Preparing for the GRE Essay & Persuasive Writing

Specifically to succed in GRE essays and in general to do a good job with persuasive writing, its important to frame a lucid and coherent structure of response before developing it into a complete form. Here's an attempt to take few topics, take a position and build a structure.Typically, we could expand each line item into a paragraph with examples to support the claim.

Technology creates more problems than it solves, and may threaten or damage the quality of life

Disagree. However, technology may have side-effects perceived as problems.
Technology improves the quality of life. Eg: Transportation, Natural Calamity warnings, Social Web
Problems perceived as side-effects of technology. Eg: Miscreants with SMS, Bad use of social networks
There will always be problems to solve (with or without/ because or not-because of technology). Eg: stone-age was not better.

The material progress and well-being of one country are necessarily connected to the material progress and well-being of all other countries

Disagree. Progress is connected to some extent. However, not necessarily true for all countries.
Why progress is connected? Emigration for education, World capital markets are linked, Printing more currency does not help any individual economy.
Exceptions: Pursuit of Idealism like technology is bad, education in local language, reservations based on caste, freedom for women
Progress is connected to a great extent. However, depending upon the geo-political ideals/values, some countries choose to take different path to what they term as progress.

Instead of encouraging conformity, society should show greater appreciation of individual differences

Individual differences exist and should be appreciated. However, there should be limitations to the exhibition of these differences in the context of greater conformity. Both should be ecouraged/appreciated.
Individual differences are good. Eg: Opposition party vs ruling government. Bring several issues to the fore. cultural differences. Eating habits. 
Encouraging conformity. Eg: Democratic countries. Need to make progress. 
Appreciate differences but learn to conform at a higher level.

The most elusive knowledge is self-knowledge, and it is usually acquired through solitude, rather than through interaction with others.

Agree. We rarely know what we want and are unhappy most of the times. This has to come from within.
Why self-knowledge is most elusive? distractions of money, time, relationships, respect.
How solitude can help? Eminents visit himalayas for meditation! yoga, mind therapy
Search from within and see the pearls of wisdom.