| | | 
04-24-2006, 01:08 AM
|
#31 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 71
|
writing an SAT essay is a peice of cake.
What 90% of test-takers fail to realize is that the CB is not looking for a masterpeice. Not in 25 minutes. Rather, they are looking for an essay that makes for an exceptional argument. Racking one's brain for a favorite vocab word will not help one's score. It will hurt it - in the time you waste decorating your essay with ornate language. Remember, it is the form, argument, support, and details that gain you points.
The avid writer will indeed need to fill 1.5 - 2 pgs in order to receive a 12. Contrary to what some say, LENGTH HELPS. If only in the probability that you might stumble into a well-illustrated point or 2. Obviously, avoid generalities. No one really cares whether you think courage is best displayed in times of danger. But if you can quote Churchill as saying it..now that's a different story. And if you can't quote him..Make a quote up..the reader won't be able to tell. Churchill created several thousand quotes in his lifetime - the reader is an english teacher - not a historian.
As for intros and conclusions, summarize. This is the only part of your essay that must grab attention. No, intros and conclusions don't have to be long, it's the body of your essay that counts for the most points. if you can tie the thesis of our essay to an adequate conclusion, you'll do fine.
If you teach yourself to unconsciously employ these tactics to perfection, you're well on your way to an 800.
| 
| Reply
| |
04-24-2006, 05:40 AM
|
#32 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 129
|
I got a 12 last time and a 9 this time with virtually the same essay. Both times I thought that it answered the question, guess not.
| |
| Reply
| |
04-24-2006, 04:05 PM
|
#33 | | Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 842
|
can you explain the lord of the flies example?
| |
| Reply
| |
04-25-2006, 11:32 PM
|
#34 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 80
|
richkid, i disagree with you on one part.
Generalization in introduction and conclusion do help essay grade. It shows that your point of view is not confined to the two examples.
| |
| Reply
| |
04-26-2006, 11:58 PM
|
#35 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,016
| What percentage of essays receive a 12???
What percentage of essays receive a 12? receive an 11? receive a 10?
Got a 9 the first time and I thought my essay was pretty good. This time I got a 12 and didn't even really finish my conclusion -- ran out of time! So it I just wrote a rushed sentence to end the essay.
| |
| Reply
| |
04-27-2006, 05:45 PM
|
#36 | | Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 842
|
more examples guys
| |
| Reply
| |
05-31-2007, 04:40 PM
|
#37 | | Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 404
|
10 char bump
| |
| Reply
| |
05-31-2007, 06:40 PM
|
#38 | | Member
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 811
|
My tutor said the highest Essay score he saw, his son also tutors with him, about 100 kids, highest essay from the May exam was 9! He found it very odd, as that and the math section the kids tanked. Other tests he has gotten 12's but not the May exam.
| |
| Reply
| |
06-01-2007, 12:26 PM
|
#39 | | Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 713
|
Is it necessary to have varying examples, like a paragraph on literature and a paragraph on history, or can you just focus in on one topic, maybe World War II, and provide separate instances within it that support your thesis?
| |
| Reply
| |
06-01-2007, 03:37 PM
|
#40 | | Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 713
|
bump - I'd appreciate it if someone responds  | |
| Reply
| |
06-01-2007, 03:58 PM
|
#41 | | Member
Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Arizona --> PENN 2012!
Posts: 459
|
I like to use literature only... because I'm not a huge history buff. But I'm a big fan of Scarlet Letter, Fahrenheit 451, and Frankenstein. The Crucible works too. History... Progressive era?
| |
| Reply
| |
06-01-2007, 03:59 PM
|
#42 | | Member
Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Arizona --> PENN 2012!
Posts: 459
|
But I also got a 10 in January, which, as I understand for CC, is only passably acceptable :-)
| |
| Reply
| |
06-01-2007, 04:25 PM
|
#43 | | Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 777
|
I really don't think a Lit/History example helps. How do you know this? None of the examples on CB have that in the essay. I think good writing is the most important thing. Not stupid references to literature.
| |
| Reply
| |
06-01-2007, 05:19 PM
|
#44 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NY ---> Outer Haven, MA 2012
Posts: 2,427
|
Yeah, I wrote the full two pages and got a 9...
This time, I'm gonna try a better example for history (not hitler) and Lord Of the Flies instead of a personal experience...
| |
| Reply
| |
06-01-2007, 05:25 PM
|
#45 | | Junior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 152
|
Re: Length, don't confuse correlation with causation. If you write 2 pages of crap, I presume it's not going to get a 12. However the people who tend to write strongly also tend to write more.
| |
| Reply
| All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:33 PM. |
