Education Resource

Blaze531 asked:


Hey, I didn’t take the june SAT test of 2008 and was wondering what was the essay topic about and if it was easy ??

Christopher

Darrell Causey asked:


Writing your SAT essay doesn’t have to be difficult or exhausting. Use the following formula to help you write the best essay possible.

The Essay Structure

The first thing you need to do is to think of your essay as three parts; the opening, the body and the closing.

Your opening should consist of one paragraph of about three to five sentences. It should clearly state your view on the topic and how you are going to support this view. Due to time limits, it is best to use only three points to defend your position. If possible try to catch the reader’s attention with a controversial statement that compels them to read more. However, avoid clichés.

The body is your content and should support the three points made in your opening. Each point should be explained in a separate paragraph and flow logically between ideas. Be direct and to the point. Don’t get wordy or you will get stuck in these paragraphs and the body is not the most important part of your essay. Support your ideas and move on to the closing.

The closing is where you bring your message together. Review your position and the points that support your view, then call your readers to some type of action by asking them to make a decision, buy something or support an organization. The closing is the most important part of your essay. It requires your best effort. If you spend too much time on your points and don’t have a well thought out closing it will cost you. It is better to have a weak body and a powerful closing than a weak closing or no closing at all.

How to Begin Your Essay

You begin your essay by carefully reading the assigned topic. Then develop an outline that you will use as a guide while writing your actual essay. The first part of your outline should be a sentence that states your position on the topic. Next, you should list the points that will support your position and determine your body paragraphs. Finally, you should write a sentence that states your closing.

Taking the time to prepare an outline will keep you focused on the task at hand and allow you to make the most of your time.

The Outline

state your position

first point

second point

third point

conclusion

Writing the Essay

Now, armed with your outline, begin writing your essay. Start your opening paragraph with an attention grabbing statement that will draw the reader deeper into your essay. Then state your view and the points that support that view. Next write the body by supporting each of the points in a separate paragraph. Remember, don’t get wordy just explain the points and move on to your closing.

You must have a closing! Do not get caught up in the body of the essay. You will not impress anyone without a closing. The closing is the most important part of the essay. Make sure you have time to write a well thought out closing that brings all your points together and moves the reader to action.

If you follow this formula for writing your SAT essay you will have plenty of time to write and complete a good essay. Whether it will be a great essay depends on your individual ability to write.

The number one thing you can do to improve your SAT scores is practice, practice, and practice some more.

10 Point Check Up

1. Decide your position and determine your supporting points.

2. Organize your thoughts with an outline.

3. Be direct and to the point.

4. Provide examples and clear explanations.

5. Avoid generalizations.

6. Use transitional phrases for a logical flow.

7. Use variety in sentence structure.

8. Maintain a consistent tone throughout the essay.

9. Avoid being wordy.

10. PRACTICE

NOTE: The above is useful for writing an essay on any type of exam not just the SAT.

Julio

Lynn O’Shaughnessy asked:


We all know teenagers who don’t test well.There are all sorts of legitimate reasons why some students, even bright ones, can’t earn decent numbers on the dreaded SAT test.
It used to be that parents and students could rail all they wanted against the test, but it wouldn’t matter. Colleges and universities wanted to know what their applicants’ scores were. And these scores could make or break a child’s academic plans.
The SAT boogyman, however, doesn’t look as intimidating anymore. In the face of growing criticism about the SAT’s fairness and relevance, a growing number of colleges and universities are now offering an escape route. It seems like every week another institution announces that it is making its school SAT optional. Wake Forest University is one of the latest to make the switch.
According to The National Center for Fair and Open Testing (FairTest), nearly 760 schools now no longer require that applicants take the SAT or the ACT, which is the other standardized test.The SAT rebels include some of the most prestigious schools in the nation. In fact, about one third of the top 100 liberal arts colleges, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report, now don’t require the SAT.
Many of the schools, which have dropped the SAT requirement are liberal arts colleges. These colleges typically have the luxury of evaluating a child holistically. Lots of public universities, which may have tens of thousands of applicants, are still more inclined to use grades and the SAT as major admissions factors. The Ivy League school are also clinging to standardized testing to measure their applicants.
You can find a list of all SAT optional schools here.
Supporters for making the SAT optional argue that the move makes the college admissions process fairer. Frankly, the test is currently rigged in favor of students from more affluent households who can afford to take SAT prep classes or pay for private tutors. Ditching the test would help level the playing field for all students.
The National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest) argues quite persuasively that SAT scores are a lousy predictor of how a student will fare in college. FairTest argues that two better predictors of a student’s success in college are grade point average and class rank.
FairTest’s position isn’t just a hypothetical. Bates College in Maine, for instance, dropped the SAT requirement more than 20 years ago. The college says the student performance has remained strong. Hamilton College in Clinton, NY, says that five years worth of data indicates that students who don’t submit SAT scores do slightly better academically than those who do.

Jacob

believer asked:


If you take the SAT test and fail miserably in the math section, but do well in the writing and language section, will it damage your chances of getting into a good college??

Florence