sat essay workbook

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First printing: June 2011

Copyright 2011 byJames P. Stobaugh. All rights reserved. No part o this book may be used oreproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission o the publisher, except in thcase o brie quotations in articles and reviews. For inormation write:

Master Books, P.O. Box 726, Green Forest, AR 72638

Master Books is a division o the New Lea Publishing Group, Inc.

Please visit our website or other great titles:www.masterbooks.net

For inormation regarding author interviews,

please contact the publicity department at (870) 438-5288

Tis ree downloadable workbook is an added resource or students preparing or the SAexam. It has been designed in conjunction with the SA & College Preparation Course or thChristian Student, Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2011. Please visit our website or this another resources or students preparing or college and parents, including:

Fish Out o WaterISBN: 978-0-89221-621-5

Where Do I Go From HereISBN: 978-0-89221-515-7

Already CompromisedISBN: 978-0-89051-607-2


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PrefacGet ready to take the SAT!

Nearly every college in America accepts the SA as a part o its admissions process.Tats why, CollegeBoard reports, more than two million students take the SA every year.

Te SA has three parts: Verbal Critical Reading Section, Verbal Writing Section, and

Math Section. Tis workbook only concerns the SA Essay Section.

SAT Essay SectionTe essay is always the rst question on the SA. You will be given 25 minutes to re-

spond to the question by writing an essay in longhand on the ANSWER sheet. It is a linedpaper, with about 65 lines. Write as much as you can! In act, it is my impression, thatlonger is always better.

Te essay measures your ability to:

Developapointofviewonanissuepresentedinareadingexcerpt.

Supportapointofviewusingreasoningandexamplesfromyourreading,studies,experience, or observations.

You must write in Standard English convention. In other words, your score will bediminished by poor mechanics. You will be given a prompt or assignment, which is a short(no more than 80 words long) quotation or statement on an issue that is careully selectedto:

Enableyoutoreactandrespondquicklyinavarietyofways

Befreeofgurative,technical,orspecicliteraryreferences

One nal note: to those who are Christian believers I must warn you that consistentlythe CollegeBoard chooses prompts that are controversial and, in my opinion, prejudicedagainst our Judeo-Christian morality. We believers will be oended, no doubt, and maybe tempted to use this portion o the SA as a orum to share our belies. Dont do that. Itmight hurt your score, and, in deense o the CollegeBoard, you are being asked to discusswhat an issue means, or what a quote means, or what an authority meansyou are rarelyasked to oer your opinion. So, i you need some wriggle room, I would state what thequote means, communicate a scholarly opinion, and quietly pray or the SA essay creatorsand the CollegeBoard! I would not use this venue as a orum to parade my own belies,however laudable and accurate they might be!

Te ollowing workbook is an eective way to improve your SA I essay score. I youcareully complete each exercise, your essay writing will no doubt improve. Blessings!


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You will have 25 minutes to write your essay. Tereore, you will be tempted to skip theoutline step. Dont do that. Te less time you have, the more concise you have to be, the moreimportant an outline becomes.

Why create an outline? Helpsyouorganizeyourideas Showstherelationshipsamongideasinyourwriting Denesthelimitandpurposeofyouressay

How do I create an outline?

Determinethepurpose(thesis)ofyourpaper. Determinetheaudienceyouarewritingfor.

Ten:

Organize:Grouprelatedideastogether.Igiveyoutwowaystodothatintheollowing exercises.

Sequence:Arrangematerialinsubsectionsfromgeneraltospecicorfromabstract to concrete.

Remember: An outline is a critical, necessary step!

Te ollowing is an essay prompt similar to one provided by CollegeBoard. Beore youwrite an essay on this topic, create an outline. Te rst outline should be an orthodox outline(i.e.,I,A,B,etc.).Tesecondoutlineshouldbeaschematic/graphicorganizationofyoures-say. O course you will only choose one option when taking your exam.

Sample

Tink careully about the issue presented in the ollowing excerpt and the assignment below

Most people understand that absolute objectivity is impossible. Philosophersconclude, thereore, that absolute truth is also impossible to attain. Nonetheless,the idea o objectivity as a guiding principle is too valuable to be abandoned.Without it, the pursuit o knowledge is hopelessly lost.

Adapted rom Focusing Our Values, Nieman Reports

Assignment:Are people better at making observations, discoveries, and decisions i they remain neu-

tral and impartial? Support your position with reasoning and examples taken rom your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Outline Option 1


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Create an outline:


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Did your outline ollow this pattern? Careully consider what you have included or omitted in your outline.

Outline Option 1 - Answer

I. Introduction

II. Body Argum

ent1

Evidence1

Argument2

Evidence2

III. Conclusion


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Outline Option Tefollowingisanotherwaytoorganizeanessay.Fillinthefollowingdiagram:

What outline option works best or you?

Tesis


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Outline Option 2 - AnswerIn a diagram outline, you clearly show your thesis, argument, and evidence.

Tesis

Argument 1

Argument 2

Evidence

Evidence


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IntroductioTe introduction is the broad beginning o the essay that asks three important ques-

tions:

1. What is this?

2. Why am I reading it?

3. What argument/position do you want me to accept?

You should ask these questions by doing the ollowing:

1. Establish the background provide general inormation about the main idea,explaining the situation so the grader can make sense o the topic and the claims youmake and support. Restate the question and ask it.

2. State why the main idea is important tell the grader why s/he should care and keepreading. Your goal is to create a compelling, clear, and convincing essay the graderwill want to read and act upon. Te grader needs to see how this essay will changehis/her world.

3. State your thesis/purpose compose a sentence or two stating the position youwill support with logos (sound reasoning: induction, deduction), pathos (balancedemotional appeal), and ethos (author credibility).

In summary, all inormation discussed in the essay is presented in the introduction. Nonew arguments may be added aer the introduction is created. Dont surprise your reader!Presume nothing. Explain everything.

One nal word: Avoid ormat writing. What is ormat writing? Te ollowing are indi-cators o ormat writing:

1. Inevitablyformatwritingemphasizesformovercontent.Normallyformatwritersuse some sort o contrived checklist.

2. Formatwritingisfullofbroad,predictablegeneralizationswherethewriterpurports to be a specialist in everything. But in act the ormat writer is substantiallyunable to develop, and much less to deend, any serious rhetorical point. One rarelynds a credible thesis (i.e., purpose statement) in a ormat writing piece.

3. All essays begin and end exactly the same way. Predictability is a sign o ineriorwriting and endemic to ormat writing.

4. Format writing does not consider audience, content, or purpose.


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Your SA essay graders are trained, certied, proessionalsusually English teachers.Tey know inerior writing when they see it. Tey will mark you down i you employ acanned, ormat writing strategy! Here is a typical essay prompt rom CollegeBoard:

SampleTink careully about the issue presented in the ollowing excerpt and the assignment below



Assignment:

Are people better at making observations, discoveries, and decisions i they remain neu-tral and impartial? Support your position with reasoning and examples taken rom your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

I. Introduction

A. Opening commentset the context (you need to take control o the topic right here

B. Restatement o the question and why it is a compelling question:

C. Tesisthe purpose, claim, and position o this essaythe grader should knowexactly what you are arguing and have a hint at how you will argue it:


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Introduction - AnsweI. Introduction

A. Opening Comment: Te British author G. K. Chesterton writes Te madmansexplanation o a thing is always complete, and oen in a purely rational sensesatisactory.

NOTE:Beginning with a quote is always a good idea. It is an interesting, timelyway to bring your reader into your topic. It also impresses graders by showingthem that you can talk about specics. o that end avoid general comments like,Everyone knows that absolute objectivity is desirable but cannot be attained. Tisis a vastly inerior beginning because your reader is asked to take a side: readerswho agree with you are pleased; those who disagree are irritated. Avoid theseunsubstantiated generalizations.

B. Restatement o the Question: While this author agrees that absolute objectivityhas yet to be attained, it is not the same or absolute truth. In any event, the idea o

objectivity as a guiding principle is too valuable to be abandoned. Without it, thepursuit o knowledge is indeed hopelessly lost.

NOTE:You accurately restate the question while, at the same time, oferingyour position. Tis statement is a precursor to the thesis that will come next.Remember: the more time you can present your case to the graders in 25 minutesthe more chances that the graders will understand i not agree with your case.

C. Tesis:As Aristotle argues in his seminal work Nicomachean Ethics, . . . the greatmajority o mankind are agreed about this; or both the multitude and persons orenement speak o it as Happiness, and conceive the good lie or doing well to be the

same thing as being happy. But what constitutes happiness is a matter o dispute; andthe popular account o it is not the same as that given by the philosophers. Objectivityis as elusive as happiness, but truth is real. Are people better at making observations,discoveries, and decisions i they remain neutral and impartial? Only i they pursuetruth.

NOTE:A thesis is a short, pithy, but accurate summary statement and purposestatement o what the subsequent essay will be. It is not an opportunity or thereader to ponticate on the essay topic (unless that is the purpose o the essay)nor is the thesis an opportunity to trick the reader into believing some partisanposition. Very simply, the thesis must be the clearly stated, cogently stated, purpose

o this essay.


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The Body: Argument 1, Evidence 1Te body o an essay is the core o the essay. It is where the argument is developed and th

evidence provided.

Te our elements o a good Body include paragraphs that have:

1. A opic sentence that tells the grader what you will be arguing in the paragraph.

2. Specic Evidence and analysis that supports your thesis and that provides a deeperlevel o detail than your topic sentence.

3. A Brie wrap-up sentence that tells the reader how and why this inormation supportthe papers thesis. Te brie wrap-up is also known as the warrant. Te warrant isimportant to your argument because it connects your reasoning and support to yourthesis, and it shows that the inormation in the paragraph is related to your thesis andhelps deend it.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resourceNow, write the rst argument or your essay body.

Sample




Assignment:

Are people better at making observations, discoveries, and decisions i they remain neu-tral and impartial? Support your position with reasoning and examples taken rom your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Argument 1

Evidence 1


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The Body: Argument 1, Evidence 1 - AnsweArgument 1

Lewis Carrolls Alice in Alice in Wonderland alls into the rabbit hole and knows thatshe is lost. Read the directions and directly you will be directed in the right direction,the doorknob tells Alice. She has lost all objectivity. She is in trouble. She knows it. But

she still has truththe doorknob has given her truth. Read the directions!

Alice is not neutral, and in her crisis, is making observations and decisions galore. Shehas lost her objectivity, though. She wants to go home. Te truth will lead her home.Impartiality, then, is immaterial. She has a need, a stated objective, and she can havethe truth. Te truth will lead her home.

NOTE:the author uses a common, simple analogy/comparison to Alice inWonderland. He mentions again, and again, his central argument: that objectivity isimportant, but the pursuit and attainment o truth is more important.

Evidence 1

Objectivity is as allusive as happiness, but truth is real. Are people better at makingobservations, discoveries, and decisions i they remain neutral and impartial? Only ithey pursue truth.

NOTE: Te author compares Alices dilemma to the human condition.


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The Body: Argument 2, Evidence 2Now, provide another argument and evidence.

Argument 2

Evidence 2


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The Body: Argument 2, Evidence 2 - AnsweArgument 2

Scientists know that absolute objectivity has yet to be attained. But ask poets.

Are people better at making observations, discoveries, and decisions i they remainneutral and impartial? No. As Alice learns, as she looks or truth in the rabbit, and asthe poet eloquently probes into the cosmos understands, truth is not dependent uponobjectivity.

Evidence 2

Teologian Walter Brueggemann, in A Prophetic Imagination writes, to address theissue o a truth greatly reduced requires us to be poets that speak against a prose world.. . By prose I reer to a world that is organized in settled ormulae... By poetry I meanlanguage that moves, that jumps at the right moment, that breaks open old worlds withsurprise, abrasion and pace. Poetic speech is the only proclamation worth doing in asituation o reductionism.

NOTE:Te author uses a quote rom Brueggemann.


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The ConclusionIn a general way, your conclusion will:

restateyourtopicandwhyitisimportant,

restateyourthesis/claim,

Remember that once you accomplish these tasks you are nished. Done. Dont try tobring in new points or end with a sermon or polemic. Stay ocused! Stay on task! Finish wicondent humility.

Sample


Most people understand that absolute objectivity is impossible. Philosophersconclude, thereore, that absolute truth is also impossible to attain. Nonetheless,the idea o objectivity as a guiding principle is too valuable to be abandoned.

Without it, the pursuit o knowledge is hopelessly lost.Adapted rom Focusing Our Values, Nieman Reports

Assignment:Are people better at making observations, discoveries, and decisions i they remain neu-

tral and impartial? Support your position with reasoning and examples taken rom your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Te conclusion:


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The Conclusion - AnsweTe conclusion:

Knowledge will be pursued and it will be ound, but only by those who love and who

nd truth. Objectivity, as Alice ound in her crisis, as the poet understands in his cra,is impossible. And undesirable. Are people better at making observations, discoveries,and decisions i they remain neutral and impartial? Absolutely not.

NOTE:Te conclusion is a chance to have the last word on the subject.Te conclusion is also a way to summarize ones thoughts, to demonstrate theimportance o your ideas, and to propel your reader to a new view o the subject. Itis also your opportunity to make a good nal impression.


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The Whole EssayNow, rewrite your enitre essay.


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The Whole Essay - Answe Te British author G. K. Chesterton writes Te madmans explanation o a thing is

always complete, and oen in a purely rational sense satisactory. While this authoragrees that absolute objectivity has yet to be attained, it is not the same or absolutetruth. In any event, the idea o objectivity as a guiding principle is too valuable to beabandoned. Without it, the pursuit o knowledge is indeed hopelessly lost. As Aristotleargues in his seminal work Nicomachean Ethics, . . . the great majority o mankindare agreed about this; or both the multitude and persons o renement speak o it asHappiness, and conceive the good lie or doing well to be the same thing as beinghappy. But what constitutes happiness is a matter o dispute; and the popular accounto it is not the same as that given by the philosophers. Objectivity is as allusive ashappiness, but truth is real. Are people better at making observations, discoveries, anddecisions i they remain neutral and impartial? Only i they pursue truth.

Lewis Carrolls Alice in Alice in Wonderland alls into the rabbit hole and knows thatshe is lost. Read the directions and directly you will be directed in the right direction,the doorknob tells Alice. She has lost all objectivity. She is in trouble. She knows it.

But she still has truththe doorknob has given her truth. Read the directions! Aliceis not neutral, and in her crisis, it making observations and decisions galore. She haslost her objectivity, though. She wants to go home. Te truth will lead her home.Impartiality, then, is immaterial. She has a need, a stated objective, and she can havethe truth. Te truth will lead her home. Objectivity is as allusive as happiness, buttruth is real. Are people better at making observations, discoveries, and decisions i theyremain neutral and impartial? Only i they pursue truth.

Scientists know that absolute objectivity has yet to be attained. But ask poets.Teologian Walter Brueggemann, in A Prophetic Imagination writes, to address theissue o a truth greatly reduced requires us to be poets that speak against a prose world.

. . By prose I reer to a world that is organized in settled ormulae... By poetry I meanlanguage that moves, that jumps at the right moment, that breaks open old worlds withsurprise, abrasion and pace. Poetic speech is the only proclamation worth doing in asituation o reductionism. Are people better at making observations, discoveries, anddecisions i they remain neutral and impartial? No. As Alice in the rabbit hole lookedor truth learns, as the poet eloquently probes into the cosmos understands, truth is notdependent upon objectivity.

Knowledge will be pursued and it will be ound, but only by those who love and whond truth. Objectivity, as Alice ound in her crisis, as the poet understands in his cra,is impossible. And undesirable. Are people better at making observations, discoveries,

and decisions i they remain neutral and impartial? Absolutely not.


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Scoring the SAT Essay - Example 1Score of 6

An essay in this category demonstrates clear and consistent mastery, although it may hava ew minor errors. A typical essay:

Eectively and insightully develops a point o view on the issue and demonstrates

outstanding critical thinking, using clearly appropriate examples, reasons, and otherevidence to support its position

Iswellorganizedandclearlyfocused,demonstratingclearcoherenceandsmoothprogression o ideas

Exhibits skillul use o language, using a varied, accurate, and advanced vocabulary

Demonstrates meaningul variety in sentence structure

Is ree o most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.

Score of 5

An essay in this category demonstrates reasonably consistent mastery, although it willhave occasional errors or lapses in quality. A typical essay:

Eectively develops a point o view on the issue and demonstrates strong critical thinkingenerally using appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position

Iswellorganizedandfocused,demonstratingcoherenceandprogressionofideas

Exhibits acility in the use o language, using appropriate vocabulary

Demonstrates variety in sentence structure

Is generally ree o most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

Score of 4An essay in this category demonstrates adequate mastery, although it will have lapses in

quality. A typical essay:

Develops a point o view on the issue and demonstrates competent critical thinking, usinadequate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position

Isgenerallyorganizedandfocused,demonstratingsomecoherenceandprogressionofideas

Exhibits adequate but inconsistent acility in the use o language, using generally appro-priate vocabulary

Demonstrates some variety in sentence structure

Has some errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics


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Score of 3An essay in this category demonstrates developing mastery, and is marked by one or

more o the ollowing weaknesses:

Develops a point o view on the issue, demonstrating some critical thinking, but may do

so inconsistently or use inadequate examples, reasons, or other evidence to support itsposition

Islimitedinitsorganizationorfocus,butmaydemonstratesomelapsesincoherenceorprogression o ideas

Displays developing acility in the use o language, but sometimes uses weak vocabularyor inappropriate word choice

Lacks variety or demonstrates problems in sentence structure

Contains an accumulation o errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

Score of 2An essay in this category demonstrates little mastery, and is awed by one or more o the

ollowing weaknesses:

Develops a point o view on the issue that is vague or seriously limited, demonstrat-ing weak critical thinking, providing inappropriate or insufcient examples, reasons, orother evidence to support its position

Ispoorlyorganizedand/orfocused,ordemonstratesseriousproblemswithcoherenceor progression o ideas

Displays very little acility in the use o language, using very limited vocabulary or in-

correct word choiceDemonstrates requent problems in sentence structure

Contains errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics so serious that meaning is somewhatobscured

Score of 1An essay in this category demonstrates very little or no mastery, and is severely awed

by one or more o the ollowing weaknesses:

Develops no viable point o view on the issue, or provides little or no evidence to sup-port its position

Isdisorganizedorunfocused,resultinginadisjointedorincoherentessay

Displays undamental errors in vocabulary

Demonstrates severe aws in sentence structure

Contains pervasive errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics that persistently intererewith meaning. www.collegeboard.org


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Scoring the SAT Essay - Example 1 AnswerAssignment: Score your own essay. Why did you receive the score that you did? Tis ess

would receive a score o 6.

Te British author G. K. Chesterton writes Te madmans explanation o a thing is

always complete, and oen in a purely rational sense satisactory. While this author agreesthat absolute objectivity has yet to be attained, it is not the same or absolute truth. In any

event, the idea o objectivity as a guiding principle is toovaluable to be abandoned. Without it, the pursuit o knowledgeis indeed hopelessly lost. As Aristotle argues in his seminalwork Nicomachean Ethics, . . . the great majority o mankindare agreed about this; or both the multitude and persons orenement speak o it as Happiness, and conceive the good lieor doing well to be the same thing as being happy. But whatconstitutes happiness is a matter o dispute; and the popularaccount o it is not the same as that given by the philosophers.

Objectivity is as allusive as happiness, but truth is real. Are people better at making observationdiscoveries, and decisions i they remain neutral and impartial? Only i they pursue truth.

Lewis Carrolls Alice in Alice in Wonderland alls into the rabbit hole and knows that she ilost. Read the directions and directly you will be directed in the right direction, the doorknobtells Alice. She has lost all objectivity. She is in trouble. She knows it. But she still has truth

the doorknob has given her truth. Read the directions! Alice is notneutral, and in her crisis, it making observations and decisions galore.She has lost her objectivity, though. She wants to go home. Te truthwill lead her home. Impartiality, then, is immaterial. She has a need, astated objective, and she can have the truth. Te truth will lead her hom

Objectivity is as allusive as happiness, but truth is real. Are people better at making observationdiscoveries, and decisions i they remain neutral and impartial? Only i they pursue truth.

Scientists know that absolute objectivity has yet to be attained. But ask poets. TeologianWalter Brueggemann, in A Prophetic Imagination writes, to address the issue o a truthgreatly reduced requires us to be poets that speak against a prose world. . . By prose I reer to a

world that is organized in settled ormulae... By poetry I mean languagethat moves, that jumps at the right moment, that breaks open old worldswith surprise, abrasion and pace. Poetic speech is the only proclamationworth doing in a situation o reductionism. Are people better at makingobservations, discoveries, and decisions i they remain neutral and

impartial? No. As Alice in the rabbit hole looked or truth learns, as the poet eloquently probesinto the cosmos understands, truth is not dependent upon objectivity.

Knowledge will be pursued and it will be ound, but only by those who love and who ndtruth. Objectivity, as Alice ound in her crisis, as the poet understands in his cra, is impossiblAnd undesirable. Are people better at making observations, discoveries, and decisions i they

remain neutral and impartial? Absolutely not.

This essay begins strongly. A quote is always a good

way to begin. A quote from a published author is even

better. Notice, too, the restatement of the question.

Finally, the thesis is clearly articulated. One nal

caution: The introduction should contain all pertinent

information and arguments. No new information may

be introduced after this point. No surprises!

Argument 1 is clearly discussed with a literary

quote. Next, evidence is offered. Finally, the

paragraph is tied, again, to the thesis.

Argument 2 is clearly discussed with a literary

quote. Next, evidence is offered. Finally, the

paragraph is tied, again, to the thesis.

The best conclusion is usually a summary.

Avoid offering a nal word of wisdom and

avoid introducing new information.


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Scoring the SAT Essay - Example Sample

Tink careully about the issue presented in the ollowing excerpt and the assignment below.

Most people understand that absolute objectivity is impossible. Philosophers

conclude, thereore, that absolute truth is also impossible to attain. Nonetheless,the idea o objectivity as a guiding principle is too valuable to be abandoned.Without it, the pursuit o knowledge is hopelessly lost.


Assignment:Are people better at making observations, discoveries, and decisions i they remain

neutral and impartial? Support your position with reasoning and examples taken rom yourreading, studies, experience, or observations.

Score the ollowing essay.

Absolute objectivity has yet to be attained. Its the same or absolute truth. But I agreethat the idea o objectivity as a guiding principle is to valuable to be abandoned.Without it, the pursuit o knowledge is hopelessly lost.

For instance, my grandmothers dog died suddenly last year. Aer that, she was unableto see a dog that did not make her cry. She loss all her objectivity.

Are people better at making observations, discoveries, and decisions? Maybe. But

sometimes, like with my grandmother, that was just not possible.

Score _______


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Scoring the SAT Essay - Example 2 AnswerScore the ollowing essay.

Score of 2

An essay in this category demonstrates little mastery, and is awed by one or more o theollowing weaknesses:

Develops a point o view on the issue that is vague or seriously limited, demonstratingweak critical thinking, providing inappropriate or insufcient examples, reasons, or otheevidence to support its position For example, the rst paragraph merely restates thequestionthere is no thesis statement; no argument oered.

Ispoorlyorganizedand/orfocused,ordemonstratesseriousproblemswithcoherenceor progression o ideas It eels like this essay is merely stream o consciousness or onedisorganizedthoughtaeranother.

Displays very little acility in the use o language, using very limited vocabulary or

incorrect word choiceDemonstrates requent problems in sentence structure One word sentence and a

colloquial style no doubt will irritate the graders.

Contains errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics so serious that meaning is somewhatobscured Tere are at least two errors: to should be too and was should be is (tokeep consistent verb tense).


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Scoring the SAT Essay - Example 3Sample

Tink careully about the issue presented in the ollowing excerpt and the assignment below.

Many persons believe that to move up the ladder o success and achievement,

they must orget the past, repress it, and relinquish it. But others have just theopposite view. Tey see old memories as a chance to reckon with the past andintegrate past and present.

Adapted rom Sara Lawrence-Lightoot, Ive Known Rivers: Lives o Loss and Liberation

Assignment:Do memories hinder or help people in their eort to learn rom the past and succeed in

the present? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point o view on this issue.Support your position with reasoning and examples taken rom your reading, studies, expe-rience, or observations.

A. My oppion on this topic are oposing memories and avoring them. People dosucced with repeating their memories. Tey might have horrible memories but alsosucceed because they dont repeat the past. I also think memories should not rule thepresent. I you let the past overcome the preset you wont get any where. Tis is whymemories should be guidelines, not rules. I you repeat the past it wont come out aswell as it did because the world has changed. See the past will never change with theworld, but the world will change to overcome the past. So in conclusion dont orgetthe past or live in it, and the past is only guideline.

Score _______


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B. Te point o making mistakes is to learn rom them. I you dont learn rom what youdo wrong, then making mistakes has no silver lining, it is purely bad. I have come tobelieve this through personal experience and watching others.

When climbing the ladder o success, each step gets you closer to the top. Tereore

each step is a mistake that you learned rom, a good decision, or even a stroke o luckHow could a person climb that ladder without each and every wooden rung to helpthem? I am human, thereor, ar rom perect, I make mistakes all o the time and I ama better person because o that. You could almost say that the more mistakes a personmakes, the stronger a person they are, assuming o course that they learn rom them

As a child I stole cookies rom the cookie jar, lied to my parents (still happens everyonce in awhile), and played tricks on my brothers. I, in turn, got in trouble with myparents and was punished. Aer that I learned that those things arent okay. Now Itend to make dierent mistakes, such as, going to places that arent sae or me, andgiving up when things get hard. Lie is a huge cycle o making mistakes and learning

rom them. Tat is why people can become so wise and strong in what they do, theymake good out o the bad.

I also see people close to me using problems and mistakes to make a good situationout o a bad one. My parents, my brothers, and my closest riends are all slowlybuilding up the knowledge to be successul. How can a person be more successulby orgetting what they have already learned? Tat doesnt push you orward it justholds a person back. Even i a person wanted to orget their past, they couldnt. Itslike orgetting that i a stove is turned on and you touch it, it will burn you.

Score _______


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Scoring the SAT Essay - Example 3 AnsweScore of 1

An essay in this category demonstrates very little or no mastery, and is severely awedby one or more o the ollowing weaknesses:

Develops no viable point o view on the issue, or provides little or no evidence to

support its position

Isdisorganizedorunfocused,resultinginadisjointedorincoherentessay

Tere is no developed argument, must less any evidence!

Displays undamental errors in vocabulary

Demonstrates severe aws in sentence structure

Contains pervasive errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics that persistently intererewith meaning.

Score of 4

An essay in this category demonstrates adequate mastery, although it will have lapses inquality. A typical essay:

Develops a point o view on the issue and demonstrates competent critical thinking,using adequate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position Te onlyproblem is that there are too many personal or subjective examples. Te essay shouldoer more objective examples, preerably rom literature.

Isgenerallyorganizedandfocused,demonstratingsomecoherenceandprogressiono ideas Te essay does not systematically develop arguments and oer supportiveevidence.

Exhibits adequate but inconsistent acility in the use o language, using generallyappropriate vocabulary

Demonstrates some variety in sentence structure

Has some errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics


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Improving ScoresRewrite the score o 5 essay below so that it is a score o 6 essay.

Score of 6An essay in this category demonstrates clear and consistent mastery, although it may hav

a ew minor errors. A typical essay: Eectively and insightully develops a point o view on the issue and demonstrates out-

standing critical thinking, using clearly appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidento support its position

Iswellorganizedandclearlyfocused,demonstratingclearcoherenceandsmoothprogresion o ideas

Exhibits skillul use o language, using a varied, accurate, and advanced vocabulary

Demonstrates meaningul variety in sentence structure

Is ree o most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.

A. Score o 5 Essay

I agree with Ms. Sara Lawrence-Lightoot in saying that some people see oldmemories as a chance to reckon with the past and integrate past and present. Manypeople are so troubled by things that happened in their past that they are not able toocus on the present. For example, in the book Ceremony, by Leslie Marmon Silko,ayo, the main character, can not concentrate on the present because he constantlyhounds himsel over things that happened during World War II and his troubledchildhood. However, past memories can help people to succeed in the present. Anhistorical example o people learning rom the past would be the Marshall Plan. Ae

the conclusion o World War II there were many countries around the world in needo economical assistence to help rebuild their war torn countries, and the UnitedStates would have to be the one to provide that assistence. Many American politicianthought it was oolish or the US government to spend money abroad on countriesthat would not be able to repay the loan or a long time. However, George Marshall,a ormer general and later Secretary o State under President ruman, rememberedhow the exact same argument o why should we spend money on war torn nationsthat really owe us reparations? had been used aer World War I towards Germany.Te lack o assistance towards Germany aer World War I had caused a giganticeconomic depression in Germany that had made the Mark (German money) virtuallworthless. Te German people became so desperate that they started supporting an

extreme German nationalist named Adol Hitler, who eventually started World War Marshall knew that i the US did not help war torn Germany and, especially, Japan, wcould eventually have a World War III on our hands.


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B. Score o 6 Essay


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Improving Scores - AnswerRewrite the score o 5 essay below so that it is a score o 6 essay.

A. Score o 6 Essay

I agree with Ms. Sara Lawrence-Lightoot in saying that some people see old memoriesas a chance to reckon with the past and integrate past and present. Many people areso troubled by things that happened in their past that they are not able to ocus on thepresent.

For example, in the book Ceremony, by Leslie Marmon Silko, ayo, the main charactercannot concentrate on the present because he constantly hounds himsel over things thahappened during World War II and his troubled childhood. However, past memories cahelp people to succeed in the present.

An historical example o people learning rom the past would be the Marshall Plan.Aer the conclusion o World War II there were many countries around the world in

need o economical assistance to help rebuild their war torn countries, and the UnitedStates would have to be the one to provide that assistance. Many American politiciansthought it was oolish or the US government to spend money abroad on countries thatwould not be able to repay the loan or a long time. However, George Marshall, a ormegeneral and later Secretary o State under President ruman, remembered how the exasame argument o why should we spend money on war torn nations that really owe usreparations? had been used aer World War I towards Germany. Te lack o assistanctowards Germany aer World War I had caused a gigantic economic depression inGermany that had made the Mark (German money) virtually worthless. Te Germanpeople became so desperate that they started supporting an extreme German nationalisnamed Adol Hitler, who eventually started World War II. Marshall knew that i the US

did not help war torn Germany and, especially, Japan, we could eventually have a WorlWar III on our hands.

Finally, in Robert Frosts poem Death o a Hired Hand, Silas, the protagonist, hasreturned to his ormer place o employment, a arm, to die. He carries with himmemories o the past that, in this bleak time, ofer him hope or the uture. Tesememories, some o which were mistakes, did not hold him back rom the uturetheypropel him orward! Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have totake you in.

Te past can be a troubling memoryor an opportunity to regress old mistakes and op

new doors!


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Write a Final Practice EssaI you would like to write another practice essay and have it evaluated contact

www.whatisthebesttest.com.

My prayer or you is--

For this reason I bow my knees beore the Father rom whom every amily inheaven and on earth is named. I pray that He may grant you, according to theriches o His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the innerman, and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through aith. I pray thatyou, being rooted and rmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with

all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth o Gods love, and toknow the Messiahs love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be lled with all theullness o God. Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask orthink--according to the power that works in you--to Him be glory in the church andin Christ Jesus to all generations, orever and ever.

Amen.(Ephs. 3:14-21)


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