How to 'Think Outside the Box'?

humbugs
Tue, 10 Jun 2014 02:02:55 +0000

My advice would be to write a punchy essay. While it’s impossible to substitute gimmicks for real structure and flow, I think ACT essay graders favor the ‘wow factor.’ When I wrote a solid, tempered essay (a la AP Lang) I received a lower score than I did when I wrote a flashy, rodomontade essay. Let’s take the community service hours prompt as an example.

Typical essay: “I believe community service should not be a requirement in school. There are many reasons for this.”

Punchier essay: “Did humanitarian luminaries need the stipulation of mandatory service hours to begin their work? These people sought opportunities from their hearts. Requiring service hours for high school students inherently undermines the spirit of volunteering, and it should not be mandated by schools. It is not a good idea to attach the resonance of a chore to something that should be done in good faith.”

See how the first essay simply says no to the question, while the second makes observations? Even if you can’t come up with impressive arguments on the spot, I think writing with more power can make a difference in your score. It’s good to read opinion pieces in the news to see how people write when they are truly passionate about a subject.