本帖最后由 Glory 于 2013-6-14 04:56 编辑
网上搜寻的SAT作文资源，自认为这是最好的，留作存档。
SAT作文不同于一般的英文作文，归入考试命题作文更为合适，类似于我国的高考作文。请特别注意，这里不是在教英文作文，提高英文作文能力，而是如何应试SAT作文。
对应这种考试作文，下文给出了最好的应对措施。
How to Write a 12 Essay in Just 10 Days
The SAT Essay
Key Points:
1. Create your own template – aka “Universal Template.”
2. Research your 25 default examples.
3. Learn to write a strong thesis sentence: <Keyword + Yes OR No Why/How/What?>
4. Work on transitions.
5. Create an interesting introduction and a strong conclusion.
Having taught classes on how to take the SAT for more than 10 years now, I find the SAT essay section to be the easiest and most predictable section of the test. The cool thing about this section is that the College Board can only test you on a limited range of prompts and your response(s) can be customized, prepared, practiced, and mastered. I am not talking about cheating on the SAT, but being prepared for all possible scenarios, to the point that nothing can surprise you.
Many academies and private tutors claim that you cannot prepare a specific essay on a particular topic in advance, but I disagree. This section of the SAT can indeed be predicted, prepared, and mastered before you even step into the test site.
The SAT Essay: The 80:20 Rule
Let’s take a scientific approach to the SAT essay. Unlike the math section of the SAT, the verbal section is feared by many students because of the abundance of advanced vocabulary, grammar rules, unpredictable reading genres, and essay prompts.
Students frequently ask:
1. How many SAT words should I memorize?
2. Which books should I read to prepare for the critical reading section?
3. How about dictions and idioms? How many are there?
4. Can I predict possible essay prompts?
5. Can I guarantee at least a double-digit score on my essay?
My responses are:
1. 3,000-5,000, depending on your previous exposure to the SAT
2. Combination of novels, magazines, journals, and textbooks (Ryan’s Top 10 Picks)
3. Less than 100 idioms and dictions
4. Absolutely!
5. Absolutely, yes!
My approach is this: Instead of trying to figure out what prompts and/or passages to expect, why not concentrate on the design of the SAT itself – in this case the SAT essay – so no matter what is thrown at you, you are not easily surprised and you can calm yourself by having a step-by-step plan already in place.
So, I came up with the “80:20 Rule.” This rule applies not only to the SAT, but also to the ACT, GRE, and GMAT. The concept is simple: Find ways to predict and prepare for 80% of the test, and only worry about 20% (which can also be mastered) during the test. How? Simple. Again, learn the design, put yourself in the College Board’s shoes, and learn the tricks so you don’t fall into the traps. I will give you plenty of examples and guidelines, so don’t panic!
Basics of the SAT Essay
1. You are only given 25 minutes to complete the essay. But trust me … when you take the real test, it’s not going to feel like a whole 25 minutes. Make sure you give yourself less time when practicing (16-18 minutes), so you can build up mental and physical stamina.
2. Be aware of the psychological effect of section 1. The essay will always be the first section of the SAT. If you mess it up for whatever reason, it’s going to haunt you for the rest of the test. But if you nail it, you will gain the confidence to continue to the rest of the sections.
3. Many academies say it is OK to use “I” but again … I say no. Although “I” is acceptable to express your personal point(s) of view, it weakens your thesis. If you begin with “I believe,” you are presenting your personal, fundamentally biased opinion – therefore, avoid using “I” if possible.
4. Essays are scored by two graders. Each grades on a scale of 1-6 (for a total of 12). Remember, though, that each grader has only a minute or so to read and grade your essay. That is why highlighting certain sections of your essay might do the trick to help you succeed.
5. Do not veer off topic! Answer the question. If you don’t, you will receive a grade of zero. Believe me … I have seen it happen.
6. Your essay equals 1/3 of your writing score: +/- 250. So, it is crucial that you do well!
How to Prepare for the 80:20 Rule
There are 10 steps you must learn and master. Once you have your own custom-made template, 25 quality examples, 3 to 5 transitions, and detail plug-ins, you are ready to tackle all possible prompts.
Key Terms:
1. Universal Template: A pre-built template/structure that you can use to write your essay.
2. 25 Quality Examples: Edison, JFK, and Hitler are elementary examples. They are trite, and most graders will not be impressed by them. Use high-quality examples, such as Jack Welch, Howard Schultz, Steven Jobs, the Enron scandal, the Patriot Act, etc. Remember! Graders get only a minute or so to read and grade your essay. You must do everything possible to impress them.
3. Transitions: There are pre-built transitions that you can easily pick and choose to smooth out the flow of your essay. I will give you some examples as we go.
4. Plug-ins: Plug-ins are all details that were pre-researched, pre-written, and memorized – ready to be used at a moment’s notice.
So, Here Are the 10 Steps:
Step 1 (20 seconds): Brainstorm and come up with three to five quality examples.
Do not choose a side before you come up with examples. This is extremely important because without examples you will not be able to complete your essay. In other words, your opinion does not matter unless you can support it. Let your examples dictate which side you choose – not the other way around.
Step 2 (10 seconds): Agree or disagree with the prompt.
Now that you have three to five examples, it is time for you to take a stance. Agree or disagree with the prompt. If it is an open-ended question, by now you should have come up with a response.
Step 3 (1 minute): Write your thesis: <Keyword + Agree OR Disagree + Why/How/What?>
Follow this simple formula to write you thesis. Later, you will be allowed to make it more personal by adding adjectives, examples, etc., but for now, I want you to stick with this. Why? To create a backbone to your thesis writing so you know exactly what to do and what not to miss.
First, start with the keyword. If the prompt is: “Honesty is always the best policy,” then start with “honesty” so your reader/grader knows that you are on point. After your keyword, immediately agree or disagree with the prompt.
For example: Honesty is crucial … (Agree) OR Honesty can be detrimental … (Disagree). Once you’ve done this, then you have to explain the Why and the How. Without this step, all you are doing is repeating the prompt. You must explain why you agree or disagree with the prompt.
For example: Honesty is crucial to build and maintain trust.
Bad Intros:
1. Ladies and gentlemen of the College Board …
2. What would Jesus do? ...
3. Once upon a time …
4. “Failure is the mother of success!!!” …
By the way, I have actually seen these introductory phrases written by real students. Please, don’t make the same mistake.
Step 4 (1 minute): Complete your introduction.
Now spend a minute or so completing your introductory paragraph. Make sure you write at least two sentences but no more than three, as you’ll run out of time.
My version: <Thesis. Several examples from history/current events/literary works/classic films/science clearly demonstrate that Keyword is Paraphrased Thesis.> <Elaborate a bit more if you want.>
For example: Honesty is crucial to build and maintain trust. Several examples from literary works and current events clearly demonstrate that honesty always prevails.
That’s it. Two sentences are good enough for the SAT essay. I am not saying don’t write more, but there is no need to write five to six sentences. It’s important that you move on since you only have 25 minutes to complete a full-length essay. Remember! This is not your typical school essay, in which you have to develop your thesis and write your thesis at the end of your introductory paragraph. The SAT essay does not work that way. You must get straight to the point, answer the prompt/question, and move on to your examples. That’s the only way you’ll finish on time. Also, it is important to remind you that readers/graders know that you were given only 25 minutes to complete your essay. They will be lenient and not penalize every grammatical error. Readers/graders, however, will penalize you for excessive patterns of spelling and grammar errors – I mean … who wouldn’t?
Step 5 (1 minute): Write your transitional thesis: <Transition + Modified Thesis>.
It is time to introduce your first example. Avoid being abrupt. Start with a transitional phrase that will smoothly transition from your introduction to your body paragraph 1.
Here are some recommended transitional phrases:
1. As demonstrated by …
2. As shown by …
3. In the novel 1984 by George Orwell, …
4. In the film Metropolis by Fritz Lang, …
5. Through the actions of …
6. <Name/Example>, Description, …
Then you have to add a modified version of your thesis. You need to add your example and blend it with your thesis to make it more relevant.
For example: In the novel 1984 by George Orwell, Winston’s rebellious thoughts/actions are direct results of the party’s deceptive/dishonest political tactics.
Step 6 (2 minutes): Use accelerated plug-in 1.
This is where the 80:20 Rule really shines. Now that you have pre-researched and memorized all details related to your example(s), it’s time to make full use of them and plug them in to build volume and persuasive content. Give yourself two minutes to write at least six sentences of pure supportive details/content. Of course, all details/content must be relevant to the prompt! If not, you are padding; that will get you not a zero, but somewhere in the 2-4 range.
Important: Make sure you pepper your plug-in with some statistics, full names, and dates – a sure tactic to impress your graders.
AWFUL: “Students should not play PS3 because my mom told me so!”
BAD: “Students should avoid playing PS3 because I play it three to four hours a day and my GPA is 2.5”
OKAY: “Students should avoid playing PS3 as it may lead to a lower GPA, dependency/addiction to gaming, and distraction from other important activities/duties.”
GOOD: “According to the National Behavioral Research Center (NBRC), students who play PS3 for more than an hour a day will likely develop a Game Dependency Syndrome, which will negatively affect students’ GPA <and/or> their chances of getting into college.”
Step 7 (1 minute): Provide personal Input (PI).
Now that you’ve plugged in everything you know about your first example, it’s time to make some sense out of it and tie your plug-ins back to the prompt. Without a clear explanation and/or justification of why you plugged in those details, your paragraph will just be a copy-pasted version of Wikipedia.
Write one to two sentences – in your own words – about how your plug-ins help support your thesis.
Suggested transitions:
1. Therefore,
2. Hence,
3. Thus,
For example: Therefore, Winston’s actions prove that (government/leaders/country/party’s) dishonesty/deception can lead to societal/widespread chaos and rebellion.
Step 8 (8 minutes): Repeat the above process two times.
Remember! You need three examples/three body paragraphs – not two. Providing three examples/body paragraphs is another way to guarantee a double-digit score.
Step 9 (2 minutes): Write a strong conclusion: The power of “indeed.”
Your conclusion is extremely important as it is the final piece of information graders will read before grading your essay. Think of it as the last impression you leave on your graders – the stronger it is, the higher the score. Your conclusion must be succinct, to the point, and, most importantly, well crafted. By this, I mean that you should not leave such an important part of your essay up to improvisation. You must pre-plan for this and create multiple plug-ins.
For example: After a careful analysis of X, Y, Z (Plug-ins), Keyword is “indeed” Modified Thesis. <Contrasting Statement to Further Support Your Thesis>. <Optional: Ending Personal Input>.
For example: After a careful analysis of 1984, Of Mice and Men, and Fahrenheit 451, one can see that honesty is, indeed, the best policy in building and maintaining long-lasting trust. Without honesty, societies can fall into chaos. Staying true to one another is the only way to prevent such destructive happenings/occurrences.
Step 10 (1-2 minutes): Whew! You’re almost done.
All you need to do now is go back and make sure you did not make any silly mistakes. Spend a minute or so revising and proofreading your essay. I’ve seen so many silly mistakes from my students that I must ask you to not make these same mistakes.
Sample Template
Q: Is honesty always the best policy?
<THESIS> Honesty is crucial to build and maintain trust. <Plug-In> Several examples from history/current events/science/literary works clearly demonstrate that KEYWORD...
<TRANSITIONAL THESIS 1> As demonstrated by EXAMPLE 10, <MODIFIED THESIS>. <ACCELERATED PLUG-IN> ……………….……………..(six sentences)………...……………………. <PERSONAL INPUT> Therefore/Hence/Thus ...
<REPEAT ABOVE PROCESS TWO TIMES>
<CONCLUSION with “INDEED”> After a careful analysis of X, Y, and Z, KEYWORD is INDEED crucial to... <ENDING PERSONAL INPUT> Had X, Y, Z been KEYWORD, they would have/not have …
Universal Template
Make sure the template you build can be applied to all possible prompts. The key is to make it generic/broad enough. For example, Intro Plug-In: “Several examples from…” is generic enough that you can use it no matter what the prompt.
Time Management
Give yourself less time during practice; 16-18 minutes should do to simulate the real test. Trust me … when you take the real test, it is not going to feel like a whole 25 minutes. Because of all the pressure and anxiety, you will feel rushed – thus, 16-18 minutes are perfect to prep for this section.
Subjective Nature
Graders are humans after all, and there is no way of predicting how they will react to your essay. That is why relying on a proven template is a safer way to go than improvising during the test. Avoid using controversial examples such as those relating to religion, politics, race, and gender. You never know who will be reading and grading your essay.
Length
Simply put - length matters. No matter what the makers of the SAT say, it is a fact that longer essays reflect more profound knowledge of the subject matter. I find that length and thesis are the two most important factors in determining an essay’s grade. Do not leave any space if possible.
Legibility
Make sure your essay is readable. I have seen some horrible handwriting and I have given them mostly 6s and 8s, depending on what I could get from the essays. Write legibly and make sure that your writing is not too big or too small.
Vocabulary
Too many students make the mistake of using excessive SAT words in hopes of impressing the graders. Don’t be a pretender! only use those words that you are comfortable using. Sometimes, it is better to just use simple words as long as you can get your point across.
Grammar
You won’t be penalized severely as long as you don’t make obvious mistakes. Graders understand that you are writing under pressure and that you are only given 25 minutes to write a full-length essay. Therefore, spend the last a minute or so proofreading for obvious/silly mistakes.
网上搜寻的SAT作文资源，自认为这是最好的，留作存档。
SAT作文不同于一般的英文作文，归入考试命题作文更为合适，类似于我国的高考作文。请特别注意，这里不是在教英文作文，提高英文作文能力，而是如何应试SAT作文。
对应这种考试作文，下文给出了最好的应对措施。
How to Write a 12 Essay in Just 10 Days
The SAT Essay
Key Points:
1. Create your own template – aka “Universal Template.”
2. Research your 25 default examples.
3. Learn to write a strong thesis sentence: <Keyword + Yes OR No Why/How/What?>
4. Work on transitions.
5. Create an interesting introduction and a strong conclusion.
Having taught classes on how to take the SAT for more than 10 years now, I find the SAT essay section to be the easiest and most predictable section of the test. The cool thing about this section is that the College Board can only test you on a limited range of prompts and your response(s) can be customized, prepared, practiced, and mastered. I am not talking about cheating on the SAT, but being prepared for all possible scenarios, to the point that nothing can surprise you.
Many academies and private tutors claim that you cannot prepare a specific essay on a particular topic in advance, but I disagree. This section of the SAT can indeed be predicted, prepared, and mastered before you even step into the test site.
The SAT Essay: The 80:20 Rule
Let’s take a scientific approach to the SAT essay. Unlike the math section of the SAT, the verbal section is feared by many students because of the abundance of advanced vocabulary, grammar rules, unpredictable reading genres, and essay prompts.
Students frequently ask:
1. How many SAT words should I memorize?
2. Which books should I read to prepare for the critical reading section?
3. How about dictions and idioms? How many are there?
4. Can I predict possible essay prompts?
5. Can I guarantee at least a double-digit score on my essay?
My responses are:
1. 3,000-5,000, depending on your previous exposure to the SAT
2. Combination of novels, magazines, journals, and textbooks (Ryan’s Top 10 Picks)
3. Less than 100 idioms and dictions
4. Absolutely!
5. Absolutely, yes!
My approach is this: Instead of trying to figure out what prompts and/or passages to expect, why not concentrate on the design of the SAT itself – in this case the SAT essay – so no matter what is thrown at you, you are not easily surprised and you can calm yourself by having a step-by-step plan already in place.
So, I came up with the “80:20 Rule.” This rule applies not only to the SAT, but also to the ACT, GRE, and GMAT. The concept is simple: Find ways to predict and prepare for 80% of the test, and only worry about 20% (which can also be mastered) during the test. How? Simple. Again, learn the design, put yourself in the College Board’s shoes, and learn the tricks so you don’t fall into the traps. I will give you plenty of examples and guidelines, so don’t panic!
Basics of the SAT Essay
1. You are only given 25 minutes to complete the essay. But trust me … when you take the real test, it’s not going to feel like a whole 25 minutes. Make sure you give yourself less time when practicing (16-18 minutes), so you can build up mental and physical stamina.
2. Be aware of the psychological effect of section 1. The essay will always be the first section of the SAT. If you mess it up for whatever reason, it’s going to haunt you for the rest of the test. But if you nail it, you will gain the confidence to continue to the rest of the sections.
3. Many academies say it is OK to use “I” but again … I say no. Although “I” is acceptable to express your personal point(s) of view, it weakens your thesis. If you begin with “I believe,” you are presenting your personal, fundamentally biased opinion – therefore, avoid using “I” if possible.
4. Essays are scored by two graders. Each grades on a scale of 1-6 (for a total of 12). Remember, though, that each grader has only a minute or so to read and grade your essay. That is why highlighting certain sections of your essay might do the trick to help you succeed.
5. Do not veer off topic! Answer the question. If you don’t, you will receive a grade of zero. Believe me … I have seen it happen.
6. Your essay equals 1/3 of your writing score: +/- 250. So, it is crucial that you do well!
How to Prepare for the 80:20 Rule
There are 10 steps you must learn and master. Once you have your own custom-made template, 25 quality examples, 3 to 5 transitions, and detail plug-ins, you are ready to tackle all possible prompts.
Key Terms:
1. Universal Template: A pre-built template/structure that you can use to write your essay.
2. 25 Quality Examples: Edison, JFK, and Hitler are elementary examples. They are trite, and most graders will not be impressed by them. Use high-quality examples, such as Jack Welch, Howard Schultz, Steven Jobs, the Enron scandal, the Patriot Act, etc. Remember! Graders get only a minute or so to read and grade your essay. You must do everything possible to impress them.
3. Transitions: There are pre-built transitions that you can easily pick and choose to smooth out the flow of your essay. I will give you some examples as we go.
4. Plug-ins: Plug-ins are all details that were pre-researched, pre-written, and memorized – ready to be used at a moment’s notice.
So, Here Are the 10 Steps:
Step 1 (20 seconds): Brainstorm and come up with three to five quality examples.
Do not choose a side before you come up with examples. This is extremely important because without examples you will not be able to complete your essay. In other words, your opinion does not matter unless you can support it. Let your examples dictate which side you choose – not the other way around.
Step 2 (10 seconds): Agree or disagree with the prompt.
Now that you have three to five examples, it is time for you to take a stance. Agree or disagree with the prompt. If it is an open-ended question, by now you should have come up with a response.
Step 3 (1 minute): Write your thesis: <Keyword + Agree OR Disagree + Why/How/What?>
Follow this simple formula to write you thesis. Later, you will be allowed to make it more personal by adding adjectives, examples, etc., but for now, I want you to stick with this. Why? To create a backbone to your thesis writing so you know exactly what to do and what not to miss.
First, start with the keyword. If the prompt is: “Honesty is always the best policy,” then start with “honesty” so your reader/grader knows that you are on point. After your keyword, immediately agree or disagree with the prompt.
For example: Honesty is crucial … (Agree) OR Honesty can be detrimental … (Disagree). Once you’ve done this, then you have to explain the Why and the How. Without this step, all you are doing is repeating the prompt. You must explain why you agree or disagree with the prompt.
For example: Honesty is crucial to build and maintain trust.
Bad Intros:
1. Ladies and gentlemen of the College Board …
2. What would Jesus do? ...
3. Once upon a time …
4. “Failure is the mother of success!!!” …
By the way, I have actually seen these introductory phrases written by real students. Please, don’t make the same mistake.
Step 4 (1 minute): Complete your introduction.
Now spend a minute or so completing your introductory paragraph. Make sure you write at least two sentences but no more than three, as you’ll run out of time.
My version: <Thesis. Several examples from history/current events/literary works/classic films/science clearly demonstrate that Keyword is Paraphrased Thesis.> <Elaborate a bit more if you want.>
For example: Honesty is crucial to build and maintain trust. Several examples from literary works and current events clearly demonstrate that honesty always prevails.
That’s it. Two sentences are good enough for the SAT essay. I am not saying don’t write more, but there is no need to write five to six sentences. It’s important that you move on since you only have 25 minutes to complete a full-length essay. Remember! This is not your typical school essay, in which you have to develop your thesis and write your thesis at the end of your introductory paragraph. The SAT essay does not work that way. You must get straight to the point, answer the prompt/question, and move on to your examples. That’s the only way you’ll finish on time. Also, it is important to remind you that readers/graders know that you were given only 25 minutes to complete your essay. They will be lenient and not penalize every grammatical error. Readers/graders, however, will penalize you for excessive patterns of spelling and grammar errors – I mean … who wouldn’t?
Step 5 (1 minute): Write your transitional thesis: <Transition + Modified Thesis>.
It is time to introduce your first example. Avoid being abrupt. Start with a transitional phrase that will smoothly transition from your introduction to your body paragraph 1.
Here are some recommended transitional phrases:
1. As demonstrated by …
2. As shown by …
3. In the novel 1984 by George Orwell, …
4. In the film Metropolis by Fritz Lang, …
5. Through the actions of …
6. <Name/Example>, Description, …
Then you have to add a modified version of your thesis. You need to add your example and blend it with your thesis to make it more relevant.
For example: In the novel 1984 by George Orwell, Winston’s rebellious thoughts/actions are direct results of the party’s deceptive/dishonest political tactics.
Step 6 (2 minutes): Use accelerated plug-in 1.
This is where the 80:20 Rule really shines. Now that you have pre-researched and memorized all details related to your example(s), it’s time to make full use of them and plug them in to build volume and persuasive content. Give yourself two minutes to write at least six sentences of pure supportive details/content. Of course, all details/content must be relevant to the prompt! If not, you are padding; that will get you not a zero, but somewhere in the 2-4 range.
Important: Make sure you pepper your plug-in with some statistics, full names, and dates – a sure tactic to impress your graders.
AWFUL: “Students should not play PS3 because my mom told me so!”
BAD: “Students should avoid playing PS3 because I play it three to four hours a day and my GPA is 2.5”
OKAY: “Students should avoid playing PS3 as it may lead to a lower GPA, dependency/addiction to gaming, and distraction from other important activities/duties.”
GOOD: “According to the National Behavioral Research Center (NBRC), students who play PS3 for more than an hour a day will likely develop a Game Dependency Syndrome, which will negatively affect students’ GPA <and/or> their chances of getting into college.”
Step 7 (1 minute): Provide personal Input (PI).
Now that you’ve plugged in everything you know about your first example, it’s time to make some sense out of it and tie your plug-ins back to the prompt. Without a clear explanation and/or justification of why you plugged in those details, your paragraph will just be a copy-pasted version of Wikipedia.
Write one to two sentences – in your own words – about how your plug-ins help support your thesis.
Suggested transitions:
1. Therefore,
2. Hence,
3. Thus,
For example: Therefore, Winston’s actions prove that (government/leaders/country/party’s) dishonesty/deception can lead to societal/widespread chaos and rebellion.
Step 8 (8 minutes): Repeat the above process two times.
Remember! You need three examples/three body paragraphs – not two. Providing three examples/body paragraphs is another way to guarantee a double-digit score.
Step 9 (2 minutes): Write a strong conclusion: The power of “indeed.”
Your conclusion is extremely important as it is the final piece of information graders will read before grading your essay. Think of it as the last impression you leave on your graders – the stronger it is, the higher the score. Your conclusion must be succinct, to the point, and, most importantly, well crafted. By this, I mean that you should not leave such an important part of your essay up to improvisation. You must pre-plan for this and create multiple plug-ins.
For example: After a careful analysis of X, Y, Z (Plug-ins), Keyword is “indeed” Modified Thesis. <Contrasting Statement to Further Support Your Thesis>. <Optional: Ending Personal Input>.
For example: After a careful analysis of 1984, Of Mice and Men, and Fahrenheit 451, one can see that honesty is, indeed, the best policy in building and maintaining long-lasting trust. Without honesty, societies can fall into chaos. Staying true to one another is the only way to prevent such destructive happenings/occurrences.
Step 10 (1-2 minutes): Whew! You’re almost done.
All you need to do now is go back and make sure you did not make any silly mistakes. Spend a minute or so revising and proofreading your essay. I’ve seen so many silly mistakes from my students that I must ask you to not make these same mistakes.
Sample Template
Q: Is honesty always the best policy?
<THESIS> Honesty is crucial to build and maintain trust. <Plug-In> Several examples from history/current events/science/literary works clearly demonstrate that KEYWORD...
<TRANSITIONAL THESIS 1> As demonstrated by EXAMPLE 10, <MODIFIED THESIS>. <ACCELERATED PLUG-IN> ……………….……………..(six sentences)………...……………………. <PERSONAL INPUT> Therefore/Hence/Thus ...
<REPEAT ABOVE PROCESS TWO TIMES>
<CONCLUSION with “INDEED”> After a careful analysis of X, Y, and Z, KEYWORD is INDEED crucial to... <ENDING PERSONAL INPUT> Had X, Y, Z been KEYWORD, they would have/not have …
Universal Template
Make sure the template you build can be applied to all possible prompts. The key is to make it generic/broad enough. For example, Intro Plug-In: “Several examples from…” is generic enough that you can use it no matter what the prompt.
Time Management
Give yourself less time during practice; 16-18 minutes should do to simulate the real test. Trust me … when you take the real test, it is not going to feel like a whole 25 minutes. Because of all the pressure and anxiety, you will feel rushed – thus, 16-18 minutes are perfect to prep for this section.
Subjective Nature
Graders are humans after all, and there is no way of predicting how they will react to your essay. That is why relying on a proven template is a safer way to go than improvising during the test. Avoid using controversial examples such as those relating to religion, politics, race, and gender. You never know who will be reading and grading your essay.
Length
Simply put - length matters. No matter what the makers of the SAT say, it is a fact that longer essays reflect more profound knowledge of the subject matter. I find that length and thesis are the two most important factors in determining an essay’s grade. Do not leave any space if possible.
Legibility
Make sure your essay is readable. I have seen some horrible handwriting and I have given them mostly 6s and 8s, depending on what I could get from the essays. Write legibly and make sure that your writing is not too big or too small.
Vocabulary
Too many students make the mistake of using excessive SAT words in hopes of impressing the graders. Don’t be a pretender! only use those words that you are comfortable using. Sometimes, it is better to just use simple words as long as you can get your point across.
Grammar
You won’t be penalized severely as long as you don’t make obvious mistakes. Graders understand that you are writing under pressure and that you are only given 25 minutes to write a full-length essay. Therefore, spend the last a minute or so proofreading for obvious/silly mistakes.
说说我的看法高级模式
-
在哪些方面准备案例
Here are 20 examples that anyone should have:
A popular view that turned out to be wrong
A group of united people, yet with diverse views
A person famous for originality
An older person with some wisdom and experience
A group without someone in charge
A person of authority with questionable ideas (ex
Something that teaches people “street smarts”
An original idea that led to success
Someone who society shunned for doing something wrong, but was later accepted
A famous person who has endured hardships
An old thing that is better than it’s “new” version
An event where winning led to chaos
An admirable/charitable famous person
An unadmirable famous person
An event where something was gained for lying
3 books that each hold a different variety of themes
2 movies that hold a different variety of themes
-
有人将2005年以来SAT的作文题目做了归类，归类如下：
I have compiled every SAT essay prompt administered by the College since the essay was introduced in 2005. Because the prompts are so generic, several archetypes seem to have emerged. Could it be possible to write an essay before seeing the prompt?
Individuality
--Following the Crowd
Do people need to compare themselves with others in order to appreciate what they have?
Are widely held views often wrong, or are such views more likely to be correct?
Is there any value for people to belong only to a group or groups with which they have something in common?
Is it always best to determine one\'s own views of right and wrong, or can we benefit from following the crowd?
Is it more valuable for people to fit in than to be unique and different?
Are people more likely to be productive and successful when they ignore the opinions of others?
--Following Authority
Should we pay more attention to people who are older and more experienced than we are?
Should society limit people\'s exposure to some kinds of information or forms of expression?
Can a group of people function effectively without someone being in charge?
Is it important to question the ideas and decisions of people in positions of authority?
Should society limit people\'s exposure to some kinds of information or forms of expression?
Is education primarily the result of influences other than school?
Should schools help students understand moral choices and social issues?
--Following Creativity
Is it always better to be original than to imitate or use the ideas of others?
Is it better for a society when people act as individuals rather than copying the ideas and opinions of others?
Is creativity needed more than ever in the world today?
Can people ever be truly original?
Do we put too much value on the ideas or actions of individual people?
Does planning interfere with creativity?
Motivation and Success
--Hardship and Success
Do people truly benefit from hardship and misfortune?
Do we really benefit from every event or experience in some way?
Do people place too much emphasis on winning?
Do people learn more from losing than from winning?
Does true learning only occur when we experience difficulties?
Does being ethical make it hard to be successful?
Can knowledge be a burden rather than a benefit?
Is persistence more important than ability in determining a person\'s success?
Is the effort involved in pursuing any goal valuable, even if the goal is not reached?
--Self-Determination and Success
Is identity something people are born with or given, or is it something people create for themselves?
Is it best for people to accept who they are and what they have, or should people always strive to better themselves?
Do success and happiness depend on the choices people make rather than on factors beyond their control?
Are people more likely to be happy if they focus on goals other than their own happiness?
Is it more important to do work that one finds fulfilling or work that pays well?
--Self-Expectation and Success
Do highly accomplished people achieve more than others mainly because they expect more of themselves?
Can people achieve success only if they aim to be perfect?
Is it best to have low expectations and to set goals we are sure of achieving?
--Collaboration and Success
Is it necessary for people to combine their efforts with those of others in order to be most effective?
Are organizations or groups most successful when their members pursue individual wishes and goals?
Do people achieve more success by cooperation than by competition?
--Ethics and Success
Does fame bring happiness, or are people who are not famous more likely to be happy?
Are people\'s actions motivated primarily by a desire for power over others?
--Quality or Quantity and Success
Do people achieve greatness only by finding out what they are especially good at and developing that attribute above all else?
Are all important discoveries the result of focusing on one subject?
Technological “Progress”
Does a strong commitment to technological progress cause a society to neglect other values, such as education and the protection of the environment?
Are there benefits to be gained from avoiding the use of modern technology, even when using it would make life easier?
Has today\'s abundance of information only made it more difficult for us to understand the world around us?
Is the most important purpose of technology today different from what it was in the past?
Have modern advancements truly improved the quality of people\'s lives?
Do newspapers, magazines, television, radio, movies, the Internet, and other media determine what is important to most people?
Should modern society be criticized for being materialistic?
Heroes
Do we benefit from learning about the flaws of people we admire and respect?
Should we limit our use of the term \"courage\" to acts in which people risk their own well-being for the sake of others or to uphold a value?
Should we admire heroes but not celebrities?
Is there a value in celebrating certain individuals as heroes?
Tradition
Do all established traditions deserve to remain in existence?
Do people need to \"unlearn,\" or reject, many of their assumptions and ideas?
Should people always prefer new things, ideas, or values to those of the past?
Do incidents from the past continue to influence the present?
Do memories hinder or help people in their effort to learn from the past and succeed in the present?
Is it always necessary to find new solutions to problems?
Loyalty
Should people always be loyal?
Do circumstances determine whether or not we should tell the truth?
Can deception—pretending that something is true when it is not—sometimes have good results?
Is it sometimes necessary to be impolite?
Is acting an essential part of everyday life?
Others (less clearly defined; separated by spaces)
Is compromise always the best way to resolve a conflict?
Should people choose one of two opposing sides of an issue, or is the truth usually found \"in the middle\"?
Is the main value of the arts to teach us about the world around us?
Can books and stories about characters and events that are not real teach us anything useful?
Can common sense be trusted and accepted, or should it be questioned?
Do people put too much emphasis on learning practical skills?
Should people take more responsibility for solving problems that affect their communities or the nation in general?
Should people let their feelings guide them when they make important decisions?
Can people have too much enthusiasm?
Do images and impressions have too much of an effect on people?
Are decisions made quickly just as good as decisions made slowly and carefully?
Should people change their decisions when circumstances change, or is it best for them to stick with their original decisions?
Is it better to change one\'s attitude than to change one\'s circumstances?
Is criticism—judging or finding fault with the ideas and actions of others—essential for personal well-being and social progress?
Does having a large number of options to choose from make people happy?
从AP历史和政府课程中寻找案例
从阅读的书籍中寻找案例，利用SparkNotes 查看书籍总结
从电影，电视，名人中寻找案例
To come up with your 25 high quality examples, try this.
Stick to topics you are interested in, and can discuss in some depth. If you have taken AP History or Government classes, pull out your ID lists and pick your favorite historical characters and events. Re-read the ID\'s and refresh your memory of the specifics. Now think of what prompts they would fit with- friendship, loyalty, innovation, whatever.
Now think of books you have read over the years and pick some that you like. Go to SparkNotes and read the plot summaries and discussion of themes and motifs to get it fresh in your mind. Again, think of the prompts they would fit with.
If you don\'t have enough, go to your favorite movies, sports figures, TV shows and use the same approach. Do a little research on each one. You will write better about things you have some passion about than trying to use somebody else\'s list of worthwhile examples.