The SAT Writing Section Essay

1
The SAT Writing Section (Essay)

• Created by Mrs. Close
• Music clips inspired by the 1970s videos shown
  to Mrs. Close when she was in high school

2
SAT Essay Overview

• The essay assesses students ability to think
  critically and to write effectively under time
  constraints similar to those they will encounter
  on essay examinations in college courses.
• Students are given 25 minutes to handwrite their
  essay.
• The essay portion of the writing section was
  created with an understanding that an essay
  written in a short amount of time will not be
  polished but represents the initial phase of the
  writing process the first draft.
• The essay counts toward roughly 1/3 of the total
  writing score.

3
What does an SAT essay prompt look like?
4
Sample Essay Prompt
A person does not simply "receive" his or her
identity. Identity is much more than the name or
features one is born with. True identity is
something people must create for themselves by
making choices that are significant and that
require a courageous commitment in the face of
challenges. Identity means having ideas and
values that one lives by. Adapted from Thomas
Merton, Contemplation in a World of
Action Assignment Is identity something people
are born with or given, or is it something people
create for themselves? Plan and write an essay
in which you develop your point of view on this
issue. Support your position with reasoning and
examples taken from your reading, studies,
experience, or observations.
5
How the SAT essay is scored

• Essays are scored in a manner that is fair and
  consistent using a holistic approach.
• The SAT essay is scored by qualified readers, who
  take into account such aspects as complexity of
  thought, substantiality of development, and
  facility with language.
• A reader does not judge a work based on its
  separate traits, but rather on the total
  impression it creates.

6
What the Holistic Approach to Grading Means to You

• Even with some errors in spelling, punctuation,
  and grammar, you can still get a top score on the
  essay because students work will be evaluated
  holistically.
• Handwriting will not count against you, but essay
  readers must be able to read your writing in
  order to score your essay, so write legibly.

7
SAT Essay Scoring

• Each essay is scored independently by two
  qualified readers, and each is scored on a scale
  of 1 to 6 by each reader, with the combined score
  for both readers ranging from 2 to 12.

8
Effective writing is marked by

• The development of a point of view
• Logical presentation of ideas
• Clear lines of reasoning
• Sustained focus
• Appropriate choices of evidence
• Skillful coherence
• Effective organization
• Precise use of language
• Engagement with the reader

9
Important areas to focus on when constructing
your essay
10
Point of View

• SAT prompts are designed to enable students to
  offer multiple points of view.
• Its 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.

11
Critical Thinking

• An essay does not have to include abstract
  reasoning or a discussion of the writings 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 the
  insightful selection and interpretation of
  different types of examples.
• Outstanding critical thinkers may provide or
  apply new contexts, terms, or frames of reference
  to the issue under consideration.

12
Types of Evidence

• Many students turn to history and literature for
  evidence to support their point of view others
  refer to the sciences 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 example does not matter as much as
  the students demonstrated ability to develop the
  example in a useful way.

13
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 may help ensure that examples are fully
  developed.
• Essays may feature internal organization, such as
  the sequential or chronological presentation of
  events in a narrative.
• A successful essay need not have a finished
  conclusion.

14
Use of Language

• Most high-scoring essays feature an accurate and
  apt vocabulary and meaningful variety in sentence
  structure.
• Metaphors and other types of figurative language
  can enhance an essay.
• Essays written by students for whom English is a
  second language can earn top scores if language
  is used effectively.
• Language may be effective even if it is informal
  or has minor errors characteristic of first-draft
  writing.

15
Scoring Guide
16
Score of 0

• Essays not written on the essay assignment will
  receive a score of zero.

17
Score of 1

• Develops no viable point of view on the issue, or
  provides little or no evidence to support its
  position
• Is disorganized or unfocused, resulting in a
  disjointed or incoherent essay
• Displays fundamental errors in vocabulary
• Demonstrates severe flaws in sentence structure
• Contains pervasive errors in grammar, usage, or
  mechanics that persistently interfere with
  meaning

18
Score of 2

• Develops a point of view on the issue that is
  vague or seriously limited, demonstrating weak
  critical thinking, providing inappropriate or
  insufficient examples, reasons, or other evidence
  to support its position
• Is poorly organized and/or focused, or
  demonstrates serious problems with coherence or
  progression of ideas
• Displays very little facility in the use of
  language, using very limited vocabulary or
  incorrect word choice
• Demonstrates frequent problems in sentence
  structure
• Contains errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics
  so serious that meaning is somewhat obscured

19
Score of 3

• Develops a point of view on the issue,
  demonstrating some critical thinking, but may do
  so inconsistently or use inadequate examples,
  reasons, or other evidence to support its
  position
• Is limited in its organization or focus, but may
  demonstrate some lapses in coherence or
  progression of ideas
• Displays developing facility in the use of
  language, but sometimes uses weak vocabulary or
  inappropriate word choice
• Lacks variety or demonstrates problems in
  sentence structure
• Contains an accumulation of errors in grammar,
  usage, and mechanics

20
Score of 4

• Develops a point of view on the issue and
  demonstrates competent critical thinking, using
  adequate examples, reasons, and other evidence to
  support its position
• Is generally organized and focused, demonstrating
  some coherence and progression of ideas
• Exhibits adequate but inconsistent facility in
  the use of language, using generally appropriate
  vocabulary
• Demonstrates some variety in sentence structure
• Has some errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

21
Score of 5

• Effectively develops a point of view on the issue
  and demonstrates strong critical thinking,
  generally using appropriate examples, reasons,
  and other evidence to support its position
• Is well organized and focused, demonstrating
  coherence and progression of ideas
• Exhibits facility in the use of language, using
  appropriate vocabulary
• Demonstrates variety in sentence structure
• Is generally free of most errors in grammar,
  usage, and mechanics

22
Score of 6

• Effectively and insightfully develops a point of
  view on the issue and demonstrates outstanding
  critical thinking, using clearly appropriate
  examples, reasons, and other evidence to support
  its position
• Is well organized and clearly focused,
  demonstrating clear coherence and smooth
  progression of ideas
• Exhibits skillful use of language, using a
  varied, accurate, and apt vocabulary
• Demonstrates meaningful variety in sentence
  structure
• Is free of most errors in grammar, usage, and
  mechanics

23
UP NEXT
24
RATE THAT ESSAY!
25
Essay Prompt

• There are situations where flattery is
  mandatory. The bride is always beautiful. If we
  look at someones artwork, we are obliged to say
  something complimentary to the artist. If we
  visit someone with a new baby, we are required to
  say the infant is cute. In such situations, to
  say nothing is interpreted as rudeness. We
  compliment each other because we understand that
  flattery makes life run smoothly.
• Adapted from Richard Stengel Youre Too Kind A
  Brief History of Flattery

26
Assignment

• Is praising others, even if the praise is
  excessive or undeserved, a necessary part of
  life? Plan and write an essay in which you
  develop your point of view on this issue.
  Support your position with reasoning and examples
  taken from your reading, studies, experience, or
  observations.

27
Essay K

• What score would you give this essay?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of this
  essay?
• What would need to be changed in order to improve
  the essay?

28
Essay G

• What score would you give this essay?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of this
  essay?
• What would need to be changed in order to improve
  the essay?

29
Credits

• Special Thanks to
• 2nd Period Junior Formation
• 3rd Period Junior Formation
• 5th Period Junior Formation
• Mr. San Hamels 6th Period
• My mom
• Everyone who believed I could be anything I
  wanted to be
• The SAT
• The Jesuits
• Cheesy 70s movies I was forced to watch in high
  school
• Starbucks
• St. Josephs College
• The George Washington University
• Star Wars