Unpacking the SAT Essay Prompt – Khan Academy

The words in the SAT Essay Prompt have been chosen very carefully. What do they all mean? This article provides a detailed analysis of the SAT Essay task. Here's a generic prompt:

"...explain how the author builds an argument to persuade the audience..."

Your essay should be focused on identifying and analyzing the strategies the author uses to make his or her point. Do describe the HOW: How does the author make the point? Don't spend more than a sentence or two describing what the passage is about and what the point of the passage is. Do pay attention to how the author uses particular techniques and elements to make the writing more convincing, persuasive, and powerful. How and why do these features work? Do focus on what the author does, why he or she does it, and what effect this is likely to have on readers Do capture some of the main ideas and key details of the passage in your analysis Don't spend too much time summarizing that information Do assess the key details' contribution to the argument

"... consider how the author uses evidence to support claims."

"Evidence" refers to information and ideas that the author uses to support a claim. Evidence takes many forms, and the forms vary depending on the kind of argument the author is writing and the nature of the point the author is trying to make.

Types of Evidence facts statistics quotations from (other) experts the results of experiments or other research examples

The author of any given passage may use some of these or rely on other kinds of sources entirely. Your Job is to figure out what constitutes evidence in a particular passage and how the author uses it to support his or her claims. You may end up pointing out that the author relies (perhaps too much) on one kind of evidence or another — or on little or no evidence at all, likely weakening the argument’s effectiveness. You may instead or in addition point to specific cases in which the author’s choice of evidence was particularly effective in supporting a claim or point. Other approaches are possible as well.

"...consider how the author uses reasoning to develop ideas and to connect claims and evidence."

Reasoning is the connective tissue that holds an argument together. It’s the “thinking” — the logic, the analysis — that develops the argument and ties the claim and evidence together. Reasoning plays a stronger role in some texts than in others. Some authors are very careful about making their thought processes clear so that readers can follow and critique them. In other cases, texts rely less heavily on logic. Your analysis of an author’s use of reasoning can take a number of different approaches. Here are two possibilities:

Discuss how the author uses (or fails to use) clear, logical reasoning to draw a connection between a claim and the evidence supporting that claim.

Evaluate the impact that particular aspects of the author’s reasoning (e.g., unstated assumptions) have on how convincing the argument is. Other approaches are possible as well.

"...consider how the author uses stylistic or persuasive elements to add power to the ideas expressed."

Stylistic and persuasive elements are rhetorical techniques that an author might employ to enhance the power of his or her argument.

Appeals to the audience’s emotions, like fear or anger

Appeals to the audience's sense of honor, patriotism, justice or decency

Word choice - tone, diction, register

Vivid descriptive language or imagery to create a mood of excitement, anticipation, anxiety or whimsy

Humor

Irony

There’s no definitive list of these techniques and you don’t have to know them all by heart or by name to be able to get strong scores on the Essay. Top Tip: As you read the passage, be on the lookout for the ways by which the author attempts to influence the audience, sometimes by using something other than a strictly logical, rational approach! Your analysis of the author’s use of stylistic and persuasive elements can follow a number of paths. For example:

Point out instances in which the author uses such devices and evaluate their role or their effectiveness in convincing an audience to action.

Analyze and evaluate the varying extent to which logic and emotion contribute to the persuasiveness of the text.

Other approaches are possible as well. We’ve listed some examples of how evidence, reasoning, and stylistic and persuasive elements might be analyzed in a passage, but these are by no means the only ways to earn a good score. For some passages, evidence may be less important than reasoning and/or stylistic and persuasive elements, so it makes sense to devote less attention to evidence in such a case. Successful responses do not need to cover each of these three categories. It’s better to focus your essay on a few points that are well made than attempt to check off a long list of rhetorical elements.You can also choose to discuss some aspect of the passage that doesn’t fit neatly into one of the three categories but that plays an important part in how the author builds the argument. The best way to practice is to actually do a few prompts - stop thinking about it, stop reading about it, take out that pencil and start marking up a passage - then, create an outline and write a draft! Good luck!

The SAT Essay: Analyzing the Passage

In this article, we will review a sample SAT Essay and give you some ideas of how you can approach writing a response to the prompt.

Take a look at the example Essay prompt below.

Initial Impressions. If you haven’t already, take a few minutes to read the passage above. You may find it helpful to annotate the essay with thoughts about Gioia’s argument as you read it for the first time. As a reminder from the prompt in the first box above, you are looking for examples of evidence-based support, reasoning,and stylistic or persuasive elements that Gioia uses to build his argument. You can also discuss other rhetorical styles if you find them. Analyzing Gioia’s Essay. Here are just a few elements of Gioia’s essay that you could pursue in your own essay:

“A strange thing:” Gioia highlights the irony of young Americans’ declining interest in the arts and humanities during a thriving economic period and a major information age.

Data: He uses data from a respected source, the National Endowment for the Arts, to lend credibility to his argument that young American adults are reading less (and that this is problematic).

Emotional appeal: Gioia uses powerful language designed to generate an emotional response in the reader by calling reading a “longstanding” and “fundamental cultural” activity.

More data: Gioia analyzes survey data from the National Association of Manufacturers to show that the loss of reading not only impacts Americans’ cultural lives, but also has negative implications on their work.

Conclusion, emotional appeal: In the final paragraph, Gioia appeals to readers’ fear and national pride by stating that “our nation becomes less informed, active, and independent-minded” if Americans continue their reading decline. This language adds urgency to Gioia’s call to action.

Writing Your Essay. When considering the observations we have made about Gioia’s essay, we see a lot of data analysis combined with emotional language. One way to approach writing this essay is to focus on these two elements. We could argue that Gioia uses persuasive, emotional language, combined with data, to craft his argument. College Board does not have an official recommendation on the number of paragraphs for the Essay; most essays will probably be 4 or 5 paragraphs. Remember that the essay should focus not just on the types of evidence and rhetoric Gioia uses, but how he uses them to build an argument. Here is a sample outline of an introduction and some ideas for one or more body paragraphs: I. Introduction:

Gioia primarily uses survey-based evidence and powerful, emotional language to appeal to his audience. He builds the argument that a decline in young adult readers will lead to a less informed and capable U.S. society by using evidence and rhetoric. II. Data and Evidence:

Gioia references a variety of surveys, including surveys by the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Association of Manufacturers. The data from the NEA, a respected source of information on arts and culture, lends credence to Gioia’s argument that there is a “troubling trend” of “individuals in a time of crucial intellectual and emotional development bypass[ing] the joys and challenges of literature.”

Further, Gioia analyzes survey data from the National Association of Manufacturers to show that the loss of reading not only impacts Americans’ cultural lives, but also has negative implications on their work. Research from multiple sources bolsters Gioia’s argument because it reveals a number of different sources have come to the same conclusion: that a decline in American reading is problematic. III. Emotional Appeals:

Gioia uses strong language to highlight the importance of reading (“longstanding” and “fundamental cultural” activity). He also highlights the toll that a decline in reading will take on the U.S. with strong emotional appeals (“our nation becomes less informed, active, and independent-minded”). He uses the emotional appeal strategy to make American readers worry about a less informed United States population, and the negative effect this could have in the country’s place as a global power. IV. Conclusion:

A brief but strong conclusion is a good way to wrap up your essay. Remind the reader how Gioia’s dual focus on emotion and data help him build a convincing argument. This is just one example of how you could approach and begin to analyze Gioia’s essay. Keep in mind that the example above is still in a rough form, so when writing a full essay, you would need to take this analysis even further. Note: It is important to use quotations from the text, or close paraphrases of the argument, in order to provide specific evidence to strengthen your analysis. Successful, convincing essays will interweave direct quotes from the passage with your own analysis of how the author's specific words, phrases or sentences prove the point you are trying to make. Don’t let excerpts and snippets of the author’s text dominate your essay; let them illustrate your argument. Top Tip! Don’t use any more than a sentence or two to summarize the point of the passage! Use the time you have to analyze how the author is making his or her point more powerful and persuasive and why the author might have chosen those methods to make the point. Practice Makes Perfect! The Essay Test gives you 50 minutes to read and analyze the passage, plan your essay, and write it, so we suggest that you practice and time yourself so you learn how long this process takes you. This Tips and Planning section also includes a number of SAT Essay prompts, student responses, and scoring.

Sample Essay – Score: 4/3/4

In the article, “Why Literature Matters” by Dana Gioia, Gioia makes an argument claiming that the levels of interest

young Americans have shown in art in recent years have declined and that this trend is a severe problem with broad

consequences. Strategies Gioia employs to support his argument include citation of compelling polls, reports made

by prominent organizations that have issued studies, and a quotation from a prominent author. Gioia’s overall

purpose in writing this article appears to be to draw attention towards shortcomings in American participation in the

arts. His primary audience would be the American public in general with a significant focus on millenials.

In his introduction paragraph, Gioia employs a distinct contrast with several listed positive changes in American life

such as increased college attendance and increases in income, with the focus of his article: the fact that the interest

young Americans show in art has declined. This tool is utilized to establish an emphasis on his primary point by

highlighting it as a negative development relative to other changes in American life. This literary tool serves a strong

purpose by acting as a vehicle to draw the audience into the principle issue addressed by the writing.

In paragraph 5, Gioia utilizes a synergistic reference to two separate sources of information that serves to provide a

stronger compilation of support for his main topic. By citing a quotation from author Daniel Pinks who states, that the

talents individuals require for success in the 21st Century are not, “linear, logical, analytic talents,” but ones that

provide, “the ability to create artistic and emotional beauty, to detect patterns and opportunities,” and “to craft a

satisfying narrative,” Gioia is able to build his point with the agreement of a respected individual. He then

immediately follows with a statement that business leaders like to see, “imagination, creativity, and higher order

thinking” as qualities for individuals in management positions. This dual utilization of claims from two separate

sources conveys to Gioia’s audience the sense that the skills built through immersion in the arts are vital to

succeeding in the modern workplace which aids in logically leading his audience to the conclusion that a loss of

experience with the arts may foreshadow troubling results.

In paragraph 6, Gioia follows up on the point established in paragraph 5 by introducing a negative example of the

consequences of loss of the arts with a focus on literacy. Gioia cites a 2001 poll on the National Association of

American Manufactures stating stating that poor reading skills ranked second among its employees surveyed for

skill deficiencies while 38% of employees believed local schools inadequately taught reading comprehension. Gioias

presentation of a numerical statistic based on a major employer adds significant logical weight to his argument by

providing an example of the effects of a deficit in experience with art and literature. This may effect his audience by

providing a more accurrate depiction of the true problems caused by disconnection with arts while possibly choosing

an example they could personally relate to.

Overall, Gioia provides an strong logical argument that disconnection with the arts is troubling for America. He

employs strong logical connections and establishes real-world foundations for his point.

This paper scored a 4/3/4.

Reading—4: This response demonstrates thorough comprehension of the source text and illustrates an

understanding of the interrelation between the central idea and important details in Gioia’s piece. The writer

accurately paraphrases the central idea of Gioia’s text (the levels of interest young Americans have shown in art in

recent years have declined and that this trend is a severe problem with broad consequences). The writer then

exhibits an understanding of the details in Gioia’s text and how they work together to convey the main point (Gioia is

able to build his point; He then immediately follows with...; In paragraph 6, Gioia follows up on the point established

in paragraph 5...). The response is also free of errors of fact or interpretation. Overall, this response demonstrates

advanced reading comprehension.

Analysis—3: The response demonstrates good understanding of the analytical task by offering an effective analysis

of the source text. The writer is able to move past simple identification of and assertions about the analytical

elements in Gioia’s text to discuss how these elements contribute to Gioia’s argument. For example, the writer

identifies the distinct contrast that Gioia establishes early in the passage between positive changes in American

life and the fact that the interest young Americans show in art has declined. The writer then explains that Gioia uses

this contrast to establish an emphasis on his primary point by highlighting it as a negative development. The writer

then competently evaluates the effect of this element of Gioia’s text by explaining that this literary tool serves a

strong purpose by acting as a vehicle to draw the audience into the principle issue addressed by the writing. This

pattern of effective analysis continues throughout the remainder of the response and indicates proficient analytical

skill. The writer clearly can delineate and evaluate the impact of Gioia’s argumentative moves, but this analysis

lacks the thoroughness and completeness needed to receive a higher score. For example, there is no indication of

how or why these moves are effective.

Writing—4: The writer demonstrates highly effective use and command of language in this cohesive response. The

response includes a precise central claim (Strategies Gioia employs to support his argument include citation of

compelling polls, reports made by prominent organizations that have issued studies, and a quotation from a

prominent author). The skillful introduction establishes the framework for the writer’s organizational structure, which

is followed throughout the response. Although the subsequent discussion is not laid out as explicitly as the simple

three-pronged thesis suggests, each body paragraph remains on-topic and demonstrates a deliberate progression

of ideas, and the response as a whole remains focused and cohesive. The response contains many examples of

sophisticated sentence structure, notable vocabulary, and precise word choice (This dual utilization of claims from

two separate sources conveys to Gioia’s audience the sense that the skills built through immersion in the arts are

vital to succeeding in the modern workplace which aids in logically leading his audience to the conclusion that a loss

of experience with the arts may foreshadow troubling results). Overall, this response demonstrates advanced writing

ability.

SAT Writing – Scoring Rubric -- from Kaplan Test Prep

Wondering about the new SAT essay scoring rubric? We’ve got that, and more!

SAT readers/scorers are generally high school or college teachers with experience in reading and grading essays. They’re thoroughly trained, have to pass tests to qualify as SAT readers, and once certified, are expected to absolutely conform to the scoring rubric—no personal opinions, no comments—just a number score from the rubric. Two scorers read each essay and if their scores diverge too much, a third reader scores it as well. Each reader gives a score of 1-4 for each of three criteria, the two scores are added, and the student gets three essay scores ranging from 2-8, one for each criterion.

Reading: a score of 4….

Demonstrates thorough comprehension of the source text Shows an understanding of the text’s central idea(s) and most important details and how they interrelate Is free of errors of fact or interpretation with regard to the text Makes skillful use of textual evidence

Writing: a score of 4….

Is cohesive and demonstrates highly effective use and command of language Includes a precise central claim Includes a skillful introduction and conclusion; demonstrates a deliberate and highly effective progression of ideas both within paragraphs and throughout the essay Has a wide variety in sentence structures; demonstrates consistent use of precise word choice; maintains a formal style and objective tone Shows a strong command of the conventions of standards written English and is free or virtually free of errors

Analysis: a score of 4….

Offers an insightful analysis of the source text and demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the analytical task Offers a thorough, well-considered evaluation of the author’s use of evidence, reasoning, and/or stylistic and persuasive elements, and/or features of the student’s own choosing Contains relevant, sufficient, and strategically chosen support for claim(s) or point(s) made Focuses consistently on those features of the text that are most relevant to addressing the task

The Scoring Process

The essay components are Reading, Analysis, and Writing. Reading refers to how well you demonstrate understanding of the text; analysis covers how well you examine the structure and components of it, and writing, as you might expect, assesses your ability to write clear, correct, and cohesive prose.

There’s a lot of detail under each score, but note that for reading, the scores go from the highest, “thorough,” (4) to the lowest, “little or no comprehension” (1). In the middle are “some” and “effective,” scores of 3 and 4 respectively, and probably where most students score. More or less the same scale, with different words, also applies to analysis and writing. It’s worth reiterating that SAT readers are held exactly to this scale and the specific breakdown under each score.

Now here’s a question for you. How long do you think each reader is expected to spend on reading, assessing, and scoring the essay? The answer is a minute or two. What does that mean for you? You’ll have to know and follow directions, read the text with structure and the writer’s elements in mind, think clearly, and write strongly from the very beginning.

Practice Prompt – from The College Board

The Prompt:

Student Response

This sample SAT essay is provided by the College Board, the creators of the SAT. They include real, scored student responses with an explanation of each score. This student scored a perfect 4/4/4.

Scoring