Tips for Writing Killer SAT and ACT Essays
The Sat and ACT essays cause some concern among students, and some colleges have not decided how exactly they will use the scores. While the ACT has always included the option of writing an essay, the essay was new to the SAT I with the introduction of the March 2005 SAT Reasoning Exam. It is not optional on the SAT I. The essay readers want to see that you can write the equivalent of a rough draft in a classroom environment, much like college will require.
Tips and Strategies for the SATs
A cautionary note: If you plan to hire someone to write your Pulitzer Prize-winning college applications essays, beware... The college application readers will now have access to the scores of your SAT and ACT essays, and your high school English grades, as well as your application essays. While there can be some variance, and no one expects your SAT essay to be a polished piece of writing, those three examples of your writing should match up to a reasonable extent in terms of your ability to construct sentences, your use of English grammar, organizational skills, and ability to think logically.
SAT and ACT Essays: Actually, I'd Rather Make Up My Own Topic."
For the SAT and ACT Essays, you will be given a prompt, usually a short passage from literature, philosophy, or other written work, and then given a question, almost always worded the same way, asking your opinion, one way or the other, on that passage.For example: "Global Warming is currently the source of controversy and debate, both in, and out of the scientific community. There are those who believe it signals the end of life on this planet as we know it, and others who believe climate changes are the result of naturally occurring phenomena. Still others believe we are actually in the beginnings of another ice age, and that global warming is working against that occurrence." Write an essay explaining your opinions on this topic. Draw on your reflections from art, science, literature or personal experience or observation as you develop your ideas.
Past tests have included passages and questions related to such questions as: - What are hour ideas on right vs. wrong?
- Is cheating ever acceptable?
- Is lying, for any reason, the wrong thing to do?
- Is change for the better?
- Does technology stifle creativity?
- Has technology changed our lives for the better?
- Are our lives controlled by external circumstances or do we make our own opportunities for success?
- Is progress always beneficial?
- Can success be disastrous?
- Are rules made to be followed?
To write good five-paragraph essays, in class or out, keep a template in your mind of how to structure the essay, and you will have a head start on the competition.In most essay assignments, you would want three-four minutes to plan before you begin to write. However, for the SAT and ACT essays assignments, if you develop and practice our template as you prepare for the test, you can shorten that to about a minute, and finish a three paragraph, or (preferably) five paragraph essay in the time allowed. This is because you have a solid idea of the form in your mind, and have only to figure out your position, come up with a three examples, and draw it all together with the conclusion. Can you make up your examples for the SAT and ACT essays? Yes, you can. However, make them logical, well written, and be sure to stick to the topic. Instead of writing three paragraphs about your friends or yourself, try to stick in ideas of characters from a play, novel, movie, or other medium as much as possible. Remember: Write legibly. Stick to the topic. Provide an introduction, three examples, with reflection, a conclusion. Finish on time.
Format for the SAT and ACT Essays
I. Introduction II. First "Example paragraph III. Second "Example paragraph IV. Third "Example" paragraph V. Conclusion
AH, yes, but what goes where, you ask? Most essay assignments ask you to take a position, so when you look at the question, decide if you want to agree, disagree, or allow for conflicting opinions. So, for instance, Global Warming. You would decide if you agree with the prompt, disagree, or want to explore both sides. Personally? I would skip exploring both sides, it is not necessary, and is more difficult, especially when you have little time.
Practice this format each time you take a regular SAT test during your SAT or ACT preparation. It will lead you to the completion of a five-paragraph essay in the time allowed. I. Introduction - For the introduction, decide whether you agree, disagree, or are not sure what you believe about the question.
- Avoid using personal pronouns, and state your position.
- Then, state the opposing position to get it out of the way. Try to avoid writing an essay comparing two views, it is too difficult to pull off in twenty-five minutes.
- Go back to your original statement, which is now your thesis, and re-state it
II. Example number one: - Topic sentence for the paragraph.
- Three-Five sentences, with a topic sentence, explaining your example supporting your thesis statement.
- Two-three sentences reflecting on your examples-drawing conclusions
III. Paragraph Three, Paragraph Four: - Repeat the the style of paragraph two, starting with a topic sentence for this paragraph.
- Give two more examples with commentary/reflection after three-four sentences in each to explain your example.
- Repeat the previous steps. Don't forget to reflect!
IV. The Conclusion: - Repeat your thesis, and draw your three examples back to your topic sentence. Then state your thesis again.
Write an essay each time you take a practice SAT or ACT test. Be sure you have: If you practice for the SAT and ACT essays, just as you are practicing to take the test, you will be prepared to write a well-crafted rough draft on your exam, which is the goal of this portion of the test.
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