SAT Essay: Grade Please. SAT Tomorrow!!! :(

demontiger627
Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:38:11 +0000

Can knowledge be a burden rather than a benefit?
Please rate this essay 1-6 or 2-12. What do I need to improve on? What examples would you have chosen to write about?

Knowledge can only be a benefit for people, but it cannot be a burden. Knowledge is power that many people use in their everyday lives. People may use their knowledge in agriculture, medicine, and industry. As a result, hunger, disease, and tedious labor have been prevented. People who use their knowledge may not only help themselves, but also help others in need. We, as people, have the ability to do many things in our lives. However, we may not know when, where, or how to use our knowledge in everyday life. We can find examples that knowledge can be a benefit, in the cases of The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, and Martin Luther King Jr.

Knowledge can be shown in The Hobbit, a novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, published in 1937. The Hobbit, which is Bilbo Baggins, is forced to go on an adventure by a wizard named Gandalf. Bilbo is upset that he has to leave his hobbit hole just to go on an adventure with thirteen militant dwarves. They are on a quest to reclaim their treasure from the marauding dragon, Smaug the Magnificent. Bilbo’s timidity, complacency, and doubtfulness work against his inner strength and heroism. As he travels and embarks on adventures, Bilbo must learn to rely on his own ability and take the initiative to do what he feels is right. For example, on the adventure, Bilbo needs to find a tunnel to escape out of a cave in the Misty Mountains. He finds a golden magic ring on the ground and puts it in his pocket. Next, he encounters Gollum and the play a riddle-solving game to determine Bilbo’s fate. Bilbo asks Gollum, “What have I got in my pocket?” Gollum doesn’t know the answer and Bilbo wears the golden magic ring and escapes. Bilbo used his knowledge by making up a riddle that he knew Gollum wouldn’t know the answer to, and escaped with his ring to survive. He was able to continue on with his adventure. Without using his knowledge, Bilbo might have been eaten by Gollum and not be able to complete the quest.

In addition, knowledge can be shown by Martin Luther King Jr. He was a civil rights activist who changed society’s view on racism. He introduced the world to his dream of a united and equal society where every race is welcome. Using his knowledge, he allowed racial segregation to end. In 1955, Martin Luther King Jr. organized the Montgomery bus boycott, which opposed racial segregation on the public transit system. This was a response to the arrest of Rosa Parks. In 1964, Martin Luther King Jr. made his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington D.C. He addressed economic and civil rights for African Americans. Using his methods for fighting injustice, his leadership, and public speaking, King fought against the segregation faced by African Americans. Since King used his knowledge, he was able to end racial segregation and changed many peoples’ view on racism.

Knowledge can only be a benefit, as shown in the cases of The Hobbit (1937) and Martin Luther King Jr. We are continually reminded that knowledge is power and that is can affect people or even a nation. In coming years, people should use more of their knowledge for benefits.