Writing Suggestions:SAT Essays

Kortman

Adapted from multiple sources

Writing Section --- Written Essay:

Write a short (about 250-300 words), persuasive essay on an assigned topic

Keep in mind the structure of an essay - 5 paragraphs consisting of an: Introduction, Body (about 3 paragraphs), Conclusion

The allotted time frame is 25 minutes Read the essay question quickly and think

about the topic (about 5 minutes) Allow most of your time (about 15 minutes) to

write the essay Spend the remaining 5 minutes reviewing and

editing your work

Writing Section --- Written Essay:

Introductory Paragraph should state the position that is being taken. It should also state about 3 points that support this position

The Body Paragraphs should expand the points that you present with specific detail and examples

The Concluding Paragraph should summarize your point of view by restating the thesis statement in a revised format

Keep your writing simple. Avoid wordiness and slang

Things to look for in SAT Writing

Point of View Critical Thinking Types of Evidence Organization Use of Language

Point of View

SAT prompts are designed to enable students to offer multiple points of view, not just one or two

It’s okay to move away from a clear “yes” or “no” position

Acknowledging the paradox inherent in the prompt can be a good starting point

An effectively and insightfully developed essay in support of one of the two clear sides presented in the prompt will also score well

Critical Thinking

An essay does not have to include abstract reasoning or a discussion of the writing of great philosophers to show outstanding critical thinking

Successful writers use critical thinking to engage the complexity of the issue rather than “dumbing it down” for the sake of clarity

Critical thinking can be displayed through insightful selection and interpretations of different types of examples

Outstanding critical thinkers may provide or apply new contexts, terms or frames of reference to the issue under consideration

Types of Evidence

Many students turn to history and literature for evidence to support their point of view; others refer to science or current events

Examples from personal experience can also be very effective

Reasons and personal observations that are logical and well supported are considered strong pieces of evidence

The type of examples does not matter as much as the students’ demonstrated ability to develop the example in a useful way

Organization

There are other ways to organize an essay beyond the popular five-paragraph/three example model

Including only one example or two related examples help ensure that examples are fully developed

Essays may feature internal organization, such as sequential or chronological presentation of events in a narrative

A successful essay need not have a finished conclusion

Use of Language

Demonstrate an effective control over the English Language

Utilize language comparable to a collegiate setting

Final Tips

Get some sleep, being well rested is more important than last minute cramming

Eat a protein-rich breakfast Get to the test site early, don’t start the

test under stress Chewing gum has been shown in some

studies to help with focus and increase test scores, figure out how you work best