often best when a planning boardreachesconsensus on development goals．However，insistlng on consensus may be impractical and even unwise．
　　When an irrational desire forconsensus stalls Progress toward an important goal，good leadership demands adifferent path．Maj ority rule may be the only way tobreak a logjam and move things forward．As much asconsensus may be desirable，it is not always a reasonablegoal．