TEN KEY STRATEGIES FOR SAT ESSAY WRITING SUCCESS

1.       BEFORE START READING LOOK AT THE QUESTION: looking at question tells you the main idea of the passage

2.       KEEP YOUR PERSONAL OPINIONS TO YOURSELF: In SAT, your task is to analyze how the author makes his or her argument, not to make your own argument on the topic. When you are coming up with your thesis, make sure to focus on what the author does to persuade the reader rather than to what the author fails to do.

3.       LOOK FOR WHAT IS GOOD IN THE ARGUMENT-DON’ T IGNORE IT APART: The source text you will analyze will be a well-written argument for a general audience. Carefully look for the skillful ways in which the author uses evidence, reasoning and rhetoric to make his or her argument.

4.       THE PROMPT WILL NOT CHANGE, WHILE THE SOURCE TEXT WILL KNOW THE QUESTION, FORMAT AND DIRECTIONS AHEAD OF TIME: You will always need to write a response that describes and analyzes how the author makes this argument. With the source text changing with essay, but question format remaining consistent, prepare yourself by being completely familiar with what stays consistent with each SAT essay.

5.       ALLOW ENOUGH TIME TO READ THE PASSAGE WELL: You will be tempted to rush through reading the passage, but don’ t- if you don’ t fully understand the argument. First understand the argument well and then start writing.

6.       READ ACTIVELY: While reading the source text, ask yourself this two-part question over and over: What is the author saying and why? Here are some more specific things to focus on as you read:

        Paraphrase: What is the author generally saying? What is the thesis?

         Evidence: How does the author support his or her claims? Are there examples, evidence, statistics or anecdotes? Why was this evidence Chosen?

        Style: What kind of wording does the author use? How about emotional appeal, sensory language, attack, humor? Why was this done?

         Reasoning: What kind of reasoning does the author use? Is it consistency? Is it reciprocity? Has he asked rhetorical questions? Has he made comparisons? Has he talked about causes and effects?

7.      DETERMINE YOUR PREFFERED PREWRITING METHOD: Figure out the best way to organize your thoughts for the essay. Here are two major steps you might want to prewrite:       

      Outline: Write a step-by-step outline of what you are going to argue in each body paragraph and what examples you will use.

      Get going: If you have a difficult time determining the overall structure and thesis of your argument ahead of time, you may want to start by writing your body paragraphs, leaving a few lines blank at the beginning of your essay.

      

8.       STAY FOCUSED: The graders will look to see whether you have a clear thesis and whether you are able to sustain your argument all the way through your essay. Don’ t digress from main topic.

9.       AVOID DISCUSSING ALL PERSUASIVE ELEMENTS: You are not supposed to discuss all persuasive elements. Avoid brief mention of every persuasive element. Try to really flesh out why a specific detail works persuasively- devote a number of sentences to explain the way it functions.

10.   LINK YOUR PERSUASIVE ELEMENTS: When you write about your examples of persuasive elements, always make sure to tie those examples back to your central argument about persuasion.

11.   AVOID LENGTHY DIRECT QUOTATION: Avoid lengthy direct quotations, you should mainly reserve direct quotes for when you want to draw attention to the specific language or persuasive element of the writing the author is using.

12.   USE FORMAL LANGUAGE: Try to use formal language you find in many academic essays and school textbooks.

13.   ADVANCED VOCABULARY: Use advanced vocabulary when appropriate and when you are certain about meaning and usage of word.

14.   DETERMINE HOW YOU WANT TO PEACE YOURSELF: Review the following chart and fill in the last column with your personal plan for timing.

Part of the process	Range of Times	How much time will I take for each part?
Reading the source	4-10 minutes
Prewriting	1-5 minutes
Writing the essay	35-45 minutes
Editing	0-5 minutes

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Let’ s go step by step through everything you will need to do to write a successful essay. First, let’ s actively read the prompt. Know the directions ahead of time so you can focus your energy on actively reading the source text. The types of thoughts/notes you could have while reading are given after the prompt.

Read the following passage, and think about how the author uses:

·         Evidence, such as applicable examples, to justify the argument.

·         Reasoning to show logical connections among thoughts and facts.

·         Rhetoric, like sensory language and emotional appeals, to give weight to the argument.

                The History Major

I am sure you have heard by now-new trickles fast down the steep façade of the ivory tower. Perhaps, you have already packed up my room, taken my portrait off the mantel, and relayed my unfortunate accident to the intrusive Mr. and Mrs. Duta (“a rare condition, “such ill-fated tragedy,”” nonetheless, Swanson’ s Home for the irresponsibly insane provides the very best care”). Or, you have called the Dean, pleaded for immediate intervention (surely, the choice should belong to those whose pockets dwindle every semester), and sabotaged my class schedule so that I inadvertently end up at the College of Science and Technology once again. And so, it is with utmost austerity that I beg for your ear; fear not, I am no lost cause.

The Liberal Arts education is far from obsolete. Despite the rumors of late, you need not worry that your son will end up unemployed and homeless, pining over unheeded art in shadowy bars with rickety tabletops and flyer-covered walls. Nor must you relinquish hopes for a charming daughter-in-law and animated, curly-haired grand-children. What I meant to say is that liberal arts graduates are well suited- In some ways, even better suited—for success and happiness than their narrowed, specializing counterparts. Not only are our skills coveted in graduate school and the workforce, but we are also more adaptable and likely to move up rank in our careers. The breadth of study emphasized in a liberal arts education provides an exemplary foundation for a variety of professional fields and career paths, while molding open-minded, curious problem solvers. Mon and Dad, I implore you to reconsider my cosmopolitan ambitions and reinstate my place at the dinner table.

A third of all fortune 500 CEOs passes liberal arts degree. LEAP, or Liberal Education & America’ s promise, is an initiative launched by the Association of American Colleges & Universities to emphasize the importance of a 21^st century liberal education for individuals and a nation “dependent on economic creativity and democratic vitality”. According to LEAP’ s recent national survey, 93% of employers say that “a demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is more important than undergraduate major.” You have guessed it—these three skill sets are the unifying objective of liberal arts programs nationwide.

Furthermore, these skills are timelessly useful and valuable; in a quickly evolving world, they are the few ingenuities that will neither be replaced nor outdated. Whether students decide on graduate education, law or medical school, or dive right into the job hunt, a broad and diverse interdisciplinary education provides the analytical, research and independent judgement training necessary to gain an edge on other applicants. Acquisition of self-understanding accompanied by a respect for others and an aptitude for clear expression, shapes leaders in a variety of work environments from government to business to education. The lucrative liberal arts education results in a life-long learner who asks difficult questions, presents information intelligibly, and makes coherent arguments across disciplines. Is this not what you want for your baby boy?

Even more intriguing is the evidence that a liberal arts education spawns’ happier individual. With a capacity to understand and enjoy humanity’ s achievements, my artsy cohort and I will be more likely to spend time appreciating literature, music, art and even witty conversation and to participate in our communities and global politics. An active and engaged life is indeed something to be happy about. According to Robert Harris’ s On the Purpose of a Liberal Education, in addition to teaching students how to think, learn and see things whole, a liberal education also enhances students’ faith and wisdom, with their gained knowledge begetting increased pleasure.

Let us not forget Leonard da Vinci, Michelangelo, or America’ s own, Benjamin Franklin, who made their marks on society not with one expertise, but with a legion of talents—renaissance men of the highest degree. It is the cultivated mind of the multifarious and enlightened that I endeavor toward with my decision to declare a history major. If I manage to avoid the fate of the shaggy-haired drifter of your nightmares, I could turn out to be brilliant (or mediocre with a steady job and varied interests).

Write a response that demonstrates how the author makes an argument to persuade an audience that a liberal arts education is valuable. In your response, analyze how the author uses at least one of the features from the essay directions (or features of your own choosing) to develop a logical and persuasive argument. Be certain that your response cites relevant aspects of the source text.

 Your response should not give your personal opinion on the merit of the source text, but instead show how the author crafts an argument to persuade readers.

                          Top scoring response

This author uses a wide variety of persuasive techniques in his essay to craft an extremely well-thought-out argument for why liberal arts educations are useful. He considers possible objections to his argument, which he combats with facts. He very purposely evokes certain emotions in the reader, such as empathy and anxiety. He proceeds to alleviate these anxieties with facts that make the reader want to pursue a liberal arts education, before wrapping up the argument he talked about liberal arts educated and renaissance men of highest degree having expertise in more than one field.

The author is mindfully persuasive from the very beginning, introducing the topic with a dramatization that draws the reader in. The description of the family cleaning out the author’ s room out and taking the author’ s picture off of the mantel makes the reader think that something tragic has happened. The author then shocks the reader by announcing that the “tragedy” that has taken place was simply his choice to pursue a liberal arts education. The author seems to have carefully chosen such an introduction to get the reader to think that such a “tragedy” is extremely serious; this is the author’ s first step in his persuasion.

The author also seems to have carefully chosen to write this essay as a mock address to his parents. It seems as if the purpose for this choice was to put the reader in the author’ s shoes, this is a seamless transition for the reader, as many students have had, or will have, similar arguments with their parents. This forces the reader to feel empathy, making the author’ s attempt at persuasion more effective.

After the initial dramatization, the author goes on to consider some possible objections to a liberal arts education. For instance, the author alludes to the parents expressing concern that their child will end up unemployed after college. The author’ s rebuttal to such concerns is twofold. First, he uses tongue-in-cheek humor to brush off such concerns, by assuring his parents that he will not end up homeless. Second, and more effectively, he uses facts to the contrary. For instance, he states that 1/3 of Fortune 500 CEOs have liberal arts degrees.

Another technique used in the argument is appealing to the reader’ s own anxieties. Many students worry that they won’ t find jobs in today’ s competitive job market. The author eases this anxiety by assuring the reader that 93% of employers say that they care more that an employee possess the skills that a liberal arts education strives to foster than about the particular major the employee chose. Another thing that many young people worry about is whether or not they will be happy in the future. The author assures the reader that many liberal arts degree recipients tend to be happier than their peers. He cites On the Purpose of a Liberal Education as saying that a liberal arts education can increase faith and wisdom, which leads to an increase in pleasure. 

Finally, the author talked about liberal arts educated and renaissance men, both the liberal arts educated and the people we tend to think of as renaissance men are well-versed in a wide array of disciplines. He cites Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Ben Franklin forcing the reader to consider why someone would n’ t strive to be like these greats.

In conclusion, the author begins his argument by first hinting that something tragic has happened to him. When he reveals that this “tragedy” was choosing a liberal arts path, this forces the reader to think, “how disastrous can such a decision really be?” Once the reader is feeling fairly neutral on the subject matter, the author begins persuading. He uses a variety of techniques, such as appealing to the emotions of the reader and considering possible objections. He also backs up his argument with facts about how job and happiness prospects are very good for those with liberal arts educations. Finally, he allows the reader to compare what they could be with a liberal arts education to some of the great renaissance men. Overall, the argument was very well developed, owing much of its effectiveness to the success of evoking chosen emotions in the reader.